Part 13 (2/2)
A sad accident occurred shortly afterwards in an action off the Azores, when the _Dartmouth_, Captain Hamilton, of 50 guns, while engaging for some hours the _Glorioso_, a Spanish s.h.i.+p of 74 guns and 750 men, caught fire and blew up, every soul with her brave commander peris.h.i.+ng, except Lieutenant O'Bryan and eleven seamen, who were saved by the boats of a privateer in company. The _Dartmouth's_ consort, the _Russell_, pursuing the Spaniard, captured her after a warm engagement.
As an encouragement and relief to disabled and wounded seamen in the merchant-service, an Act of Parliament was pa.s.sed in this year authorising the masters of merchant-vessels to detain sixpence per month from the wages of seamen. It was extended also to the widows and children of such seamen as should be killed or drowned. A corporation was established for the management of this fund.
Admiral Hawke in command of another squadron, was equally successful, having captured in one action no less than six large French s.h.i.+ps.
The war terminated at the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. The total number of s.h.i.+ps taken from the French and Spaniards amounted in all to 3434, while the entire loss of English merchant-vessels amounted to 3238.
In 1744 Admiral Sir John Balchen, whose flag was flying on board the _Victory_, was returning from Gibraltar, when, having reached the channel on the 3rd of October, the fleet was overtaken by a violent storm. The _Exeter_, one of the squadron, lost her main and mizen-mast, and it became necessary to throw twelve of her guns overboard to prevent her from sinking, while other s.h.i.+ps suffered much. On the 4th the _Victory_ separated from the fleet, and was never more heard of. She had on board nearly a thousand men, besides fifty volunteers, sons of the first n.o.bility and gentry in the kingdom. It is supposed that she struck upon a ridge of rocks off the Caskets, as from the testimony of the men who attended the light, and the inhabitants of the island of Alderney, minute-guns were heard on the nights of the 4th and 5th, but the weather was too tempestuous to allow boats to go out to her a.s.sistance. The king settled a pension of 500 pounds per annum on Sir John Balchen's widow.
As an example of the danger those on board fire-s.h.i.+ps ran, a fearful accident which happened to one of them must be mentioned. While the fleet of Admiral Matthews was engaged with the Spaniards in the Mediterranean, he ordered the _Anne_ galley fire-s.h.i.+p, commanded by Captain Mackay, to go down and burn the _Real_. In obedience to his orders, that brave officer approached the Spanish admiral.
Notwithstanding the heavy fire opened on his vessel, he ordered all his people off the deck, and boldly steered the fire-s.h.i.+p, with a match in his hand. As he approached, he found that the enemy's shot had such an effect that his s.h.i.+p was fast sinking; at the same time, observing a large Spanish launch rowing towards him, he opened fire on her with his guns, when, on a sudden, the fire-s.h.i.+p appeared in a blaze, and almost immediately blew up, but at a distance too great either to grapple or damage the _Real_. The gallant commander, with his lieutenant, gunner, mate, and two quartermasters, perished.
The Admiralty at this time appear to have considered that the best way of inducing naval officers to perform their duty was to shoot or otherwise severely punish them if they did not. On the 22nd of April, 1745, the _Anglesea_, of 40 guns and 250 men, commanded by Captain Jacob Elton, fell in with a French privateer of 50 guns and 500 men. After a severe action, in which the commander and his first lieutenant were killed, the s.h.i.+p being much disabled, and above sixty of her crew killed or wounded, Mr Barker Phillips, her second lieutenant, who succeeded to the command, surrendered her to the enemy. On his return to England, he was tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to be shot, which sentence was carried into execution on board the _Princess Royal_ at Spithead.
The war again broke out in 1755, when information being received that the French were preparing a fleet of men-of-war to sail from different ports, the ministry immediately equipped a squadron, the command of which was given to Admiral Boscawen, who was ordered to proceed to North America. The first s.h.i.+ps taken during the war were by the _Dunkirk_, Captain Howe, who after an engagement of five hours captured the _Alcide_ and _Lys_, part of the squadron of M. de la Motte.
A fleet of ten s.h.i.+ps, under the command of Admiral Byng, was sent out to the Mediterranean. With his squadron but imperfectly manned, he sailed from Spithead on the 7th of April. When off Minorca, then held by the English, and besieged by the Spaniards, a French fleet appeared in sight. The next day, the weather being hazy, the French fleet was not seen till noon, when Admiral Byng threw out an order to Rear-Admiral West to engage them, but he being at a distance did not understand these orders. He, however, with his whole division bearing away seven points, came up with the enemy, and attacked them with such impetuosity that several of their s.h.i.+ps were soon obliged to quit the line. Byng's division not advancing, Admiral West was prevented from pursuing his advantage for fear of being separated from the rest of the fleet, which, from unskilful manoeuvring, gave the enemy time to escape. On his arrival at Gibraltar the unfortunate Admiral Byng found that commissioners had arrived to arrest him and Admiral West, who were accordingly sent prisoners to England. Sir Edward Hawke, who had brought out reinforcements, immediately sailed up the Mediterranean, but on arriving off Minorca, to his mortification, saw the French flag flying from the Castle of San Felipe. The French fleet took shelter in Toulon, while Sir Edward Hawke had the command of the Mediterranean.
The fall of Minorca caused the greatest dissatisfaction in England, and though undoubtedly the ministry were to blame for not having sent more troops to Minorca, and given Byng a larger fleet, he committed an error in not taking greater pains to engage the French fleet. A court-martial p.r.o.nounced him guilty of a breach of the twelfth article of war, and condemned him to death. He was accordingly, on the 14th of March, shot on board the _Monarch_, in Portsmouth harbour--a sacrifice to popular clamour. The court which condemned him, however, declared that his misconduct did not proceed from want of courage or disaffection, and added to their report of their proceedings a pet.i.tion to the Lords of the Admiralty requesting their lords.h.i.+ps most earnestly to recommend him to his majesty's clemency. The Government, however, having resolved on his death, allowed the law to take its course. The president of the court-martial was Vice-Admiral Thomas Smith, generally known in the service by the name of Tom of Ten Thousand. When he was lieutenant on board the _Gosport_ in Plymouth Sound, and her captain on sh.o.r.e, Mr Smith directed a shot to be fired at a French frigate which, on pa.s.sing, had neglected to pay the usual compliment to the flag. The Frenchman considering this as an insult offered to his flag, lodged a complaint against Mr Smith, who was tried by a court-martial and dismissed the service. His spirited conduct was, however, so much approved of by the nation, that he was promoted at once to the rank of post-captain.
In 1749 an Act of Parliament was pa.s.sed authorising the Admiralty to grant commissions to flag-officers or any other officer commanding his majesty's fleet or squadron of s.h.i.+ps of war, to call and a.s.semble courts-martial in foreign parts.
The sudden possession of wealth by the capture of prizes had undoubtedly a deteriorating effect on the minds of many officers of the navy. We may understand the disappointment which was felt by those serving under Admiral Knowles, who was cruising off the Havannah to intercept the expected Plate fleet, when a Spanish advice-boat brought into the squadron informed the admiral that the preliminary articles for a general peace were signed. The unpleasant news caused a general dejection throughout the whole squadron. Dissensions among the officers had for some time before prevailed, and these at length terminated in various courts-martial. It was probably this l.u.s.t of wealth which induced the officers of the _Chesterfield_, of 40 guns, commanded by Captain O'Brien Dudley, when off Cape Coast Castle, to mutiny. Samuel Couchman, the first lieutenant, John Morgan, the lieutenant of marines, Thomas Knight, the carpenter, were the ringleaders. They managed to seize the s.h.i.+p and carry her to sea while the captain and some others were on sh.o.r.e. By the spirited conduct of Mr Gastrien, the boatswain, and Messrs Gillan and Fraser, she was retaken from the mutineers thirty hours afterwards, and ultimately brought safe to Portsmouth, where the mutineers being tried, two of the princ.i.p.al officers were shot on board their s.h.i.+p. The four others and one seaman were hanged.
The animosity which had existed among the captains of the West India squadron was carried to serious lengths, and resulted in several duels, one of which was fought between Captains Clarke and Innes, in Hyde Park, when the latter was killed. Captain Clarke was tried, and received sentence of death, but his majesty granted him a free pardon. Another duel was fought between Admiral Knowles and Captain Holmes. After they had discharged two or three shots at each other, the seconds interfered, and they were reconciled. The king being informed that four more challenges had been sent to the admiral, ordered three of the officers to be taken into custody, which put an end to all further dissensions.
In 1753 an Act was pa.s.sed to render more effectual the Act of the 12th of Queen Anne, for providing a public reward for such person or persons as should discover the longitude at sea.
In 1756 the Marine Society was inst.i.tuted, owing to the patriotic zeal of the merchants of London, who entered into a liberal subscription to clothe and educate orphans or deserted and friendless boys to serve in the Royal Navy. It has proved of great advantage to the navy. In June, 1772, it was incorporated, and is governed by a president and six vice-presidents.
Among the most desperate engagements fought at this period the exploit of the _Terrible_ privateer, commanded by Captain Death, deserves to be recorded. She carried 26 guns and 200 men. When on a cruise, she fell in with the _Grand Alexander_, from Saint Domingo, of 22 guns and 100 men, when, after an action of two hours, she captured her. Both vessels were considerably damaged; the _Terrible_ had a lieutenant and sixteen men killed. While conducting her prize to England, and ill-prepared for a second engagement, she fell in with the _Vengeance_ privateer, belonging to Saint Malo, of 36 guns and 360 men. The enemy having retaken the prize, manned her, and together bore down on the _Terrible_.
Captain Death defended his s.h.i.+p with the greatest bravery against so unequal a force, but at length, he and half his crew being killed and most of the survivors badly wounded, the masts being shot away, she was compelled to strike. The enemy's s.h.i.+p was also a complete wreck; her first and second captains were killed, with two-thirds of her crew. The merchants of London, as a testimony of their high sense of the gallant behaviour of Captain Death and his brave crew, opened a subscription at Lloyd's coffee-house for the benefit of his widow; for the widows of the brave fellows who lost their lives with him, and for that part of the crew who survived the engagement.
Captain Fortunatus Wright, who had before been so successful in the Mediterranean, was now in command of the _Saint George_ privateer cruising in the same sea. He had first a desperate battle with a French privateer twice his size, which he beat off, and then proceeded to Leghorn, where he was thrown into prison by the Austrian government.
Admiral Hawke, on hearing of it, sent two s.h.i.+ps to demand his immediate release. This request was complied with. Shortly afterwards the _Saint George_ was overtaken by a furious storm, in which she foundered, her brave commander and crew peris.h.i.+ng.
At this time, while Lord Clive was, by a series of victories, laying the foundation of the British Empire in the east, Admiral Watson commanded in the Indian seas. To a.s.sist the army the squadron entered the Hooghly, when a body of seamen was landed to attack the fort of Boujee.
By a singular event it was carried without bloodshed. A seaman by the name of Strachan, belonging to the _Kent_, having drunk too much grog, strayed under the walls of the fort in the dead of night, and observing a breach, entered at it, giving loud huzzas. This alarmed some more of his comrades, who had also strayed the same way. They instantly mounted the breach, and drove the Indian garrison from the works. By this time the whole camp and squadron were alarmed, and the troops, flying to the fort, entered and gained possession of it without the loss of a man.
After everything was quiet, Admiral Watson sent for Strachan to admonish him for his temerity, and addressing him, observed, ”Strachan, what is this you have been doing?” The untutored hero, after having made his bow, scratching his head with one hand and twirling his hat with the other, replied, ”Why, to be sure, sir, it was I who took the fort, but I hope there was no harm in it.” The admiral then pointed out to him the dreadful consequences that might have resulted from so rash an act, and insinuated as he left the cabin that he should be punished. Strachan, highly disappointed at this rebuke from the admiral when he thought himself ent.i.tled to applause, muttered as he was leaving the cabin, ”If I'm flogged for this here action, I'll never take another fort as long as I live.”
A gallant action fought in the West Indies, in the year 1757, is worthy of note. Admiral Cotes, commander-in-chief on the station, despatched Captain Arthur Forrest, of the 60-gun s.h.i.+p _Augusta_, with the _Edinburgh_, Captain Langdon, of 60 guns, and the _Dreadnought_, Captain Maurice Suckling, of 60 guns, to cruise off Cape Francois, where the French were a.s.sembling a fleet of merchant-vessels for Europe. The French squadron consisted of two seventy-fours, one sixty-four, one fifty, one forty-four, and two of thirty-two guns. On the 21st of October, early in the morning, the _Dreadnought_ made the signal for the enemy. On this, Captain Forrest summoned his captains, and on their arrival on the _Augusta's_ quarter-deck, he observed, ”Well, gentlemen, you see they are come out to engage us.” On this, Captain Suckling replied, ”I think it would be a pity to disappoint them.” Captain Langdon being of the same opinion, the signal was thrown out to make all sail to close the enemy. So admirably were the three s.h.i.+ps manoeuvred, and so well were their guns fought, that one of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps was dismasted and the whole fleet much disabled, with the loss of nearly 600 men killed and wounded, when they made sail to leeward. The British s.h.i.+ps were so much cut up in their sails and rigging that it was impossible to follow. The _Dreadnought_ had lost 9 killed, 20 dangerously and 10 slightly wounded, while every yard and mast was greatly injured. Shortly afterwards, Captain Forrest captured a French convoy consisting of 9 s.h.i.+ps, carrying 112 guns and 415 men.
Among the many das.h.i.+ng officers of those days was Captain Gilchrist.
When in command of the _Southampton_, of 32 guns and 220 men, he was on his way from Portsmouth to Plymouth, with money to pay the dockyard artificers. Being attacked at eleven at night, off Saint Alban's Head, by five French privateers, two of them of equal force, he compelled them, after an action of two hours, to sheer off; his vessel being a perfect wreck, with several shot between wind and water, and ten men killed, and fourteen mortally wounded. The following September, when looking into Brest, a French s.h.i.+p came out, for which he waited. He reserved his fire till he got within twenty yards of her, when a most furious engagement began; the s.h.i.+ps falling on board of each other. The enemy made an attempt to board the _Southampton_, but being vigorously repulsed, in a quarter of an hour after struck, and proved to be the _Emeraude_, a French frigate of 28 guns and 245 men, 60 of whom were either killed or wounded. The action was fought at such close quarters that the men used their handspikes, and two of the officers were killed by a discharge from Captain Gilchrist's own blunderbuss. The _Southampton_ had her second lieutenant and 19 men killed, and every officer except the captain, and 28 wounded. While conducting her prize into port, the _Southampton_ captured an 18-gun privateer belonging to Dunkirk.
Among the worst s.h.i.+ps in the service at that time were the two-deck 40 and 50 gun s.h.i.+ps, for when any heavy sea was running, they were unable to open their lower-deck ports, and were thus of even less force than vessels carrying only 20 guns. Numerous instances of this occurred, and among others the _Antelope_, of 50 guns, Captain Thomas Saumarez, fell in with a French privateer of 22 guns. The _Antelope_ being unable at the time to open her lower-deck ports in consequence of the heavy sea, it took her two hours to capture the privateer, which even then would probably have got off, had not her mizen-mast been shot away.
An action, celebrated in naval song, was that between the _Monmouth_, of 64 guns, commanded by Captain Gardiner, and the _Foudroyant_, of 84 guns. Captain Gardiner had been flag-captain to Admiral Byng in the action off Minorca, in which the _Foudroyant_ bore the French admiral's flag, and he had declared that if he should ever fall in with the _Foudroyant_ he would attack her at all hazards, though he should perish in the encounter. In company with the _Monmouth_ were the _Swiftsure_, 74, and the _Hampton Court_, 64; but the _Monmouth_ soon ran her consorts out of sight, and at 8 p.m., getting up with the chase, commenced the action. Among the first wounded was the captain, but it being in the arm, he refused to go below. He soon knocked away some of the _Foudroyant's_ spars, and then carried his s.h.i.+p close under her starboard-quarter, where for four hours the _Monmouth_ maintained the unequal contest. At 9 p.m. the gallant Gardiner was mortally wounded in the forehead by a musket-ball, when Lieutenant Robert Carket took command. Shortly afterwards the _Monmouth's_ mizen-mast was shot away, on which the French crew cheered; but the _Foudroyant's_ mizen-mast sharing the same fate, the British seamen returned the compliment, and in a little time down came the French s.h.i.+p's main-mast. Still, she continued working her guns till some time after the arrival of the _Swiftsure_, when she surrendered. Her captain presented his sword to Lieutenant Carket, thus acknowledging that he was captured by the _Monmouth_. To understand the disparity between the two s.h.i.+ps, their comparative broadside weight of metal should be known. That of the _Monmouth_ was 540 pounds, that of the _Foudroyant_ was 1136 pounds.
The _Foudroyant_, which was taken into the service, was looked upon for many years as the finest s.h.i.+p in the British Navy. She exceeded by twelve feet in length the _Chester_ British first-rate, and measured 1977 tons. All her guns abaft the main-mast were of bra.s.s. Lieutenant Carket was deservedly promoted to command her.
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