Part 17 (2/2)

”The mutineers now gave orders to our crew to place the frigate between the _Inflexible_ and _Director_, to send our gunpowder on board the _Sandwich_, Admiral Parker as he was called, and to unbend our sails, with which orders our people agreed to comply. Sir Harry was immediately acquainted with the circ.u.mstances, and he at once arranged that the s.h.i.+p, instead of doing so, should run into Sheerness. When all was prepared, with springs to our cables to cast insh.o.r.e, and we were ready to cut, in heaving the spring broke, and we cast outward. Sir Harry, whose presence of mind never forsook him, on this directed the quartermaster to take the command and he would dictate to him. All was sheeted home in a moment, and we stood in between the two line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps, which had their guns double-shotted, their crews being all ready with lanyards in hand to fire upon us. The s.h.i.+p by that time had got good way, when Sir Harry gave the order to let fly all the sheets, which took the mutineers by surprise, and supposing that the s.h.i.+p was coming to an anchor, they did not fire. Sir Harry then ordered the helm to be put hard a-port, which caused the s.h.i.+p to shoot ahead of the _Inflexible_. He now came on deck and took the command, crying out to the s.h.i.+p's company, `Well done, my lads!' when a loud murmur of applause was heard fore and aft; but we had no time to cheer. `Now, clear away the bulkheads, and mount the guns,' he cried. By this time the whole fleet of 82 sail had opened their fire upon us. The shot fell like hail, but, whether intentionally or not, few struck our hull. It was reported that the _Director_ fired blank cartridges or she might have done us more injury; but I believe that her crew, struck with awe at the idea of firing on their countrymen, and also with admiration of their bravery, fired wide. In little more than two hours the bulkheads were cleared away from the cabin door to the break of the quarter-deck, the whole s.p.a.ce having been fitted up with cabins for the suite of her royal highness, the guns on both sides being also down in the hold. The guns were mounted and we were ready for action. The men now came aft and begged that, should the mutineers come after them, they might go down with the s.h.i.+p rather than return to the fleet at the Nore. Our master, although a good pilot, did not feel himself justified in taking charge of the s.h.i.+p within the boundaries of a branch pilot. We were therefore on the look-out for a pilot-vessel, when a lugger was discovered on the lee bow, and we were on the point of bearing down on her, when we saw the North Sea Fleet coming with the red flag flying, having left their station in a state of mutiny, the admiral and all the officers being under arrest. A frigate bore down to us, when Sir Harry gave the speaking-trumpet to the quartermaster Stanley, and when she hailed as to what we were doing there, he replied that we were looking out to stop the s.h.i.+ps with provisions for the fleet. She then proceeded, and joined the fleet again, and we made sail after the lugger. The necessary signals were made, but not being answered, we gave chase, and, after a run of four hours, captured the _Castor and Pollux_, a French vessel of 16 guns. We were proceeding to Portsmouth with our prize, when she, being to windward, spoke a brig, who informed us that the mutiny had again broken out at Spithead. Sir Harry on this thought it prudent to anchor under Dungeness until he could communicate with the Admiralty.

During the night, as we lay there, a s.h.i.+p was seen bearing down towards us, which, however, answered the private signals; but that could not be depended upon, as it was probable that the mutineers would have possessed themselves of them. We accordingly beat to quarters.The men again repeated their request to sink rather than surrender to the mutineers. The stranger appeared high out of the water, and we could not be certain whether she might not be a line-of-battle s.h.i.+p. The wind being very light, she closed slowly. The suspense was awful. The springs were hove on to keep our broadside to bear. Sir Harry hailed, and her answer was, `The _Hussar_ frigate, Lord Garlies, from the West Indies.' Having come from a long voyage, her appearance was accounted for. Seeing the lights at all our port-holes, those on board the frigate could not understand the necessity of such extreme precautions, being, of course, ignorant of the mutiny. When her men wore acquainted with our situation, they were so struck with the bravery and determination of the _Saint Fiorenzo's_ s.h.i.+p's company that they immediately said, should any s.h.i.+p be sent to bring us back, they would share our fate. None, however, came, and in a few days we heard that the mutiny was at an end, and we sailed, I think, for Plymouth, and another s.h.i.+p was ordered to take over the Princess of Hesse-Homburg.”

By the daring and determination of another captain, Sir Henry Trollope, he prevented his s.h.i.+p's company from joining the mutineers. He had been removed from the _Glutton_ to the _Russell_, 74, one of the North Sea Fleet, which lay in Yarmouth Roads. On hearing that his crew were about to join the mutineers, he came to the resolution of compelling them, by a proceeding of the most desperate character, to obey his orders.

Providing himself with provisions and water, a compa.s.s and a chart, and a brace of pistols, he secretly entered the powder-magazine. Besides the door at the entrance, there was a grate, through which he could look into the outer apartment. Seating himself with his pistols in his hand, he sent for the delegates, and ordered them at once to get the s.h.i.+p under way, to carry her out to sea. ”You know me, my lads,” he said, calmly; ”we have been ordered to proceed to the Texel, and these orders must be obeyed. Sooner than have her name disgraced, I will blow her and all on board up into the air. Return on deck and attend to your duty.”

The mutineers looked aghast, but they knew their captain, and of what he was capable, too well to disobey him. They could not have molested him, even had they dared. The crew, obeying their officers, while the captain sat far below in the magazine, their guiding spirit, got the s.h.i.+p under way, and stood out to sea--the rest of the s.h.i.+ps, either not aware of what she was about, or not venturing to interfere with her. In a short time she joined Admiral Duncan, who, with his flag flying on board the _Venerable_, was blockading the Texel. He had been left with only his own s.h.i.+p and the _Adamant_, keeping in check a Dutch fleet of 15 sail of the line, under Admiral de Winter. In order to prevent the Dutch from coming out, Admiral Duncan made use of a ruse, frequently repeating signals, as if communicating with the main body of his fleet in the offing. At length he was joined by other line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps, but his fleet, severely battered by bad weather, and being short of provisions, had to put back into Yarmouth Roads, while Captain Trollope remained with a small squadron to watch the enemy. He continued there till the 9th of October, when information was brought that the Dutch fleet was at sea. He immediately sailed, and having looked into the Texel, on the 11th the _Russell_ and other s.h.i.+ps were seen with the signal flying at their mast-heads that the enemy was in sight to leeward. The Dutch fleet stood away, however, towards the coast of Suffolk, when, finding that the English admiral was within seven leagues of him, he sailed back towards Camperdown, followed by the English look-out frigates. De Winter now formed a close line of battle, and resolutely awaited Admiral Duncan. The British fleet on this bore down on the enemy, with the signal flying for close action. The _Monarch_, leading the larboard division of the British fleet, first cut the Dutch line, pouring in well-directed broadsides on the s.h.i.+ps on either side of her. The action soon became general; one after the other the Dutch s.h.i.+ps were compelled to strike. One of them, the _Hercules_, catching fire, the crew threw overboard their powder, and were therefore obliged to surrender their s.h.i.+p. The Dutch admiral's s.h.i.+p, the _Vryheid_, held out gallantly to the last, but was at length compelled to yield, when the rest of the s.h.i.+ps which had not yet struck their colours, did their best to make off. By this time the English were in possession of two seventy-fours, five sixty-fours, two fifties, and two frigates. The escaping enemy could not be pursued, for the land was close aboard, and the fleet in nine fathoms water. All the victors could do, therefore, was to secure their prizes, and to endeavour to get clear of the sh.o.r.e before nightfall. The Dutchmen had fought gallantly, aiming at the hulls of the British s.h.i.+ps, which were fearfully shattered, and in all of them numerous shots were found sticking; though the masts and rigging were but comparatively little injured. The English lost 228 killed and 812 wounded, including many officers, and the Dutch 540 killed and 620 wounded. Of the whole Dutch fleet seven only escaped, and five of these were afterwards captured. With regard to the number of their guns, the two fleets were almost equal--the English s.h.i.+ps carrying altogether 1150 guns, and the Dutch 1034; besides which, the latter had some corvettes and brigs which took part in the action, and greatly annoyed their opponents, though their guns were not counted. The victory of Camperdown was gained by the very men who had taken part in the mutiny.

On the news reaching England, all those still under sentence were pardoned.

During this year occurred the unfortunate attack on Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe, when, in attempting to land on the mole, Nelson lost an arm, and the gallant Captain Bowen, with several lieutenants, was killed, many of the boats being sunk and their crews peris.h.i.+ng.

In the year 1798 the French made three attempts to land armies in Ireland, but on each occasion their fleets were driven back, and many of their s.h.i.+ps were captured. A previous attempt had been made in 1796, when they were scattered and discomfited by the weather. The second succeeded in landing a body of troops; the greater number were killed, and the survivors were made prisoners. In the third, the _Hoche_, under the command of Commodore Bompart, was captured, as were several frigates of his squadron; while the fourth, finding the warm reception the troops would meet with should they attempt to land, put back into port.

At this time there were no less than 30,000 French prisoners in England, and by an agreement with their own government, which was to support them, it was arranged they should reside at Portsmouth, Plymouth, Norman Cross, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Chatham, and Stapleton. Arrangements were made towards the end of the war for the exchange of prisoners, but it was found that there were only 2800 English in France. The French Directory now issued a decree declaring that all persons natives of, or originally belonging to, neutral countries, or countries in alliance with France, serving on board any English s.h.i.+p, should be tried as pirates. The English Government, in retaliation, threatened to treat all subjects of the French Republic in the same manner, should the savage order be carried out. This threat had the desired effect.

Bonaparte had been for some time planning a campaign in Egypt. Sailing with a large fleet from Toulon, he first captured Malta, and then proceeded to Alexandria, wonderfully escaping Earl Saint Vincent and Vice-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson. Napoleon having landed, his fleet, under Admiral Brueys, brought up in Aboukir Bay. Here Nelson found the French on the 8th of August, drawn up at anchor in order of battle, and at 3 p.m. he threw out the signal to prepare for the fight, followed an hour afterwards with orders to anchor by the stern with springs to their cables. Another signal was shortly afterwards made to signify that the admiral meant to attack the enemy's van and centre. At 6 p.m. Nelson signalised to the fleet to fill and stand on, which they did in admirable order, the _Goliath_ leading; when, soon afterwards hoisting their colours, with the Union Jack in several parts of the rigging, the British s.h.i.+ps took up the stations allotted to them. At 6:20 p.m. the _Conquirant_, followed by the _Guerrier_, opened her fire upon the _Goliath_ and _Zealous_, which was quickly answered by those s.h.i.+ps; but the sun had already sunk into the ocean before any other British s.h.i.+p had fired a shot. Loud cheers now burst from every s.h.i.+p of the English fleet, when the men, flying to their guns, opened their broadsides with a spirit which soon knocked away the masts and spars of their opponents, and spread death and destruction on board their s.h.i.+ps. The action had continued for two hours, several French s.h.i.+ps having struck, when a fire was perceived on board the _Orient_, which in an hour afterwards blew up with a tremendous explosion, the burning wreck falling far and wide around, and setting fire to several s.h.i.+ps, friends and foes, in the neighbourhood. So awful was the effect, that for ten minutes not a gun was fired on either side. Thus the battle raged all night long, till soon after dawn the French frigate _Artemise_, after striking her colours, also caught fire, and with a terrific explosion blew up.

In the morning the enemy's s.h.i.+ps still in a condition to make sail got under way and endeavoured to escape. Of the thirteen French s.h.i.+ps of the line, by this time, one had blown up, eight had surrendered, and two had escaped. Of the remaining two, one, the _Timoleon_, was on sh.o.r.e, with her colours flying; the other, the _Tonnant_, lay about two miles from her, a mere wreck, but also with her colours up. On the approach, however, of the _Theseus_ and _Leander_, she hauled them down; while the crew of the _Timoleon_ set her on fire, and she soon afterwards blew up.

Thus, in the memorable ”Battle of the Nile,” the French lost eleven line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps, besides frigates. In this action the British lost 218 killed and 678 wounded. Among the latter was Horatio Nelson, who was struck above his already darkened eye by a splinter; while all the s.h.i.+ps were considerably cut up. On board the _Orient_ fell the Commodore Casa Bianca, as well as his gallant young son, who had refused to quit his post; and the French commander-in-chief, Brueys, who, after receiving two severe wounds, was nearly cut in two by a shot. While still breathing, he desired not to be carried below, but to be left to die upon deck, exclaiming in a firm voice, ”Un amiral Francais doit mourir sur son banc de quart.”

”A French admiral ought to die on his quarter-deck.”

While the s.h.i.+p was in flames, the boats of the British s.h.i.+ps put off to save the hapless crew, seventy of whom were thus rescued. The heroic conduct of the captain of the _Tonnant_, Du Pet.i.t Thonars, deserves to be recorded. He first lost both his arms, and then one of his legs; even then, still able to speak, he gave his dying commands to his crew not to surrender the s.h.i.+p. Of the English fleet, the _Culloden_ unhappily got on sh.o.r.e while going into action, and only by great exertions did she get off, after the battle was over. That the French fought with the utmost gallantry is acknowledged by all, while we must rank the victory of the Nile among the most brilliant achievements of the British Navy.

After the battle every effort was made to repair the damages the s.h.i.+ps had received, and to fit the prizes for the voyage to England. Nelson sent the prisoners taken on board them on sh.o.r.e in a cartel, on their parole not to serve again during the war; but Napoleon, with his usual disregard for treaties, formed them into a battalion, which he called the ”nautic.” Three of the prizes, being in too shattered a condition to be refitted, were burnt; another, the _Peuple-Souverain_, being considered unfit to proceed farther than Gibraltar, was there turned into a guard-s.h.i.+p. The five remaining vessels arrived safely at Plymouth; three of them being new and magnificent s.h.i.+ps, the _Tonnant, Franklin_, and _Spartiate_, were added to the British Navy, the name of the former being changed to _Canopus_. Rewards were liberally bestowed upon the victors; Sir Horatio Nelson was created a peer of Great Britain by the t.i.tle of Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe, while a pension was settled on him of 2000 pounds a-year by the English Parliament, and 1000 pounds a-year by the Irish; the East India Company presenting him with 10,000 pounds.

After the defeat of his fleet at Aboukir, Napoleon determined to invade Syria. His plans, however, were thwarted by Sir Sidney Smith, who having captured the fleet which was bringing the battering-cannon and ammunition from Damietta for the siege of Saint Jean d'Acre, made use of it to fortify that town, into which, with a small body of seamen and a few officers, he threw himself, and put it into a state of defence, while he organised the Turkish troops who formed its garrison.

Napoleon, obtaining fresh guns, in a short time laid siege to Acre.

Though he made several desperate attempts to storm it, they were on each occasion repulsed by the valour of the Turks, aided by the fire from the English and sultan's s.h.i.+ps. During one of the many engagements the _Theseus_ frigate caught fire, and the p.o.o.p and after-part of the s.h.i.+p was almost blown to pieces, several of her officers and men being killed. The fire was put out by the courage of the surviving officers and crew.

Napoleon, enraged at his defeat, made every effort to destroy Sir Sidney Smith. Two attempts to a.s.sa.s.sinate him, however, happily failed. At length an Arab dervish appeared with a letter to the pacha, proposing a cessation of arms for the purpose of burying the dead bodies, which in vast numbers were piled up under the ramparts. While this proposal was under consideration, with unexampled treachery, Napoleon attempted to storm the town; but the garrison were on the alert, and the a.s.sailants were driven back with great slaughter. The Arab tribes having been induced to cut off the supply of provisions for the French army, on the 20th of May Napoleon raised the siege, and leaving his guns behind him, precipitately retreated towards Egypt. Such is a brief outline of one of the most daring exploits ever performed by a naval man.

Of a very different character, though one in which consummate bravery was displayed, was the cutting-out of the _Hermione_ frigate. She had been in the year 1799 under the command of Captain Hugh Pigot, one of those tyrant commanders who are truly said to make their s.h.i.+ps ”h.e.l.ls afloat.” While cruising off Porto Rico, as the crew were reefing top-sails, the captain shouted that he would flog the last man off the mizen-topsail yard. Two, in their attempt to spring over their comrades' backs, missing their hold, fell on the quarter-deck and were killed. The captain, it is said, on seeing it, merely observed, ”Throw the lubbers overboard.” The crew, who were probably a bad lot to begin with, for such a captain could not have obtained a good s.h.i.+p's company, from a long succession of tyrannical acts, had become infinitely worse.

The next day they rose on their officers, murdered the greater number, including the captain, and carried the s.h.i.+p into La Guayra, a port of the Spanish Main. Hearing that the _Hermione_, which had been fitted out by the Spaniards and strongly armed, was lying in the harbour of Puerto Cabello, Captain Hamilton, commanding the _Surprise_, a 28-gun frigate, determined to cut her out. Coming off the port on the 21st of October, he discovered her moored head and stern between two strong batteries on either side of the harbour, with her sails bent and ready for sea. After waiting off the port till the 24th without mentioning his intentions, he addressed his crew, reminding them of many enterprises they had undertaken, and pointing out to them that unless they should at once attempt the capture of the frigate, some more fortunate vessel would carry off the prize. Three hearty cheers showed him that he might depend on his crew. ”I shall lead you myself,” he added. ”Here are the orders for the six boats to be employed, with the names of the officers and men to be engaged on the service.”

Every arrangement had been judiciously made. The crew were to be dressed in blue; the pa.s.sword was Britannia, the answer Ireland. The boarders were to take the first spell at the oars; then, as they neared the _Hermione_, they were to be relieved by the regular crews. The expedition was to proceed in two divisions, the one to board on the starboard, the other on the larboard bow, gangway, and quarter. Sharp axes were provided for those who were to cut the bower cable, while others were told off to cut the stern cable, and certain men were to go aloft to loose the sails. In the event of their reaching the s.h.i.+p undiscovered, the boarders only were to board, while the boats' crews were to take the s.h.i.+p in tow directly the cables were cut; but should they be discovered, the crews of each boat were to board and all aid in the enterprise. The rendezvous was to be on the _Hermione's_ quarter-deck. At half-past seven the boats were hoisted out, the crews mustered, and away they pulled from the _Surprise_. As it happened, within a mile of the _Hermione_ the expedition was discovered by two gunboats, and the alarm being given, firing commenced. Captain Hamilton on this pushed for the frigate, believing that all his boats would do the same, but some, misunderstanding his orders, engaged the gunboats.

On approaching, lights were seen at every port, with the s.h.i.+p's company at quarters. Captain Hamilton pushed for the bows, and climbing up, his foot slipped and his pistol went off; but he soon succeeded in gaining a footing on the forecastle, and those who had been ordered to loose the sails immediately got the foresail ready for bending and hauling out to the yard-arms, thus forming a screen to themselves, for not a Spaniard was there to interfere with them. On looking down from the forecastle, they saw the crew of the _Hermione_ at quarters on the main-deck, firing away into the darkness, utterly unconscious that the enemy were on board. Captain Hamilton, with the gunner and fourteen men, now made his way to the quarter-deck--part of them, however, under the gunner, being driven back by the Spaniards, who gained possession of the forecastle.

Another party of English also neglecting to rendezvous on the quarter-deck, the captain was left for some minutes to defend himself against the attack of four Spaniards, one of whom stunned him, when he fell. Happily, some of his men came to the rescue, and a party of marines climbing over the larboard gangway, now gave a favourable turn to affairs. The rest of the boats coming up, the marines formed, fired a volley, and ran down with fixed bayonets on the main-deck. About sixty Spaniards retreated to the cabin, and surrendered. For some time, however, fighting continued on the main-deck and under the forecastle.

The cables were cut, the sails were loosed, while the gunner and two men, though severely wounded, standing at the helm, the boats took the frigate in tow, and she stood out of Puerto Cabello. The batteries immediately opened, and a Portuguese reported that he heard the Spanish prisoners threatening to blow up the frigate. A few muskets fired down the hatchway restored order, and in less than an hour after Captain Hamilton was on board, all opposition had ceased, and the _Hermione_ was his prize. By 2 p.m. the s.h.i.+p was out of gunshot of the batteries, the towing-boats were called alongside, and her crews came on board. In this wonderful enterprise the British had only 12 wounded, while the Spaniards, out of a crew of 365, lost 119 killed and 97 wounded, most of them dangerously. The cutting-out of the _Hermione_ may well be considered one of the most desperate services ever performed, and no man was ever more deserving of the knighthood he received than Captain Hamilton, who had planned every detail, and personally led the bold attack. He himself was among the most severely wounded; besides a blow on his head, he received a sabre wound on the left thigh, another by a pike in his right thigh, and a contusion on the s.h.i.+n-bone by grape-shot; one of his fingers was badly cut, and he was also much bruised.

For some time previously to this, detectives, if they may be so-called, were stationed at each of the ports to discover the members of the crew who had been on board the _Hermione_ at the time of the mutiny. No mercy was shown to those who had taken part in it. A large number were hung; it used to be said, indeed, that more suffered than actually then belonged to her, though they might have done so at some former period.

Sir Edward Hamilton long lived to enjoy his honours.

The days when fabulous amounts of prize-money were to be picked up had not yet pa.s.sed by, although the rich Spanish galleons which went to sea in the times of Drake were seldom to be found. In October of this year, 1799, fortune smiled on the officers and s.h.i.+ps' companies of two British frigates. The _Naiad_, of 38 guns, Captain Pierrepoint, while cruising in lat.i.tude 44 degrees 1 minute north, and longitude 12 degrees 35 minutes west, came in sight of two frigates, to which, notwithstanding the disparity of force, he gave chase. They proved to be the Spanish 34-gun frigates _Santa Brigida_ and _Thetis_, from Vera Cruz, bound to Spain. He followed them all night, when, early in the morning of the 16th, another s.h.i.+p was seen in the south-west, which hoisting her number showed herself to be the 38-gun frigate _Ethalion_, Captain James Young; and soon afterwards two other 32-gun frigates, the _Alcmene_, Captain Digby, and the _Triton_, Captain J. Gore appeared. The Spaniards, hoping to escape, steered different courses, but each were pursued by two British frigates, which, before long coming up with them, compelled them to haul down their colours. Fortunately, a breeze coming off the land, the captors with their prizes were enabled to stand off the coast, just in time to save themselves from being attacked by four large s.h.i.+ps, which came out of Vigo. While the English frigates were preparing to receive the enemy, the four s.h.i.+ps put back into port. The prizes were found to have on board a cargo of specie, besides other merchandise, to an amount which gave each captain upwards of 40,000 pounds, each lieutenant 5000 pounds, each warrant officer upwards of 2000 pounds, each mids.h.i.+pman nearly 800 pounds, each seaman and marine 182 pounds.

Even the seamen and marines might have been well contented with the gold pieces they had to c.h.i.n.k in their pockets; though in too many instances they were probably all dissipated before they had been many days on sh.o.r.e. Yet complaints were general of the uneven way in which prize-money was distributed. It was a common saying among sailors, that when the pay-clerk went on board s.h.i.+ps to pay prize-money, he clambered with his money-bags into the main-top and showered down the money at random; all which remained upon the splinter-netting (a coa.r.s.e rope netting spread as a kind of awning) was for the men, and all that went through for the officers. The captain of a s.h.i.+p not under the admiral's flag received three-eighths of the net proceeds. In this instance the three-eighths were divided among the four captains who a.s.sisted in the capture of the two Spanish frigates. On the treasure being landed, it was escorted in sixty-three artillery waggons, by horse and foot soldiers, and armed seamen and marines, attended by bands of music, and a vast mult.i.tude, to the dungeons of the citadel of Plymouth, whence it was afterwards removed, much in the same style, and deposited in the Bank of England.

Still more fortunate, a few years later, was Lord Cochrane, when, in command of the _Pallas_, he captured three rich prizes in succession, of which the value could not have been far short of 300,000 pounds. As, however, he only took one fourth, his share amounted to about 75,000 pounds. As it was, however, he nearly lost not only a large portion of his booty, but his liberty, as, while returning home after he had taken the last prize, three of the enemy's line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps were seen.

The wind freshening to half a gale, the _Pallas_ was standing on, carrying all the sail she could, when it was found that the enemy were gaining on her. In this desperate emergency Lord Cochrane ordered every st.i.tch of sail to be suddenly taken in, and the three s.h.i.+ps

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