Part 19 (1/2)

Here they were for some time blockaded by the British Channel Squadron under Lord Gambier, whose flag was flying on board the _Caledonia_, of 120 guns, Captain Sir H. Burrard Neale. Lord Gambier had himself suggested the possibility of destroying the French fleet by means of fire-s.h.i.+ps, though he considered, as his letter expresses it, ”a horrible mode of warfare, and the attempt very hazardous, if not desperate.” The Admiralty had, however, antic.i.p.ated him, and had already ordered the construction of several fire-s.h.i.+ps, which, on the arrival from the Mediterranean of Lord Cochrane, commanding the 38-gun frigate _Imperieuse_, were placed under his command. On his reaching the fleet he was coldly received by the other captains, who were jealous of the appointment of a junior officer to conduct so important a service. Lord Cochrane remarks that two only, Rear-Admiral Stafford and Sir Harry Neale, received him in a friendly manner. Lord Cochrane was not a man to be disconcerted by such conduct, and felt thoroughly convinced that the plan he proposed would succeed. The French, aware of the danger of their position, had done their utmost to fortify it. The defences on Ile d'Aix were strengthened, and works were commenced on the Boyart Shoal on the opposite side of the entrance to the roads, while a boom half-a-mile in length, composed of spars and cables, had been laid down and secured by heavy anchors. This boom, forming an obtuse angle, occupied a deep channel between Ile d'Aix and the Boyart Shoal, and it was supposed would prove effectual against the pa.s.sage of fire-s.h.i.+ps.

The French fleet was drawn up in two lines inside the boom, with three frigates in line ahead of them. The s.h.i.+ps thus placed, aided by the batteries on sh.o.r.e, would have been sufficient to sink the British fleet had it attempted to force a pa.s.sage. Besides the fire-s.h.i.+ps, Lord Cochrane had constructed two explosion vessels. The largest contained 1500 barrels of powder, formed into a solid ma.s.s by wedges and wet sand rammed hard between the casks. On the top of this ma.s.s of gunpowder were 400 live sh.e.l.ls with short fusees, together with as many hundreds of hand grenades and rockets.

The night of the 11th of April was fixed on for the enterprise. The fire-s.h.i.+ps were ready, but one mortar-vessel, the _Etna_, alone had arrived. The _Imperieuse_, from whence operations were to be directed, anch.o.r.ed close to the inner end of the Boyart Shoal. The _Aigle, Unicorn_, and _Pallas_ frigates, brought up in a line to the northward of her, in order to receive the crews of the fire-s.h.i.+ps and support the boats of the fleet, while the _Etna_ anch.o.r.ed off the north-east point of Ile d'Aix, covered by the _Emerald_ frigate and four gun brigs. Two others, with screened lights hoisted, were to act as pointers for the guidance of the fire-s.h.i.+ps. They were to pa.s.s between the two light vessels, and then shape a course for the boom. A strong wind from the north-west enabled the fire-s.h.i.+ps to run about two points free for the boom. At 8:30 p.m. Lord Cochrane, accompanied by Lieutenant Bissell, embarked on board the largest of the explosion vessels, on the perilous undertaking, the other fire-s.h.i.+ps followed. He was accompanied by a boat's crew of four volunteers only, in addition to the lieutenant.

Having nearly reached the boom, he ordered the lieutenant and his men to get into the boat while he ignited the port-fires. It was supposed that the fusees would burn fifteen minutes, by the end of which time the boat might be well out of the range of the grenades; but scarcely five minutes had elapsed ere a terrific explosion occurred, throwing up a huge wave which nearly swamped the boat, while grenades and rockets were darting round them on all sides, sh.e.l.ls and missiles of every description rising in the air. The escape of Lord Cochrane and his companions was almost miraculous, for not one of them was. .h.i.t. The fire-s.h.i.+p, too, had performed her destined work, if not as completely as had been desired, sufficiently so to enable the _Mediator_ fire-s.h.i.+p, Commander Woolridge, to force her way. In his eagerness to direct her against the enemy, he remained till the explosion actually occurred, when he, with two lieutenants, a seaman, and the gunner, who was killed, were blown out of the s.h.i.+p. So well directed were the six other fire-s.h.i.+ps that two fell on board the _Ocean_, of 120 guns, and the _Regulus_, a 74, the former being compelled to cut her cables, and she soon afterwards, narrowly escaping the Pallas Shoal, ran on sh.o.r.e, where she again had a narrow escape from another fire-s.h.i.+p. So panic-stricken were the French crews that every effort to escape was made. The scene was indeed truly terror-inspiring, the darkness rendering the effect of the burning s.h.i.+ps, the flight of sh.e.l.ls and rockets, and the flashes of the guns awful in the extreme.

The danger in which the French s.h.i.+ps were placed will best be understood from an account written by one of the officers of the _Ocean_, the French admiral's flag-s.h.i.+p. After the _Ocean_, narrowly escaping being blown up, had grounded, a burning fire-s.h.i.+p grappled her athwart her stern. Every effort was made to prevent the fire from catching the s.h.i.+p; the engine playing, completely wetted the p.o.o.p, while spars were used to heave off the fire-s.h.i.+p, and axes to cut the las.h.i.+ngs of her grapnels fastened to the end of her yards; but the _chevaux-de-frise_ on her sides held her firm. The flames from the fire-s.h.i.+p covering the whole of the p.o.o.p, it seemed impossible that the _Ocean_ could escape.

At this juncture two other line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps, the _Tonnerre_ and _Patriote_, fell on board her. The first broke her own bowsprit and destroyed the _Ocean's_ main-channels. As the fire-s.h.i.+p athwart the stern was now about to drive forward along the starboard side, the _Tonnerre_ was got free. Unless this had happened the fire-s.h.i.+p would have fallen into the angle formed by the two s.h.i.+ps, and would inevitably have burnt them. The fire-vessel having now drifted under the bowsprit of the _Ocean_, was there held for some time. In order to afford the _Tonnerre_ and _Patriote_ an opportunity to get out of her reach, an attempt had been made to drown the magazine, but the flow of water was too slow for the purpose. In the efforts to clear the fire-s.h.i.+ps upwards of fifty men fell into the sea and were drowned, the boats saving others.

Shortly afterwards another fire-vessel approached on the starboard-quarter, but the _Ocean's_ guns cut away her main-mast, and wearing, she pa.s.sed close alongside. For the remainder of the night vessels were seen burning on all sides. Daylight revealed the French fleet in a deplorable condition; the _Ocean_ on the mud at a distance of half-a-mile to the south-east of the anchorage in Aix Road; to the south-east of her, about fifteen hundred yards off, on a rocky bed, lay the _Varsovie_ and _Aquilon_, and close to them on somewhat better ground the _Regulus_ and _Jemappes_. The _Tonnerre_, already bilged, and her main-mast cut away, and most of her guns hove overboard, lay at the entrance of the Charente, and at some distance off the _Calcutta_, close to the wreck of the _Jean Bart_. The _Patriote_ and _Tourville_ also lay not far from the channel of the Charente. Four frigates were also on sh.o.r.e in the same direction. All the grounded s.h.i.+ps were more or less on the heel--those on the Pallas Shoal in a very desperate condition. Thus, although the fire-vessels had not caused the immediate destruction of any of the French fleet, they had been the means of reducing nearly the whole of them to a comparatively defenceless state.

Lord Cochrane, in the _Imperieuse_, being the nearest English s.h.i.+p, was the first to perceive their condition, and immediately telegraphed, ”The fleet can destroy the enemy--seven on sh.o.r.e;” at 6:40, ”Eleven on sh.o.r.e;” and at 9:30, ”Enemy preparing to heave off.” At first it was hoped that Lord Gambier would immediately stand in and complete the destruction of the helpless enemy; and there can be little doubt, had such men as Sir Sidney Smith or Lord Cochrane himself been in command, such would have been accomplished; but Lord Gambier, afraid of risking the loss of the whole fleet by venturing among the shoals, called his captains on board, held a council of war, and allowed the favourable time to pa.s.s by. The tide rising enabled several of the s.h.i.+ps to get afloat, and run up the Charente out of the way of danger. The _Imperieuse_, without waiting for orders, after signalling for a.s.sistance, stood towards three of the French s.h.i.+ps, the _Calcutta, Varsovie_, and _Aquilon_. After some time she was joined by some gun brigs and bomb-vessels, and later by the _Indefatigable_, and other frigates. She had, in the meantime, compelled the _Calcutta_ to cease firing, and the Frenchmen to abandon her. Lord Cochrane then sent a mids.h.i.+pman and boat's crew to take possession, when, without orders, the mids.h.i.+pman set her on fire, and in the evening she blew up with a tremendous explosion. The _Tonnerre_ was also set on fire by her own officers and crew, and blew up. The fire from the English s.h.i.+ps compelled the _Varsovie_ and _Aquilon_ to submit at 5:30 p.m. Five other French s.h.i.+ps lying on sh.o.r.e at the mouth of the Charente might also have been destroyed had there been any reserve of fire-vessels, but these were wanting, and though efforts were made to prepare three more, by the time they were ready the wind had s.h.i.+fted and they could not be used. The French lost the _Varsovie_, of 84 guns, the _Aquilon_ and _Tonnerre_, of 74 guns, and the _Calcutta_, of 50 guns. The _Imperieuse_ during the action had three seamen killed, and Mr Gilbert, an a.s.sistant-surgeon, Mr Marsden, purser, seven seamen, and two marines wounded, while the _Revenge_ had three men killed and Lieutenant Garland and fourteen men wounded, she also receiving considerable damage in her hull from the batteries on Ile d'Aix. The French loss was much more considerable; the _Varsovie_ especially, having 100 killed and wounded, while the captain of the _Aquilon_ was killed in a boat of the _Imperieuse_, when seated by the side of Lord Cochrane, by a shot from the burning _Tonnerre_. The burning _Varsovie_ and _Aquilon_, being supposed by the French to be fire-s.h.i.+ps, created a further panic among them. The captain and crew of the _Tourville_, believing that the fire-vessel was bearing down upon them, deserted their s.h.i.+p, and hastened in their boats on sh.o.r.e. A gallant French quartermaster, however, of the name of Bourgeois, managed to get on board again before the boat shoved off, resolved to stand by his s.h.i.+p to the last. To secure his safety should the fire-s.h.i.+ps grapple the _Tourville_, he at once began constructing a raft. He had just completed it when an English boat approached, the crew of which were ignorant that the s.h.i.+p was abandoned. Bourgeois hailed her twice, but receiving no reply, fired a musket which he found at the gangway. This was returned, but the intrepid fellow, hastening to the captain's cabin, where he found twenty loaded muskets, discharged them in quick succession, when, greatly to his satisfaction, the boat pulled away. After he had been on board an hour, he discovered three of his s.h.i.+pmates insensible from drink on the lower-deck. A short time after this three of the _Tourville's_ boats, with a young mids.h.i.+pman, who now took the command, returned on board the _Ocean_, and he and the brave quartermaster prepared to defend their s.h.i.+p to the last. Fortunately for them, the English, not aware of what had happened, did not attack her, or she would undoubtedly have been added to the list of the French s.h.i.+ps destroyed on the occasion Lord Cochrane still remained with the gun brigs, and the _Pallas_, Captain Seymour, her commander, having gallantly decided on rendering him a.s.sistance. At 8 a.m. on the 13th of April he despatched the brigs and mortar-vessel to attack the s.h.i.+ps still aground. The _Etna_ unfortunately split her mortar, and the other vessels could do the enemy but little harm. A strong wind and tide prevented the _Imperieuse_ and _Pallas_ from taking a part in the attack. At noon five other small vessels were sent in by Lord Gambier, who wrote to Lord Cochrane giving him leave to attack the _Ocean_, but observing that there was little prospect of success, and desiring to see him as soon as possible. Lord Cochrane replied, ”We can destroy the s.h.i.+ps which are on sh.o.r.e, which I hope your lords.h.i.+p will approve of.”

The _Imperieuse_, therefore, remained until the next day, when Lord Gambier, finding that Lord Cochrane would not quit his post as long as he had a shadow of discretionary authority, superseded him in the command of the fire-s.h.i.+ps by Captain Wolfe, observing, ”I wish you to join me as soon as possible, that you may convey Sir Harry Neale to England, who will be charged with my despatches.” The _Imperieuse_, therefore, proceeded to Basque Roads, where Lord Cochrane had a disagreeable interview with the admiral, who insinuated that he desired to take all the merit of the service to himself. On his arrival in England Lord Cochrane, who had now a seat in Parliament, gave notice that he should oppose the vote of thanks about to be proposed to Lord Gambier. On hearing this Lord Gambier, on his arrival, demanded a court-martial. The evidence of Captain Pulteney Malcolm was much in favour of Lord Cochrane, but the other witnesses supported Lord Gambier, and sentence was p.r.o.nounced, honourably acquitting him of all blame.

From that day Lord Cochrane's prospect of success in the navy was destroyed. Though attempts were made by Lord Mulgrave to bribe him over, he refused to abandon what he considered his duty to his const.i.tuents and the country. The vote of thanks to Lord Gambier was carried by a majority of 161 to 39.

The following year, when Crocker, secretary to the Admiralty, brought forward the navy estimates, Lord Cochrane moved an address for certain returns relating to pensions on the civil list, contrasting them with pensions to naval officers; remarking in the course of his speech, ”An admiral, when superannuated, has 410 pounds a-year, a captain 210 pounds, while a clerk of the ticket-office retires on 700 pounds a-year.

Four daughters of the gallant Captain Courtenay, who was killed in action with the enemy when commanding the _Boston_, have 12 pounds, 10 s.h.i.+llings each; the daughters of Admiral Sir A. Mitchel and Admiral Hepworth have each 25 pounds; Admiral Keppel's daughter, 24 pounds; the daughter of Captain Mann, who was killed in action, 25 pounds; and four children of Admiral Moriarty, 25 pounds each. Thus thirteen daughters of admirals and captains, several of whose fathers fell in the service of their country, receive from the grat.i.tude of the nation a sum in the aggregate less than Dame Mary s.e.xton, the widow of a commissioner.”

Remarking on the pension list, he observed, ”Captain Johnstone receives 45 pounds 12 s.h.i.+llings for the loss of an arm; Lieutenants Harding and Lawson, 91 pounds, 5 s.h.i.+llings each for a similar loss; Lieutenant Campbell, 40 pounds for the loss of a leg; and Lieutenant Chambers, RM, 80 pounds for the loss of both legs--while Sir Andrew Hammond retires on a pension of 1500 pounds per annum.”

Amongst the most renowned exploits of the navy is that of the capture of Curacoa. It having been reported to Vice-Admiral Dacres, then commander-in-chief on the Jamaica station, that the inhabitants of the island of Curacoa wished to ally themselves to Great Britain, he despatched the _Arethusa_, 38-gun frigate, commanded by Captain Charles Brisbane, accompanied by the _Latona_, also of 38 guns, Captain Wood, and the _Anson_, 44 guns, Captain Lydiard. These, when close to the island, were joined by the _Fisgard_, of 38 guns, Captain Bolton.

Captain Brisbane, suspecting that the governor and the troops garrisoning the strong forts would not be willing to yield them up as the inhabitants might desire, without waiting to enter into diplomatic negotiations, determined at once to run into the harbour of Saint Anne, the capital of the island, and to invite the authorities to yield under the muzzles of his guns. A favourable wind, which sprang up on the last day of the year 1806, gave him hopes of being able to carry out his project. On New-Year's Eve it was known that every true Dutchman would indulge in extra potations, and that by getting in at daylight, before the garrison had regained their senses, there would be every probability of catching them unprepared. Excellent arrangements were made; each frigate had her allotted station, and the larger portion of her crew was divided into storming parties, under their respective officers. The master, with the remainder of the hands, being left in charge of the s.h.i.+p. Each was to wear a distinctive badge, so that they might know each other during the fighting. The difficulties to be encountered were of no light description. The harbour, only fifty fathoms wide, was defended by regular fortifications; one, Fort Amsterdam, on the right of the entrance, mounting sixty guns in two tiers. On the opposite side was a chain of forts, and at the farther end an almost impregnable fortress, called Fort Republique, enfilading it almost within grape-shot distance. Besides these defences, a 36-gun frigate, a 20-gun corvette, and two large armed schooners lay athwart the harbour, which nowhere exceeds a quarter-of-a-mile in width.

At daylight the _Arethusa_ leading, with a flag of truce at the fore, followed by the other three frigates, entered the port, receiving as she did so a warm fire from the Dutch, who, however, only at that instant aroused out of their beds, took but bad aim. In a few minutes the wind beaded the frigates, but s.h.i.+fting again, they stood on, and took up their stations in favourable positions, with their broadsides bearing on the Dutch forts and s.h.i.+ps. So close in were the frigates that the _Arethusa's_ jib-boom was over the wall of the town. Captain Brisbane now sent a summons to the governor, to the effect that the British squadron had come to protect, not to conquer the inhabitants, but that if a shot was fired, he should immediately storm the batteries. He wisely gave the governor but five minutes to make up his mind.

Receiving no answer, Captain Brisbane ordered the s.h.i.+ps to open their broadside, when each having fired three, he and Captain Lydiard boarded and carried the frigate and corvette. This done, they proceeded to storm Fort Amsterdam, which, though strongly garrisoned, was carried in about ten minutes, one party breaking open the sea-gate with crowbars, while another escaladed the walls. The citadel of the town, and several other forts, were carried with equal celerity. A fire was next opened upon Fort Republique, and preparations were made to attack it in the rear with a body of 300 seamen and marines, but so completely confounded were the garrison by the suddenness of the a.s.sault that, though they might have effectually resisted, and possibly blown the British s.h.i.+ps out of the water, they yielded without firing a shot, and a little after 10 a.m. the British flag was hoisted on their walls. Two hours later the island of Curacoa capitulated, and was taken possession of by the victors.

During this brilliant morning's work the total loss of the English amounted to only 3 killed and 14 wounded, chiefly in the capture of the s.h.i.+ps; and the Dutch lost 5 killed and 8 wounded, besides nearly 200 men killed and wounded on sh.o.r.e.

Many other gallant actions were fought between light squadrons and single s.h.i.+ps, and numerous cutting-out expeditions in boats were successfully undertaken. During these years the British line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps attained a size far greater than had existed at any preceding period. The _Caledonia_, though ordered as far back as the year 1794, did not begin building till January, 1805, and was launched on the 25th of June, 1808. Though originally intended to carry only 100 guns, she was altered to a 120-gun s.h.i.+p, her draught being prepared by Sir William Rule, one of the surveyors of the navy. Her length on the lower gun-deck from the rabbet of the stem to the rabbet of the stern-post was 205 feet; her extreme breadth 53 feet 8 inches; her depth of hold 23 feet 2 inches; and she was of 2615 tons burden. Her net complement, including marines and boys, was 891. She was, and continued to be, the finest three-decker in the service. She excelled in all essential qualities, rode easy at her anchors, carried her lee-ports well, rolled and pitched quite easy, steered, worked, and stayed remarkably well, was a weatherly s.h.i.+p, and lay to very close, close-hauled under whole or single reefed top-sails. She went nine knots, and under all large sail eleven knots.

She was followed by the _Nelson_, of the same size, the _Britannia_, built at Plymouth, and the _Prince Regent_ at Chatham. Two others of a somewhat similar size were subsequently added, the _London_, built at Plymouth, and the _Princess Charlotte_ at Portsmouth, in the year 1813.

The prizes captured during the year 1807 nearly doubled that of any other period. At the same time, the losses sustained by the navy were greater than had ever before occurred, amounting to no less than 38 s.h.i.+ps. Of these, no fewer than 29 foundered at sea or were wrecked, a large proportion of their crews peris.h.i.+ng with them. The navy of England had, however, greatly increased. At the commencement of 1815 she possessed 124 line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps, averaging each 1830 tons; whereas at the end of the previous century, they averaged only 1645 tons. If we take a glance back to a still more distant period, we shall judge better of the enormous progress made during the last two centuries. In the year 1641 the navy of England consisted of 42 s.h.i.+ps, the aggregate tonnage of which was 22,411 tons. At the period of which we are writing it amounted to 966,000 tons, and within fifty years of that period, Scott Russell launched in the Thames one vessel of 22,500 tons, being in excess by 89 tons of the whole British fleet at the time of Charles the First. At that period about 8000 men were considered sufficient to man the navy, while in 1814, 146,000 men were voted; the navy estimates amounted to 18,786,509 pounds, and the burden of 901 s.h.i.+ps amounted to 966,000 tons.

England, taught by the loss of several frigates captured by American s.h.i.+ps of the same cla.s.s, though vastly superior in size, began to construct frigates to compete with her foes. Three small-cla.s.s seventy-fours, the _Majestic, Goliath_, and _Saturn_, were cut-down so as to retain their main-deck batteries, on which they were armed with 28 long 32-pounders, while on their lower-decks they received an equal number of 42-pounder carronades, besides two long 12-pounders as chase-guns; making 58 guns on two flush-decks, with a net complement of 495 men and boys. They thus, though denominated frigates, possessed a slightly increased weight of metal in broadsides to that which they before carried. It was hoped that with the aid of black hammock-cloths thrown over the waist of the barricade, they would be so disguised as to tempt any large American frigates they might fall in with to come down and engage. Such s.h.i.+ps would have been more than a match for the heaviest of the American 44-gun frigates. They were in reality two-decked s.h.i.+ps, but, as it turned out, they had no opportunity of proving their powers with any of the vessels with which they were intended to cope.

Several other fine 50-gun frigates were built; the _Endymion, Glasgow_, and _Liverpool, Forth, Liffey_, and _Severn_ the three latter of fir, and the two before-mentioned of pitch-pine; the chief complaint made of them being that their quarters were rather confined. They had a complement of 350 men and boys. Other smaller frigates were constructed for economy's sake of yellow pine, most of them carrying medium 24-pounders, with a complement of 330 men and boys. To the British Navy were also added two cla.s.ses of sloops of war; the largest, of about 430 tons, mounted 18 32-pounder carronades on the main-deck, and 6, 12, or 18-pounder carronades on the quarter-deck and forecastle, with two long sixes, making a total of 26 guns, with 121 men and boys. The second-cla.s.s was the 18-gun brig-sloop. Another cla.s.s of s.h.i.+p-sloops or corvettes were fitted out for sea while Sir Joseph Yorke was First Lord of the Admiralty, having a flush-deck, and carrying 18 32-pounder carronades and two long nines. They were fitted with stern chase-ports, but from the narrowness of their sterns there was no room to work the tiller, while the guns were pointed from the ports. They were defective also in having their masts too slight, while they were in other respects heavily rigged. The worst vessels, however, constructed at a later period, were the 10-gun brigs of war, small, narrow craft, so low between decks that the unfortunate commander, if a tall man, had to stand up, with his head through the skylight, and his looking-gla.s.s on deck, to shave himself. For many years commanders were appointed to them with a crew of upwards of 100 men, two lieutenants, and other gun-room officers, as well as mids.h.i.+pmen, whose berth measured seven feet by five. Being excessively crank, the greater number foundered, and gained for the cla.s.s the unenviable t.i.tle of ”sea-coffins.” They and frigates carrying 28 guns, generally known in the service by the name of ”jacka.s.s-frigates,” were the worst cla.s.s of vessels belonging of late years to the British Navy. They existed, however, till steam power and the screw propeller caused those that had escaped destruction to be broken up or sold out of the service. For some years previously, however, the 10-gun brigs were commanded by lieutenants, with, of course, reduced crews.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

WAR WITH UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO WAR IN SYRIA--FROM A.D. 1811 TO A.D. 1840.

Much indignation had long been felt by the people of the United States in consequence of Great Britain claiming the right of searching neutral vessels for deserters from our s.h.i.+ps. There existed, also, among them another cause of annoyance. It was this, that while the rest of the world were at war, the Americans had enjoyed the advantage of being the carriers for other powers, and that Napoleon, in the hope of crippling England, had declared all neutral vessels that had touched at any of her home or colonial ports liable to confiscation, thus virtually putting a stop to the commerce of the United States. Instead of complaining of France, the Americans put the blame on England, and hoped by going to war with her to regain the carrying trade they had lost. England had, besides, given great provocation as far back as the year 1807, when a small squadron of British s.h.i.+ps was stationed off the American coast.

Several men having deserted from the different s.h.i.+ps, some of them were received on board the United States frigate _Chesapeake_. Hearing of the occurrence, the admiral at Halifax despatched the 50-gun frigate _Leopard_, commanded by Captain Humphries, with orders to the captains of any of the s.h.i.+ps should they fall in with the _Chesapeake_ without the limits of the United States to insist on searching her for deserters. Having delivered her despatches, the _Leopard_ was lying with the rest of the squadron, when the _Chesapeake_, which was at anchor in Hampton Roads, put to sea on her way to the Mediterranean. On this, the _Leopard_ received orders from the British commodore, to make sail in chase of her. Captain Humphries, shortly afterwards, falling in with the _Chesapeake_, hailed to say that he had a message from the British commander-in-chief. To this the American commodore, Barron, replied, ”Send it on board--I will heave to.” On the arrival of the _Leopard's_ lieutenant on board the _Chesapeake_, Commodore Barron declared that he had no such men on board as were described. On the lieutenant's return, Captain Humphries again hailed the _Chesapeake_, and receiving unsatisfactory answers, observing also indications of intended resistance on board the American frigate, he ordered a shot to be fired across her forefoot. At intervals of two minutes he fired others, but evasive answers only being returned, and it being evident that the object of Commodore Barron was only to gain time, the _Leopard_ opened her fire in earnest. After she had discharged three broadsides at the American frigate the latter hauled down her colours, having only returned a few guns. On this a lieutenant from the _Chesapeake_ came on board the _Leopard_ with a verbal message from Commodore Barron signifying that he considered his s.h.i.+p to be the _Leopard's_ prize.

Without undertaking to receive her as such, Captain Humphries sent two of his lieutenants, with several petty officers and men, on board the _Chesapeake_ to search for the deserters, and the crew being mustered, one of them, who was dragged out of the coal-hole, Jenkin Ratford, was recognised as a deserter from the _Halifax_. Three others were found, who had deserted from the _Melampus_, and about twelve more from various British s.h.i.+ps of war. The first four, however, alone were carried on board the _Leopard_, when Commodore Barron again offered to deliver up his frigate as a prize; to this Captain Humphries replied that, having fulfilled his instructions, he had nothing more to desire, but must proceed to his destination. He, however, expressed his regret at having been compelled to attack him, and offered all the a.s.sistance in his power. The _Chesapeake_ had indeed suffered severely from the broadsides of the _Leopard_, twenty-two shot being lodged in her hull, while her masts and rigging were greatly damaged. She had lost three seamen killed, while the commodore, one mids.h.i.+pman, and sixteen seamen and marines were wounded. Though nearly a hundred tons larger than the _Leopard_, and carrying a greater weight of shot, while her crew numbered fifty men more, she was almost unprepared for battle, so that no imputation could be cast on Commodore Barron for not continuing the engagement.

On arriving at Halifax the unfortunate Jenkin Ratford was found guilty of mutiny and desertion, and was hanged at the foreyard-arm of the s.h.i.+p from which he had deserted. The other men, though found guilty of desertion, were pardoned.

This untoward event was the cause of protracted diplomatic negotiations.

Every apology was offered to the United States; and England gave up all claim to the right of searching men-of-war of other nations for deserters. About three years afterwards the British frigate _Guerrier_ impressed out of an American merchant-vessel a man named Deguyo, said to be a citizen of the United States, and shortly afterwards two other native Americans in the belief that they all three were English subjects. At this time the 44-gun frigate _President_, belonging to the United States, lay moored in the Chesapeake. On receiving directions from his government, Commodore Rogers, who took the command, put to sea in search of the _Guerrier_ on the 12th of May, 1811. Soon after noon of the 16th, from the mast-head of the _President_, a s.h.i.+p was descried standing towards her under a press of sail, which Commodore Rogers at once concluded was the frigate _Guerrier_. The stranger was, however, the British s.h.i.+p-sloop _Little Belt_, mounting 18 32-pounder carronades, and 2 long nines, with a crew of 120 men and boys, commanded by Captain Bingham, who at the same time made out the _President_. Captain Bingham, finding her signals unanswered, felt a.s.sured that the stranger was an American frigate, and continued his course round Cape Hatteras.

By the time the evening was closing in, the _President_ was up to her Captain Bingham hailed, asking, ”What s.h.i.+p is that?” Commodore Rogers merely repeated the question. At that instant a gun was fired from the _President_, as was afterwards alleged, by chance. On this the _Little Belt_ fired, and a furious action commenced, which lasted upwards of half-an-hour, with a short intermission. The after-sail of the _Little Belt_ being shot away, and her rigging much damaged, she fell off, so that, being unable to bring her guns to bear on her antagonist, she ceased firing. Commodore Rogers again hailed, when he received answer that the vessel he had attacked was a British s.h.i.+p of war, but, owing to the freshness of the breeze, he did not hear her name. During this short engagement her masts and yards were badly wounded, and her rigging cut to pieces, while her hull was severely injured. She had lost a mids.h.i.+pman and 10 men killed or mortally wounded, and 21 wounded; while the _President_ had only one boy wounded, and her rigging and masts but slightly injured. The _President_ now hove to to leeward during the night, while the _Little Belt_ was employed in stopping her leaks and repairing damages. Next morning the first lieutenant of the _President_ came on board, expressing Commodore Rogers' regret at the unfortunate affair, and stating that had he known the size of the British s.h.i.+p he would not have fired into her. Captain Bingham inquired why he had fired at all; on which the lieutenant replied that the _Little Belt_ had fired first. Captain Bingham denied this, and the subject was long a matter of dispute--though there can be no doubt that one of the _President's_ guns went off, possibly by chance, and that Captain Bingham lost no time in replying to it. That Captain Bingham's conduct was considered most gallant was proved by his being immediately promoted to post-rank.