The little 'Nemesis' deserves a chapter to herself. She was
fortunate in having a Commander whose zeal and courage never allowed
him to let an opportunity pass by which he could distinguish himself,
or advance the cause in which he was engaged. He also is happy in
possessing a biographer, whose sincere regard and admiration enables
him to describe in glowing colours the gallant deeds he performed
while in command of that vessel in the China seas. We give one of
the exploits of the 'Nemesis' almost in Mr. Bernard's own words.*
* "Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the 'Nemesis,'" by W. D.
Bernard, Esq. H. Colburn.--We strongly recommend the book to all who
wish to obtain a full description of the War in China.
On her voyage from Amoy to Chusan, having been separated from the
fleet in consequence of thick and squally weather, and having lost
her fore top-mast and fore gallant-mast, she came to an anchor under
a small island about thirty-five miles from Sheipoo, and between
fifty and sixty from the Buffalo's Nose.
On the 16th of Sept., Mr. Hall landed on the island with a party of
men to look for wood, which was much needed for fuel, and also for
refreshments for the crew, and took the opportunity to ascend a high
hill for the sake of observing the neighbouring country. The haze
cleared off sufficiently to enable him to discover the entrance to an
extensive harbour. He thought he could make out something like
batteries or field-works at the entrance. The opportunity for
earning some further distinction for his beloved 'Nemesis' was too
tempting to be neglected. It was also probable that a good supply of
fuel would be found near the town; a consideration never to be lost
sight of for a steamer. The state of the weather, which still
continued very unsettled, and prevented the ship from putting to sea,
encouraged him to undertake the enterprise he contemplated.
Soon after daylight on the 17th, a large junk hove in sight, which
was boarded in the hope of gaining some information, but was not
otherwise molested. Nothing important was elicited. The 'Nemesis,'
however, stood in for the entrance of the harbour, which was very
narrow, but fortunately she soon fell in with a fishing-boat, with
several fishermen in her. They were at once brought to, and made to
understand that one of them must come on board and pilot the vessel
into the harbour; and he was promised ten dollars if he took her in
without any accident; but if she touched ground, it was hinted to
him, that he would immediately be run up to the yard-arm, to atone
either for his treachery or his misfortune, whichever it might be.
At first the poor fellow was in a dreadful state of alarm, but after
being made more clearly to understand the conditions, he gradually
recovered his self-possession. The tide swept into the narrow
entrance of the harbour so rapidly, that the 'Nemesis' was fairly
carried through the passage before the two small field-works intended
to protect it could bring a single gun to bear upon her; but the
Chinese were seen running down from their little encampment above to
man the guns.
At the bottom of the harbour, the town now came in view, with a
number of trading-junks moored in close lines on one side of it,
while on the other there was a small fort which appeared to have been
strengthened recently, but was left almost unprotected in the rear.
About five or six hundred men were drawn up on a rising ground behind
the fort, so that it was evident the Chinese were prepared for
defence. The 'Nemesis' immediately ran in towards the fort, and took
up a flanking position, anchoring by the stern between it and the
town, so as to bring her guns to bear with the greatest advantage
without exposing herself to the direct fire of the fort. Shot,
shell, and canister were now poured in, and the fort was soon
silenced; but at the same time troops could be seen descending from
the hill behind, and bringing with them heavy gingals mounted on
triangular stands, as if they intended to oppose a landing.
A few discharges of grape-shot, however, killed many of them, and
threw them into great disorder, on which Captain Hall landed at the
head of all the men who could be spared from the ship, and took
possession of the fort, the Chinese flying before them; two brass and
two iron guns were destroyed in the fort, the temporary sheds,
buildings, were set on fire, and water was poured into the magazine
to destroy the powder. It was not thought necessary to follow the
Chinese, who had retreated to the hill again, or to attempt to enter
the town itself, from which no good result could be expected, as the
retreat of so small a party to the boats might in the mean time have
been cut off, or, at all events, attended with some loss.
As soon as the whole party had returned on board, boats were sent
out, manned and armed, to search for fuel, and also to attempt to
capture three large war-junks, which had been seen on the way up the
harbour. All the trading-junks were left unmolested, but several
well-filled wood-junks were soon picked out, and in a short time no
less than seven boat-loads of excellent wood were obtained, amounting
in all to about 70 tons. Much labour was required to bring off so
large a quantity, and to stow it away expeditiously; nevertheless,
during this operation, one of the war-junks was captured (the crew
having deserted her), and as soon as she was towed clear of the town
and shipping, so as not to cause any unnecessary damage, she was set
on fire in the middle of the harbour, and shortly blew up. Two guns,
and a quantity of gingals, matchlocks, swords, &c., were destroyed in
her. By eleven o'clock the wooding party had finished their labours,
and as a fresh body of troops appeared to be collecting near the
town, the steamer again ran in, and poured a shower of grape and
canister into the midst of them, which made them instantly disperse.
It was now mid-day, and officers and men were thoroughly fatigued
with their exertions since daylight; the steamer was therefore moved
to the upper end of the harbour, while the men were quietly piped to
dinner. The day's work, however, was not yet finished, and about two
o'clock the cutters were sent away, manned and armed, under Mr.
Galbraith, to destroy the other two war-junks which had been seen in
the morning, one of which was found to mount 14 guns, and contained a
large quantity of powder, with numerous warlike implements of various
kinds. One of them was towed out into the middle of the harbour, and
set on fire; the other blew up close in shore, where she was aground.
Some of the common Chinese labourers ran down to the shore to
endeavour to extinguish the fire on board the junk, but they were
instantly driven off by a few round-shot. Throughout the day the
hills which surrounded the harbour were covered with people, who
crowded out of the town, and from all the neighbouring villages, to
witness the exploits of the "devil-ship," the rapidity of whose
movements, the precision of her fire, and the volumes of smoke and
steam which issued from her, seeming to awaken feelings of awe and
mute astonishment even more than fear; and on seeing the destruction
of the war-junks, while the merchant-junks remained uninjured, they
appeared satisfied that no mischief was threatened against the
unarmed inhabitants, so long as they did not interfere.
The day was now far advanced, and it only remained to capture the two
forts or field-works upon the island, just within the mouth of the
harbour. A shot or two had previously been fired at them in the
course of the morning, but it was now determined to take possession
of them and destroy the works. A few shells and rockets were
discharged into them from the steamer, as she neared them, and the
boats then put off, manned and armed. The Chinese had only just
abandoned them. The two field-works were very near each other, and
were found to mount nine guns, which were spiked, their carriages
destroyed, and the tents of the soldiers were set on fire. About
five o'clock the 'Nemesis' again made her way out of the harbour
without any accident, and without having suffered any casualty among
the men throughout the whole day's arduous work, in which Mr. Freeze
(mate, R.N.), the chief officer, and Mr. Galbraith, the second, bore
a conspicuous part. Good service had been rendered, not only by the
destruction of the enemy's works and vessels, and by obtaining so
large a supply of the much-needed fuel, but by the moral impression
which was created among the people, both of our power and of our
forbearance. The poor Chinese fisherman, who had acted as pilot,
was, of course, liberated as soon as the harbour was cleared; and he
appeared no less astonished than overjoyed when the promised ten
dollars were counted out into his hands.