February 21st, 1848.
The State of Nicaragua will be found towards the southern portion of
that narrow neck of land which joins the two mighty continents of
North and South America. A variety of outrages and insults having
been offered to British subjects, two individuals especially having
been carried off from San Juan by Colonel Salas of the Nicaraguan
army, Mr. Walker, Her Majesty's Consul-General and Agent, stationed
at Bluefields, sent to Admiral Austen, the Commander-in-Chief on the
West India Station, requesting the support and protection of some
ships-of-war for British interests in that part of the world.
In consequence of this request, the Admiral despatched H.M.S.
'Alarm,' Captain Granville G. Loch, and H.M.S. 'Vixen,' Commander
Ryder, to Bluefields. They reached that place on the 5th of
February, when Mr. Walker particularly requesting to be allowed to
accompany the expedition Captain Loch proposed at once to lead
against the Nicaraguans, he embarked with them, and they again sailed
on the 7th for San Juan de Nicaragua, accompanied by a boat belonging
to Mr. Walker. They reached the mouth of the river the following
day, where the ships came to an anchor. The nearest Nicaraguan
settlement was at Serapaqui, about thirty miles up the river, but
which, from the strength of the current and various rapids, is
generally a four days' journey by boats. It was understood that
Colonel Salas was stationed at this fort with a considerable body of
troops. Nothing daunted by this, by the known strength of the fort,
and the difficulty of approaching it, on account of the rapidity of
the current of the river which there flows by it, Captain Loch
resolved to insist on Colonel Salas making all the reparation in his
power, or, in the event of his refusal, to compel him to do so by
force.
The fort of Serapaqui was situated on a point projecting into the
river very abruptly, to the height of fifty feet. It was protected
in the rear by a dense forest, and in the front by an abattis formed
of large trees felled, with their heads and branches reaching into
the river. The defences of the fort consisted of six angular
stockaded entrenchments, formed of very tough timber, eight feet high
and four feet thick, one side of each stockade looking across the
river, and the other down the reach. The principal stockade
commanded the only landing-place, on which also a gun was at the time
mounted. The fort was only to be approached by heading a rapid
current of nearly five knots an hour, in order to pass the fort and
descend towards the landing-place, which was above the stockaded
batteries, and excessively steep and narrow. The fort is situated at
the head of a straight reach about a mile and a half long, the banks
on either side affording an almost impenetrable shelter to a
concealed foe.
As soon as the ships anchored, the expedition, consisting of 260
officers and men, left their sides in twelve boats--consisting of the
ships' launches, the 'Vixen's' paddle-box boats, the gigs, Mr.
Walker's boat, a spare pinnace, commanded by Lieut. Johnston of
H.M.S. 'Alarm,' and the ship's barges.
The representations as to the strength of the current were found to
be in no way exaggerated, but with a gallantry, zeal, and
perseverance never surpassed, Captain Loch and his brave followers
pulled on hour after hour against the stream. Often they had to pass
over downfalls and rapids, when it was only by the greatest exertions
the heavy boats could in any way be forced along, and in this service
Lieut. Scott, First of the 'Vixen,' showed the most praiseworthy zeal
and gallantry. At night they rested, but at an early hour again each
morning they recommenced their exertions, and at length, after a most
fatiguing pull of 72 hours, they anchored a short distance below the
fort. Here a most melancholy accident occurred, which threw a gloom
over the whole band.--A friend of Mr. Walker's had accompanied him in
his boat, and in the night, by some chance, he slipped overboard, and
was swept down the stream by the rapid current. Mr. Walker heard his
despairing cry for help, and regardless of the risk he ran, he leaped
overboard in the boiling waters, in the vain hope of saving him. He,
too, was at once whirled away by the current, and carried far away,
before, by any possibility, assistance could be afforded him: both
gentlemen thus unhappily losing their lives. Early on the morning of
the 12th of February, the expedition got under weigh, and proceeded
up towards the fort. Captain Loch and Commander Ryder went on ahead
in their gigs, in order to communicate with Colonel Salas, and to
state the object of Her Majesty's forces being in the river. No
sooner, however, were they seen from the fort than they were fired at
by two guns, and directly afterwards, by musketry from both sides of
the river. As this act effectually prevented any peaceable
arrangements, Captain Loch immediately ordered up the boats for the
purpose of storming the fort. The two gigs then took the lead,
followed pretty closely by some of the lighter-pulling boats,
consisting of a spare pinnace, commanded by Lieut. Johnston, H.M.S.
'Alarm,' containing some of the 38th Regiment, the 'Alarm's' barge,
commanded by Lieut. Ridge and First-lieut. Boyle of the Royal
Marines, with a part of his detachment, and the 'Vixen's' port
paddle-box boat, with the head-quarters of the detachment of that
regiment, commanded by Captain Smith. On they went, pulling against
the rapid current, which, as they advanced, grew still stronger, and
exposed all the time to a hot fire of musketry from men concealed
behind both banks of the river, so that there was little use even in
attempting to return it. From this severe fire several men were
wounded, and one officer very severely--Mr. H. Turner,
midshipman--and two killed. The boats were also almost riddled with
shot, and nearly half the oars were broken; and it seems surprising,
considering also their crowded state, with the millstream rate of the
current, that a greater number of casualties did not occur. In this
exposed position, often appearing to be quite stationary, they had to
pull one hour and forty minutes before they were enabled to pass the
batteries sufficiently high to drop down to the landing-place
previously mentioned.
By this time nearly all the boats were up, and Captain Loch gave the
order to land, he himself leading the way, accompanied by
First-lieut. Boyle and the Royal Marines of his ship, who, with his
detachment, acted as his guard, and showed an example of gallantry
which his men were not slow to follow. Captain Smith, commanding the
detachment of H.M. 38th Regiment, was near him on landing, and
Commander Ryder, at the head of his division, was close to him, while
Lieuts. Johnston and Ridge, of the 'Alarm,' led on their men in
gallant style. The boats' crews uttered a truly British cheer, as
they leaped on shore and gallantly charged the enemy. The
Nicaraguans withstood them for some time, but the cutlass and pistol
soon did their work, and in ten minutes they had taken to flight, and
the British flag was hoisted on the fort. One of the first on shore
was a seaman of the 'Vixen' (Denis Burke, stoker), who quickly fought
his way up to the enemy's colours, and captured them. As the enemy
fled, the British pursued them into the thick woods, but after they
had been chased for about thirty minutes, Captain Loch considering
that they had been sufficiently punished, ordered the recall to be
sounded. They then destroyed the stockades, spiked the guns, broke
the trunnions, and threw them, together with all the muskets and
ammunition left behind, into the river. The force was next embarked,
when the whole of the defences were set on fire. Owing to the
density of the cover into which the enemy retreated, it was difficult
to ascertain their loss--but twenty were found dead, and probably
twice that number were wounded. The enemy's force had consisted of
about 200 soldiers, besides some boatmen pressed by Colonel Salas
into his service. Two officers were taken prisoners, who were sent
on board the ships, and seven men were captured, who were distributed
among the boats, to act as pilots in their perilous descent of the
river. This, however, was fortunately accomplished without any
accident. Captain Loch, besides the officers already mentioned,
speaks in his despatch of Mr. Martin, purser of the 'Alarm,' who
accompanied him in his gig, and was of the greatest value and
assistance; of Mr. Collins, purser of the 'Vixen,' who was a
volunteer in the head-quarter port paddle-box boat; the Hon. H. A.
Moreton, mate of the 'Alarm,' who commanded the pinnace; Mr. Tyler,
mate of the same ship; Mr. N. C. B. Turner, midshipman of 'Vixen,'
who was badly wounded; and Mr. F. A. Dewdney, midshipman, also of
'Vixen.' The British loss consisted of two men killed and one
officer and twelve men wounded.
From the dangers to which the party were exposed, and the
difficulties they overcame, this affair may well be considered as one
of the most gallant among those we have to record.
RECAPTURE OF THE BRIG "THREE SISTERS"
FROM THE RIFF PIRATES,