sum of £6000.
"By her Majesty's command,
"GODOLPHIN."
Established 1st June, 1702.
The death of the Lord High Admiral, in a retrospective view, also
produced some trivial reforms in the constitution of the Marine
Regiments, which were accomplished under the auspices of the same
ministry that had framed their original regulations. Some existing
abuses were, I believe, the pretext for this change, as the
Commissaries, after the decease of the Royal Consort, were enjoined
to transmit their accounts, and otherwise correspond with the
Secretary at War, upon the subject of these establishments. Many
omissions seem to have prevailed in making regular returns from the
different detachments, necessarily extended over every quarter of
the globe, which first arising from individual neglect, ultimately
retarded the proceedings of the Commissioners, who were appointed
to investigate the national expenditure, at the close of the war.
The following is their report upon this head:
"Soon after the commencement of our Commission, we required Mr.
Whitfield, late Pay-master of the Marines, to lay the accompts of
these Regiments before us; which after many delays he did, but in a
very imperfect manner.
"We insisted upon a more distinct accompt, whereupon he, (being
very ill) sent his chief Clerk Mr. Sizer to us, who deposed, that
the accompts could not be made more perfect without muster rolls,
which Mr. Lynn the Commissary had not returned.
"In answer to this, Mr. Lynn hath declared, that he could not
make up the muster rolls farther than the 24th of December,
1709, for want of the ships books, and the certificates from the
Agents of the Commissioners of the sick and wounded: which books
and certificates could not be had from the distant parts of the
service, till those employed there came to England.
"These difficulties prevent our stating the accompts of the
Marines, but it is obvious, that the expence of the Navy is
increased by them.
"For the Pay of 8000 Marines, according to the establishment,
amounts to £128,133 5 0 _per annum_.
"The Pay of 8000 _ordinary_ Seamen, is £98,800 0 0 _per annum_.
"The extraordinary charge therefore, is £29,333 5 0--and how far it
may be thought necessary to continue Marines in time of peace, is
humbly left to the judgment and determination of Parliament.--The
next great expence to the public, is that of the Navy, &c."
After the work of peace was accomplished, a great reduction of
the forces took place, and the half-pay list for the year 1714,
exhibits upon it the following Regiments of Marines:--The whole
having been disbanded, and the officers thus remunerated.
Lieutenant General Holl's, &c.
[Here is a detailed list of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel,
Majors, Captains, 1st Lieutenants, 2d Lieutenants, Chaplain,
Adjutant, Quarter-master, and Surgeon.]
Major General Wills's do.
Brigadier Borr's do.
Lord Viscount Shannon's do.
One Muster-master General, and
Three Deputies.
Tranquillity was scarcely restored to the nation, when it had to
lament the loss of its Sovereign, who closed an amiable and a
virtuous life upon the 1st day of August, 1714.
The eyes and hearts of every Briton, who was capable of
appreciating, and solicitous to maintain the blessings he enjoyed,
naturally turned towards a successor, the recognized virtues of
whose illustrious House, were the surest pledge of a continuance of
their religious and civil liberties.
Accordingly, the Crown was tendered to, and accepted by King
George the First, whose wise and mild reign, amidst subsequent
convulsions, fully realized every hope which the nation had formed.
He had scarcely been seated on his throne, when a rival appeared,
the unfortunate dupe of the hostile and ambitious designs of
France, against his kingdoms.
But the loyalty of his subjects, and the courage of his troops,
defeated an attempt that must have renewed the evils which urged on
a recent and a glorious Revolution.
In the first year of his Majesty's Government, it was judged
proper to grant a signal mark of royal favour, in consideration
of the extensive and gallant services of the Marine Regiments.
Accordingly, all the officers attached to those of Lieutenant
General Holl, Major General Wills, and Brigadier Barr were restored
to their rank and full pay, and were generally incorporated with
the different corps of the line. Four invalid companies were also
granted.
A spirit of public œconomy, as well as of public jealousy against
the very idea of a standing army, that existed during the æra of
which I treat, preclude any retrospective details from me within
the periods of 1715 and 1739--During those days the very name of a
_Marine Soldier_ carried within it hostility to British liberty.
It was a term which the most enlightened could not comprehend, and
afforded a handle of discussion to the leaders of parliamentary
debates, and of popular prejudices.
During the above interval, the nation encountered a short war, and
was also placed in the attitude of preparation for a second--but
the events of neither fall within my limited scope; as no force,
except the nominal and unattached title of General of Marines
existed, with four independent companies of invalids.
It was not until 1739, upon the repetition of Spanish cruelties
and aggression towards the industrious and defenceless subjects of
Britain, that the system of Marine Regiments was renewed. The sword
was again drawn upon the 19th of October of that year, and an Order
of Council of the 12th of December, determined upon the immediate
levy of six of this description. The Colonels who were nominated to
command them were as follow:
1st. Edward Wolfe, esq. from 3d Foot Guards.
2d. William Robinson, esq. Lieutenant Colonel from Handyside's
Regiment of Foot.
3d. Anthony Lowther, esq. from 2d. Foot Guards.
4th. John Wynyard, esq. from Colonel Tyrrel's Regiment of Foot.
5th. Charles Douglas, esq. from Colonel Howard's Regiment of Foot.
6th. Lewis Ducie Morton, esq. from 3d. Foot Guards.
In order to render them immediately effective, and with a view
to discipline them, five men from each company of the Regiments
of Foot Guards, were appointed as Serjeants and Corporals, and
mingled with the whole.--That they might also be rapidly completed,
a bounty of one pound ten shillings was tendered to the first
1800 men of our regular army who should volunteer this transition
of service. It was not long, by the use of such energies, before
the whole were raised, and no part of the royal speech was more
generally applauded than that which proposed this levy. The notion
of their being an appendage to the standing army, seems to have
been, at this time, considerably effaced, though the phantom was
still kept alive by those who studiously search into and proclaim
every apparent grievance. Early in the year 1740, three additional
regiments were raised in America, and the Royal Standard was
erected at New York, as the signal-post to which every volunteer
Marine was to repair.
It was supposed, that from climate, the natives of that Continent
were better calculated for the service to which they were
destined than the Europeans, and they were clothed in a manner
well adapted for the future scene of their duties. The Colonels,
Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, and Subalterns, were appointed by
the Crown, and the Captains of Companies were nominated by the
American Provinces. Their uniform was camblet coats, brown linen
waist-coats, and canvas trowsers. Colonel Spotiswood, of Virginia
was Colonel Commandant of the whole.
In January, 1740, the six Marine Regiments received an effective
augmentation of 2040 men, and one Lieutenant to each Company.
An addition also of twenty men was granted to each of the four
Companies of Invalids, and another allowed to the retired Marine
establishment.
Previous to the sailing of Admiral Vernon for the West Indies,
he, in an Address to the Duke of Newcastle, and in terms of an
honest zeal for the public service, thus expresses himself upon the
subject of Marine Soldiers:
"I could wish, indeed, we had each of us a company of regular
troops sent on board of us, which would have strengthened us in
numbers, as well as had their expertness in handling their arms, to
have incited our Seamen to the imitation of them. If we should come
to a general war with France as well as Spain, I believe your Grace
will have already perceived, from the difficulty of manning these
ships as they are, the necessity there may be of converting most of
our marching regiments into Marines; and if, as they become Seamen,
they were admitted to be discharged as such, that would make a good
nursery for breeding them, at a time we might probably find such a
necessity for them.
"As I have always looked upon our fleet as what must not only
protect our trade, but secure us the blessings of a Protestant
succession, your Grace will be so good as to excuse the overflowing
of a sincere, though it may be an imprudent zeal; being strongly
convinced in my own judgment, that preserving a superiority at sea
is the best security of his Majesty's government, as well as the
trade and prosperity of this kingdom."
The above ideas seem principally drawn from that system which
existed as to the Marine previous to the reign of Queen Anne, and
what has been already noticed. The arguments also bear a similarity
to those subsequently adopted by General Lloyd, whose Treatise I
shall have a future occasion to quote.
If the subordinate arrangements of a ship could allow of it, much
benefit would ensue to the public service by a greater number of
Marine Soldiers being added to the complement of each, instead of
a set of men denominated _wasters_, who are partly composed of
criminals that have compromised with the injured laws of their
country, who rarely, even upon a stretch of years, become real
seamen, and who, from their former habits of life, are too often
the leaders of discord and insubordination.
On the contrary, if the plan which is suggested were generally
adopted, with such an additional force on board, capable of
striking terror upon either element, not a British squadron would
put to sea that must not be viewed by our enemies with a jealous
eye; but what would keep their extensive coasts for ever on the
alert, and by that rapidity and secrecy which are peculiar to all
naval movements, objects might be effected, and conquests achieved
that never were anticipated by the political surmises of our
countrymen, or the intelligence of our foes. Many other weighty
considerations might also be adduced to enforce this expedient,
which more properly fall within discussion under a future detail of
events.
At no period of time was ever the voice of the nation more
unanimous for war. The evidence of Captain Jenkins, before the
House of Commons, stating his sufferings from Spanish cruelty,
aroused the indignation of every member, and notwithstanding the
pacific temper of the Minister of that day, and his powerful
influence, all were anxious to vindicate the insulted honour of the
nation.
Before the declaration of hostilities, Admiral Vernon sailed for
the West Indies, and arrived at Jamaica in the month of October,
1739. The aspect of public affairs previous to his leaving Europe,
fully sanctioned immediate enterprize against the enemy.
After taking in refreshments at Jamaica, and having embarked 200
Soldiers under Captain Newton, to serve as Marines, he shaped his
course for Porto Bello, the destined object of his attack, and at
that time the great mart for the wealthy commerce of Chili and Peru.
The attempt was fraught with many apparent obstacles, but it was
undertaken and performed with an unexampled spirit and promptitude,
which are the surest means of success in military enterprize; but
more particularly when it is aimed against the distant territories
of an enemy.
Upon the 21st of November, the attack was commenced by the ships
in line of battle, against the Iron Castle, a strong fort of 22
guns, at the north point of the entrance into the harbour. The
Spaniards flying from several parts of it, an instant debarkation
of the Seamen and Marines was resolved on, from the Burford,
Norwich, and Worcester, under cover of these ships. With the loss
of only two killed, they effected a landing, when they compensated
for the want of scaling ladders, by each man mounting upon the
shoulders of another, and thus entering the embrazures.--This Fort
was carried although no breach had been made, which indeed was
almost impossible, against walls of 9 feet in thickness, and such
as afterwards withstood for a while, the explosions of those mines
that were used to raze them.
This gallant beginning struck terror into the Garrison of Gloria
Castle, and Jeronimo Fort, both which defended the town; the former
had two regular bastions, and a curtain between them mounted with
22 guns, besides many more pointing towards the mouth of the
harbour.
Upon the 22d, an attack was intended against the whole, but the
enemy hung out the white flag, a signal of surrender. Upon this
occasion, Captain Downing of the Navy led the attack on the Iron
Castle. After having landed, he very properly wished to form
his men into some order for it. One brave but impetuous Sailor,
disdaining such precautions, pushed on, who, on being ordered to
halt, answered with an ingenuous oath, "Don't let us halt, Captain,
till we are lamed."
In this operation we sustained a loss of only twenty killed
and wounded, while the enemy were lessened in their numbers by
desertions into the country, and by action, nearly three hundred
men.
After destroying the fortifications, which from their strength
required some time, the Admiral with his squadron sailed for
Jamaica upon the 13th of December, and previously received from the
Governor and inhabitants of the place the warmest acknowledgments
for the humanity and generous treatment they had experienced.
The bombardment of Carthagena, in February, 1740, and the attack
upon Chagre (a fort situate upon the mouth of a river of that
name, a little to the north-west of the Gulf of Darien), were all
that could be performed before the arrival of reinforcements and
supplies from Europe, now much wanted. The latter, surrendered,
after a contest with the men of war and bomb-ketches, upon the 24th
of March, when the Castle situated on a rock, and the Custom-house,
under its protection, were demolished and burnt. The fleet
afterwards returned to Porto Bello, and from thence to Jamaica.
At this period considerable exertions were making at home, with a
view to attack more effectually the Spanish possessions in South
America, as well as their own coasts.
A large number of men of war was assembled at Spithead, and
Lord Cathcart, with six regiments of Marines, now considerably
strengthened, with other forces, were encamped in the Isle of
Wight, and continued in readiness for these intended services.
It was not until the 26th of October that the fleet set sail
from St. Helens for Jamaica, where they arrived in the month of
January, 1741. The united forces which were embarked on board were
Wentworth's, Harrison's, and Cavendish's regiments of Foot, with
the six regiments of Marines already detailed.
Unfortunately for his country, and that profession of which he
was so bright an ornament, Lord Cathcart very early fell a victim
to the climate, when the command devolved upon the Honourable
Brigadier General Wentworth.
The whole force sailed from Irish Bay, in Hispaniola, upon the 25th
of February, 1741, consisting in all of one hundred and twenty-four
sail, having been reinforced by two of the Marine regiments raised
within the American provinces, and other levies which had been
previously formed in those colonies.
Upon the 4th of March, in the evening, the whole anchored in the
Grand Playa, to windward of the town of Carthagena, the intended
object of their attack.
After the necessary arrangements, the fleet moved forward in
two divisions, upon the 9th, to silence the different forts,
as preparatory to the landing of the troops. After little more
than one hour's cannonade, those of St. Jago and St. Philip were
deserted by the enemy, when five hundred grenadiers made a descent
under their walls, and took possession of them. Against the 15th,
every soldier, with the tents, tools, artillery, and ordnance
stores were landed, the ground was cleared, and an encampment
formed.
About this time, the Admiral being informed by General Wentworth
that the army was much incommoded by a strong fascine battery on
the opposite side of the harbour, called the Barradera side, he
detached a number of boats, full of men, under the conduct of
Captain Boscawen, having under him Captains Laws and Coats, of the
navy.
Upon no occasion was intrepidity ever more conspicuous, and
that great man at this time gave an earnest of what his country
might expect from him. In their approach they did not observe
from its situation a small battery of five guns, but they soon
remedied their error, by resolutely pushing on shore, and gaining
possession, after a slight resistance.
The enemy rousing a little from their surprise at the other,
consisting of fifteen 24-pounders, opened their fire from two guns;
but following up the same spirited course, the seamen, headed by
their gallant leaders, advanced most rapidly, and carried this
strong battery also.
Here they spiked up all the guns, destroyed the platforms, and
completely effected this important object with but little loss. The
enemy, well knowing the value of this position, soon mounted two
heavy cannon, which were again silenced by a ship ordered for that
purpose. A third opportunity--and the same scene of action afforded
a display of Naval courage, when six other guns were once more
destroyed, with every appendage to them.
These repeated efforts much aided the operations of the Army now
employed in the reduction of the Castle of Bocca Chica. Upon the
25th of March, a practicable breach having been made in it, the
general communicated his determination to storm it. Accordingly
Admiral Vernon assembled all the boats, in order to co-operate,
having landed their men within view of the enemy, where the fascine
battery was fixed. This was a well-judged diversion; for when the
grenadiers advanced to storm, at the hour appointed, they met no
resistance, as the Spaniards fled without firing a shot.
A panic had now seized the enemy, who set fire to one of their
ships. Taking advantage of this state, the boats resolved to
attempt the fort of St. Joseph, which was immediately evacuated.
Being now within the boom thrown across the harbour, and the Dons,
seeming determined to sink their ships, they judged it proper to
row on, and soon boarded the Galicia, carrying the flag of the
Spanish Admiral.--These obstructions being removed, the Admiral
and the squadron, still with much difficulty, moved into the
harbour.
After various services, the Castle of Grande Castillo having
been gained, and the enemy sunk all their men of war, farther
preparations were made for landing the troops nearer the town, in
order to cut off all communication with the main land. Our loss,
up to the beginning of April, was two Colonels of Foot, one of
Marines, with one Captain of the Royal Navy, besides other Officers
slain, and upwards of four hundred of different descriptions killed
and wounded.
That mortality, which is the never-failing result of protracted
operations in this inhospitable clime, now began its ravages.
Matters were pushed on--the bomb-ketches on the 2d of April
began to play upon the town, and the other passages of approach
cleared from the ships sunk by the enemy, as being necessary
for the disembarkation of the forces near the city. After these
difficulties were removed, they were landed at the dawn of the
5th, under the command of General Wentworth, who, after a spirited
contest, established his encampment within a mile of the fort
of St. Lazar.--Things now drawing to extremities, it became
necessary to forego the ceremonies of a regular siege, and, however
hazardous, to rest the issue upon a storm.
Accordingly, before day-break on the 9th, five hundred Grenadiers,
supported by a thousand Marines, and some Jamaican levies, advanced
against the enemy's lines in front of the fort. These were
distantly followed by a body of Americans, with wool-packs, scaling
ladders, and hand grenades.
The Spaniards were entrenched to the shoulders, and their works
over-awed by St. Lazar; but neither intimidated the gallant
progress of our men, who, led by Brigadier General Guise, were
much annoyed, suffering extremely from flanking fires, which they
had not foreseen, and enduring a heavy loss before they could
reach the object of their attack. The persevering and undaunted
bravery of British Soldiers was never more displayed than on this
day. They at last gained their point by intrepidly leaping into
the entrenchments, and driving their enemies into the fort, which
communicated by a draw-bridge with the lines.
It was now those gallant fellows felt the precipitate errors of
their superiors. The unarmed Americans in their rear, many of whom
were killed without possessing the powers of resistance, dispersed,
and threw away the charges committed to them. Three only did their
duty, and with these scanty supplies, a bold effort to scale
the walls of St. Lazar, was made by ten grenadiers, headed by a
serjeant.--They mounted them, but being unsupported, were all cut
to pieces, except him who saved himself by trusting his destinies
to a headlong adventure.
Cooped up within a narrow spot, exposed to the grapeshot and
marksmen of the enemy above them, the situation of these brave
remnants became desperate after the break of day.
A retreat was now the only expedient left, which was accomplished
under the countenance of a strong reinforcement from the camp, but
under the effects of a galling fire from the fort. The Spaniards,
however, did not dare to pursue a body of men, now weakened by
loss, but covered with glory. Nearly seven hundred composed the
list of killed and wounded upon this occasion.
The future operations of the army ceased to be offensive, and their
exertions necessarily became precautionary. Dissentions, with their
arising results, delay and disease, accomplished what the enemy
durst not attempt.
It belongs not to me to enlarge upon either causes or effects in my
limited detail, excepting where in either there may seem a tendency
to involve the military character of those men whose memoirs and
services I have undertaken to record. The Soldier may appear as
often distinguished amidst misfortune, as the Citizen, though his
country will render honours to the victorious alone, like the
world, which, too often, confines its incense to the prosperous.
It is a tribute due to the gallant subordinates of the fleet and
land force to say, that, throughout their arduous duties, they
evinced a courage and perseverance worthy of their country and
their cause. While history is bound to publish truths, it never
ought to extenuate the errors of any branches of its subject.
By the 16th of April some hundreds became sick from exposure to
the weather, the heavy rains that periodically set in about this
time, and the scanty supplies of water; among whom were many of the
principal officers.
Upon the 23d and 24th, Councils of War were held, which decided
upon an immediate re-embarkation. Captain Knowles of the Navy,
who had throughout bore a distinguished part in the duties of an
Engineer, was now entrusted with the demolition of Castillo Grande,
which was with much labour completed on the 25th, and all the guns
rendered unserviceable. The same was effected at Bocca Chica. Upon
the whole, the Spaniards sustained a heavy loss, as appears from
the following detail:
_Guns_
Bocca Chica Castle 80
Fort St. Joseph 20
Fort St. Philip 15
Fort St. Jago 6
Fascine batteries on Barradera side 20
Four men of war at Bocca Chica 332
Two batteries at Passe Cavalla 13
Castillo Grande 63
Port Mazinello 12
Seven galleons 128
Conqesadon and Dragon men of war 134
----
723
====
Such events to the enemy were for some time irretrievable, and long
felt. The charges of repairing the different fortifications must
have been prodigious, when we consider the strength with which they
were constructed.
Our loss upon the whole was undoubtedly great, being in all nearly
two thousand men, and I annex a detail of the Officers of European
Corps who were killed, died of the diseases incident to the
climate, or of the wounds they received:
WENTWORTH'S Regiment of Foot.
_Killed_ _Died_
Lieut. Colonel (Sandford) 1 0
Major 0 1
Captain 0 1
Lieutenants 9 5
Ensigns 0 2
---- ----
10 9
==== ====
General HARRISON'S.
_Killed_ _Died_
Lieut. Colonel (Daniel) 0 1
Captains 1 4
Capt. Lieutenant 0 1
Lieutenant 2 5
Ensigns 0 2
---- ----
3 13
==== ====