PUT INTO CORK HARBOUR.--SAIL WITH CONVOY.--CAPTURE OF THE COMPTE
D'ARTOIS.--ARRIVE OFF CHARLESTON.--BRITISH TROOPS MADE PRISONERS.--SAIL
FOR NEW YORK.--HEAR OF MADELINE THROUGH MY HOSTESS THE DUTCH WIDOW.--
RECEIVE GENERAL ARNOLD AND HIS MEN ON BOARD FLEET.--IN COMMAND OF
ARROW.--REACH THE CHESAPEAKE.--HEAR OF HURRICANE IN THE WEST INDIES.--
LOSS OF THUNDERER, 74, AND OTHER SHIPS.
Instead of at once proceeding on her voyage across the Atlantic, the old
Charon was, we found, ordered to put into Cork harbour. We arrived at
that port on the 11th of August, 1780, and found there HM's ships
Lennox, Bienfaisant, Licorne, and Hussar, with a hundred sail of
transports.
Before I recount the events of our voyage I may as well make a few
remarks about the ship and my brother-officers. Captain Symonds was
himself a thorough sailor, and he showed his love of his profession by
sending four of his sons into the navy. His eldest son, Jermyn John
Symonds, was, though very young, our third lieutenant,--a fine, handsome
fellow. He was afterwards, when in command of the Helena sloop-of-war,
lost with all his crew in her on the coast of Holland. Another son,
William, (see Note 1), though at that time a mere child, was, I believe,
borne on our books as a midshipman. It was with no small satisfaction
that I welcomed my old friend Paddy O'Driscoll, who came on board as a
supernumerary, to rejoin his ship on the American station. I welcomed
him the more gladly as so few of my old shipmates I was ever likely to
meet again. Where were they? The deep sea--West India marshes--the
shot of the enemy best could tell. But avast! I have bad enough of
sentiment in these pages. I must not indulge in this vein. The rest of
our officers were fine, gallant fellows, knowing their duty, and ready
and able on all occasions to do it. What more can you ask of a man?
Having a gentleman, and a kind, good man as our captain, our ship was a
very pleasant and happy one, and that is more than can be said of many
ships in my day. Captains were of necessity despots, and as they had
very rough, untutored, disorderly subjects to deal with, too often very
cruel, hard-hearted despots they were.
The day after our arrival at Cork we once more weighed and stood out of
the harbour with the Bienfaisant, Captain McBride, having under our
charge about seventy sail of victuallers bound for America. That ship
and the Licorne had orders to escort us sixty leagues to the westward.
We lay-to all night outside the harbour, waiting for the rest of the
squadron to join us, which the Licorne and Hussar had been directed to
bring up. We had drifted pretty well down to the old Head of Kinsale
when, as the morning of the 13th of August broke upon us, we saw
standing right into the fleet a large two-decked ship.
"If that fellow is an enemy he certainly does not seem to know what he
is about," observed Mr Edwards to me. "Does he expect to carry off
some of our flock without our even barking at him? But see, Captain
McBride is speaking us. What does he say?"
The signal midshipman on duty replied that he was ordering us to come
within hail. We accordingly made sail towards the Bienfaisant, when
Captain McBride directed us to join with him in chasing the stranger.
Not till then apparently did she make us out from among the fleet of
vessels crowding round us, shrouded, as we were, with the grey mists of
the morning. We were all scrutinising her through our glasses, for it
was still very uncertain what she might prove. Even when we stood out
from among the fleet of merchantmen she gave no signs of any strong
disposition to evade us, but steadily continued her course.
"She must be some English privateer. No Frenchman with a head on his
shoulders would run it so near the lion's den," remarked Edwards.
"Faith, then, I don't believe he's got a head on his shoulders. That's
a French ship, depend on it," observed O'Driscoll.
Some time longer passed before we got near the chase, for the wind was
light. At half-past seven, to our great satisfaction, we saw her
shorten sail and get ready, it appeared, to receive us. On this the
Bienfaisant hoisted her colours and fired a shot ahead of her. We also
hoisted our colours. The chase on this hoisted a blue ensign and
hove-to with main-topsail to the mast. On our getting within hail of
her, we and the Bienfaisant did the same, when Captain McBride spoke her
and inquired her name.
"HMS `Romney,'" was the answer. "Last from Lisbon."
"I told you so," observed Mr Edwards, when the words reached us.
"She's a fifty-gun ship, I know, though I never saw her that I know of."
"But that ship carries more than fifty-guns if I mistake not," I
replied. "Listen! Captain McBride is again speaking her."
"What does she say?" asked Edwards, as some words, the import of which
we could not make out, came wafted over the water towards no.
Our people, I ought to have remarked, were all at their quarters ready
for friend or foe--and grim, determined-looking veterans many of them
looked, with their sun-burnt faces and bearded chins.
"What does she say?" exclaimed O'Driscoll. "Why, listen!--that she's
French, and going to fight for the honour of la belle France. See, our
consort's beginning the game."
As he spoke, a volley of musketry was opened from the deck of the
Bienfaisant, which was replied to in the most spirited way by the other
ship, she at the same time hoisting French colours, and firing her
stern-chasers at us. The Bienfaisant now ranged up alongside and fired
her broadside right into the enemy. The Frenchman then fired hers, and
by the way her shot flew we judged that her object was to cripple her
opponent. We now stood on after the Bienfaisant, and as we ranged up
fired our guns with terrible effect right across our enemy's decks.
Then on we stood, while our consort had in the meantime tacked and
reached the place we had before occupied. In a short time she once more
ranged up alongside the Frenchman, and poured a heavy broadside into
him. Thus we continued, alternately changing places with each other.
We suffered wonderfully little damage for some time. The Frenchman's
great aim was to wing us. He evidently fought not for victory, for he
must have seen that was almost hopeless, but to escape capture. Never
was a ship better handled or fought with more gallantry. For some time
no one was hurt on board the Charon. At last one poor fellow got hit,
and soon afterwards some blocks and splinters came rattling down from
aloft. The mizen-topsail yard came down by the run, and I saw that it
had been shot away in the slings. Tremendous was the pounding we were
giving our enemy, but still he showed not the slightest intention of
giving in. His deck was already covered with the dead and wounded, and
the ship herself was in a very battered condition.
"That man is one of the bravest officers I ever encountered," observed
Captain Symonds, pointing to the captain of the French ship, whom we
could see moving about, encouraging his people.
"I wonder whether he intends to give in at all!" said Mr Edwards as we
prepared to pour another broadside into him.
"Not a bit of it; he has as much pluck as at the first left in him,"
exclaimed O'Driscoll, as the thunder of our artillery once more ceased.
I could not help longing that, for the sake of the lives of his people,
the French captain would give in. The action had now lasted from a
quarter to eight to half-past eight. Of course the time appeared very
much longer. The Bienfaisant was about to pour in another of her
broadsides which had already produced such fearful effects. The deck of
the Frenchman was truly a shamble; not a spot appeared free from some
dead or wounded occupant. Just then the crew, fearful of encountering
another iron shower, fled from their guns. Down came the Fleur-de-lys
of France. Shouts arose from the deck of the Bienfaisant, which were
loudly and joyfully echoed from ours. All three ships were now hove-to.
On hailing our prize we found that we had captured "Le Compte
D'Artois," a private ship of war of sixty-four guns and seven hundred
and fifty men, commanded by Monsieur Clenard.
A boat from each ship was sent on board. I went in the Charon's. The
brave captain of the Compte D'Artois came forward and delivered his
sword to the lieutenant of the Bienfaisant. He was desperately wounded
in the mouth, and he looked very sad; he had reason so to be, for his
brother, a colonel of the Legion of Artois, lay dead on the deck, having
been wounded early in the action, while he had lost no less than one
hundred and nineteen killed and wounded of his brave crew. All his
property, too, had probably been embarked in the enterprise. Many other
people in the same way lost their fortunes during the war. They thought
that they had only to fit out a ship of war and that they were certain
to gain great wealth. They forgot that two might play at the same game,
and that they were just as likely to fall into the hands of their
enemies as to capture them. Poor monsieur had another brother on board.
I did not exaggerate when I said that the deck of his ship was like a
perfect shamble. So quickly had the poor Frenchmen been struck down
that the survivors had not had time to carry them below, and there they
lay, some stark and stiff, others writhing in their agony. It was
enough to move the compassion even of their greatest enemies. We at
once set to work to do all we could to help them and to relieve the
wounded from their sufferings. Every one felt also much for poor
Monsieur Clenard, for a braver man never commanded a ship or fought her
longer, till not a prospect of escape remained for him. Strange as it
may appear, we had only one man wounded, while the Bienfaisant had only
two killed and two wounded. This extraordinary difference in the
Frenchman's loss and ours arose from two causes. He wished to escape,
and fired high to try and destroy our spars and rigging; and also his
crew, collected chiefly from the merchant service, and from boatmen and
fishermen who had never till lately handled a gun, and having also a
considerable proportion of landsmen among them, were in no way a match
for our well-trained and hardy seamen. The ship was handled as well as
she could be, while nothing could exceed the gallantry of her officers;
her crew also fought with the greatest bravery, as indeed Frenchmen
generally will fight, though perhaps not with the same bull-dog
determination as the English. We agreed that when the French had had
more practice, and had learned a few lessons from us, they would prove
much tougher customers than they had hitherto been.
There was great cheering and congratulation on board the ships of the
convoy as they came up, and in a short time the rest of them joined us
with the Licorne and Hussar. In the interval the crew of the Compte
D'Artois were transferred to the Bienfaisant, and she and her prize
stood away for Crookhaven in Ireland. We, meantime, with the other two
ships and the convoy, made sail for the westward. We had generally on
the passage moderate gales and fine pleasant weather.
On the 12th a strange sail was seen to leeward, beating up towards us.
She was after a time made out to be a ship of some size, probably
watching her opportunity to pick off any stragglers in the fleet. To
prevent this Captain Symonds ordered the Hussar to chase her away, we
making as if we were about to follow. Seeing this, the stranger put up
her helm and ran off before the wind, while the Hussar crowded all sail
in chase. We watched her with no little interest, for the stranger was
evidently a big ship, and, if the Hussar brought her to action, would
very likely prove a powerful antagonist--not that odds, however great,
were much thought of in those days, and I will take upon myself to say
that there was scarcely an officer in the service in command of a
fifty-gun frigate who would not have considered himself fortunate in
having an opportunity of engaging an enemy's ship of sixty guns or more.
In a short time the sails of the chase and her pursuer disappeared
below the horizon. The night closed in and passed away; the next day
drew on and we saw nothing of the Hussar. Another day passed away and
she did not make her appearance. Conjectures as to what had become of
her now formed the general subject of conversation on board, but, like
all conjectures, when there is no data on which to build up a
conclusion, we always left off where we began, and waited till she came
back, if ever she should do so, to tell her own tale.
O'Driscoll and I had now become great friends. I own that I wanted some
one to whom I could talk to about my love for Madeline. With all his
fun and humour and harum-scarum manner, he was a thoroughly honourable
right-minded fellow, and I knew that I could trust him. He was
delighted with the romance of the affair.
"If you can but point our where she is, by hook or by crook, I'll help
you to win her," said he, in his full rich irish brogue. "You've
already a pretty lot of prize-money, and please the pigs you'll pick up
not a little more before long. Where there's a will there's a way,
that's one comfort; and, by my faith, what I've seen of some of those
little rebel colonists, they are well worth winning."
It may amuse my sober-minded readers, when they reflect on all the
difficulties, not to say impossibilities, which existed in my way, to
think that O'Driscoll and I should ever dream of overcoming them. But
they must remember that we were both very young, and that in the navy
such things as impossibilities are not allowed to exist. During how
many a midnight watch did my love serve me as a subject for
contemplation, and, when I was occasionally joined by O'Driscoll, for
conversation also! Although I was on excellent terms with the rest of
my brother-officers, I never felt inclined to open out to any of them.
Perhaps it was a weakness in me to do so even to O'Driscoll, and, as a
general rule, I think a man is wise to keep such thoughts to himself.
Day after day passed by and our missing consort did not make her
appearance. A whole week elapsed, and we began to entertain serious
apprehensions about her, and to fear that she had been captured. Our
course had been so direct, and the weather so fine, that she would have
had no difficulty, we considered, in rejoining us. At length a sail
appeared standing towards the fleet. She was not one of the convoy, for
all were together. Every glass on board was turned towards her. As the
stranger drew nearer and nearer we were more and more puzzled to make
out what she was.
"I see, I see!" exclaimed O'Driscoll at last. "She is a frigate and
under jury-top-masts. She has been in a smart action. I see the
shot-holes through her canvas. There can be no mistake about the
matter. She is the `Hussar,' I believe, after all."
On she came towards us, and the Hussar she proved to be; but the trim
little frigate which she had been when she left us a week before was now
sadly shorn of her beauty. As soon as she came up with the fleet
Captain Symonds sent me on board to inquire what had happened. The
story was soon told. She had fought a very desperate and gallant
action, which, by-the-bye, I have never seen recorded in any naval
history. She, it must be remembered, was only an eight-and-twenty gun
frigate. The stranger after which she had been sent in chase, when she
had drawn her completely away from the squadron, backed his main-topsail
to the mast and waited, prepared for battle, till she came up. The
enemy was soon made out to be a French forty-gun frigate, but that
disparity of fores did not deter her gallant captain from proceeding to
the attack. Ranging up within pistol-shot she opened her broadside, to
which the Frenchman quickly replied in the same way with equal spirit.
As was the case in our action with the Compte D'Artois, the Frenchmen
fired high, evidently with the idea that, by crippling their opponent,
they might have her at their mercy. This system might under some
instances be very good, but, unfortunately for them, they frequently
themselves got so completely thrashed before they had succeeded in
accomplishing their purpose, that they had to cry peccavi and haul down
their flags. The gallant little Hussar had no intention of running
away, and therefore poured her broadsides into the hull of the
Frenchman, committing great havoc along his decks. The action was
continued for some time with great guns and musketry, every man in the
English frigate striving his utmost to gain the victory. Numbers of the
gallant fellows were struck down--some never to rise again, others
desperately wounded. Each attempt of the Frenchman was bravely
repulsed, and every shot fired was responded to with still greater
vigour. Still the captain of the Hussar could not help watching the
progress of the fight with the greatest anxiety. Already two of her
top-masts had been shot away, her lower-masts were wounded, and five or
six of her crew lay dead, while as many more were hurt. Still he had
determined not to give in as long as his ship would float. The
Frenchmen had already suffered severely, but it was impossible to say
how long their endurance might last. He had no doubt that they had lost
far more in killed and wounded than he had, and he saw that they had
some shot between wind and water, and that their rigging was much cut
up. All this gave him hopes that he might yet come off victorious.
Again he ranged up alongside his big antagonist and received her fire
while he delivered his own. Down came his mizen-top-mast by the run--
several more of his crew fell to the deck--his rigging hung in
festoons--his canvas was full of shot-holes. He thought to himself,
"Ought I to sacrifice the lives of my people in a hopeless contest? But
is it hopeless? No, it is not. Hurrah, my brave fellows! One
broadside more, and we shall do for the enemy!" he shouted loudly. The
combatants were standing on a bow-line alongside each other. Once more
the Hussar fired. The Frenchman returned her broadside, and then,
before the smoke cleared off and the English had time to reload to rake
her, put up her helm and ran off before the wind. The Hussar was not in
a condition to follow. She, however, kept firing at the Frenchman as
long as her shot could reach him, and then hauled her wind and stood
away to the westward after us. She had seven killed and six badly
wounded, besides other hurts. She had lost her three top-masts, while
her lower-masts were disabled. Fortunately the weather was fine, for
had she encountered a gale of wind her condition would have been bad
indeed. I have never, as I have said, seen an account of this very
gallant action in any naval history, and I therefore give it as it was
described to me by the officers of the Hussar.
On the 14th of October we arrived off Charleston, South Carolina, with
our whole convoy, after a favourable passage of nine weeks, and we were
congratulating ourselves on its successful termination, little thinking
what was to be the fate of many of the ships of the fleet. Charleston
stands on a broad neck of land, with Cooper's river on one side and
Ashley river on the other. They flow into a wide sheet of water, which
forms the harbour of Charleston, but which is shallow, and has a bar at
its mouth, on which there is very little water.
This, on our arrival, we could not cross, and the convoy had
consequently to anchor outside. Charleston had, after a brave defence
on the 12th of May, been captured from the Americans under General
Lincoln by Sir Henry Howe and Lord Cornwallis. The latter on our
arrival commanded the army which held it. Sir Henry, with part of his
forces, had gone to New York. The capture of Charleston was considered
a very fortunate circumstance, and it was believed that in consequence
the whole of the Carolinas would yield to our arms. Never perhaps were
people more mistaken. The day of our arrival at Charleston I
accompanied Captain Symonds on shore. We went to the house where a
friend of his, Colonel Balfour, had taken up his quarters. He most
kindly received us, and invited us to his table whenever we were on
shore. We slept, however, at one of the largest houses in the place,
occupied by Lord Cornwallis. His lordship had just returned from an
unsuccessful expedition to North Carolina, where a force of nearly a
thousand men, regulars and royalists, under Colonel Ferguson, who was
killed, had been taken prisoners by the Americans; many also lost their
lives with their leader. Colonel Ferguson had made a foray into North
Carolina, and in his retreat had been surprised among the fastnesses of
the mountains by an overwhelming force of the most hardy and brave of
the irregular troops of the neighbouring districts, especially
accustomed to the sort of warfare in which they were called on to
engage. Colonel Ferguson was a very brave and good officer, and Lord
Cornwallis took his defeat and death very much to heart. As we had
executed some of the rebels who, after receiving royal passes, were
taken in arms against us, so now the Americans in retaliation hung
several of the royalists who were captured on this occasion. In
consequence of this there was, we found, a great deal of bitter feeling
in the town against the rebels, and in no time had the contest been
carried on in so sanguinary a way as at present.
We were aroused at daybreak by the sound of a terrifically heavy gale
which had sprung up, and in going down to the harbour we found that the
bar was perfectly impassable, while the ships at anchor off it were in a
great state of confusion. Some were striking top-masts and letting go
fresh anchors, in the hopes of riding out the gale, while others were
slipping or cutting their cables, and running out to sea, several of
them getting foul of each other and committing all sorts of damage. It
was not till the 20th that the weather moderated sufficiently to enable
us to get off to rejoin our ship. By degrees some of the ships of the
convoy which had run to sea came back, but several never returned,
having been captured by the enemy or lost.
On the 22nd we again sailed from Charleston with a convoy of fifty sail
of transports, bound for New York. On our passage we captured a rebel
privateer of eight guns and fifty men, and took a merchant brig bound
from London to Charleston with bale goods. We found at Sandy Hook,
where we arrived on the 4th of November, Sir George Rodney, with eight
sail of the line and several frigates, waiting for a wind to sail for
the West Indies. The following day we proceeded through the Narrows up
to New York, where we set to work to refit the ship for sea,--an
operation she very much required. I need not say that I employed my
time on shore in endeavouring to gain intelligence of Miss Carlyon and
her family. In making my inquiries I had, however, to exert great
caution, for I knew that I might very easily bring upon myself the
suspicion of corresponding with the enemy for treasonable purposes.
When I slept on shore I went to the house of a worthy Dutch widow, where
I had before lodged. I did my utmost to ingratiate myself with her, for
I knew that if any one could obtain the information I required she would
do so. Old women, I have found, nearly always are ready to listen with
complacency and attention to the love tales of young men or young women,
and so my kind hostess not only listened to as much of mine as I thought
it necessary to tell her, but gladly promised to assist me to the best
of her ability.
"And now, my dear Mrs Von Tromp, what news have you for me?" I asked
eagerly one day as I walked into her little back parlour where she
received her select visitors. Considering her origin, she spoke
excellent English.
"Listen!" she replied; "I have not learned much for you, but what I have
learned you may believe is the truth. I lately had a talk with a
Virginian gentleman. Do not be afraid, sir, for he is a neutral; no
rebel I ever talk with. He knows the family of the lady you want to
hear about. He heard them speaking of her not long ago; she is
unmarried, and they thought she would remain so. She was then in
Virginia with her father, who is a very active rebel, you know."
Not listening to her last remark, the thought at once struck me that I
would write to her to assure her of my constancy, and would try to send
my letter by means of the gentleman Mrs Von Tromp mentioned. My good
hostess was, however, terrified when I made the proposal.
"Oh, dear--no, no, it would never do!" she explained. "It would be a
great deal too dangerous to attempt. The letter would be intercepted,
and we should be accused of corresponding with the enemy, and some of us
would be hung to a certainty. Just think, how should you like to suffer
the fate of poor Major Andre? Ah, poor young gentleman! he was, indeed,
a fine, handsome man--or almost a boy, I might say--he looked so young;
he was so civil and polite and kind. I can't think of his cruel death
without crying, that I can't."
Major Andre had been captured by the Americans, having crossed into
their territory for the purpose of communicating with General Arnold,
who succeeded in escaping from them and joining the British forces. He
was considered as a spy, and as such, tried, condemned, and had just
before this been executed--his hard fate creating much commiseration
even in the bosoms of his enemies. He was fully as brave, talented,
polite, and accomplished in every way as the widow described him. I
assured her that I had no wish to share his lamentable fate, but that,
as I was not holding any treasonable correspondence with the enemy, I
could not be found guilty of so doing. I argued the subject with her
for some time.
"Ah, you know the way to an old woman's heart as well as to that of a
young one!" at last exclaimed the good-natured dame. "I cannot refuse
you. Write the letter, and I will do my best to forward it. But be
careful what you say. Nothing but love, remember, nothing but love--
don't forget that."
"No fear, no fear," I answered, laughing. "I'll stick to my text,
depend on it."
"I don't doubt you, and a pretty long one it will be, I suspect," she
remarked, as I got up to go off to my room. "When it is ready, bring it
to me. I will do my best, and if it does not reach its destination,
that is no fault of mine."
I hurried up-stairs to the room I slept in, and was soon deeply immersed
in the occupation of writing a letter to Madeline. I had no fears how
it would be received, so I seized my pen, and, after a few moments'
thought, wrote on. Once having begun, my pen flew rapidly over the
paper, but not so rapidly as my thoughts. When I had covered the sheet
I had not said one quarter of what I wished to say. I took another and
another. At last I finished and folded them up.
"Umph!" said the widow, when I took the package to her. "You will want
a special courier and a pack-horse to carry this document--but don't
frown now, I am only joking. I am sure that the young lady is well
worthy of the letter, and that you have not said a word more than she
will be glad to hear."
I was not in a humour to quarrel with Madame Von Tromp for anything she
might say. Leaving my precious letter with her, I hurried away to
attend to my duties on board my ship. At this time Admiral Arbuthnot's
squadron was lying in Gardner's Bay, at the other end of Long Island.
On the 9th, Sir Henry Howe having some important despatches to send to
the admiral, the gallant little Hussar was directed to get under weigh
to convey them.
Little did I think at the time that, after all she had gone through, we
should see her no more. I have already described the dangerous passage
of Hell Gate, where already, in consequence of the fearful rapidity of
the currents, so many vessels had been lost. I watched the Hussar get
under weigh. I had hoped to take the trip in her, for I had some old
friends on board different ships in the squadron whom I wished to see,
and I was rather annoyed at not being able to get leave to go. That was
one of the numberless instances where I have discovered how little we
mortals know what is good for us. To make a long story short, for I
cannot now stop to give a full description of the accident, in going
through that justly-dreaded passage the Hussar met with baffling winds,
and, the currents catching her, sent her bodily on the rocks. Thus she
became utterly helpless. No seamanship could avail her. The short,
chopping, boiling sea dashed over her and beat her to pieces. Before
hawsers could be got to the shore, by which her crew could make their
escape, several of the poor fellows had been drowned. In the boisterous
and bitterly cold weather of that season many of them suffered much
before they got back to New York.
Once more we were ready for sea, and on the 2nd of December we hoisted
Admiral Arbuthnot's flag, and, proceeding to Statten Island, we were
joined by HMS Thames, Charlestown, Medea, Amphitrite, Fowey, Hope,
Bonetta, Swift, and several armed vessels.
I was just now speaking of the death of Major Andre, who was captured by
the Americans when communicating with General Arnold. That officer had
deserted the liberal cause, and, having succeeded in reaching the
British lines in safety, had now been appointed a brigadier-general in
our army. On the 3rd we received him on board with two troops
distributed among the ships of the squadron. All we knew was, that some
expedition of importance was to be undertaken, but on what part of the
coast the descent was to be made did not transpire. I do not believe
that the commanders on our side put much confidence in General Arnold,
and of course the Americans, whose cause he had so basely betrayed,
perfectly detested him. Had he, by the chances of war, fallen into
their hands, they would have treated him as they had done poor Andre.
We sailed from New York on the 12th of December. In order to deceive
the enemy, and to make them believe that an expedition of very great
importance was about to be undertaken, we kept the admiral's flag flying
till we were out of sight of land. A course was steered to the
southward; it was then understood that we were bound for the Chesapeake,
and it was supposed that a landing would be made somewhere on the shores
of Virginia. I scarcely knew whether to grieve or to rejoice at the
prospect thus held out to me. Of course, I could not but regret that my
countrymen were about to carry the war into the very part of the country
where Madeline, I believed, was residing; at the same time, under the
supposition that such would be done, I rejoiced at the thoughts that I
might meet her, or might render her or her family assistance. Still I
would not venture to reckon much on the prospect of our meeting.
Numberless circumstances might intervene to prevent it. I might not
even be sent on shore. I might not go near where she might be residing,
or, what was probable, her friends might gain tidings of the expedition,
when she would, with other ladies, move away more into the interior.
Still, notwithstanding these considerations, I could not help indulging
myself in the belief that, by some means or other, we should meet once
again, or, at all events, that I should gain tidings of her, and be able
to communicate with her. The very idea gave buoyancy to my step and
manner, and made many of my companions inquire what had put me in such
unusual spirits.
O'Driscoll had returned on board, having again joined the ship as a
supernumerary, and as an old tried friend he entered, and, I believe,
heartily, into all my hopes and fears. Some of his plans and proposals,
however, though very much in accordance with the notions of Irishmen in
those days, were not such, even with all my harum-scarum habits, which I
could by any possibility adopt.
"Hurry, my boy, I have been thinking over this affair of yours," said
he, as we were walking the deck together. "I don't like
shilly-shallying in matters of this sort--I never did. The lady loves
you, and you love the lady--well, then, to my mind, the first difficulty
is got over, because, according to my notion, where there's a will
there's a way. You'll find her out, that's certain. Then the next
thing to be done is to get her to run away with you. She'll go, depend
on that. You take her prisoner, you know! Bring her aboard; we'll get
a chaplain to splice you. You can take her up to New York; she'll be
safe there. And then we come to another little matter; I've arranged
that in a satisfactory way. You've some prize-money. I've saved a good
mint one way and another, and, old fellow, I don't want it--my purse is
yours. Old messmates don't stand on ceremony about such matters. My
own dear little Kathleen, the only creature I wanted it for, went to
glory while I was last at sea. When I got home I was desolate. I've no
kith nor kin I care for, and if you don't take the money it's likely
enough I'll heave it into the sea one of these days, or pitch it where
it won't do any one any good, so don't think that I am doing you any
wonderful favour if you take it. The truth is, Hurry, I'd be more than
paid ten times over in having the pleasure of helping you to run off
with the lady. I'm in my element in an affair of this sort--there's
nothing I like better, barring a good stand-up scrimmage, and that's
generally too soon over. Now, Hurry, just do as I say. Promise me!"
I was struck dumb; so rapidly did he pour out his proposals that I could
not answer him. He took my silence for consent, and ran on. At first I
was somewhat inclined to resent his remarks, but his generosity and
evident unconsciousness that he was proposing anything in any way
incorrect completely disarmed my anger, and, when he ceased speaking,
greatly to his surprise, I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of
laughter.
"I am most thankful, my dear O'Driscoll, for your kind sympathy, and for
the assistance you so liberally offer me," I exclaimed, as soon as I
could recover myself. "But supposing I could or would persuade her to
leave her home, and the protection of her family, just consider all the
hardships, inconveniences, and danger she would be exposed to on board
ship before I could place her in safety; and then, how could she,
delicately brought up, live on a lieutenant's pay, even with such
prize-money as I might save, and your aid, my kind fellow!" I added.
"No, no! the thing is out of the question."
"Faith, I hadn't thought all about those little obstructions to
matrimonial felicity," he answered. "Still I can't give up the idea, in
case the chance should offer, of your running away with the young lady.
It seems such a natural thing to do. There's a fine fellow, be
prepared, that's all--and only just let me help you."
"Well, well! I have no friend on whom I can more fully rely than you,"
I replied. "I promise you that I will not fail to apply to you if I see
that you can in any way help me."
"That's all right," said he, fully satisfied. "I knew that you would,
before long, come into my views."
Our passage to the south was very tedious, for we had light winds, sad
were also constantly compelled to heave-to for the laggards.
Soon after the conversation I have mentioned, on the 23rd of December,
it being still calm, one of the leading ships signalled that a ship and
four small sail were in sight to the southward, and that they had all
the appearance of enemies. We, accordingly, crowded all sail in chase,
but scarcely had we got beyond the van of the fleet when it became
evident that, at the rate we were progressing, we should not come up
with the chase before dark. We had, in company, a small privateer
schooner fitted with long sweeps, and which rowed remarkably well.
Captain Symonds directed her by signal to come within hail, and then
ordered me to take thirty men and go on board her and to proceed in
chase of the strangers.
"If they prove to be enemies," said he, "bring them to action, and keep
them engaged at long range, knocking away their spars, if you can, so
that they cannot escape till we come up. If we take the ship, as I have
no doubt we shall, I will give you the command of her to take her to New
York. She is evidently a big craft, and will be worth not a little."
I suspect that it was with no good grace that I thanked the captain for
the confidence he placed in me. He looked surprised, I thought, but
said nothing. Under other circumstances I should have been well pleased
with the task confided to me, but now, when I had set my heart on
landing on the shores of Virginia, suddenly to find that I might have to
go back to New York was a sore trial to me. Little do we know, however,
what is the best for us. As soon as the Arrow privateer came up, I and
my crew went on board, and, getting out all the long sweeps, away we
pulled in chase of the strangers. Every man put his full strength into
the work, and we sent the little vessel along at the rate of fully three
knots an hour. We felt as if we were going at a great speed, and we
rapidly neared the strangers. Little did I think in those days that in
my old age I should see vessels sent along in a dead calm without the
slightest exertion of human agency at four or five times that speed. We
kept minutely examining the strangers as we drew near. One was a
man-of-war--of that there was no doubt; the others were merchantmen,
probably, under her convoy. Still she did not show her colours. The
Arrow carried a couple of unusually long guns, and I fully expected to
commit great execution with them. They were all ready. Nol Grampus had
charge of one of them. We had got within range of the ship. I hoisted
English colours. The ship showed none in return. I waited a minute
longer. The word "fire" was on my lips when up went the British ensign
at her peak. Still I was not convinced till she made the private
signal.
Never perhaps in my life before had I been so satisfied at finding a
friend instead of an enemy. She proved to be HMS Royal Oak, the other
vessels being prizes she had taken. Two days after this we took two
other prizes, the charge of which was given to Lieutenants Seymour and
Bruton. Their absence of course gave me much more work to do--not a bad
thing, perhaps, under my circumstances. The following day a heavy gale
of wind sprang up, and we separated from the fleet as well as from our
prizes. We were knocking about for three days somewhat concerned for
the fate of the convoy. There were so many privateers cruising about,
that it was likely some of them could be picked off, and if any of the
transports were taken or lost, the whole plan of the expedition might be
disconcerted. General Arnold especially was in a state of considerable
anxiety for several reasons. If this, his first expedition, should
fail, he could scarcely expect his new friends to trust him again, while
if by any accident he should fall into the hands of those whose cause he
had betrayed, he knew full well the fate which awaited him. He was, I
believe, a man possessed of considerable military talents and of general
ability, but he wanted principle; and his extravagant habits placed him
in difficulties from which he saw no ordinary way of extricating
himself. He had just put forth an elaborate address to the inhabitants
of America, not only excusing his conduct, but taking great credit for
the motives which had induced him to join the King's arms. He stated
that he had taken up arms to redress grievances, and that those
grievances no longer existed, because Great Britain, with the open arms
of a parent, offered to embrace the colonists as children, and grant
them the wished-for redress. Her worst enemies, he told them, were in
the bosom of America. The French alliance, he assured them, was
calculated not only to ruin the mother-country, but the colonies
themselves; and that the heads of the rebellion, neglecting to take the
sentiments of the people at large, had refused to accept the British
proposals for peace; that for his part, rather than trust to the
insidious offers of France, "I preferred," he continues, "those of Great
Britain, thinking it infinitely wiser and safer to place my confidence
in her justice and generosity than to trust a monarchy too feeble to
establish your independency, so perilous to her distant dominions; the
enemy of the Protestant faith, and fraudulently avowing an affection for
the liberties of mankind while she holds her native sons in vassalage
and chains." He winds up by stating his conviction that it was the
generous intention of Great Britain not only to leave the rights and
privileges of the colonies unimpaired, together with their perpetual
exemption from taxation, but to superadd such further benefits as might
be consistent with the common prosperity of the empire; and then he
says, "I am now led to devote my life to the reunion of the British
Empire as the best and only means to dry up the streams of misery that
have deluged this country."
We had numberless copies of this address on board, ready to be
distributed throughout the country whenever we should effect a landing.
That was far from a pleasant time we had on our voyage. Not only had we
the effects of the gale to dread, but we were aware that a French
squadron was not far-off; and we were kept constantly on the look-out in
the unpleasant expectation of falling in with them, and having to take
to flight or of undergoing a still worse fate, and of falling into their
hands. Many people, in my day especially, had an idea that ships were
fated to be lucky or unlucky, either because they were launched on a
Friday, or that their keel was laid on a Friday, or that they were
cursed when building or when about to sail, or had a Jonas on board, or
for some other equally cogent reason. I always found that a bad captain
and master and a careless crew was the Jonas most to be dreaded, and
that to ill-fit and ill-find a ship was the worst curse which could be
bestowed on her. I should have been considered a great heretic if I had
publicly expressed such opinions in my younger days; indeed, I probably
did not think of them as I do now. The Charon was considered a lucky
ship, or, in other words, Captain Symonds was a careful commander, and
so few on board had any fear of our falling in with an overpowering
enemy or meeting with any other mishap. They could not as yet be proved
to be wrong; the gale abated on the 28th. The following day the weather
became moderate and fair, and we rejoined the fleet off the capes at the
entrance of the Chesapeake. We found the squadron augmented by the
arrival of two or three ships from the West India station. These were
to have joined to take part in the operations about to be commenced, but
the terrific hurricane which had lately raged over those regions had
either totally destroyed or disabled so many, that no others were then
in a fit condition to proceed to our assistance. Several of the
officers came on board of us, among them many old friends of mine, and
from them I gathered some accounts of that tremendous visitation.
It first broke on the Island of Jamaica, at the little seaport town of
Savannah-la-Mer. That hapless place, with the adjacent country, was
almost entirely overwhelmed by the sea, which rushed in over it with
tremendous force, driven on by the fury of a tempest whose force has
rarely been surpassed. The gale began at about one o'clock in the
afternoon from the south-east, increasing in violence till four p.m.,
when it veered to the south, then reaching its height, and continued
thus till eight, when it began to abate. Terrible was the havoc
committed in these few hours. The waves, raised to a height never
before witnessed, foaming and roaring, rushed with irresistible
impetuosity towards the land, sweeping into the bay and carrying before
it every building it encountered; numbers of the inhabitants it overtook
being drowned, while the rest fled shrieking before it for safety to the
Savannah. There the ruins only of houses remained to afford them
shelter. To add to the horror of the scene, lightning of the most vivid
description flashed from the skies--the wind and waves howled and roared
in concert--darkness came on, and the earth itself shook and trembled as
if about to swallow up those whom the waters or their falling
habitations had spared. The smaller vessels at anchor in the bay were
driven on shore and dashed to pieces, and the largest were torn from
their anchors and carried up far into the morass, whence they could
never be removed. One ship, the Princess Royal, was hove on her
beam-ends, but again righted by the earthquake or by the force of the
wind, and was left fixed firmly in the ground.
With the morning light the scene of destruction presented to the eyes of
the survivors was truly heart-rending. The ground where the town had
stood was strewed with the mangled forms of the dead and dying,
scattered among the fragments of their dwellings. Scarcely a roof
remained whole or a wall standing. Of all the sugar-works none
remained; the plantain walks were destroyed; every cane-piece was
levelled; and some hundred people, whites and negroes, were killed. In
Montego Bay, and indeed throughout the island, the consequences of the
tempest were equally disastrous. But if people on shore suffered thus,
still more melancholy was the fate of the numerous fleets which came
within its influence. Those of England, France, and Spain equally
suffered; many being wrecked, and others foundering with all hands.
The hurricane did not reach the Leeward Islands till the 19th. It raged
at Bridgetown, Barbadoes, from the 10th to the 16th, with no less fury
than elsewhere. The evening of the 9th was particularly calm, though a
glow of an unusual red appeared in the sky, and heavy rain began to
fall. On the morning of the 10th the hurricane began, and by the
afternoon the Albemarle frigate and all the merchantmen in the bay
parted from their anchors and drove to sea. By night the fury of the
tempest had reached its utmost height, and dreadful were the
consequences. It is impossible to describe the scenes of horror and
distress occurring on every side. A friend of mine was at the house of
the governor, which was a circular building with very thick walls. The
roof, however, soon began to fall in, and the family were compelled to
take shelter in the cellar. The water, however, speedily found its way
there, and, rising four feet, drove them into the open air, through
showers of tiles and bricks and timber falling on every side. They at
last took shelter under a gun-carriage, but several guns were
dismounted, and every instant they dreaded being crushed by the one
under which they were sitting. They were close, also, to the powder
magazine. A flash of lightning might destroy them in a moment. The
armoury had been already blown down, and all the arms and stores and
other things in it were scattered around. No place seemed safe, for
whole roofs were lifted up, and beams were blown about like feathers,
and darted with violence to the ground: so that the roar of the
elements, the crashing made by the falling houses, and the shrieks of
the inhabitants, were almost more than human courage could bear.
All waited anxiously looking for the dawn of day, but the light only
exhibited a scene which made them wish that it were again dark. Only
ruin and desolation were visible on every side; houses overthrown, trees
and plantations levelled, the ground strewed with dead bodies, and the
shore covered with wrecks. At the other islands life and property
suffered equally. At Saint Pierre, in Martinique, the new hospital of
Notre Dame was blown down, overwhelming 1600 patients, and 1400 other
houses were destroyed. In Fort Royal Bay four ships foundered, and
every soul perished. At Saint Lucia the destruction was very great.
His Majesty's ship Amazon was driven to sea and most miraculously
escaped foundering. She was commanded by the Honourable Captain William
Clement Finch. An old friend of mine, one of the lieutenants, gave me
the following account:--
"We saw by the look of the weather that a hurricane was coming on, but
while we were making everything snug it was down upon us, and we were
driven from our anchors, happily out to sea, instead of on the shore.
We at once got the ship under storm staysails, and as long as the canvas
held she behaved admirably; but as night drew on the gale increased and
every stitch of canvas was blown from the bolt-ropes. It is impossible
to describe the terrific fury of the gale by this time. One thing was
very clear, that if we did not cut away the masts they would either go
by the board, or she herself, from her terrific labouring, would go
down. The captain evidently did not like to cripple the ship by cutting
away the masts, and kept waiting in the hopes that the gale was at its
height and would soon abate. Vain was the hope. The gale, on the
contrary, kept increasing. At last he sent them aloft to cut away the
main-topmast. Quick as lightning they flew to obey the order, for they
well knew how much depended on its execution. Scarcely were they aloft
when the hurricane struck us with greater fury than ever.
"`Down, down, for your lives!' shouted the captain; `the mainmast must
go.'
"While we were waiting for the men to come down--and never did a few
moments of my life appear so long, for I knew that every single one was
of importance--a terrific gust struck the ship. Over she heeled; down,
down she went.
"`She's gone, she's gone!' shrieked out many on deck.
"I hoped that she would lift again, but she did not. Lower and lower
she sank. All who were on deck, captain, officers and crew, who could
manage it, clambered up on the ship's side. Some poor fellows who were
to leeward, and unable to haul themselves up to the weather side, were
washed off by the foaming sea, and, unable to help them, we saw them
drowned before our eyes. We felt that in another moment their fate
might be ours, for so far gone was the ship that the wheel on the
quarter-deck was already under water, and to our dismay we saw that the
ship was settling down every moment lower and lower. All the time she
kept moving about terrifically, and all we could do was to cling on and
watch for our approaching dissolution. Higher every instant rose the
water, and it had now reached the after part of the carronade slides on
the weather side. All hope was now gone. No ship with a heavy armament
like ours had ever floated in such a position. Those who could or dared
pray prayed; the rest waited in dull or hardened indifference for their
fate. There was a tremendous deafening crash. I thought our last
moment had come, but no, at that instant I saw the masts breaking away
like mere faggots; the bowsprit, spanker-boom, everything went, and with
a spring the ship righted so much that the lee gunwale rose even with
the water's edge.
"`Now, my lads,' shouted out our captain in a tone which animated all
hands; `now's our time! Overboard with the guns; we shall yet keep the
ship afloat.'
"We all scrambled back on the deck, and everybody, fore and aft, set to
work with a will to obey the captain's orders. Capstan-bars, handspikes
and axes were in requisition for active service. First we got the lee
quarter-deck guns and carronades overboard; then we hurried forward and
launched one of the forecastle guns into the sea, and cut away the sheet
anchor. All the weight we took off the lee-side had so good an effect
that still more of the ship's side rose above water, and we found that
we could get at the lee-guns on the main deck. What was of equal
importance also, we were able to reach the pumps. The first thing was
to get the lee main deck guns overboard. It was some of the most trying
work we had yet to perform. As I looked aft, and then glanced forward,
I could not help perceiving, as I believed, that the ship was going down
stern foremost. Others were under the same impression. Still a daring
body, led by the gallant Packenham, our first lieutenant, worked away
with such determination that one gun after the other was sent plunging
into the ocean. Meantime the pumps were rigged, and we made a desperate
attempt to free the ship from water. Already it was above the cable on
the orlop deck, and there was an immense quantity between decks. Our
previous unexpected success encouraged us to proceed. No men ever
worked with a better will than did our people; still, it's my belief
that seamen always will thus work when a good example is set them. We
were evidently diminishing the water, and the ship was no longer
sinking, when an accident occurred which made us again almost abandon
hope. On examination, it proved to be that the stump of the mainmast
had worked out of the stop and been driven against one of the
chain-pumps. The carpenter and his mate and crew hurried below to see
what could be done, but scarcely were they there when the cry arose that
the other pump was useless. Still they were undaunted. While the stump
of the mast was being secured, they laboured away to repair the damage.
At length one of the pumps was put to rights: a cheerful shout announced
the fact. Then we set to work on the other, which was in time cleared,
and once more the water flowed out at the lee scuppers in a full stream.
The ship was strong, and tight as a corked bottle. Wonderful as it may
seem, not a leak had been sprung. The ship having at length been got
somewhat to rights, the crew were mustered, when it was found that
twenty men had been drowned or seriously disabled. In a few hours she
was cleared of water, but there we lay, a helpless wreck on the ocean,
an easy prey to the smallest enemy. Our safety existed, we knew, in the
fact that every other vessel afloat must be in nearly an equally bad
condition. When the weather moderated we rigged jury-masts, and after
great exertion got back into harbour, thankful to heaven for our
providential preservation from a fate to which so many of our fellow-men
had been doomed."
Of his Majesty's ships alone, a great number were lost or dismasted.
The Thunderer, 74, Captain Walshingham, which had just arrived at the
station with a convoy from England, was lost with all hands. The
Scarborough, of 20 guns, was also lost with all hands. The Stirling
Castle, 64 guns, was lost, only the captain, Carteret, and fifty people
escaping. The Phoenix, 44--Deal Castle, 24--Endeavour brig, 14, were
lost, part only of the crews escaping. The Berwick, 74--Hector, 74--
Grafton, 74, Captain Collingwood--Trident, 64--Ruby, 64--Bristol, 50--
Ulysses, 44, and Pomona, lost all their masts, while the two first had
also to throw all their guns overboard. They formed the squadron which
had sailed from Port Royal with the trade for Europe, under Rear-Admiral
Rowley. He, with five only of his ships in a most shattered condition,
returned to Jamaica, while the Berwick separated from him, and, almost a
wreck, arrived under jury-masts in England, no one expecting that she
would keep afloat till they got there.