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NARRATIVE OF SERVICES IN THE LIBERATION OF CHILI, PERU, AND BRAZIL,
FROM SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE DOMINATION
by
THOMAS, EARL OF DUNDONALD, G.C.B.
Admiral of the Red; Rear-Admiral of the Fleet, etc. etc.
VOL. I
London:
James Ridgway, No 169, Piccadilly
MDCCCLIX
TO THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE, K.G. ETC. ETC.
My Lord,
I am proud to have been honoured with your Lordship's permission to
dedicate to you the following narrative of historical events, respecting
which the public has not previously been placed in a position to form a
correct judgment. Your Lordship's generous acquiescence enables me to
discharge a double debt: First--of thanks to one whose high political
character this country will ever warmly cherish;--Secondly--of deep-felt
gratitude for the countenance and efficient aid experienced from your
Lordship at a period when party faction made me the object of bitter
resentment; the injustice of which could in no way be better
demonstrated, than by the fact that--in the midst of unmerited obloquy,
it was my high privilege to preserve your Lordship's friendship and
esteem.
I have the honour to be,
Your Lordship's obliged and faithful Servant,
DUNDONALD.
CONTENTS.
PREFACE
CHAPTER I.
Invitation to take command of Chilian Navy--Arrival at Valparaiso--First
expedition to Peru--Attack on Spanish shipping at Callao--Departure for
Huacho--Capture of Spanish convoys of money--Paita taken--Return to
Valparaiso to reorganise the squadron--Offer to give up my share of
prize money to the Republic--This offer declined by the Supreme
Director--Popular congratulations--Attempt on Lady Cochrane's life.
CHAPTER II.
Second expedition to Peru--Disappointment at not being provided with
troops--Failure of rockets--Departure for Arica--Capture of
Pisco--Capture of Spanish ships at Puna--Determine to make an attempt on
Valdivia--Arrival off that port, and capture of Spanish brig of war
_Potrillo_--Troops obtained from Conception--Flag-ship nearly
wrecked--Attack on forts, and conquest of Valdivia.
CHAPTER III.
Departure for Chiloe--Preparations of the enemy--Capture of Fort
Corona--Failure at Fort Aguy, and subsequent retreat--Return to
Valdivia--Capture of Osorio--Return to Valparaiso--Enthusiastic
reception--Chagrin of the ministry--Importance of conquest of Valdivia
in a political point of view--Promotion of officers under
arrest--Employment of Indians by the Spaniards--Career of
Benavides--Mutinous spirit of the seamen in consequence of their
captures being appropriated by Government--Resignation of my
commission--Refusal thereof--Renewed offer of an estate--This again
declined--Seamen obtain their wages--Private purchase of an
estate--Government gives notice of taking it--Appointment of flag
captain against my wishes--Annoyance given to me by Minister of
Marine--Renewed resignation of the command--Officers of the squadron
resign in a body--Government begs of me to retain the command--My
consent--General San Martin--The Senate--Zenteno--Corruption of parties
in the Administration.
CHAPTER IV.
Obstacles to equipping the squadron--Sailing of the liberating
expedition--Debarcation at Pisco--Long inaction of the army--General San
Martin removes to Ancon--Capture of the Esmeralda--Exchange of
prisoners--Acknowledgment of the service by General San Martin--Lady
Cochrane's visit to Mendoza.
CHAPTER V.
San Martin's violation, of truth--Removal of blockade--Spanish
depression--Troops dying of fever--San Martin's designs on
Guayaquil--Mutinous conduct of officers--Refusal to obey
orders--Deposition of Viceroy--San Martin gives me troops--Jealousy of
San Martin--Attack on Arica--Capture of Tacna--Capture of
Moquega--Refusal of more men--an armistice ratified--Distress of
Lima--Dissatisfaction of the army--Lady Cochrane in action--Devotion of
seamen.
CHAPTER VI.
Return to Callao--Lima abandoned--Hesitation of General San Martin to
occupy the City--Loss of the _San Martin_--Excesses of the
Spaniards--Proclamation of independence--San Martin assumes autocratic
power under the title of Protector--My remonstrance--His reply--Mutinous
state of the squadron from neglect.
CHAPTER VII.
Tampering with Chilian officers--The Archbishop of Lima--His
expulsion--Negociation for surrender of the Forts--This
counteracted--San Martin's bombastic Proclamations--His refusal to
encounter the enemy--The Spaniards relieve Callao--Delusive
proclamation--The unblushing falsehood--Spaniards carry off the
treasure--Discontent of the squadron.
CHAPTER VIII.
Prolonged destitution of squadron--The men mutiny in a body--The
seamen's letters--San Martin sends away the public treasure--My seizure
of it--Private property restored--San Martin's accusations against
me--The squadron paid wages--Attempt on the officers' fidelity--I am
asked to desert from Chili--Ordered to quit on refusal--Monteagudo's
letter--My reply--Justification of seizing the treasure--- No other
course possible.
CHAPTER IX.
Arrival at Guayaquil--Address to Guayaquilenos--Injurious
monopolies--Ministerial folly--Departure from Guayaquil--Arrival in
Mexico--Anchor at Acapulco--Mock Ambassadors--Plot against me--Return to
Guayaquil--Venganza taken possession of--Agreement with Junta--General
La Mar--Orders to withhold supplies--Abominable cruelty--Courtly
splendour--Destruction of a division of the Army--Dissatisfaction of
officers--Renewed overtures from San Martin--Their refusal by
me--Warning to the Chilian Government.
CHAPTER X.
Return to Valparaiso--Thanks of the Government--Reasons for
satisfaction--Illegitimate trade--Turned to good account--Denunciation
of Officers deserted--Investigation of accounts--San Martin's charges
against me--My refutation--Government refuses its publication--Cruelty
to Spanish prisoners--Retirement to Quintero--Political fruits of our
success--Destitute condition of squadron--Infamous attempt to promote
dissatisfaction therein--Object of this course--Steps taken to defeat
it--Disavowed by the Minister--Sympathy of officers--Attempt to get rid
of Gen. Freire--Its eventual result--Letter of the Captains.
CHAPTER XI.
Negociations with Bolivar--Exile of Monteagudo--Complaints of the
Limeños--Extravagance of the Government--Exculpation of San
Martin--Effects of popular dissension--Disagreement of Bolivar and San
Martin--Vote of Peruvian Congress--Extraordinary neglect of the Chilian
Squadron--San Martin's arrival at Valparaiso--I demand his
trial--Countenance of the Supreme Director--Squadron at length paid
wages--Revolt of Conception--General Freire apprises me of it--Freire
asks for my support--His letter not replied to--San Martin's influence.
CHAPTER XII.
The squadron taken from me--I accept invitation from Brazil--Letter to
the Supreme Director--San Martin quits Chili--His prudence--Opinion of
his Aide-de Camp--Ministerial neglect--Permission to quit Chili--Letter
to General Freire--For the first time made public--Letter to the
Captains and Officers--To the Chilian people--To the foreign
merchants--To the President of Peru--San Martin actuated by
revenge--This shewn from his letters.
CHAPTER XIII.
Freire marches on Valparaiso--Elected Supreme Director--He begs of me to
return--My reply--Subsequent letter to General Freire.
CHAPTER XIV.
Injustice to the squadron--Inconsistency of this--Estate taken from
me--My losses by litigation--Endeavours to enforce my claims--Petty
excuses for evading them--I am charged with expenses of the Army--And
with costs for making legal captures--My conduct approved at the time---
Ministerial approbation--Paltry compensation at length given--Ministerial
corruption--Proved by San Martin--Cause of official animosity to
me--Conclusion.
APPENDIX.
PREFACE.
The first of these volumes forms a history of the consolidation of
Chilian independence, and of the subsequent liberation of Peru--through
the instrumentality of the Chilian squadron under my command; a service
which called forth from the Governments and people of the liberated
states the warmest expressions of gratitude to the naval service
collectively, and to myself personally, as having planned and conducted
the operations whereby these results were attained.
It records also the strangely inconsistent fact that--beyond these marks
of national approbation--neither Chili nor Peru ever awarded to the
squadron or myself any more substantial reward--though, in a pecuniary
sense, deeply indebted to us; for, during the greater portion of the war
of independence, the subsistence of the crews, and the repairs and
equipment of the Chilian squadron were solely provided for by our own
exertions, without cost to the Government; since, in addition to the
capture of Spanish ships-of-war and merchant vessels--money, provisions,
and stores to a great extent fell into our hands; all of which--though
our own stipulated right--were voluntarily devoted to state exigencies,
in the full conviction that, at the expiration of the war, the value of
our sacrifices would, as a point of national honour, be returned to us
by Chili. As regards Peru, our still unpaid for captures of ships-of-war
formed her first naval force, for which the only requital has been, a
vote of her first National Assembly--almost its inaugural act--ascribing
to me the double praise of her liberation from the Spanish yoke, and of
her subsequent deliverance from an intolerable military tyranny.
The volume contains another point, which forms a yet stranger sequel to
my services on the Western shores of South America. After the expiration
of thirty years, Chili granted me the absurdly inadequate sum of £.6,000
_in full of all my claims!_ And this, with the knowledge that, after my
return to England I was involved in litigation on account of the legal
seizure of vessels under the orders of her former Government--by which
I was subjected to a loss, directly and indirectly, of _more than three
times the amount_. The Chilian portion of this history, therefore,
resolves itself into the fact, that not only did I reap no reward
whatever, for the liberation of Chili and Peru, but that the
independence of both countries was achieved _at a heavy pecuniary
sacrifice to myself!_ in compensation for which, as well as for my
recognised services--Chili has thought its national honour sufficiently
vindicated by allotting me _one-third of my losses only_, without other
compensation of any kind! I regret to add, that my necessities at the
time, arising for the most part from the pecuniary difficulties to which
I had been subjected on Chilian account, compelled me to accept the
amount tendered.
The second volume is of a character somewhat similar. It narrates the
circumstances under which--by promises the most inviting, and
stipulations the most binding--I was induced to accept the command, or
rather organization of the first Brazilian navy. It details the complete
expulsion of all Portuguese armaments, naval and military, from the
Eastern shores of the South American Continent, by the squadron alone,
wholly unaided by military co-operation; in the course of which arduous
service, ships of war, merchant vessels, and valuable property to the
extent of several millions of dollars were captured under the Imperial
order, and their value--in spite of previous stipulations--_refused to
the captors_, on the falsely assumed ground that the provinces liberated
were Brazilian--though a Brazilian military force had been recently
beaten in an attempt to expel the Portuguese--and though these provinces
were, at the period of my assuming the command, in the uninterrupted
occupation of the very Portuguese fleets and armies afterwards expelled,
it was falsely pretended that the property captured was not enemy's
property--though expressly described as such in numerous Imperial
decrees--and more especially by the instructions given to me by His
Imperial Majesty to seize or destroy it wherever found.
It was, in short, subsequently decided by a Court of Admiralty--for the
most part composed of Portuguese members, acting under the influence of
a Portuguese faction in the Administration--that neither myself nor the
squadron were entitled to the prizes made--though most inconsistently,
the same tribunal condemned the ships of war taken--as "_droits_" to the
crown--for which, compensation was awarded to the squadron by His
Imperial Majesty, but never paid by the ministers to whom the order was
directed.
Not to anticipate the contents of the volume devoted to Brazilian
affairs. It being found after the expulsion of the enemy, that the
stipulations made with myself were too binding to be easily set aside,
several futile attempts were made to evade them, but this being found
impossible, the unworthy expedient was resorted to of summarily
dismissing me from the service, after the establishment of peace with
Portugal--an event entirely consequent on my individual services. By
this expedient--of the rectitude or otherwise of which the reader will
be able to judge from the documentary evidence laid before him--I was
got rid of without compensation for my claims, which for thirty years
were altogether repudiated; but, at the expiration of that period, fully
recognised as _having been due from the beginning!_ The Brazilian
Government, however, satisfied its own sense of justice by awarding me
less than _one-half the simple interest of the amount stipulated in my
patents_; thus retaining the whole of the principal admitted to be due.
The preceding remarks form a _synopsis_ of my career on both sides of
the continent of South America; the narrative, where dispute might
arise, being carefully founded on, and in all cases accompanied by
documentary evidence, which admits neither dispute nor contradiction.
The trifling amount awarded by Chili, would probably not have been
granted at all, but for the earnest remonstrance of Lord Palmerston,
warmly seconded by the efforts of the Hon. Mr. Jerningham, British
Minister to the Chilian Republic, by whose joint exertions the
Government was induced to admit--that national honour was involved in
fulfilling national obligations; though an infinitesimal view of either
the one or the other was certainly taken when awarding me the
insignificant sum previously mentioned.
In Brazil the case was somewhat different. It is to His present Imperial
Majesty, Don Pedro II. that I owe any investigation of my claims, by the
appointment of a Commission (_Secçoes_), which reported that they ought
never to have been withheld, as being my stipulated right. But even the
limited amount awarded in consequence of this decision, was on the point
of being further diminished one half by its projected payment in a
depreciated currency--and, had it not been for the intervention of Lord
Clarendon, and of the Hon. Mr. Scarlett, British Minister at Rio de
Janeiro, of whose zealous exertions in my favour I cannot speak too
warmly--this further injustice would have been perpetrated without the
knowledge or sanction of His present Imperial Majesty.
It may be asked, why--with the clear documentary evidence in my
possession--and now adduced--I have for so many years endured an amount
of obloquy and injustice, which might at any time have been set aside by
its publication? The reply is obvious. The withholding of my claims by
the Governments of both sides the South American Continent, and the
ruinous expense to which I was put on account of Chili, entailed upon me
many years of pecuniary difficulty. To have told even the
truth--unbacked as I then was, by the British Government--would have
been to have all my claims set at defiance, so that compulsory
discretion was a sufficient reason for my silence. It was long before I
could induce a British Minister to satisfy himself of the rectitude of
my conduct--the soundness of my claims--or the dishonesty of those who,
believing me to be powerless, laughed at reiterated demands for my
stipulated rights. Yet more I have never sought from those to whom I
gave liberty and dominion.
There is, however, a reason for the present publication, of which I have
never lost sight. Amidst all the injustice which it has been my lot to
sustain, I have ever determined--for the sake of my family--to whom my
character is an heir-loom--that no obloquy shall follow me to the grave,
for none have I merited. On the day these volumes see the light, this
resolution will be partially fulfilled. On that day I shall have
completed the eighty-third year of a career strangely chequered, yet not
undistinguished; and, therefore, the opinions of either Chilians or
Brazilians are now of small moment to me in comparison with a reputation
which has been demmed worthy of belonging to history. None of the
present ruling powers in either Chili or Brazil can possibly be offended
with me for giving a guardedly temperate documentary narrative of what
must hereafter form the basis of their national annals. I do not for a
moment contemplate that men of enlightened views such as now direct the
affairs of both countries have either part or sympathy with
self-interested adventurers who in popular revolutions too often rise to
the surface, and for a time make confusion worse confounded; till
replaced--as a matter of course, no less than by necessity--by men of
greater grasp of mind and more exalted aspirations.
But this is as it maybe--my reputation as a British seaman is to me of
the highest moment, and it shall not be sullied after my death by the
aspersions of those who wilfully revenged the thwarting of their
anti-Imperial designs, by imputations which can alone enter into the
minds of men devoid of generous impulses and therefore incapable of
appreciating higher motives. I have not followed their example, but
where it is necessary to bring forward such persons--they will be viewed
through the medium of their own documents, which are incontestible and
irresistible, and which would as easily convict me of untruth as they
convict my maligners of practices unworthy the honour of a nation.
To my own countrymen these volumes can scarcely be matter of
indifference; though, perhaps, few reflect that the numerous fleets of
British merchantmen which now frequent both shores of South America, are
the consequence of the deliverance of these vast territories from an
exclusive colonial yoke. It is true that England had previously formed a
treaty with Portugal, permitting English vessels to trade to her South
American Colonies, but such was the influence of Portuguese merchants
with the local governments, that it was nearly inoperative; so that,
practically, the Portuguese were in the exclusive possession of that
commerce which my expulsion of the fleet and army of the mother country
unreservedly threw open to British enterprise. The same, even in a
higher degree, may be said with regard to Chili and Peru.
Yet, scarcely had my mission to Chili become known, than the influence
of Spain induced the British Ministry to pass a "Foreign Enlistment
Act," the penal clauses of which were evidently aimed at me, for
having entered into the service of unacknowledged governments without
permission--though I had shortly before been most unjustly driven from
the service of my native country.
In blind animosity towards me, my former English persecutors failed to
perceive the advantage to British commerce, of freeing both sides of
South America from lingering war and internal dissension. An amusing
instance of this occurred on my return to England. Having occasion to
wait upon the then Attorney-General relative to a patent which I had in
hand, he brusquely inquired "_whether I was not afraid to appear before
him?_" On my replying that "I was not aware of having reason to fear
appearing in the presence of any man," he told me the question had been
officially put to him, whether I could be punished under the "Foreign
Enlistment Act," for the part I had taken in the liberation of Chili,
Peru, and Brazil? To this I replied, that "if Government was indiscreet
enough further to persecute me for having thrown open to British
commerce the largest field for enterprise of modern times, they could
take what steps they chose, for that I, having accepted service in South
America before the passing of the Act, was not afraid of the
consequences of having infringed its provisions." It is almost needless
to say that no such prosecution was instituted, though the will was
good, despite the national benefits conferred.
I will not enter farther into the subject in a preface to volumes which
themselves form only a summary of events in which I was a principal
actor, but at the same time, one, which I hope will prove satisfactory
and decisive. It would have been easy to have dilated the narrative, but
my object is solely to leave behind me a faithful record of events which
must one day become history, and there is no history like documentary
history.
To those high personages who have advocated my cause with other nations,
the present volume will give satisfaction, as affording additional proof
that their advocacy rested upon no visionary basis. To the members of
the press, who have adopted the same views, this exposition will be
equally satisfactory. To all these I owe the thanks of recognising in
me, a love for that service, from which--for a time I was unjustly
expelled. It is my intention, if God spare my life, to add to these
Memoirs a narrative of my former experience in the British navy, and,
what may be of greater utility, an exposition of that which, from
jealousy and other causes no less unworthy, _I was not permitted to
effect_. To these I shall add a few remarks upon my connexion with the
liberation of Greece, developing some remarkable facts, which have as
yet escaped the notice of historians. These reminiscences of the past
will, at least, be instructive to future generations and if any remarks
of mine will conduce to the permanent greatness and security of my
country, I shall deem the residue of my life well spent in recording
them.
At my advanced age, such a task as that now partially executed, would,
perhaps, have presented insuperable difficulties, but for the assistance
rendered me by Mr. Earp, who, with great perseverance, has
unravelled--what, in the lapse of time, had become the almost
inextricable confusion of my papers. That, however, has, with his
assistance, been accomplished in such a way as to base upon original
documents every incident contained in the work--the more important of
these documents being adduced, so as to admit of neither doubt nor
question. The same course will be pursued in the forthcoming English
portion of my career, with a result, I trust, equally clear and
convincing.
DUNDONALD.
CHAPTER I.
INVITATION TO TAKE COMMAND OF CHILIAN NAVY--ARRIVAL AT VALPARAISO--FIRST
EXPEDITION TO PERU--ATTACK ON SPANISH SHIPPING AT CALLAO--DEPARTURE FOR
HUACHO--CAPTURE OF SPANISH CONVOYS OF MONEY--PAITA TAKEN--RETURN TO
VALPARAISO TO REORGANIZE THE SQUADRON--OFFER TO GIVE UP MY SHARE OF
PRIZEMONEY TO THE REPUBLIC--THIS OFFER DECLINED BY THE SUPREME
DIRECTOR--POPULAR CONGRATULATIONS--ATTEMPT ON LADY COCHRANE'S LIFE.
In the year 1817, Don Jose Alvarez, accredited agent of the government
of Chili--as yet unacknowledged by European powers--applied to me to
undertake the organization of a naval force in that country, capable of
contending against the Spaniards; who, notwithstanding the successful
revolt of the Chilenos by land, still maintained their predominance on
the waters of the Pacific.
Having at that time no professional employment, in consequence of my
unjust expulsion from the British naval service, by the machinations of
the powerful political party which I had offended--and finding that
Chili was making great efforts to create a navy, in furtherance of which
object a war steamer had been placed on the stocks in London--I accepted
the invitation, engaging to superintend her building and equipment, and
to take her to Valparaiso when completed.
Meanwhile, Alvarez received orders from his Government, that, if his
proposals had been accepted, no time must be lost in my departure, as
the position of Chili was critical, the Spaniards threatening Valparaiso
by sea, and being still in possession of the continent from Conception
to Chiloe, where they were organizing the savage Indian tribes to carry
desolation into the newly emancipated provinces. Reliable information
had also been received, that the Court of Madrid was making strenuous
efforts to recover its lost possessions by a powerful reinforcement to
its Pacific squadron, against which the Chileno ships of war, in their
present state, were not in a condition to contend.
Alvarez therefore begged me not to wait for the steamer, the completion
and equipment of which he would hasten, but at once to sail for Chili in
the _Rose_ merchantman, then on the eve of departure. Knowing that the
whole of Peru was in the hands of the Spaniards, and that they were also
in possession of Valdivia, the strongest fortified harbour to the
southward--from both of which there would be considerable difficulty in
dislodging them after the arrival of the anticipated reinforcements--I
embarked without delay; and on the 28th of November, 1818, landed at
Valparaiso, accompanied by Lady Cochrane and our two children.
Our reception, both from the authorities and the people, was
enthusiastic, the Supreme Director, General O'Higgins, coming from the
seat of Government, Santiago, to welcome us. This excellent man was the
son of an Irish gentleman of distinction in the Spanish service, who had
occupied the important position of Viceroy of Peru. The son had,
however, joined the patriots, and whilst second in command had not long
before inflicted a signal defeat upon the Spaniards in the interior; in
reward for which service the gratitude of the nation had elevated him to
the Supreme Directorate.
A variety of _fêtes_ was given at Valparaiso in honour of our arrival,
these being prolonged for so many days as to amount to a waste of time.
The same scenes were, however, re-enacted at the distant capital,
whither the Supreme Director insisted on taking us, till I had to remind
His Excellency that our purpose was rather fighting than feasting.
Nevertheless, the reception we had met impressed me with so high a sense
of Chilian hospitality, that, heartbroken as I had been by the infamous
persecution which had driven me from the British navy, I decided upon
Chili as my future home; this decision, however, being only an
exemplification of the proverb _"L'homme propose--Dieu dispose."_
The Chilian squadron had just returned from a successful cruise, the
gallant Admiral Blanco Encalada, who commanded it, having captured a
noble Spanish 50-gun frigate, the _Maria Isabel_, in the bay of
Talcahuano.
The squadron consisted of the recently captured Spanish frigate, now
named the _O'Higgins_, in honour of the Supreme Director; the _San
Martin_, 56 guns, formerly the _Cumberland_ Indiaman, which had been
bought into the service; the _Lautaro_, 44 guns, also a purchased
Indiaman; the _Galvarino_, 18 guns, recently the British sloop of war
_Hecate_; the _Chacabuco_, 20 guns; and the _Aracauno_, 16 guns; a force
which, though deficient in organization and equipment, was very
creditable to the energy of a newly emancipated people.
A few days after my arrival a commission was issued, conferring upon me
the title of "Vice-Admiral of Chili, Admiral and Commander in Chief of
the Naval Forces of the Republic." Admiral Blanco, with patriotic
liberality, relinquishing his position in my favour, though, from his
recent achievement, justly entitled to retain it; paying me also the
additional compliment of personally announcing to the ships' companies
the change which had been effected.
My advent was regarded by the captains of the squadron with great
jealousy, the more so, as I had brought with me from England officers
upon whom I could place implicit reliance. It so happened that two of
the Chilian commanders, Captains Guise and Spry, had shortly before
arrived from England with the _Hecate_, which had been sold out of the
British navy, and bought by them on speculation. The Buenos Ayrean
Government having declined to purchase her, they had brought her on to
Chili, where the Government took her and received her former owners into
its service. These officers, together with Captain Worcester, a North
American, got up a cabal, the object of which was to bring about a
divided command between myself and Admiral Blanco, or, as they
expressed it--"two commodores and no Cochrane." Finding that Admiral
Blanco would not listen to this, they persuaded one or two of the
inferior ministers--whose jealousy it was not difficult to excite--that
it was dangerous and discreditable to a republican Government to allow a
nobleman and a foreigner to command its navy, and still more so, to
allow him to retain his title; the object being to place Admiral Blanco
in the chief command, with myself as his second--by which arrangement,
as he had not been accustomed to manage British seamen, they expected to
control him as they pleased. Admiral Blanco, however, insisted on
reversing our positions, offering his services as second in command, in
which arrangement I gladly acquiesced. This insignificant squabble would
not be worth narrating, but for its bearing on subsequent events; as
well as enabling me to confer a pleasing testimony to the patriotic
disinterestedness of Admiral Blanco, who is still one of the brightest
ornaments of the Republic which he so eminently aided to establish.
On the 22nd of December my flag was hoisted on board the _O'Higgins_,
after which the greatest despatch was used to get the squadron ready for
sea. Anxious to avoid delay, on the 16th of January I sailed with four
ships only, the _O'Higgins, San Martin, Lautaro,_ and _Chacabuco_;
leaving Admiral Blanco to follow with the _Gaharino, Aracauno,_ and
_Puyrredon_. A mutiny having broken out on board the _Chacabuco_, it
became necessary to enter Coquimbo, where the leading mutineers were
landed, tried, and punished.
I shall here narrate an incident which occurred on our departure. Lady
Cochrane, with her children, had returned from Santiago to Valparaiso,
to take leave of me on embarkation. She had just gone ashore, and the
last gun had been fired to summon all hands on board, when, hearing a
loud _hurrah_ near the house where she resided, she went to the window,
and saw our little boy--now Lord Cochrane, but then scarcely more than
five years old--mounted on the shoulders of my flag-lieutenant, waving
his tiny cap over the heads of the people, and crying out with all his
might, _"Viva la patria!"_ the mob being in a frenzied state of
excitement.
The child had slipped out of Lady Cochrane's house with the officer,
insisting on being carried to his father; with which request the
lieutenant, nothing loth, complied. To the horror of Lady Cochrane, she
saw her boy hurried down to the beach amidst the shouts of the
multitude, and, before she could interfere, placed in a boat and rowed
off to the flag-ship, which was at the time under weigh, so that he
could not be sent ashore again; there being no alternative but to take
him with us, though without clothes--which were afterwards made for him
by the sailors--and with no other attendance save that which their rough
but kindly natures could administer.
On our way along the coast we received information that the _Antonio_
was about to sail from Callao for Cadiz, with a considerable amount of
treasure, so that, in the hope of intercepting her, we cruized just out
of sight of the port till the 21st of February. As she did not make her
appearance, preparations were made to put in execution a plan which had
been formed to attack the Spanish shipping during the Carnival, when, in
the height of that festival, less vigilance than ordinary might
reasonably be expected. We had previously ascertained that the naval
force in the harbour consisted of the frigates _Esmeralda_ and
_Venganza_, a corvette, three brigs of war, a schooner, twenty-eight
gun-boats, and six heavily-armed merchantmen; the whole being moored
close in under the batteries, which mounted upwards of 160 guns, whilst
the aggregate force of the shipping was 350 guns, as appeared from an
official account of their armament.
A direct attack with our small force seemed, therefore, a thing not at
present to be attempted; but in its place I had formed the design to cut
out the frigates during the carnival, which terminated on the 23rd.
Knowing that two North American ships of war were daily expected at
Callao, it was arranged to take in the _O'Higgins_ and _Lautaro_, under
American colours, leaving the _San Martin_ out of sight behind San
Lorenzo, and if the _ruse_ were successful, to make a feint of sending a
boat ashore with despatches, and in the meantime suddenly to dash at the
frigates, and cut them out. Unfortunately, one of those thick fogs, so
common on the Peruvian coast, arose, in which the _Lautaro_ parted
company, and did not rejoin the flag-ship for four days afterwards,
when the carnival being at an end, our plan was rendered abortive.
The fog, which in the climate of Peru often continues for a considerable
length of time, lasted till the 29th, when hearing heavy firing, and
imagining that one of the ships was engaged with the enemy, I stood with
the flag-ship into the bay; the other ships, imagining the same thing,
also steered in the direction of the firing, when the fog clearing for a
moment, we discovered each other, as well as a strange sail near us;
which, when taken possession of by the flag-ship, proved to be a Spanish
gun-boat, with a lieutenant and twenty men, who, on being made
prisoners, informed us that the firing was a salute in honour of the
Viceroy, who had that morning been on a visit of inspection to the
batteries and shipping, and was then on board the brig of war _Pezuela_,
which we saw crowding sail in the direction of the batteries.
The fog again coming on, suggested to me the possibility of a direct
attack, which, if not altogether successful, would give the Spaniards
such an idea of our determination of purpose, as would inspire them with
respect for the Chilian squadron, and might induce their ships to
refrain from the protection of their commerce; in which case a blockade
would prevent the necessity of separating our small force in chase of
them, should they evince a desire of getting to sea.
Accordingly, still maintaining our disguise under American colours, the
_O'Higgins_ and _Lautaro_ stood towards the batteries, narrowly escaping
going ashore in the fog. The Viceroy having no doubt witnessed the
capture of the gun-boat, had, however, provided for our reception, the
garrison being at their guns, and the crews of the ships of war at their
quarters. Notwithstanding the great odds, I determined to persist in an
attack, as our withdrawing without firing a shot, would produce an
effect upon the minds of the Spaniards the reverse of that intended;
having sufficient experience in war to know that moral effect, even if
the result of a degree of temerity, will not unfrequently supply the
place of superior force.
The wind falling light, I did not venture on laying the flag-ship and
the _Lautaro_ alongside the Spanish frigates, as at first intended, but
anchored with springs on our cables, abreast of the shipping, which was
arranged in a half-moon of two lines, the rear rank being judiciously
disposed so as to cover the intervals of the ships in the front line. A
dead calm succeeding, we were for two hours exposed to a heavy fire from
the batteries, in addition to that from the two frigates, the brigs
_Pezuela_ and _Maypeu_, and seven or eight gun-boats; nevertheless, the
northern angle of one of the principal forts was silenced by our fire.
A breeze springing up, we weighed anchor, standing to and fro in front
of the batteries, and returning their fire; when Captain Guise, who
commanded the _Lautaro_, being severely wounded, that ship sheered off,
and never again came within range. As from want of wind, or doubt of the
result, neither the _San Martin_ nor _Chacabuco_ had ever got within
fire, the flag-ship was thus left alone to continue the action; but as
this, from want of co-operation on the part of the other ships, was
useless, I was reluctantly compelled to relinquish the attack, and
withdrew to the island of San Lorenzo, about three miles distant from
the forts; the Spaniards, though nearly quadruple our numbers, exclusive
of their gun-boats, not venturing to follow us.
The annexed was the Spanish naval force present: _Frigates_.--Esmeralda,
44 guns; Venganza, 42 guns; Sebastiana, 28 guns.
_Brigs_.--Maypeu, 18 guns; Pezuela, 22 guns; Potrilla, 18 guns; and one,
name unknown, 18 guns.
_Schooner_, name unknown, one long 24, and 20 culverins.
_Armed Merchantmen_.--Resolution, 36 guns; Cleopatra, 28 guns; La Focha,
20 guns; Guarmey, 18 guns; Fernando, 26 guns; San Antonio, 18 guns.
Total, fourteen vessels, of which ten were ready for sea; and
twenty-seven gun-boats.
In this action my little boy had a narrow escape. As the story has been
told by several Chilian writers somewhat incorrectly, I will
recapitulate the circumstances.
When the firing commenced, I had placed the boy in my after-cabin,
locking the door upon him; but not liking the restriction, he contrived
to get through the quarter gallery window, and joined me on deck,
refusing to go down again. As I could not attend to him, he was
permitted to remain, and, in a miniature midshipman's uniform, which the
seamen had made for him, was busying himself in handing powder to the
gunners.
Whilst thus employed, a round shot took off the head of a marine close
to him, scattering the unlucky man's brains in his face. Instantly
recovering his self-possession, to my great relief, for believing him
killed, I was spell-bound with agony, he ran up to me exclaiming, "I am
not hurt, papa: the shot did not touch me; Jack says, the ball is not
made that can kill mamma's boy." I ordered him to be carried below; but,
resisting with all his might, he was permitted to remain on deck during
the action.
Our loss in this affair was trifling, considering that we were under the
fire of more than two hundred guns; but the ships were so placed that
the enemy's frigates lay between us and the fortress, so that the shot
of the latter only told upon our rigging, which was considerably
damaged.
The action having been commenced in a fog, the Spaniards imagined that
all the Chilian vessels were engaged, and were not a little surprised,
as it again cleared, to find that their own frigate, the quondam _Maria
Isabella_, was their only opponent. So much were they dispirited by this
discovery, that as soon as possible after the close of the contest,
their ships of war were dismantled, the top masts and spars being formed
into a double boom across the anchorage so as to prevent approach. The
Spaniards were also previously unaware of my being in command of the
Chilian squadron, but on becoming acquainted with this fact, bestowed
upon me the not very complimentary title of "El Diablo," by which I was
afterwards known amongst them. The title might have been rendered more
appropriate, had my efforts been better seconded by the other vessels.
On the following day, having repaired damages, the flag-ship and
_Lautaro_ again went in and commenced a destructive fire upon the
Spanish gun-boats, the neutral vessels in the harbour removing out of
the line of shot. As the gun-boats withdrew to a position closer under
the batteries, where we could make little impression upon them without
getting severely punished by the fire of the fortress, we contented
ourselves with the demonstration made.
On the 2nd of March, I despatched Capt. Foster with the gun-boat
captured from the Spaniards, and the launches of the _O'Higgins_ and
_Lautaro_--to take possession of the island of San Lorenzo, when an
unworthy instance of Spanish cruelty presented itself in the spectacle
of thirty-seven Chilian soldiers taken prisoners eight years before. The
unhappy men had ever since been forced to work in chains under the
supervision of a military guard--now prisoners in turn; their sleeping
place during the whole of this period being a filthy shed, in which they
were every night chained by one leg to an iron bar. The joy of the poor
fellows at their deliverance, after all hope had fled, can scarcely be
conceived.
From the liberated patriots and the Spanish prisoners, I learned that in
Lima there were a number of Chilian officers and seamen taken on board
the _Maypeu_, whose condition was even more deplorable than their own,
the fetters on their legs having worn their ancles to the bone, whilst
their commander, by a refinement of cruelty, had for more than a year
been lying under sentence of death as a rebel. Upon this, I sent a flag
of truce to the viceroy, Don Joaquim de la Pezuela, requesting him to
permit the prisoners to return to their families, in exchange for the
Spanish prisoners on board the squadron, and others in Chili--where
there were great numbers, who were comparatively well treated. The
Viceroy denied the charge of ill-treatment--asserted his right, if he
thought proper, to regard his prisoners as pirates; retorting that after
the battle of Maypeu, General San Martin had treated the Spanish
Commissioner as a spy, and had repeatedly threatened him with death. The
exchange of prisoners was uncourteously refused, the Viceroy concluding
his reply with an expression of surprise that a British nobleman should
command the maritime forces of a Government "unacknowledged by all the
Powers of the globe." To this latter observation, I considered it
incumbent upon me to reply that "a British nobleman was a free man, and
therefore had a right to adopt any country which was endeavouring to
re-establish the rights of aggrieved humanity; and that I had hence
adopted the cause of Chili, with the same freedom of judgment that I had
previously exercised when refusing the offer of an Admiral's rank in
Spain, made to me not long before, by the Spanish Ambassador in London;"
this offer having been made by the Duke de San Carlos, in the name of
Ferdinand the Seventh.
Our means being clearly inadequate to any decisive attack on the Spanish
ships of war, I resolved to try the effect of an explosion vessel, and
accordingly established a laboratory on the island of San Lorenzo, under
the superintendence of Major Miller, the Commandant of Marines. Whilst
engaged in this duty, that able and gallant officer was so severely
burned by an accidental explosion, as to render his further services on
this occasion unavailable.
On the 22nd of March--our preparations being completed--we again stood
towards the batteries, the flag-ship going close in under the combined
fire of the forts and shipping, in order to divert the attention of the
enemy from the explosion vessel, which was set adrift in the direction
of the frigates, but, unfortunately, when within musket shot of them,
she was struck by a round shot and foundered, causing complete failure
in our object. The _San Martin_ and the _Lautaro_ keeping far astern,
there was no alternative but to withdraw from further attack, leaving
the explosion vessel to her fate.
As other attempts, with our want of means, would answer no better
purpose than useless demonstration, and as the ships were now destitute
of water and provisions, we were obliged to fall back upon Huacho,
leaving the _Chacabuco_ to watch the movements of the enemy.
The inhabitants of Huacho, who were well disposed to co-operate in any
effort for the emancipation of Peru, afforded us every assistance in
provisioning and watering the ships, for which the commandant, Cevallos,
shot two influential persons who had been foremost in aiding us, and
severely punished others; at the same time seizing our water casks, and
sending me an insolent letter of defiance, on which a party of seamen
and marines was landed and put the garrison to flight; the officer
commanding the party however withdrew from pursuit at hearing salutes
fired on the arrival of Admiral Blanco with the _Galvarino_ and
_Puyrredon_, mistaking this for an engagement with a newly-arrived
enemy. The whole of the Government property found in the Spanish
custom-house was captured.
The people of Huacho having volunteered information that a quantity of
specie belonging to the Philippine Company had been placed for safety on
board a vessel in the river Barrança, she was forthwith overhauled, and
the treasure transferred to the flag-ship.
Leaving Admiral Blanco at Huacho with the _San Martin_ and _Puyrredon_,
on the 4th of April we sailed for Supe, with the _O'Higgins_ and
_Galvarino_, having previously ascertained that a sum of money destined
for the payment of Spanish troops was on its way from Lima to Guambucho;
on the following day a party of marines being landed at Patavilca,
captured the treasure, amounting to 70,000 dollars, together with a
quantity of military stores. On the 7th, having received further
information that the Philippine Company had placed other treasure on
board the French brig, _Gazelle_, at Guambucho, we sailed for that
place, and, on the 10th, the seamen of the _O'Higgins_ examined her, and
brought off an additional sum of 60,000 dollars.
The secret of our obtaining possession of these and other convoys of
Spanish money along the coast, was, that I paid the inhabitants highly
for information relative to their transmission, and was thus enabled to
seize the treasure even in the interior of the country. As the Chilian
Ministry subsequently refused to allow me "secret service money," these,
disbursements were actually made at my own expense.
It was also my object to make friends of the Peruvian people, by
adopting towards them a conciliatory course, and by strict care that
none but Spanish property should be taken, whilst their own was in all
cases respected. Confidence was thus inspired, and the universal
dissatisfaction with Spanish colonial rule speedily became changed into
an earnest desire to be freed from it. Had it not been for this good
understanding with the inhabitants, I should scarcely have ventured to
detach marines and seamen for operations at a distance into the country,
as was subsequently the case; the people giving me the most reliable
information of every movement of the enemy.
On the 13th, we arrived at Paita, where the Spaniards had established a
garrison. A party of marines and seamen was again landed, on which the
enemy fled from the fort, and a quantity of brass ordnance, spirits, and
military stores, was captured.
Contrary to strict orders, some marines stole a number of valuable
church ornaments, but on the complaint of the authorities I caused them
to be restored, punishing the offenders, and at the same time presenting
the priests with a thousand dollars to repair the damage done in their
churches; this act, though far from conciliating the priests--who
dreaded Chilian success--adding greatly to our popularity amongst the
inhabitants, which was my object in bestowing the amount. Our thus
refraining from plunder was almost beyond the comprehension of a people
who had bitter experience of Spanish rapacity, whilst the undisciplined
Chilenos, who formed the greater portion of the squadron, as little
comprehended why their plundering propensities should be restrained.
On the 5th of May, I proceeded with the flag-ship alone to reconnoitre
Callao, having learned that the _Chacabuco_ and _Puyrredon_ had been
chased off the port by the Spanish frigates. Finding that these were
again moored under shelter of the batteries, we returned to Supe,
convinced that our previous visit to Callao had proved sufficient to
deter them from putting to sea for the protection of their own coasts;
this, indeed, forming my chief reason for having persisted in attacks
which, with our small force, could answer no other purpose; but this
alone was an advantage gained, as it enabled us to communicate freely
with the inhabitants on the coast, and to ascertain their sentiments,
which--from our forbearance, no less than command of the sea--were
almost uniformly in favour of co-operation with Chili for their
emancipation.
Both at Lima and on the coast, the best effect was produced by the
circulation of the following proclamation:--
"Compatriots! The repeated echoes of liberty in South America
have been heard with pleasure in every part of enlightened Europe,
more especially in Great Britain, where I, unable to resist the
desire of joining in such a cause, determined to take part in it.
The Republic of Chili has confided to me the command of her naval
forces. To these must the dominion of the Pacific be consigned.
By their co-operation must your chains be broken. Doubt not but
that the day is at hand on which, with the annihilation of despotism
and your now degraded condition, you will rise to the rank of a free
nation, to which your geographical position and the course of events
naturally call you."
"But it is your duty to co-operate in preparing for this success,
and to remove obstacles, under the assurance that you will receive
the most efficacious assistance from the government of Chili, and
your true friend, COCHRANE."
This proclamation was accompanied by another from the Chilian
government, declaratory of the sincerity of its intentions, so that
these combined caused us to be everywhere received as liberators.
On the 8th, we returned to Supe, and having learned that a Spanish force
was in the vicinity, a detachment of marines and seamen was, after dark,
pushed through a heavy surf, and landed, in the hope of taking them by
surprise. But the enemy was on the alert, and on the following morning
our little party fell into an ambuscade, which would have proved
serious, had not Major Miller, who commanded the marines, promptly
formed his men, who, attacking in turn, soon put the enemy to flight at
the point of the bayonet, capturing their colours, and the greater
portion of their arms. On the 13th, a detachment of Spanish troops
arrived from Lima under Major Camba, who, notwithstanding his
superiority of numbers, did not venture to attack our small party, which
withdrew to the ships with a number of cattle taken from the Spaniards;
Camba writing to the Viceroy so effective a description of his having
"driven the enemy into the sea," that he was immediately promoted.
Not to enter into further details of our visits to other parts of the
coast, where similar captures of provisions and military stores, &c.
were effected--it being my practice to compel the Spaniards to supply
all the wants of the squadron, nothing being ever taken from the natives
without payment,--I resolved--as our means were clearly incommensurate
with our main object--to return to Valparaiso, for the purpose of
organizing a more effective force, and on the 16th of June reached that
port, where we found Admiral Blanco with the _San Martin_ and
_Chacabuco_, he having been obliged to raise the blockade of Callao for
want of provisions; a step with which the Government was highly
displeased, though with more reason to blame its own negligence or want
of foresight in not providing them. Admiral Blanco was nevertheless put
under arrest, but a court of inquiry being held, he was honourably
acquitted.
The objects of the first expedition had been fully accomplished, viz. to
reconnoitre, with a view to future operations, when the squadron should
be rendered efficient; but more especially to ascertain the
inclinations of the Peruvians with regard to their desire for
emancipation--a point of the first importance to Chili, as being obliged
to be constantly on the alert for her own newly-acquired liberties, so
long as the Spaniards were in undisturbed possession of Peru. To the
accomplishment of these objects had been superadded the restriction of
the Spanish naval force to the shelter of the forts, the defeat of their
military forces wherever encountered, and the capture of no
inconsiderable amount of treasure.
It had, however, become evident to me that the passive system of defence
which the Spaniards adopted in Callao, would render it a difficult
matter to get at them without more effective means than the guns of the
ships, which were greatly inferior in number to those of the enemy's
fortress and shipping combined, whilst their experience in the use of
artillery was greater than that of our crews. The Supreme Director
having paid a visit to the squadron--on the 21st of June I addressed to
him a letter, stating my apprehension that the finances of the
Government might be limited, and that I would gladly give up to the
exigencies of the Republic the whole of my share of prize-money taken
during our recent cruize, provided it were applied to the manufacture of
rockets. This offer was declined, with a compliment from the Supreme
Director, on the advantage already gained, by compelling the Spaniards
ignominiously to shut "themselves up in their port, in spite of their
numerical superiority."
Complimentary addresses from the Chilian people were also presented to
me in profusion, and a public panegyric was pronounced at the National
Institute of the capital, upon the service rendered; but as this was
only a recapitulation of what has been already narrated--conveyed in
flowery rhetorical phrases--in the use of which the Occidentals are
almost as expert, and often as exaggerated, as are the Orientals--I
shall refrain from giving it. Suffice it to say, that the people were
not a little delighted with the plain facts, that whereas only a few
months before theirs had been the blockaded port, they were now able to
beard the enemy in his stronghold, till then believed--both by
Spaniards and Chilians--to be inviolable; and that, with only four ships
on our part, the Spanish Viceroy had been shut up in his capital, and
his convoys, both by sea and land, intercepted, whilst his ships of war
did not venture to emerge from their shelter under the batteries of
Callao.
The manufacture of rockets was now carried on in earnest, under the
superintendence of Mr. Goldsack, an eminent engineer, who had been
engaged in England for the purpose. From a mistaken notion of parsimony,
the labour of constructing and filling them was allotted to a number of
Spanish prisoners, with what result will appear in the sequel.
In these and other preparations two months were consumed, in the course
of which another vessel--an American built corvette--was added to the
squadron, and named by the Supreme Director the _Independencia_.
During my absence Lady Cochrane chiefly resided at Valparaiso, where
she diligently employed herself in promoting objects essential to the
welfare of the squadron; after a time removing to a delightful country
house at Quillota, where her life was endangered by a ruffian in the
interest of the Spanish faction.
This man, having gained admission to her private apartment, threatened
her with instant death if she would not divulge the secret orders which
had been given to me. On her declaring firmly that she would not divulge
anything, a struggle took place for a paper which she picked off a
table; and before her attendants could come to her assistance she
received a severe cut from a stiletto. The assassin was seized,
condemned, and ordered for execution, without the last offices of the
Catholic religion.
In the dead of the night preceding the day fixed for his execution, Lady
Cochrane was awoke by loud lamentations beneath her window. On sending
to ascertain the cause, the wretched wife of the criminal was found
imploring her Ladyship's intercession that her husband should not be
deprived of the benefits of confession and absolution. Forgiving the
atrocity of the act, Lady Cochrane, on the following morning used all
her influence with the authorities, not for this alone, but to save the
man's life, and at length wrung from them a reluctant consent to commute
his punishment to banishment for life.