Difference between the Admiral and the Author—The Author’s
Orders—Captain Berkeley’s Orders—The Author applies for a Court
Martial, but is refused—Correspondence with the Admiral—The
Admiral’s Dispatches.
At daylight in the morning I went on board the Phœnix steamer, where
the Admiral still was; he received me on the quarter-deck, and, after
congratulating him on the capture of Acre, I said, I hoped he was
satisfied with the position I had taken up. To which, to my great
surprise, he replied, in a most abrupt manner, “Not at all! you ought to
have gone on to the south-west angle.” Such a reproof on the
quarter-deck of a man-of-war, and on such an occasion, given by the
Commander-in-Chief to his second in command, even had he committed an
error of judgment, cannot be justified, particularly after the services
I had brought to so happy a termination on shore, and which had been
frequently acknowledged by him.
That the squadron were not anchored so well as they might have been, is
quite true, but no blame could be attributed to me, nor did I attribute
any to others. When I attacked from the north I never doubted but the
ships astern would pass on in the same manner as if I had attacked from
the south, and anchor in a line ahead. But Captain Fanshawe, in the
Princess Charlotte, as I have before stated, being impressed with the
idea that, under any circumstances, he was to take his station astern of
the Powerful, and believing we were in shoal water, anchored astern, as
did the other ships who were under the same impression, and who had
orders to anchor in succession, of which I was not aware. The Revenge,
however, being in reserve, corrected the mistake.
I had frequently been engaged with batteries last war, and I believe was
the only officer in the squadron who had ever commanded a ship in action
against stone walls, and the system I followed was the one I had always
been accustomed to; it was the plan followed by the leading ship at the
battle of the Nile, and I am not aware that Lord Nelson found fault with
Sir Samuel Hood for anchoring abreast of the leading ship; and if that
is the tactics to be followed in attacking a line of ships, it is
certainly the same that ought to be followed in attacking a line of
stone walls. I never saw, in the whole course of my service, the leading
ship run along a whole line of either ships or batteries; neither did I
ever hear of such a thing. There are two palpable inconveniences
attending such an attack; the first is, the leading ship would be
disabled before she got to her station; the second, if the ships were in
close order of battle, it would be _perfectly impossible_, in the smoke,
for the next ship astern to know the exact moment her leader anchored,
and she most probably would run aboard of her, and those astern would
fall into the same difficulty. The fact is, the officers were not called
on board of the flag-ship, and the plan of the place, and the plan of
attack, under all circumstances, was never pointed out to them; each
captain had separate instructions, and one did not know the orders of
the other. I have before stated, that the first evening the attack was
arranged between Captain Boxer and the Admiral, which I fortunately
succeeded in changing. The officers were not sent for afterwards, for I
went immediately on board my own ship, where I remained till my signal
was made to go to the Admiral, (the breeze having sprung up,) who wished
to ask my opinion, if we should attack, which was agreed upon; and I
think Captain Fanshawe was the only captain there; I certainly never saw
either Captain Austin or Captain Berkeley, nor did I know they were
ordered to anchor in succession. The orders I received were as follows:
“Princess Charlotte, off Acre,
Nov. 2, 1840.
“MEMORANDUM.—The Princess Charlotte and Powerful are to be ready at
daylight to-morrow morning to take their stations along the west front
of the battery at Acre, at a distance of about 500 yards, and to
commence firing upon the batteries on shore, which is to be continued
until the whole seawall is destroyed.
“Should the wind be favourable, and the water sufficiently smooth, the
ships may go in under sail; but if the wind is off the land and
moderate, steam-vessels will be ordered to tow them.
“Signals made from the Phœnix are to be attended to in the same
manner as if made from the Princess Charlotte.
“ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.”
“To Commodore Napier.”
What were the orders to the other Captains I did not know at the time.
Captain Berkeley has since shown me a short note which he received the
morning of the action:—
“November 3, 1840.
“Dear Berkeley,
“If the wind comes from the south-west, I mean to sail in from the
south.
“Powerful, Princess Charlotte, Bellerophon, Thunderer. Ships to anchor
as named in succession. You had better be prepared to bring up by the
stern.
“Your’s truly,
“ROBERT STOPFORD.”
“To Captain Berkeley.”
It is much to be regretted, after an attack, which succeeded beyond our
expectations, that such an observation should have been made to me by
the Commander-in-Chief; and I feel quite satisfied that some mischievous
person had told the Admiral that the berth I took up had thrown out the
rest of the squadron, or words to that effect.
That I was hurt, beyond measure, can be easily conceived. An admiral
passing a censure after an action on his second in command was not to be
borne with temper; some few words passed on both sides, which I do not
recollect, and the conversation finished by my asking, in an abrupt
manner, if he had any further commands for me, which was answered in the
negative in the same style. I am not at all aware that I had ever given
the least cause for this break-out. I certainly had frequently pressed
the Admiral to carry on active measures, and perhaps in too urgent a
manner, but I had no reason to expect that I should ever have been so
treated.
On quitting the Phœnix I went on board the Gorgon, and took the only
step open to me, namely, to ask for a court-martial. This was refused,
and I had just finished a letter, requesting that the correspondence
might be sent to the Admiralty if he persisted in denying me a
court-martial, when I was beset by my brother officers, earnestly
requesting that I would be pacified, very naturally concluding that a
difference of so serious a nature between the Commander-in-Chief and his
second, would put a stop to the promotion and rewards that it was
expected would be liberally bestowed on the whole squadron. Of this I
felt quite aware, but I considered myself so unjustly and so
indecorously treated, and that my character as an officer would suffer,
unless an investigation took place, as there are always people in the
world ready to breathe upon one’s reputation.
This feeling for several days induced me to resist all their endeavours
to make matters up, but I at last consented, much against my own
inclination, (and I believe, even now, that I was wrong in doing so,) on
condition the Admiral would write me a proper letter on the subject. He
did write me a letter, which I subjoin:
“November 6.
“My dear Sir,
“I do not apprehend that a difference of opinion implies a censure upon
either party, as I cannot allow infallibility to any body.
“That I differed in opinion with you is true, but that therefore censure
was intended is without foundation.
“Believe me, my dear Sir,
“Yours truly,
“ROBERT STOPFORD.”
“Commodore Napier.”
I made answer:—
“Powerful, November 7, 1840.
“My dear Sir,
“I am glad to find, by your note, which I received last night, that you
had no intention to censure me. I placed my ship to the best of my
judgment; I could do no more.
“Believe me, &c.,
“CHARLES NAPIER.”
“Admiral Stopford.”
Thus ended this unpleasant affair, and all the correspondence was
cancelled and destroyed. I cannot say that I was satisfied with the
Admiral’s letter: the affront was public, and the reparation should have
been public also, but the opinion of my brother officers was, that I
ought not to push the matter further, and I most unwillingly complied
with their wishes.
It is with reluctance that I have been obliged to treat on this subject,
but to write an account of the campaign in Syria and the capture of
Acre, without entering upon a point not properly understood, was
impossible. I have endeavoured to state plainly everything that
occurred, without casting censure upon any one; and the reader must
judge whether I was right or wrong.
I close this Chapter with Sir Charles Smith’s report to Lord Palmerston,
and the Admiral’s letter to the Admiralty, in which he followed the
example of Sir John Jervis, on the 14th of February, 1797, and made no
mention of either the second in command, who led in one division, or of
Captain Collier, who led in another, or any of the other officers
engaged. Captains Boxer and Codrington were thanked for their exertions
in sounding. In a second letter which he wrote, and where he had an
opportunity of correcting this omission, he makes mention only of his
own captain and flag-lieutenant.
“Princess Charlotte, off St. Jean D’Acre,
November 4, 1840.
“Sir,
“You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty that the town and fortress of Acre were taken possession of by
the allied forces under my command this morning in the name of the
Sultan.
“The circumstances which led to this result occurred on the 3rd, when a
heavy cannonade from the ships and vessels, beginning at 2 P.M. and
ending at 5, completely demolished the town, and materially damaged the
fortifications, inducing the Egyptians to evacuate the place in the
night. A tremendous explosion of a large magazine of powder took place
about 4 P.M. on the 3rd.
“The attacks were made upon the west lines and south face of the works,
the former composed of the following ships:—viz., Princess Charlotte,
Powerful, Bellerophon, Revenge, Thunderer, and Pique, under the
immediate command of Commodore Napier (as I thought it advisable to
accompany Colonel Sir Charles F. Smith in the Phœnix steamer, to be
ready to take advantage of any breach that might be made in either of
the two sea faces of the walls of the place for an immediate assault).
The south face, being a more contracted anchorage, was occupied by the
Edinburgh, Benbow, Castor, Carysfort, Talbot, Wasp, and Hazard: the
destruction caused by the fire of the ships on both sides sufficiently
proves its rapidity and precision.
“Rear-Admiral Baron de Bandeira, in the Austrian frigate Medea, and the
Guerriera, under the command of His Imperial Highness the Archduke
Frederick, with the Austrian corvette Lipsia, rendered much assistance.
Rear-Admiral Walker Bey, in the Sultan’s ship Mookuddimay-i-hive of 74
guns, took up a most favourable position opposed to the south face, and
did good service.
“The steamers Gorgon, Vesuvius, Phœnix, and Stromboli, fired shot and
shells into the town with much precision, and it is generally supposed
that shells from the Gorgon occasioned the destruction of the powder
magazine.
“A flag of truce having been offered by the Turkish Admiral and rejected
a short time before, I did not think it necessary or becoming that the
summons should be repeated, particularly as hostilities had already
commenced, and the ships and steamers had been fired upon as they
approached the walls.
“I have not been able to ascertain the number of troops in the town of
Acre at the commencement of our fire: they have been estimated at 4500,
besides a body of cavalry outside the town of 800. Many lives were lost
by the explosion of the magazine. 700 Egyptians and two officers of rank
came in this morning with their arms, and surrendered themselves as
prisoners.
“To Colonel Sir Charles Smith devolves the task of putting the town and
fortifications into a posture of defence, and I am happy to find that
his health enables him to perform his duty with his usual intelligence.
“A great quantity of arms and ammunition was found at Acre, and the
fortifications were fast getting into a state of preparation against
attack.
“I am much indebted to Captain Edward Boxer, of the Pique, and to
Captain Codrington, of the Talbot, for the excellent surveys which they
made of the shoals round Acre, which enabled the ships to go in without
risk of getting ashore.
“I return a list of the killed and wounded in the allied squadrons, but
the damage to the masts and rigging can be made good without the ships
being sent off the station.
“The success of this enterprise, so important in its results, has called
for my acknowledgements in general orders to the officers and men of the
combined squadrons, whose united exertions had so much contributed to
its attainment.
“I have the honour to be, &c.,
“ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.”
“R. More O’Ferrall, Esq., &c.”
“St. Jean d’Acre, Nov. 5, 1840.
“My Lord,
“On the 29th ultimo it was finally determined between Sir Robert
Stopford and myself that the siege of Acre should be undertaken. I
accordingly detached Omar Bey for the purpose of advancing from Sidon
with 2000 Turks upon Tyre, and thence to occupy the Pass of the White
Mountain, to the northward of this place; and on the 31st, the Admiral
made sail from Beyrout roads, having previously embarked in the squadron
3000 men, under the immediate command of the Pacha Selim, and small
detachments of Royal Artillery and Sappers under Major Higgins, of the
former corps, and Lieutenant Aldrich, Royal Engineers.
“Omar Bey reached the position assigned to him at the same hour on the
2nd inst. that the fleet appeared off Acre.
“Owing to the light winds the ships did not get into action till 2 P.M.
on the 3rd, when an animated fire commenced, and was maintained without
intermission until darkness closed the operations of the day. About
three hours later, the Governor, with a portion of the garrison, quitted
the town, which was taken possession of by the allied troops at daylight
the following morning. The moral influence on the cause in which we are
engaged that will result from its surrender is incalculable.
“During the bombardment the principal magazine and the whole arsenal
blew up. By the explosion, two entire regiments, formed in position on
the ramparts, were annihilated, and every living creature, within the
area of 60,000 square yards, ceased to exist; the loss of life being
variously computed at from 1200 to 2000 persons. Those who may have been
inclined to doubt the fighting qualities of the Egyptian troops might
acquire a lesson from the example of their endurance, if they could but
contemplate the devastation and scene of horror by which this once
formidable fortress is enshrouded.
“To the Royal Navy I should be guilty of great injustice were I to
attempt to record services that will be so much more ably detailed by
their gallant and respected Commander-in-Chief; whilst the early
departure of the despatch vessel for Malta, and the labour that has
devolved on me within the walls, alike deprive me of the means of
transmitting returns of ordnance, ammunition, treasure, &c., that have
fallen into the hands of the captors, and of giving your Lordship an
approximation even to the amount of prisoners, (over 3000,) as many are
still coming in, and others are dragged in numbers from their places of
refuge and concealment.
“To Her Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople I have reported the
measures I have adopted for the temporary administration of the Pachalic
of Acre, pending the pleasure of the Sultan.
“I have, &c.,
“C.F. SMITH, _Colonel_,
“_Commanding the Forces in Syria_.
“Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. &c.”
-------
“Princess Charlotte, off St. Jean d’Acre,
“November 8, 1840.
“Since my letter of the 4th another explosion has taken place of a
magazine of live shells, from a smouldering fire under the rubbish of
the former, which it had been found almost impossible entirely to
subdue; one marine of the Benbow was killed, and several others slightly
hurt; but I regret to say that gallant officer, Captain Collier, of the
Castor, who had so distinguished himself in the attack, was severely
wounded, having his leg fractured, and several other hurts of a slighter
description, which require his removal to Malta; and the Castor, having
her bowsprit badly wounded, and other masts and spars shot away, I have
ordered her and the Wasp, having her fore-mast disabled, into Malta to
refit, and rejoin me with all dispatch.
“One thousand prisoners have been sent away in the Turkish flag-ship,
eighteen officers, and a party of soldiers, by the Talbot, to
Constantinople, and 2000 to Beyrout, by the Bellerophon, Thunderer,
Revenge, and Edinburgh; and the garrison being placed in a state of
order and tolerable security, under Sir Charles Smith, is to be left
with 3000 Turkish troops, under Selim Pacha, and about 250 marines,
under Lieut.-Colonel Walker, with the protection of the Pique and
Stromboli, and occasional visits of other ships, as circumstances
require.
“The Hazard resumes her station at Tyre, and Commodore Napier proceeds
from Beyrout to take charge of the squadron off Alexandria—Benbow,
Magicienne, and Daphne, at Scanderoon and the neighbourhood.
“The people of the country seem very firm in the cause, and keep the
neighbourhood clear of Mehemet Ali’s troops. Abundance of ammunition and
stores have been found in the place, and arms have been sent in the
Benbow and Powerful, for distribution to the inhabitants to the
northward. Among those who surrendered themselves was the Polish Colonel
Schultz, the chief engineer, who has been sent as a prisoner to
Constantinople; he was wounded, and says it was quite impossible to
withstand such an incessant stream of fire as was poured from our guns,
which I found, on going round the ramparts with Sir Charles Smith, had
torn and almost demolished many of the embrasures, and disabled the guns
in such a manner, that it did appear extraordinary that the garrison
should have made so good a defence; for the state of devastation was
beyond description.
“When I see the effects of our fire upon so formidable a fortress, I
cannot help feeling the greatest obligation to every officer and man
engaged in this enterprise. The cool, steady, and beautiful style in
which the ships and vessels, through shoals and banks, came into their
positions, and the noble spirit that animated the whole, in the
destructive fire opened and maintained against a very smart return from
the forts and batteries, were most gratifying, and drew forth my
admiration, being enabled in the steamer to observe the simultaneous
attacks on both faces; but where all were animated with the same spirit,
and each did his duty to my heart’s content, it cannot be possible for
me to single out cases of individual merit. I may be allowed to observe,
however, that in confiding to Captain Fanshawe, my flag-captain, (who
had been of great service to me in the previous details and arrangements
on this and former occasions during the expedition,) the charge of
conducting my flagship, while it behoved me to survey and direct the
whole, he most ably fulfilled his trust.
“Lieutenant Granville, my flag-lieutenant, besides the duties he had to
perform in the signals, was actively employed in the boats communicating
with the different ships along the line of the two divisions, as
necessity required; I would, therefore, beg to recommend him to their
Lordships’ notice, and I should feel gratified by any mark of
approbation their Lordships may be pleased to bestow on the senior
officers of each class for their gallant conduct, in common with all, on
this important occasion.
“I am, &c.,
“ROBERT STOPFORD, _Admiral_.”
“R. More O’Ferrall, Esq., &c.”
----------
Return of killed and wounded in the squadron under the orders of Admiral
the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, Commander-in-Chief, in the attack of the
fortifications of St. Jean d’Acre, on the 3rd of November, 1840:—
_Princess Charlotte_—Killed, 1 seaman.
_Powerful_—Wounded, 1 seaman severely, 2 seamen and 1 royal marine
slightly.
_Bellerophon_—None killed or wounded.
_Revenge_—Killed, 1 seaman, 1 drummer, royal marines; wounded, 3 seamen
severely, 1 royal marine slightly.
_Thunderer_—None killed or wounded.
_Castor_—Killed, 4 seamen; wounded, 1 seaman severely, 3 seamen
slightly, 2 privates royal marines severely, 1 private royal marine
slightly.
_Edinburgh_—Killed, 2 seamen, 1 drummer royal marine, 1 private royal
marine; wounded, Commander F.D. Hastings, slightly; Mr. John Davies,
master, slightly; Mr. Joseph Plimsoll, assistant-surgeon, slightly; Mr.
Henry Boys, midshipman, slightly; 1 seaman, 1 boy slightly, 1 sergeant
royal marines slightly.
_Benbow_—None killed or wounded.
_Pique_—None killed or wounded.
_Carysfort_—None killed or wounded.
_Talbot_—Wounded, Lieutenant G.B. Le Mesurier, since dead; Mr. Henry
Haswell, mate, slightly; 1 seaman severely.
_Gorgon_—None killed or wounded.
_Wasp_—Wounded, 5 seamen severely, 1 private royal marine.
_Stromboli_—None killed or wounded.
_Phœnix_—None killed or wounded.
_Vesuvius_—None killed or wounded.
_Hazard_—Wounded, 1 private royal marine, 1 boy slightly.
Turkish flag-ship, Rear-Admiral Walker—4 killed, 3 wounded.
_Medea_, Austrian flag-ship, Rear-Admiral Bandeira—1 killed, 4 wounded.
_Guerriera_, Austrian frigate—1 killed, 2 wounded.
Total killed, 18—Total wounded, 41.