THE WESTERN SQUADRONS.
The capture of the first frigate in a war is always an object of much
interest; and the circumstances of the late action, the merit of which
was enhanced by the skill and gallantry of the enemy, gave additional
importance to Captain Pellew's success. "I never doubted," said Lord
Howe, "that you would take a French frigate; but the manner in which you
have done it, will establish an example for the war."
The brothers were introduced to the King on the 29th of June, by the
Earl of Chatham, First Lord of the Admiralty; when Captain Pellew
received the honour of knighthood, and his brother was made a
post-captain. Besides the usual promotions, the master, Mr. Thomson,
received a lieutenant's commission. As Mr. Thomson was a master of
considerable standing, the captain supposed that he would decline the
change to be a junior lieutenant; but the master preferred to get into
the line for promotion, and as the result showed, he decided wisely, for
he followed Sir Edward to the _Arethusa_ and _Indefatigable_; and as he
had the singular fortune to fight four brilliant actions in three years
and a-half, each of which obtained promotion for his first lieutenant,
Mr. Thomson thus rose rapidly to seniority, and was made a commander for
the action with the _Droits de l'Homme_.
Captain Mullon was buried at Portsmouth, with all the honours due to
his gallantry. One of Sir Edward's first acts was to write a letter of
condolence to the widow; and as he learnt that she was left in narrow
circumstances, he sent, with her husband's property, what assistance his
then very limited means enabled him to offer. Madame Mullon acknowledged
his attention and kindness in a most grateful letter. He received also
the warm acknowledgments of the _Cleopatra's_ surviving officers, the
senior of whom requested and received from him testimonials of the skill
and gallantry with which they had defended their ship, without which
their defeat, in the bloody councils which then prevailed, would
probably have brought them to the scaffold. What was scarcely to be
expected at such a time, and after a first defeat, it was admitted in
the _Moniteur_ that the "superb frigate" the _Cleopatra_ had been taken
by a frigate of equal force.
The action between the _Nymphe_ and _Cleopatra_ is interesting as the
first in which a ship had substituted carronades for her quarter-deck
guns of small calibre, making them a material part of her force. This
gun had been invented about three years before the close of the former
war, and the Admiralty had allowed it to be introduced generally into
the navy; but except in one ship, the _Rainbow_, 44, which was armed
entirely with heavy carronades, it was considered as supplementary to
the regular armament, being mounted only where long guns could not be
placed, and not affecting the ship's rating. The _Flora_, when she took
the _Nymphe_, in 1780, thus carried six 18-pounder carronades, in
addition to her proper number of long guns; and the _Artois_, when Sir
Edward commanded her, was armed in the same manner. The carronade was at
first very unpopular with the sailors, generally prejudiced as they are
against innovations, and who, not understanding how to use it,
attributed failures which arose from their own mismanagement to defects
in the invention. Sir Edward, who had no prejudices to contend with in
training his crew, obtained permission, when he fitted the _Nymphe_, to
exchange the six-pounders on her quarter-deck for 24-pounder carronades;
and the result of the battle confirmed his favourable opinion of them.
His next ship, the _Arethusa_, was armed precisely as the forty-four gun
frigates at a later period of the war, with eighteen-pounders on the
main-deck, and 32-pounder carronades on the quarter-deck and forecastle.
He joined her in January 1794.
Towards the end of 1793, the enemy fitted out a number of frigates,
which cruised at the entrance of the Channel, chiefly in small
squadrons, and committed the most serious depredations. Sir Edward
formed the idea of checking them by an independent cruising squadron;
but, expecting that a measure so unusual as to create a distinct command
within the limits of an Admiral's station would be very strongly
opposed, he would not, as an officer without influence, venture to
recommend it himself; but he explained his views to Sir J. Borlase
Warren, whose interest was great, and urged him to apply for such a
command. The Admiralty, whose attention had already been anxiously
directed to the successes of the enemy, approved of the proposal, and
gave Sir John a small squadron of frigates, of which the _Arethusa_ was
one, and which were to rendezvous at Falmouth. Such was the origin of
the Western squadrons, which, from the number of their successes, and
their character of dashing enterprise, became the most popular service
in the navy. As a school for officers and seamen, they were never
surpassed. Almost all their captains rose to high distinction, and a
list of well-known flag-officers may be traced in connection with them,
such as, perhaps, was never formed by any other service of the same
extent. It may suffice to mention such names as Sir Richard Strachan,
Sir Israel Pellew, Sir Edmund Nagle, Sir Sidney Smith, Sir Richard
Keats, Sir James Saumarez, Sir Philip Durham, Sir Charles V. Penrose,
Admirals Barlow, and Reynolds. Nothing equals the animating duties of a
cruizing frigate squadron. The vigilance in hovering on the enemy's
coast, or sweeping over the seas around it; the chase, by a single ship
detached to observe a suspicious stranger, or by the whole squadron to
overtake an enemy; the occasional action; the boat-attack;--service like
this gives constant life to a sailor. In a line-of-battle ship, with the
perfection of discipline, there is less demand for individual
enterprise, and fewer of the opportunities which fit crews for exploits
where all depends on rapidity and daring. On the other hand, a single
cruizer wants the stimulus supplied by constant emulation. But in a
squadron, all the ships vie with one another; and the smartest of them,
herself always improving, gives an example, and a character to the
whole.
In the middle of April 1794, Sir J.B. Warren sailed from Portsmouth in
the _Flora_, with the _Arethusa_, _Concorde_, _Melampus_, and _Nymphe_.
At daylight on the 23rd, he fell in with a French squadron off the Isle
of Bass; the _Engageante_, _Pomone_, and _Resolue_, frigates; and the
_Babet_, 22-gun corvette. The enemy, who were standing to the
north-west, made sail on perceiving the British squadron; the Commodore
in _l'Engageante_ being a-head, then _Resolue_, _Pomone_, and _Babet_.
Soon after, the wind shifted two points, from S.S.W. to south, giving
the British the weather-gage, and preventing the enemy from making their
escape to the land.
Outsailing her consorts, the _Flora_ came up with the enemy at half-past
six; and giving the _Babet_ a passing broadside, stood on and attacked
the _Pomone_. The _Pomone_ was at that time by much the largest frigate
ever built, being only one hundred tons smaller than a 64-gun ship, and
carrying long 24-pounders on her main deck. The _Flora_, being only a
36, with 18-pounders, was a very unequal match for this powerful ship,
which soon cut her sails and rigging to pieces, shot away her
fore-topmast, and left her astern. The _Melampus_, which,
notwithstanding her endeavours to close, was still far to windward on
the _Pomone's_ quarter; now fired on her, but unavoidably at too great a
distance to produce any material effect, though the heavy guns of the
enemy inflicted on her a greater loss than was sustained by any other
ship in the squadron. The _Arethusa_, which had previously cannonaded
the _Babet_, while she was pressing on to overtake the frigates, soon
came up with the _Pomone_, closed her to windward, and engaged her
single-handed, and within pistol-shot, till she struck. The _Flora_, in
the mean time, took possession of the corvette. A short time before the
close of the action, the _Pomone_ took fire, but her crew succeeded in
extinguishing the flames. At half-past nine, the _Arethusa_ shot away
her main and mizen masts, and compelled her to surrender.
As soon as the enemy struck, the Commodore, in the full warmth of his
feelings, wrote to Sir Edward a short and expressive note:--
"MY DEAR PELLEW,--I shall ever hold myself indebted, and under
infinite obligations to you, for the noble and gallant support you
gave me to-day.
"God bless you and all yours!
"Your most sincere,
"And affectionate friend,
"J.B. WARREN."
He then made signal for a general chase. Both the _Flora_ and _Arethusa_
were too much crippled to follow immediately, though the latter in a
very short time repaired her damages sufficiently to enable her to make
sail; and the _Nymphe_, to the great mortification of all on board, was
so far astern from the first, that she was never able, with all their
exertions, to take any part in the action. But the _Concorde_, commanded
by Sir Richard Strachan, by superior sailing, came up with the
_Resolue_; when the French Commodore, in _l'Engageante_, coming to
assist his consort, Sir Richard brought his new opponent to close
action, and took her. The _Resolue_ escaped. It is remarkable that this
frigate had been attacked and compelled to submit by Sir R. Strachan,
in November, 1791, for resisting the search of some vessels which were
carrying stores to Tippoo Saib; and that she was afterwards taken by the
_Melampus_.
The squadron carried their prizes into Portsmouth. The Commodore was
honoured with a red ribbon, a most unusual distinction for a service of
this extent, and which he often said Sir Edward Pellew had mainly
contributed to place on his shoulder. Sir J. Warren's acknowledgments
were not the only flattering notice which Sir Edward received. The First
Lord of the Admiralty sent him a letter, dated on the third day after
the action.
"DEAR SIR,--I have but a moment to acknowledge your letter, which I
have received this morning with infinite pleasure; and to say, that
I am extremely happy the same success and honour attend you in the
_Arethusa_ as in the _Nymphe_. I shall be very glad to see you
while you are refitting, as soon as your leg will permit it, and
which, I am happy to hear, is only a sprain.
"I am, dear Sir,
"Your very faithful, humble servant,
"CHATHAM."
From Lord Howe, the Commander-in-chief on the station, then just about
to sail on the cruise which proved so honourable to himself and to his
country, he received the following letter:--
"The _Charlotte_, St. Helen's, 28th April, 1794.
"SIR,--I had already desired Sir John Warren, before the receipt of
your favour of this day's date, to present my congratulations on
the very distinguished success which has attended your late
undertaking. The superiority of the _Pomone_ adds much to the
credit of it; although the event has not surpassed the confidence I
should have entertained of it, if I could have been apprized of
the opportunity before the action commenced.
"I am much obliged by the communications which have accompanied
your letter; and remain, with sentiments of particular esteem and
regard,
"Sir,
"Your most obedient, humble servant,
"HOWE."
On the 23rd of August following, the squadron, now consisting of six
frigates, which had sailed from Falmouth on the 7th, chased the French
frigate _Volontaire_, and the corvettes _Alerte_ and _Espion_, into the
Bay of Audierne, a large bay immediately to the southward of Brest,
having the promontory at the south entrance of that harbour, the Bec du
Raz, for its northern, and Penmarck Point for its southern extremity.
Four of the squadron chased the frigate on shore near the Penmarcks,
where she was totally wrecked. The corvettes took shelter under the
batteries, where they were driven on shore and cannonaded by the _Flora_
and _Arethusa_, until their masts fell, and great part of their crews
escaped to the land. The boats of the _Arethusa_ were now ordered to set
them on fire; but when it was found, on boarding them, that many of
their wounded could not be removed with safety, Sir Edward contented
himself with taking out the rest of the prisoners, leaving the wounded
to the care of their friends on shore, and the stranded corvettes, which
were already bilged, to their fate. _L'Espion_ was afterwards got off by
the enemy.
The state of the Channel was at this time very different from what it
had been a few months before. The enemy's cruisers, which then were
almost in possession of it, could now scarcely leave their ports without
being taken. While the frigates swept the Channel, spreading themselves
to command a very extensive range of view, it was difficult for an enemy
to elude their vigilance. Chasing in different directions, to take
advantage of every change of wind, and to circumvent him in every
manoeuvre, it was impossible for him, once seen, to escape their
pursuit.
The services of the western squadron led the Admiralty to increase the
force, and divide the command; and the second squadron was given to Sir
Edward Pellew. On the 21st of October, at daybreak, the _Arethusa_, with
the _Artois_, Captain Nagle; _Diamond_, Sir Sidney Smith; and _Galatea_,
Captain Keats, fell in with the French frigate _Revolutionaire_, eight
or ten miles to the westward of Ushant, the wind being off the land. The
squadron gave chase, and the Commodore took the most weatherly course,
observing, that if the French captain were a seaman, the prize would
fall to himself, for his only chance of escape was to carry a press of
sail to windward. Instead of this, the enemy kept away; and the _Artois_
overtook, and brought her to action. After they had been closely engaged
for forty minutes, the _Diamond_ came up; but Sir Sidney Smith, with
that chivalrous feeling which marked his character, would not allow a
shot to be fired, saying, that Nagle had fought his ship well, and he
would not diminish the credit of his trophy. But when the enemy did not
immediately surrender, he said, that she must not be allowed to do
mischief, and ordered a broadside to be ready. Then, taking out his
watch, he continued, "We'll allow her five minutes: if she do not then
strike, we'll fire into her." He stood with the watch in his hand, and
just before the time expired, the French colours came down.
Captain Nagle was deservedly knighted for his gallantry. The prize,
which had been launched only six months, was 150 tons larger than any
British-built frigate, and superior to any captured one, except the
_Pomone_. She had a furnace for heating shot, which the enemy had used
in the action. She was commissioned by the Commodore's early friend.
Captain Frank Cole, and attached to the squadron. It would have added to
the interest Sir Edward felt when he took possession of this very
beautiful ship, could he have known that she was to close her career in
the navy under his second son, at that time a child. She was taken to
pieces in 1822, at Plymouth, after having been paid off by the Hon.
Captain Fleetwood Pellew, who had commanded her for the preceding four
years.
On the 22d of December, when Sir Edward's squadron was at anchor in
Falmouth, the Channel fleet being at Spithead, and a large outward-bound
convoy waiting for a fair wind at Torbay, an English gentleman, who had
just escaped from L'Orient, arrived at Falmouth in a neutral vessel, and
reported to Mr. Pellew, the collector of the Customs, the important fact
that the Brest fleet had just been ordered to sea. He had received the
information from the naval commandant at L'Orient, and a line-of-battle
ship in that port, _Le Caton_, was to join the force. Sir Edward was
immediately sent for by his brother, and the very important information
they received appearing certain, it was deemed necessary that Sir Edward
should communicate it in person to the Admiralty, and send advices from
the nearest post towns on the road to the admirals at Plymouth and
Portsmouth, as well as to the senior officer at Torbay. He went off
express the same afternoon, accompanied by the marine officer of the
_Arethusa_, afterwards Colonel Sir Richard Williams, K.C.B., late
commandant of the division of marines at Portsmouth; and arrived in
London on the 24th, at that time an almost unexampled despatch.[5]
The object of the French fleet in putting to sea at so unusual a season
was most probably to strike a severe blow at British commerce, by
intercepting the convoy from Torbay; and in this there is every reason
to believe they would have succeeded, but for the timely information of
their intended cruise, and the prompt measures which were taken in
consequence, for the wind became fair that night. It was one of those
events which so frequently occur in history, and as often in private
life, where important consequences depend upon some accidental, or, to
speak more properly, providential circumstance, which yet is unavailing,
unless improved by judgment and energy.
When Sir Edward made his communication to the Admiralty, Earl Spencer
observed, that the first step was to send advices without delay to the
admirals at Plymouth and Portsmouth. "That," replied Sir Edward, "has
been already attended to. I sent despatches from Exeter and Salisbury."
"Then, Sir," said a junior Lord, apparently with displeasure, "you have
left nothing for the Admiralty to do."--"Except," interposed Lord
Spencer, "to get the British fleet to sea with as little delay as
possible."
The Board directed Sir Edward to return to Falmouth, and proceed without
delay to reconnoitre Brest. During his absence, Sir J.B. Warren had
arrived with his frigates; and a squadron, consisting of the _Pomone_,
_Arethusa_, _Diamond_, _Galatea_, and _Concorde_, sailed from Falmouth
on the 2nd of January, and arrived off Ushant on the following morning.
The _Diamond_, commanded by Sir Sidney Smith, was sent a-head to
reconnoitre, and the squadron followed. A line-of-battle ship was seen
at anchor in Bertheaume Bay on the evening of the 4th. The _Diamond_
persevered in working up through the night, and at eight next morning
was seen returning to the squadron.
Sir Sidney reported that he had completely reconnoitred Brest at
daylight, and ascertained that the enemy's fleet was at sea. On his
return, he was under the necessity of passing very near the French
seventy-four, but having disguised his ship with French colours, and a
_bonnet rouge_ at her head, he went boldly under the enemy's stern, and
hailed her in French. She was the ship from L'Orient, _Le Caton_, which
had been obliged to return to port disabled, and her pumps were going as
she lay at anchor. Sir Sidney gave the name of his own ship as _La
Surveillante_; and having offered assistance, which was declined, he
took leave, and made sail for the squadron.
The enemy's fleet, thirty-five sail of the line, thirteen frigates, and
sixteen smaller vessels, had put to sea towards the end of December.
Some of them were driven back by a gale, but the fleet continued to
cruise until the end of January, when they were obliged to return to
port, with the loss of five ships.[6]
The squadron, having effected their principal object, arrived off
Falmouth, and landed despatches on the 6th. They afterwards continued
their cruise until the 22d, when they returned to port.
Sir Edward now left the _Arethusa_, and joined the _Indefatigable_, one
of three 64-gun ships which had lately been cut down to heavy frigates.
One part of the plan was to reduce their masts and rigging in proportion
to the diminished size of their hulls. All of them proved slow and
unmanageable ships; and Sir Edward, who had satisfied himself of the
cause of the failure, applied to the Navy Board for permission to alter
the _Indefatigable_. The Comptroller of the Navy was much offended at
the request, denying that the plan of the Navy Board had failed; and
when Sir Edward alluded to the notorious inefficiency of the ships, he
said that it arose entirely from faulty stowage of the ballast and hold.
They parted, mutually dissatisfied; and Sir Edward appealed immediately
to Lord Spencer, who, a short time before, had been placed at the head
of the Admiralty. This nobleman showed every desire to meet Sir Edward's
wishes, but expressed very great reluctance to involve himself in a
difference with the Navy Board; and requested him to arrange the affair,
if possible, himself. He accordingly attempted it; but finding no
disposition to meet his views, he at length declined the appointment,
saying that he would not risk his credit by commanding a worthless ship.
This brought the question to a point; and he was allowed to alter the
_Indefatigable_ according to his own plans. They were entirely
successful, for she became an excellent sailer and a most efficient
ship.
Sir Edward was remarkably accurate in judging of a ship's qualities. For
this he was probably indebted in the first place to the practical
knowledge of ship-building which he acquired, when he assisted to
construct the squadron on Lake Champlain, and to his very close intimacy
with Lieutenant (afterwards Rear-Admiral) Schanck, an enthusiast on the
subject, and who always regarded him with peculiar pride and attachment,
as a pupil of his own. The general knowledge which he thus obtained,
could not fail to be improved in the course of his own service. Many
illustrations may be given of the correctness of his opinion in this
respect. The _Bordelais_, a French cruiser taken by the
_Revolutionaire_, carrying 24 guns on a flush deck, 149 feet long, was
bought into the service, and commissioned by Captain Manby. She was one
of the fastest and most beautiful vessels ever seen, but so dangerous,
that she was called, in the navy, "the coffin." Sir Edward saw her
alongside the jetty at Plymouth, and pointing out to her commander the
cause of her dangerous character, recommended the means of guarding
against it. His advice was always acted upon, and the _Bordelais_
survived; while two other captured sloops of war, the _Railleur_ and
_Trompeuse_, built after her model, but on a reduced scale, foundered
with their crews on the same day. When the 10-gun brigs were introduced
into the service, he condemned them in the strongest terms; and being
asked what should be done with those already built, he replied, "Put
them all together, and burn them, for they will drown their crews." His
prediction has been too correctly fulfilled in the fate of these
vessels, of which six were lost in the packet-service in six years and a
half, with two hundred and fifty people. At a much later period, when
the beautiful _Caledonia_, the most perfect ship of her class, was about
to be made the victim of an experiment, he implored, but unfortunately
in vain, that she might be spared.
The _Indefatigable_ sailed from Falmouth on her first cruise on the 2nd
of March; and in the following week, the squadron captured fifteen out
of a convoy of twenty-five vessels, which had taken shelter among the
rocks of the Penmarcks. On the 7th of May, she had a most narrow escape
from shipwreck. The extraordinary circumstances connected with the
accident, are related in the words of the late Capt. George Bell, at
that time one of the officers.
"In the summer of 1795, the _Indefatigable_, when cruising off Cape
Finisterre, fell in with Admiral Waldegrave's squadron of line-of-battle
ships, and the _Concorde_ frigate. The admiral made signal for the
_Indefatigable_ and _Concorde_ to chase a small strange sail running
along shore. All sail was soon set, royals, top-gallant studding-sails,
&c., the wind being northerly, and the water as smooth as glass. At
noon, Mr. George Bell, acting master, was in the act of crossing from
the starboard gangway to the quarter-deck, to report twelve o'clock to
the captain, who was looking over the larboard quarter-deck hammocks at
the land, and strange sail, when he suddenly heard a rumbling noise, as
if a top-sail-tie had given way, and the yard was coming down. He looked
aloft, but saw nothing amiss, and then perceived that the ship was
aground. Mr. Bell instantly sprang into the main-chains, and dropped the
hand lead over. Only eighteen feet water was on the rock, the ship
drawing nineteen and a half feet abaft. There were twelve and fourteen
fathoms under the how and stern, consequently she hung completely in the
centre. Sir Edward, whose judgment in moments of danger was always so
correct and decisive as never to have occasion to give a second order,
immediately directed some of the main-deck guns to be moved, and the
ship's company to sally her off the rock. This fortunately succeeded.
The ship fell over heavily, and started into deep water, with five feet
water in her hold. Signals of distress were now made to the flag-ship,
and the admiral ordered the _Indefatigable_ to proceed to Lisbon to
repair, and the _Concorde_ to accompany us to the mouth of the Tagus. We
arrived on the third day after the accident. So serious was the leak,
that the men could not quit the pumps for a moment, and only a good
ship's company, such as we had, could have kept the ship afloat.
"On the evening of our arrival, the English consul sent on board a
number of Portuguese, to relieve the crew. Early next morning (having
the morning watch) I observed all these people leave the pumps. It was a
saint's day, and they would not work. I ran into the Captain's cabin to
state the circumstance; he in a moment came out in his dressing-gown,
with a drawn sword, chased the Portuguese round the gangways and
forecastle, made them to a man lay in at the pumps, and kept them at it
till the pumps sucked.
"In order to ascertain whether both sides of the ship had been injured.
Sir Edward resolved to examine the bottom himself; and to the
astonishment and admiration of everybody who witnessed this heroic act,
he plunged into the water, thoroughly examined both sides, and satisfied
himself that the starboard side only had been damaged. This saved much
time and expense; for had not Sir Edward hazarded the experiment, the
apparatus for heaving down must have been shifted over. The
_Indefatigable_ was docked on her arrival at Plymouth, early in August,
and it then appeared how accurately he had described the injury. She had
twenty-seven of her floors and first futtocks broke, and the Portuguese,
in repairing her, had put in seventeen feet of main-keel. The frame of a
regular-built frigate could not have stood the shock.
"A few days after the submarine inspection, the gun-room officers
invited Sir Edward to dinner, to commemorate the 10th of June, the
_Nymphe's_ action, on board the _Principe Real_, a Portuguese 80-gun
ship, used as a hulk by the _Indefatigable's_ crew, while their ship was
repairing. In the evening, some of the crew took Sir Edward on their
shoulders, carried him all over the hulk, and swore they would make him
an admiral."
In her next cruise, the _Indefatigable_ nearly lost her gallant captain.
On the 31st of August she had strong gales and squally weather, the wind
flying round from W. by S. to N.E., S.E., and S.W. In the afternoon the
weather moderated. The ship had been hove to under a close-reefed
main-topsail, with the top-gallant yards down, the sea running very
high, and the ship pitching much. It was Sunday, and the captain was at
dinner with the officers, when a bustle was heard on deck. He ran
instantly to the poop, and saw two men in the water, amidst the wreck of
a six-oared cutter. One of the tackles had unhooked, through a heavy sea
lifting the boat, and the men had jumped into her to secure it, when
another sea dashed her to pieces. The captain stepped into the gig,
which was carried over the stern above the cutter, and ordered it to be
lowered; and though his officers urgently dissuaded him from so
dangerous an attempt, he determined to hazard it. At this moment the
ship made a deep plunge aft, the boat was stove, and the captain left in
the water. He was much hurt, and bled profusely, for he was dashed
violently against the rudder, and his nostril was torn up by the hook of
one of the tackles. But his coolness and self-possession did not
forsake him, and calling for a rope, he slung himself with one of the
many that were thrown to him, and cheerfully ordered those on board to
haul away. As soon as possible, the jolly-boat, with an officer and
crew, was hoisted out from the booms, and fortunately saved the men.
This was the third time within the present year that Sir Edward had
risked his life to save others. While the ship was being fitted out, he
had been instrumental in saving two lives at Point Beach. Again, a short
time before she sailed, and while she was lying at Spithead, the
coxswain of one of the cutters fell overboard. The captain ran aft, and
was instantly in the water, where he caught the man just as he was
sinking. Life was apparently extinct, but happily was restored by the
usual means. Perhaps no man has oftener distinguished himself in this
manner; but the splendour of one act of heroism and humanity leaves all
the others in the shade.
On the 26th of January, 1796, when the _Indefatigable_ was lying in
Hamoaze, after having been docked, the _Dutton_, a large East Indiaman,
employed in the transport service, on her way to the West Indies with
part of the 2nd, or Queen's regiment, was driven into Plymouth by stress
of weather. She had been out seven weeks, and had many sick on board.
The gale increasing in the afternoon, it was determined to run for
greater safety to Catwater; but the buoy at the extremity of the reef
off Mount Batten having broke adrift, of which the pilots were not
aware, she touched on the shoal, and carried away her rudder. Thus
rendered unmanageable, she fell off, and grounded under the citadel,
where, beating round, she lay rolling heavily with her broadside to the
waves. At the second roll she threw all her masts over board together.
Sir Edward and Lady Pellew were on their way to dine with Dr. Hawker,
vicar of Charles,--who had become acquainted with Mr. Pellew when they
were serving together at Plymouth as surgeons to the marines, and
continued through life the intimate and valued friend of all the
brothers. Sir Edward noticed the crowds running to the Hoe, and having
learned the cause, he sprang out of the carriage, and ran off with the
rest. Arrived at the beach, he saw at once that the loss of nearly all
on board, between five and six hundred, was almost inevitable. The
captain had been landed on account of indisposition on the preceding
day, and his absence could not fail to increase the confusion of a large
and crowded transport under such appalling circumstances. The officers
had succeeded in getting a hawser to the shore, by which several of the
people landed; but this was a slow operation; and none but a bold and
active person could avail himself of this means of escape, for the
rolling of the vessel would now jerk him high in the air, and then
plunge him among the breakers. Every minute was of consequence, for
night was approaching, and the wreck was fast breaking up.
Sir Edward was anxious to send a message to the officers, and offered
rewards to pilots, and others on the beach, to board the wreck; but when
every one shrank from a service which they deemed too hazardous to be
attempted, he exclaimed, "Then I will go myself." Availing himself of
the hawser which communicated with the ship, he was hauled on board
through the surf. The danger was greatly increased by the wreck of the
masts, which had fallen towards the shore; and he received an injury on
the back, which confined him to his bed for a week, in consequence of
being dragged under the mainmast. But disregarding this at the time, he
reached the deck, declared himself, and assumed the command. He assured
the people that every one would be saved, if they attended quietly to
his directions; that he would himself be the last to quit the wreck, but
that he would run any one through who disobeyed him. His well-known
name, with the calmness and energy he displayed, gave confidence to the
despairing multitude. He was received with three hearty cheers, which
were echoed by the thousands on shore; and his promptitude at resource
soon enabled him to find and apply the means by which all might be
safely landed. His officers in the mean time, though not knowing that he
was on board, were exerting themselves to bring assistance from the
_Indefatigable_. Mr. Pellowe, first lieutenant, left the ship in the
barge, and Mr. Thompson, acting master (son of Mr. Thompson, who had
been master of the _Nymphe_), in the launch; but the boats could not be
brought alongside the wreck, and were obliged to run for the Barbican. A
small boat belonging to a merchant vessel was more fortunate. Mr.
Edsell, signal midshipman to the port admiral, and Mr. Coghlan, mate of
the vessel, succeeded, at the risk of their lives, in bringing her
alongside. The ends of two additional hawsers were got on shore, and Sir
Edward contrived cradles to be slung upon them, with travelling ropes to
pass forward and backward between the ship and the beach. Each hawser
was held on shore by a number of men, who watched the rolling of the
wreck, and kept the ropes tight and steady. Meantime, a cutter had with
great difficulty worked out of Plymouth pool, and two large boats
arrived from the dockyard, under the directions of Mr. Hemmings, the
master-attendant, by whose caution and judgment they were enabled to
approach the wreck, and receive the more helpless of the passengers, who
were carried to the cutter. Sir Edward, with his sword drawn, directed
the proceedings, and preserved order--a task the more difficult, as the
soldiers had got at the spirits before he came on board, and many were
drunk. The children, the women, and the sick, were the first landed. One
of them was only three weeks old; and nothing in the whole transaction
impressed Sir Edward more strongly than the struggle of the mother's
feelings before she would entrust her infant to his care, or afforded
him more pleasure than the success of his attempt to save it. Next the
soldiers were got on shore; then the ship's company; and finally. Sir
Edward himself, who was one of the last to leave her. Every one was
saved, and presently after the wreck went to pieces.
Nothing could equal the lustre of such an action, except the modesty of
him who was the hero of it. Indeed, upon all occasions, forward as he
was to eulogize the merits of his followers, Sir Edward was reserved
almost to a fault upon everything connected with his own services. The
only notice taken of the _Dutton_, in the journal of the
_Indefatigable_, is the short sentence:--"Sent two boats to the
assistance of a ship on shore in the Sound;" and in his letter to
Vice-Admiral Onslow, who had hoisted his flag at Plymouth a day or two
before, he throws himself almost out of sight, and ascribes the chief
merit to the officer who directed the boats:--
"DEAR SIR,--I hope it happened to me this afternoon to be
serviceable to the unhappy sufferers on board the _Dutton;_ and I
have much satisfaction in saying, that every soul in her was taken
out before I left her, except the first mate, boatswain, and third
mate, who attended the hauling ropes to the shore, and they eased
me on shore by the hawser. It is not possible to refrain speaking
in raptures of the handsome conduct of Mr. Hemmings, the
master-attendant, who, at the imminent risk of his life, saved
hundreds. If I had not hurt my leg, and been otherwise much
bruised, I would have waited on you; but hope this will be a
passable excuse.
I am, with respect,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
ED. PELLEW."
"Thursday evening."
The merit of services performed in the sight of thousands could not thus
be disclaimed. Praise was lavished upon him from every quarter. The
corporation of Plymouth voted him the freedom of the town. The merchants
of Liverpool presented him with a valuable service of plate. On the 5th
of March following, he was created a baronet, as Sir Edward Pellew, of
Treverry, and received for an honourable augmentation of his arms, a
civic wreath, a stranded ship for a crest, and the motto, "Deo adjuvante
Fortuna sequatur." This motto, so modest, and not less expressive of his
own habitual feelings, was chosen by himself, in preference to one
proposed, which was more personally complimentary.
Appreciating Mr. Coghlan's services, and delighted with the judgment and
gallantry he had displayed, Sir Edward offered to place him on his own
quarter-deck. It is unnecessary to add that the career of this
distinguished officer has been worthy his introduction to the navy.
On the 9th of March the _Indefatigable_ sailed from Falmouth, with the
_Revolutionaire_, _Argo_, _Amazon_, and _Concorde_. On the 21st, the
_Indefatigable_ gave chase to three corvettes, one of which she drove on
shore, and destroyed. On the 13th of April, she fell in with the French
frigate _l'Unité_, on her way from l'Orient to Rochefort, having on
board, as passengers, the governor's lady, Madame la Large, and her
family. The _Revolutionaire_, which was ordered to chase in shore to cut
off the enemy from the land, came up with her a little before midnight.
Captain Cole hailed the French captain, and urged him repeatedly to
submit to a superior force; but the enemy refusing to strike, he poured
in two destructive broadsides. He was preparing to board, the frigates
at the time running ten knots, when the French ship surrendered. She had
suffered very severely from the fire of the _Revolutionaire_, without
having been able to make any effectual return. Sir Edward sent the
passengers to Brest in a neutral vessel, and finding that one of the
junior officers of the prize was a son of Mme. la Large, he took the
young man's parole, and allowed him to accompany his mother.
With his official communication to the Admiralty, which accompanied
Captain Cole's account of the action, he wrote a private letter to the
First Lord, and another to the Earl of Chatham. It was his practice
through life thus to strengthen an interest for his officers in every
possible quarter, and it was one, though not the only, cause of his
remarkable success in obtaining promotion for so many of them. His
letters on this occasion, though they display the warmth of private
friendship, are not stronger than he was accustomed to write for others,
whose only claim upon him was that which every deserving officer has to
the patronage of his commander. The following is the letter to Lord
Spencer:--
"MY LORD,--I have much pleasure in informing your Lordship of the
capture of the French frigate, _l'Unité_, of thirty-eight guns, and
two hundred and fifty-five men; and I have more in conveying to
your Lordship my sense of Captain Cole's merit upon the occasion.
Nothing could be more decided than his conduct; and his attack was
made with so much vigour and judgment, that a ship of very superior
force to _l'Unité_ must have rewarded his gallantry. To his extreme
vigilance and zeal, the squadron are indebted for this prize. It is
not improper for me to say, that on all occasions I have found much
reason to respect Captain Cole as a skilful and brave officer, and
I rejoice in the opportunity of bearing testimony to his merit."
To the Earl of Chatham, with whom he was intimate, he wrote in a more
familiar strain:--
"MY DEAR LORD,--Much as I dislike breaking in upon your time, I
cannot resist the pleasure of repeating to you the good fortune of
my friend, Frank Cole, who was the fortunate man among us in taking
_l'Unité_, alias _la Variante_. There are few things, my Lord, that
could raise my friend either in your opinion or mine; but one
cannot but rejoice on finding our expectations realized.
"I am satisfied that nothing could be better conducted than Frank's
ship upon this occasion, or courage more coolly displayed; a proof
of which was strongly exhibited in his conversation with a vaunting
Frenchman, boasting of his own strength, and threatening the
vengeance of his partner. It will not be advancing too much when I
say, that a ship of far superior force must have shared the same
fate. The French commander complains bitterly of Cole's taking such
advantages as his superior skill afforded him. The _Revolutionaire_
is much improved since her mainmast was moved, and you will believe
her, my Lord, always in good order. I have with infinite pleasure
given my testimony of Frank to Lord Spencer, and I doubt not but
your Lordship will give him a lift in the same quarter."
Captain Cole, though his career had been less brilliant than that of his
friend since they parted, had gained most flattering distinction. His
high character as an officer, and his reputation for peculiar
correctness of conduct, added perhaps to his more than common advantages
in person and manners, had obtained for him the honour of being
selected, conjointly with the late Sir Richard Keats, to have the
particular charge of his late Majesty, when he first entered the navy,
being made lieutenants of the watch in which the Prince was placed. He
was introduced by his royal pupil to the Prince of Wales, who said of
him, "They may talk of a cockpit education, and cockpit manners; but a
court could not have produced more finished manners than those of your
friend Captain Cole." The friendship between Sir Edward and himself had
continued from their boyhood, and they had cherished for each other the
affection and confidence of brothers. He died at Plymouth in 1799. A
little before his death, Sir Edward, who had just returned from a
cruise, came to see him for the last time. "Now," said the expiring
officer, "I shall die more happy, since I have been permitted to see
once again the dearest of my friends:" and when Sir Edward at length
tore himself from the room, unable to control his feelings any longer, a
burst of grief, on returning to the mother and sisters of Captain Cole,
prevented him for a considerable time from regaining sufficient
composure to quit the affecting scene.
On the morning of the 20th of April, the frigates were lying-to off the
Lizard, when a large ship was seen coming in from seaward, which tacked
as soon as she perceived them, and stood off without answering the
private signal. The _Revolutionaire_ and _Argo_ were ordered by signal
to proceed to port with the prize, and the others to make all sail in
chase, the wind being off the land. Towards evening the _Concorde_ and
_Amazon_ had been run out of sight, but the _Indefatigable_ gained upon
the chase, which made the most strenuous efforts to escape, and was
manoeuvred with no common ability. She was the 40-gun frigate
_Virginie_, one of the finest and fastest vessels in the French marine,
and commanded by Captain Jaques Bergeret, a young-officer of the highest
character and promise. The _Virginie_ was one of the fleet of Villaret
Joyeuse, when, ten months before, Cornwallis, with five sail of the line
and two frigates, effected his justly celebrated retreat from thirty
French men-of-war, of which twelve were of the line. On this occasion,
Bergeret attacked the _Mars_, with a spirit and judgment which gave full
earnest of his future conduct.
Finding that the British frigate outsailed her on a wind, the _Virginie_
bore away; but the _Indefatigable_ continued to gain on her, and at a
little before midnight came up within gun-shot, and took in royals and
studding-sails, having run one hundred and sixty-eight miles in fifteen
hours. The _Virginie_ fired her stern-chasers, occasionally yawing to
bring some of her broadside guns to bear, but without material effect;
and the two ships, still running under a press of canvass, came to
action. The _Indefatigable_ had only one broadside-gun more than her
opponent; but her size and very heavy metal gave her an irresistible
superiority. Seven of the _Virginie's_ people were killed at one of the
quarter-deck guns, which struck such a panic in those around them, that
it was with difficulty they could be induced to return to their
quarters. Yet Bergeret fought his ship with admirable skill and
gallantry, and maintained a very protracted action, constantly
endeavouring to cripple the _Indefatigable's_ rigging. Sir Edward had a
very narrow escape. The main-top-mast was shot away, and falling
forward, it disabled the main yard, and came down on the
splinter-netting directly over his head. Happily, the netting was strong
enough to bear the wreck.
It was an hour and three-quarters from the commencement of the action,
when, the _Virginie's_ mizen-mast and main-top-mast being shot away, the
_Indefatigable_ unavoidably went a-head. In addition to her former
damage, she had lost her foreyard and gaff, and her rigging was so much
cut that she was unable immediately to shorten sail. The _Virginie_ was
completely riddled. Some of the _Indefatigable's_ shot had even gone
through the sail-room and out at the opposite side of the ship. She had
four feet water in her hold, and more than forty of her crew were killed
and wounded. Yet she attempted to rake her opponent as she was shooting
a-head, and had nearly succeeded in doing so.
While the _Indefatigable_ was reeving fresh braces, the other frigates
came up, having been enabled to make a shorter distance by the altered
course of the combatants during the chase. On their approach, the
_Virginie_ fired a lee-gun, and hauled down her light; and being hailed
by the _Concorde_, replied, "We must surrender, there are so many of
you: we strike to the frigate a-head." A more brave and skilful
resistance is scarcely afforded by the annals of the war; and the
officer who thus defends his ship against a very superior force may
challenge more honour than would be claimed by the victor.
A boat was sent from the _Indefatigable_ for the gallant prisoner, who
was deeply affected at his misfortune, and wept bitterly. He inquired to
whom he had struck; and being told Sir Edward Pellew, "Oh!" he
exclaimed, "that is the most fortunate man that ever lived! He takes
everything, and now he has taken the finest frigate in France."
Bergeret was for some time the honoured guest of Sir Edward and his
family, and the British Government considered him an officer of
sufficient character to be offered in exchange for Sir Sidney Smith, who
had been made prisoner at Havre just before. They sent him to France on
his parole, to effect this object; but his application not being
successful, he returned to England. Two years after, Sir Sidney Smith
escaped, and the British Government, with a feeling most honourable to
themselves, set Bergeret unconditionally at liberty. Thus do the brave
and good, in challenging the respect of their enemies, contribute to
soften the rigours of war, and to create a better feeling between
hostile nations.
FOOTNOTES:
[5] A trifling incident occurred in this journey, which may, perhaps,
deserve to be mentioned. In going down a hill, two or three miles beyond
Axminster, both leaders fell, and the night being very cold, for the
wind had set in strong from the eastward, a ring, on which he set
particular value, dropped from Sir Edward's finger, as he was getting
into the carriage again. He was vexed at the loss; but the road being
very dirty, and the night dark, it was useless then to seek it. He
therefore tore a bush from the hedge, and left it where the carriage had
stopped: and ordering the post-boys to draw up at the next cottage, he
knocked up the inmates, and promised them a reward if they found it. To
his great pleasure, the expedient proved successful, and the ring was
delivered to him on his return.
[6] The _Revolutionaire_, 110, wrecked Dec. 24, on the Mingan rock, near
Brest; the _Neuf Thermidor_, 80. _Scipion_, 80, and _Superbe_, 74,
foundered in a heavy gale on the 28th of January; and the _Neptune_, 74,
wrecked in Audierne Bay.