"His Britannic Majesty's ship Calliope," replied Captain Delmar; and
then he repeated--"What ship is that? Let every man lie down at his
quarters," said Captain Delmar. The order was hardly obeyed, when the
stranger frigate poured in her broadside, and as we were then very
close, with great execution to our hull and rigging: but as the men had
been lying down, very few of them were hurt.
As soon as the crash was over, Captain Delmar cried out--"Up, men, and
fire, as I round to under her stern."
In a few seconds we had passed through the volumes of smoke, and luffed
up under her stern: we poured in our whole broadside.
"Let her go off again--flatten in there forward. Reedy about," was the
next order given.
We ran away from her about three cables' length, until we had sufficient
way to tack, and then we went about and stood towards her, steering for
her weather quarter, as if we were going to engage her to windward.
"Over to the larboard guns, my lads. Hands by, after bracings and
howlings, Mr Hippesley."
"Aye, aye, sir, all ready."
As soon as we were near enough, the after-yards were shivered, the jib
sheet to windward, and the helm put up. The Calliope worked
beautifully; she paid sharp off, and we again passed under her stern,
and gave another raking broadside; very unexpected on the part of the
Dutchman, who presumed that we were going to engage him to windward, and
had his men all ready at his larboard guns in consequence.
The Dutch captain was evidently much annoyed: he stood at the taffrail,
and, much to our amusement, cried out, in bad English, "You coward--not
fight fair."
As we shot ahead of her, to leeward, she gave us a portion of her
starboard broadside: but the men, having been over at the guns on the
other side, were not quick enough, and they did us no injury; whereas,
her mizzen-mast fell over the side a few minutes after we passed her.
She then raid off, and so did we, so that she might not rake us, and
broadsides were exchanged on equal terms; but before we had exchanged
these broadsides, both ships running with the wind on the quarter, we
found that our superiority in sailing free was so great, that we shot
ahead of him out of his fire, and we were enabled to luff up and rake
him again.
The last raking broadside brought down his main-topmast and then she was
all our own, as Bob Cross said; as she could not round to with no after
sail, and we could from our superiority in sailing, take our position as
we pleased, which we did, constantly keeping ahead of him, and raking
him, broadside after broadside, and receiving but one broadside in
return, until his foremast went by the board, and he had nothing but his
main-mast standing.
This bettered his condition on the whole; as, although hardly manageable
with so little wind, he had more power over his vessel, as far as
rounding to the wind, which he did, and the action continued; but our
fighting under sail gave us great advantage, and although an occasional
shot would come in, and we had to carry some men into the cockpit, for
one shot we received, we certainly returned ten. The action had
continued about an hour, when, by the continual cannonading, the light
wind was beaten down, and it fell dead calm. This put us again upon a
more equal footing, as the Calliope had not steerage way.
We were then about a quarter of a mile apart, lying head and stern; but
both ships had fallen off during the calm, so that only the quarter guns
of each could be brought to bear. The major portion of the ship's
company being, therefore, not able to use their guns, were employed in
repairing the damages we had received, which were very considerable,
especially in the sails and rigging.
I was standing by Bob Cross, who was looking out for cats' paws, as we
call slight breaths of wind, when he said in a low voice:--
"Master Keene, I never had an idea that the captain could handle his
ship so well: he really knows what he's about as well as any man in the
service."
"I thought so, too," replied I. "Whew! there's a nasty shot," cried I,
as one came in and upset half a dozen of the marines, who were hauling
upon the mizzen-topsail sheet, which had just been spliced.
"Yes, sir, that chap is made of good stuff, depend upon it--all the
Dutchmen are: if they could only keep their hands out of their breeches
pockets, they would be rummer customers than they are now; as it is,
they are not to be played with; and, depend upon it, we're a long way
off having him yet: we must pray for wind to come up and he must pray
for the calm to continue."
"Where's Mr Keene?" said the captain, who was on the other side of the
deck.
"Here, sir," said I, running up and touching my hat.
"Mr Keene, go down quietly and ascertain how many men we have hurt: the
doctor will be able to tell you pretty nearly."
"Aye, aye, sir," replied I, and I dived down below; just as I did so, a
shot came in and cut away the lower rail of the copper stanchions which
were round the hatchway, about a foot beyond my hat: had I not gone down
so quickly, it would have taken my head off.
I went down into the gun-room, for the doctor preferred being there to
the cockpit, as there was so much more room to operate, and I gave him
the captain's message.
He was very busy taking off a poor fellow's leg. It was a horrible
sight and made me sick and faint. As soon us the bone had been sawed
off, he said--
"You will find all the wounded I have dressed in the steerage; those
they have brought me down dead are in the cockpit. There have been five
amputations already the master is badly wounded, and Mr Williams the
mate, is killed: those whom I have not been able to attend to yet, are
here in the gun-room. You must ascertain what the captain wishes to
know yourself, Mr Keene. I cannot, leave a leg with the arteries not
taken up, to count heads. Mr Rivers, the tenaculum--ease the
tourniquet, now."
As I felt what the doctor said to be true, I got a lantern and commenced
my examinations. I found fourteen wounded men waiting the doctor's care
in the gun-room, which was almost a pool of blood. In the steerage
there were nine who had been dressed, and four in their hammocks, who
had undergone amputation of the arm or leg. I then went down into the
cockpit, where I counted eleven of our best men lying dead. Having
obtained the information required, I was proceeding up the cockpit
ladder, when I turned towards the purser's steward's room, and saw Mr
Culpepper, the purser, on his knees before a lantern; he looked very
pale--he turned round and saw me.
"What's the matter?" cried he.
"Nothing, sir; only the captain wishes to know how many men are killed
and wounded."
"Tell him I do not know: surely he does not want me on deck?"
"He wants to know how many men are hurt, sir," replied I, for I
perceived that he thought that the message was sent to him.
"Mercy on me! Stop a minute, Mr Keene, and I'll send up word by you."
"I can't stop, sir," replied I, going up the ladder.
Mr Culpepper would have called me back, but I preferred leaving him in
his error, as I wished to see which he most dreaded, the captain's
displeasure or the shot of the enemy.
I returned on deck and made my report. The captain looked very grave,
but made no reply.
I found that the two frigates were now lying stern to stern, and firing
occasional guns, which raked fore and aft. Except the men who worked
the guns aft, our people were lying down at their quarters, by the order
of the captain.
"If we only had but a capful of wind," said the captain to the first
lieutenant, "but I see no appearance of it."
I touched my hat and said, "The moon will rise in about ten minutes,
sir, and she often brings the wind up with her."
"That's true, Mr Keene, but it's not always the case. I only hope she
will; if not, I fear we shall lose more of our men."
The firing continued, and our main-mast had received so many shots, that
we were obliged to hold it for its support. While so employed, the moon
rose, and the two vessels had now a good view of each other. I directed
my glass to the horizon under the moon, and was delighted to perceive a
black line, which promised wind; I reported it to the master, and the
promise was kept good, for in a quarter of an hour our sails flapped,
and then gradually filled.
"She has steerage way, sir," reported Bob Cross.
"Thank Heaven for that," replied Captain Delmar. "Jump up, men. Brace
round the yards, Mr Hippesley."
"The enemy's main yard is cut in two in the slings, sir," reported I,
after I had my glass upon her.
"Then her last hope is gone," replied Mr Hippesley. "Haul over the
starboard jib-sheet forward--let her come to, quartermaster. Larboard
guns, my lads."
"Now, my men," cried Captain Delmar, "make short work of her."
This injunction was obeyed. We had now a good sight of the enemy, and
brought our whole broadside to bear upon her stern; and after a quarter
of an hour more firing I perceived that her ensign was no longer on the
staff, where it had been hoisted after the fall of the mizenmast;
neither had she for the last five minutes given us a gun in return.
"She has struck, sir, I think," said I to Captain Delmar; "her ensign is
down."
"Pass the word `Cease firing,' Mr Hippesley; but let the guns be all
reloaded in case of accidents. Have we a boat that can swim? Examine
the cutters, Mr Keene."
I found the cutter on the larboard quarter, with her bottom out: she
could not swim, that was clear. The starboard one was in better
condition.
"The starboard cutter will float, sir; her gunwale is all torn away, but
there are rollocks enough to pull."
"Let her be cleared away and lowered down, Mr Hippesley. Send for the
second lieutenant."
"I believe he's not on deck sir," replied the first lieutenant.
"Not much hurt, I hope?"
"A splinter, I was told, sir."
"Where's Mr Weymss, the third lieutenant? Mr Weymss, jump into the
boat, and take possession of the prize: take as many men as you can;
and, Mr Keene, with Mr Weymss, and as soon as you have gained the
necessary information, come back with the boat and two hands."
I followed the third lieutenant info the boat, and we pulled on board of
our antagonist. A junior officer received us on the deck, and presented
his sword. His left arm was bound up, and he was very pale from loss of
blood. He spoke pretty good English; and we found that we had captured
the Dort, Dutch frigate, of thirty-eight guns, bound to Curacao, with a
detachment of troops for the garrison, and a considerable quantity of
ammunition and specie on board for the use of the colony.
We inquired whether the captain was much hurt, as he did not appear on
deck.
"He is dead, gentlemen," replied the young officer: "he was my father.
Our loss has been very great. I am only a cadet, yet I am commanding
officer."
A tear rolled down his cheek as he said that the captain was his father,
and I felt for him. Shortly afterwards he staggered to a carronade
slide, and dropped down on it, and very soon was in a state of
insensibility.
The carnage had been dreadful, and the bulwarks of the vessel had been
shattered to pieces. The scene was almost as had as the Stella's decks
before she was blown up by the negro captain. Several of the guns were
dismounted and two of them had burst. I had only time to go round the
gun-deck, and then I ordered two hands into the boat, that I might make
my report to Captain Delmar.
I asked the third lieutenant to allow me to take on board the young
officer, who still remained lifeless on the carronade slide, and, as it
was proper for me to bring back with me the commanding officer, he
consented. We lowered him with a rope into the boat, and then I
returned on board of the Calliope, and went up to the captain to make my
report, and present him with the sword of the officer commanding the
prize.
Just as I was commencing my story, Mr Culpepper came up without his
wig, and in a state of great disorder, with a piece of dirty paper in
his hand. He trembled very much from the effects of his alarm, but made
a very profound bow, and said to Captain Delmar--
"Here is the state of killed and wounded, Captain Delmar, as far as I
have been able to collect them. I could not possibly get them
ascertained before, although I have been an hour or two employed--ever
since Mr Keene came down."
The captain, who did not like the interruption, replied very haughtily,
"Mr Culpepper, it's the duty of the surgeon to send in the report of
killed and wounded. You had better go down below, get your dress in a
little better order. Now, Mr Keene."
Old Culpepper slunk away as I proceeded to give the information, and the
captain now asked the carpenter if the pinnace was sufficiently
repaired.
"In a few minutes, sir," was the reply.
"Mr Hippesley, you must, then, send forty hands on board the prize to
repair her damages, as far as we can. Mr Weymss must remain on board."
In the meantime the young officer had been taken down below to the
surgeon, who had now some leisure to attend to him. He was soon
restored, and the surgeon expressed his opinion that it would be
possible to save his arm. I went down to see him, and I gave him my
hammock to sleep in for the present, and as soon as he was comfortably
arranged under the half-deck I returned to the quarter-deck, and made
myself as useful as I could, for we had plenty to do on board of our own
frigate, knotting and splicing, having only made temporary repairs.
It was now dawn of day, and very soon afterwards broad daylight. The
men were ordered aft with the buckets, and the decks, which were smeared
and black with powder and the blood of the wounded, were washed down.
That we were all very tired I hardly need say, but it was not yet time
for repose; the magazines had been secured and the fires lighted.
Another boat, with the carpenter and assistant-surgeon, had been sent on
board the prize to remedy any serious damage and to assist in dressing
the wounded. I was sent with the boat. Mr Weymss, the third
lieutenant, had not been idle: jury-masts were in preparation, the decks
had been cleared, the dead thrown overboard, and the wounded taken
below.
On mustering the remainder of the Dort's ship's company, and calling
over the muster-roll of the troops on board, we found that she had lost
the captain, 2 lieutenants and 10 officers, 73 seamen and 61 soldiers,
killed; and the first-lieutenant, 13 officers, and 137 wounded--147
killed and 151 wounded: total 298. She had received several shot
between wind and water, and had a good deal of water in the hold: this
was, however, soon remedied by the carpenter and his crew, and the
frigate pumped out by the prisoners.
I returned on board of the Calliope with this intelligence to the
captain, and found that the surgeon had just sent in the report of our
own loss, which was, 1 officer and 17 men killed--master, 2 lieutenants,
2 midshipmen, and 47 wounded.
"Do you know who are the midshipmen wounded?" said the captain to me.
"I heard that Mr James was killed, sir, but not the names of those who
are wounded; but I think one of them must be Mr Dott, or we certainly
should have seen him about."
"I should not be surprised," replied the captain. "Sentry, ask who are
the young gentlemen wounded."