THE PATUXENT.
Having once more received the troops on board, the fleet remained
quietly at anchor till the 17th, when, at an early hour, we set sail
and stood towards the Patuxent. In this voyage we passed close to Sent
Island, and again threw the inhabitants of Anapolis into alarm by
approaching almost within gun-shot of their town; but at neither place
were hostilities attempted, and on the 19th we arrived, without any
adventure, at our former anchorage in the river. Here we brought up,
and parties were sent on shore to dig wells in the sand, to which the
boats resorted in great numbers for water. Cattle and sheep were
likewise purchased from the natives; some of the flour which had been
captured was converted into biscuit; and every preparation seemed to be
making for a long voyage.
To facilitate these operations, the fleet now separated, part remaining
here, and part proceeding under Admiral Malcolm to the Potomac; whilst
Sir Alexander Cochrane, in the Tonnant, with several frigates and
gun-brigs, quitted us altogether, and set sail, as it was given out,
for Halifax. But our situation was by no means agreeable. The climate
of this part of America is, at certain seasons, far from healthy; and
the prevalence of dysentery through the armament proved that the
unhealthy season had already commenced. Neither did there appear to be
any prospect of further employment. No one talked of a future
enterprise, nor was the slightest rumour circulated as to the next
point of attack. The death of General Ross seemed to have disorganized
the whole plan of proceedings, and the fleet and army rested idle, like
a watch without its main spring.
Whilst things were in this state, whilst the banks of the rivers
continued in our possession, and the interior was left unmolested to
the Americans, a rash confidence sprang up in the minds of all,
insomuch that parties of pleasure would frequently land without arms,
and spend many hours onshore. On one of these occasions, several
officers from the 85th regiment agreed to pass a day together at a
farm-house, about a quarter of a mile from the stream; and taking with
them ten soldiers, unarmed, to row the boat, a few sailors, and a young
midshipman, not more than twelve years of age, they proceeded to put
their determination into practice. Leaving the men, under the command
of their youthful pilot, to take care of the boat, the officers went on
to the house; but they had not remained there above an hour, when they
were alarmed by a shout, which sounded as if it came from the river.
Looking, out, they beheld their party surrounded by seventy or eighty
mounted riflemen; the boat dragged upon the beach, and set on fire.
Giving themselves up for lost, they continued for an instant in a sort
of stupor; but the master of the house, to whom some kindness had been
shown by our people, proved himself grateful, and, letting them out by
a back door, directed them to bide themselves in the wood, whilst he
should endeavour to turn their pursuers on a wrong scent. As they had
nothing to trust to except the honour of this American, it cannot be
supposed that they felt much at ease; but, seeing no better course
before them, they resigned themselves to his guidance, and plunging
into the thicket, concealed themselves as well as they could among the
underwood. In the mean time the American soldiers, having secured all
that were left behind, except the young midshipman, who fled into the
wood in spite of their fire, divided into two bodies, one of which
approached the house, whilst the other endeavoured to overtake the
brave boy. It so chanced that the party in pursuit passed close to the
officers in concealment, but by the greatest good fortune failed to
observe them. They succeeded, however, in catching a glimpse of the
midshipman, just as he had gained the water’s edge, and was pushing off
a light canoe which he had loosened from the stump of a tree. The
barbarians immediately gave chase, firing at the brave lad, and calling
out to surrender; but the gallant youth paid no attention either to
their voices or their bullets. Launching his little bark, he put to sea
with a single paddle, and, regardless of the showers of balls which
fell about him, returned alone and unhurt to the ship. Whilst one party
was thus employed, the other hastened to the house in full expectation
of capturing the British officers. But their host kept his word with
great fidelity, and, having directed his countrymen towards another
farm-house at some distance from his own, and in an opposite quarter
from the spot where his guests lay, he waited till they were out of
sight, and then joined his new friends in their lurking-place. Bringing
with him such provisions as he could muster, he advised them to keep
quiet till dark, when, their pursuers having departed, he conducted
them to the river, supplied them with a large canoe, and sent them off
in perfect safety to the fleet.
On reaching their ship, they found the 85th regiment under arms, and
preparing to land, for the purpose of either releasing their comrades
from captivity, or inflicting exemplary punishment upon the farmer by
whose treachery it was supposed that they had suffered. But when the
particulars of his behaviour were related, the latter alternative was
at once abandoned; and it was determined to force a dismissal of the
captives, by advancing up the country, and laying waste every thing
with fire and sword. The whole of the light brigade was accordingly
carried on shore, and halted on the beach, whilst a messenger was sent
forward to demand back the prisoners. Such, however, was the effect of
his threatening, that the demand was at once complied with, and they
returned on board without having committed any ravages, or marched
above two miles from the boats.
THE POTOMAC
Besides this trifling debarkation, another little excursion was made by
the second and third brigades, the light troops being left most
unaccountably on board of ship, Colonel Brook, having heard that an
encampment was formed a few miles from the left bank of the Potomac,
determined, if possible, to come up with and engage the force there
stationed. With this view, two brigades were landed on the night of the
4th of October, and pushed forward at a brisk pace; but the enemy,
being on the alert, had timely notice of the movement, and retired; by
which means our people returned on the 5th, without effecting anything.
THE CHESAPEAKE.
By this time the whole fleet was once more collected together; and
crowded the Potomac with their keels. The Diadem being an old ship and
a bad sailer, it was determined to remove from her the troops which she
had formerly carried, to fill her with American prisoners, and to send
her to England. The Menelaus was likewise dispatched with such officers
and soldiers as required the benefit of their native air to complete
the cure of their wounds; and the rest, getting under weigh on the 6th,
stood directly towards the mouth of the Chesapeake. When we reached the
James River, we anchored, and were joined by an American schooner
bearing a flag of truce. She brought with her Colonel Thornton, Lieut.
Colonel Wood, with the rest of the officers and men who had been left
behind at Bladensburg, and, being under the guidance of Commodore
Barney, that gentleman was enabled to discharge his trust even to the
very letter.
It may readily be supposed that the meeting between friends thus
restored to each other was very agreeable. But there was another source
of comfort which this arrival communicated, of greater importance than
the pleasure bestowed upon individuals. In Colonel Thornton we felt
that we had recovered a dashing and enterprising officer; one as well
calculated to lead a corps of light troops, and to guide the advance of
an army, as any in the service. On the whole, therefore, the American
schooner was as welcome as if she had been a first-rate man-of-war
filled with reinforcements from England.
The wounded being now sent off, and Colonel Wood among the number, the
remainder of the fleet again set sail, and reached the mouth of the bay
without interruption. Here they were met by a frigate and two brigs,
which spoke to the Admiral, and apparently communicated some important
intelligence; for we immediately put about and stood once more up the
Chesapeake. The wind, however, blew with great violence, and directly
against us. After beating about, therefore, for some time, without
making any progress, we turned our heads towards the ocean, and flying
between the Capes with amazing velocity, stood out to sea, directing
our course towards the S.S.E., and proceeding at the rate of seven
miles an hour under bare poles. The sea ran tremendously high, and the
sky was dark and dreary; insomuch that by a landsman the gale might
safely be accounted a storm. Under these circumstances, the ship
rolling as if she would dip her topmasts in the water, and the waves
breaking in at the back windows of the cabin, nothing remained to be
done but to go to bed. Thither most of us accordingly repaired, and
holding ourselves in our berths by clinging to the posts, we amused
ourselves by watching the motions of stools, books, trunks, and other
articles, as they floated majestically from one side of the cabin to
the other. But the effects of the gale were not in every respect
ludicrous. Two small schooners, which had been captured at Alexandria
and converted into tenders, foundered and went down, without an
opportunity being afforded of saving an individual of their crews.
AT SEA.
At length the wind began to moderate, and on the 18th there was a dead
calm. In point of comfort, however, I cannot say that much change was
experienced; for though the gale had ceased, the swell still continued;
and the motion produced by a heavy sea after a storm is even more
disagreeable than that occasioned by the storm itself. But on this day
the minds of all were set at ease as to the place whither we were
going, a telegraph signal being made to steer for Jamaica. It was
likewise understood that we should be there joined by strong
reinforcements, and proceed upon a secret expedition against some place
on the southern borders of the United States.
The calm which had succeeded the storm did not last long, for on the
19th a fair breeze sprang up, and sent us at a moderate and agreeable
rate upon our course. The heat, however, was most oppressive; even
awnings being unable to afford sufficient shelter. We were fast
approaching the tropic of Cancer, and every day experienced a greater
degree of sultriness; till at length, on the 25th, we crossed that
imaginary boundary. Here we were visited, according to custom, by
Neptune and his wife; and as the ceremony of shaving may be unknown to
some of my readers, I shall beg leave to relate the particulars of that
operation.
A clever active seaman, dressed up grotesquely in party-coloured rags,
adorned with a long beard made of the stuff which sailors call
spun-yarn, and armed with a tri-pronged harpoon, personates the God of
the Ocean. Another seaman, arrayed in like manner, except that, instead
of a beard, he wears a hideous mask, performs the part of the lady.
These are attended by a troop of sea-gods and nymphs, similarly
equipped; and advancing from the bow of the vessel, as if just stepped
on board, they come forward to the mainmast, and summon before them all
such persons as have never sworn the oaths or previously visited their
capital. At the foot of the mast is placed a large tub full of
sea-water, and covered by a piece of canvas, which is held tight by
four of their attendants. Upon this unsteady throne is the luckless
wight, whom they design to initiate, compelled to sit; and being asked
several questions, which he cannot answer, and taking several oaths,
very much resembling those said to be administered at Highgate, Neptune
proceeds to confer upon him the honour of filiation, by rather an
extraordinary process. Two of the sea-nymphs, generally tall stout
fellows, pinion his arms to his sides; and another, bringing a bucket
filled with grease and slops from the kitchen, sets it down at his
godship’s feet, putting a small painting-brush into his hand. Neptune
now dips his brush into the filth, and proceeds to spread a lather over
the face of the novice, taking care to ask questions during the whole
process; and if the adopted be simple enough to reply, the brush is
instantly thrust into his mouth. As soon as a sufficient quantity of
grease is laid upon the face, Neptune seizes a piece of rusty iron,
generally the broken hoop of some water-cask, with which he scrapes off
all that has been applied. If the novice take all this patiently, his
face is washed, and he is permitted to descend from his throne in
peace; but if he lose his temper, which most men are apt to do, a
bucket of sea-water is poured upon his head. If this be sufficient to
cool his wrath, he suffers no more; but if it only increase his
indignation, bucket after bucket is emptied over him, and at last, the
holders of the sail-cloth suddenly retiring, he is plunged overhead
into the tub. To crown all, the unfortunate wretch who has endured
these miseries is fined by his tormentor in a gallon of ruin; a fine
which the force of custom compels him to pay. It must be confessed that
this is a barbarous amusement, much resembling that of the boys in the
fable of the boys and the frogs. Though very agreeable to those who act
and to the lookers on, it is not so to him that suffers.
In this manner many persons were treated, till at length Neptune,
growing weary from the number of novices, was content to admit the rest
to the privileges of initiation, on condition that the fines should be
punctually paid; an agreement into which most of us very thankfully
entered.
THE WEST INDIES.
Next morning, the first object which met our eyes was the land of
Caycos island. We were so close to the shore, when daylight discovered
it, that had the wind been at all adverse we must unquestionably have
struck; but being assisted by a fair and gentle breeze, the ships put
about immediately, and escaped the danger. Standing out to sea, the
fleet now doubled the promontory, and steering round by the other side,
sailed on without losing sight of the land till late in the evening.
On the following day, a signal was made from the Admiral’s ship, that
the Golden Fleece transport, under convoy of the Volcano bomb, should
proceed to Port Royal, whilst the rest of the fleet held their course
towards Negril Bay. These two vessels accordingly set all sail, and
pushed forward by themselves; the others keeping on at a more moderate
rate, that none might stray from the convoy: for the West India seas at
this time swarmed with American privateers, and it was of great
consequence to keep the store-ships and heavy transports in the middle
of the squadron.
It so chanced that I took my passage in one of the two ships which
proceeded forward by themselves. The wind was fair, and we made great
progress, insomuch that before dark the high land of St. Domingo on one
side, and the mountains of Cuba on the other, were discernible. In
spite of the heat, therefore, our voyage soon became truly delightful.
Secure of getting on under the influence of the trade winds, we had
nothing to distract our thoughts, or keep us from feasting our eyes
upon the glorious shores of these two islands; whilst in addition to
the sight of land, which of itself was cheering, we were amused with
water-spouts, apparently playing about us in every direction. One of
these, however, began to form within a little distance of the ship, and
as they are dangerous as well as interesting, a cannon was got ready to
break it before it should reach us. But it did not complete its
formation, though I cannot tell why; for, after one spout had risen
into the air some height, and another bent down from the clouds to meet
it, they were suddenly carried away in different directions, and fell
into the sea with the noise of a cataract.
Among other sources of amusement, our attention was drawn, on the 29th,
to a shark, which made its appearance at the stern of the vessel. A
strong hook was immediately prepared, and baited with a piece of salt
pork, which being thrown over, was instantly gulped by the voracious
monster. But as soon as he felt the pain occasioned by the book in his
jaws, he plunged towards the bottom of the sea with such violence, as
to render the very tafferel hot, by the rapidity of the cord gliding
over it. Having permitted him to go a certain length, he was again
hauled up to the surface, where he remained without offering further
resistance, till a boat was lowered, and a strong noose thrown over his
head. Being thus made fast to the gunwale of the boat, he was brought
round to the gangway, when the end of the noose being cast over the
main-yard, he was lifted out of the sea and swung upon the ship’s deck.
Hitherto he had suffered quietly enough, in apparent stupefaction from
the pain of his jaw; but he began now to convince us that neither life
nor strength had deserted him; lashing his tail with such violence as
speedily to clear the quarter-deck, and biting in the most furious
manner at everything within his reach. One of the sailors, however, who
seemed to understand these matters more than his comrades, took an axe,
and watching his opportunity, at one, blow chopped off his tail. He was
now perfectly harmless, unless, indeed, one had chosen to thrust one’s
hand into his mouth; and the same sailor accordingly proceeded to lay
him open, and to take out his entrails. And now it was that the
tenacity of life, peculiar to these animals, displayed itself. After
his heart and bowels were taken out; the shark still continued to
exhibit proofs of animation, by biting with as much force as ever at a
bag of carpenter’s tools that happened to lie within his reach.
Being cut up, he was distributed in portions among the soldiers and the
ship’s crew. The tail part only was reserved as the chief delicacy for
our cabin, which, though dry and hard, with little flavour or taste,
was on the present occasion considered as agreeable food, because it
was fresh.