The state of Nicaragua will be found towards the southern portion of
that narrow neck of land which joins the two continents of North and
South America. A variety of outrages and insults having been offered to
British subjects,--two individuals especially having been carried off
from San Juan by Colonel Salas, of the Nicaraguan army,--Mr Walker, Her
Majesty's Consul-General and Agent stationed at Bluefields, requested
Admiral Austen, the Commander-in-chief on the West India station, to
send some ships-of-war to support and protect British interests in that
part of the world.
In consequence of this request, the admiral despatched HMS _Alarm_,
Captain Granville G. Loch, and HMS _Vixen_, Commander Ryder, to
Bluefields. They reached the mouth of the river the following day,
where the ships came to an anchor. The nearest Nicaraguan settlement
was at Serapaqui, about thirty miles up the river, but this, owing to
the strength of the current and various rapids, was generally a four
days' journey by boats. It was understood that Colonel Salas was
stationed at this fort with a considerable body of troops. Nothing
daunted by this, by the known strength of the fort, or by the difficulty
of approaching it on account of the rapidity of the current of the river
which there flows by the place, Captain Loch resolved to insist on
Colonel Salas making all the reparation in his power, or, in the event
of his refusal, to compel him to do so by force.
The fort of Serapaqui was situated on a point projecting into the river
very abruptly, and rising to the height of fifty feet. It was protected
in the rear by a dense forest, and in the front by an abattis formed of
large trees felled, with their heads and branches reaching into the
river. The defences of the fort consisted of six angular stockaded
entrenchments, formed of very tough timber, eight feet high and four
feet thick, one side of each stockade looking across the river, and the
other down the reach. The principal stockade commanded the only
landing-place, on which also a gun was at the time mounted. The fort
was only to be approached by heading a rapid current of nearly five
knots an hour, in order to pass the fort and descend towards the
landing-place, which was above the stockaded batteries, and excessively
steep and narrow. The fort is situated at the head of a straight reach
about a mile and a half long, the woods on either side affording an
almost impenetrable shelter to a concealed foe.
As soon as the ships anchored, the expedition, consisting of 260
officers and men, left their sides in twelve boats.
The representations as to the strength of the current were found to be
in no way exaggerated; but, with a gallantry, zeal, and perseverance
never surpassed, Captain Loch and his brave followers pulled on hour
after hour against the stream. Often they had to pass over downfalls
and rapids, when it was only by the greatest exertions that the heavy
boats could in any way be forced along. In this service, Lieutenant
Scott, first of the _Vixen_, showed the most praiseworthy zeal and
gallantry.
At night they rested, but at an early hour again each morning they
recommenced their exertions, and at length, after a most fatiguing pull
of seventy-two hours, they anchored a short distance below the fort.
Early on the morning of the 12th of February the expedition got under
weigh, and proceeded up towards the fort. Captain Loch and Commander
Ryder went on ahead in their gigs, in order to communicate with Colonel
Salas, and to state the object of Her Majesty's forces being in the
river.
No sooner, however, were they seen from the fort than they were fired at
by two guns, and directly afterwards by musketry from both sides of the
river. As this act effectually prevented any peaceable arrangements,
Captain Loch immediately ordered up the boats for the purpose of
storming the fort. The two gigs then took the lead, followed pretty
closely by some of the lighter-pulling boats. On they went, pulling
against the rapid current, which, as they advanced, grew still stronger,
and exposed all the time to a hot fire of musketry from men concealed
behind both banks of the river, so that there was little use even in
attempting to return it.
From this severe fire several men were wounded, and one officer very
severely,--Mr R. Turner, midshipman,--and two killed. The boats were
also almost riddled with shot, and nearly half the oars were broken; it
seems, indeed, surprising, considering also their crowded state, with
the mill-stream rate of the current, that a greater number of casualties
did not occur. In this exposed position, often appearing to be quite
stationary, they had to pull one hour and forty minutes before they were
enabled to pass the batteries sufficiently high to drop down to the
landing-place previously mentioned.
By this time nearly all the boats were up, and Captain Loch gave the
order to land, he himself leading the way. The boats' crews, with a
British cheer, leaped on shore, and gallantly charged the enemy. The
Nicaraguans withstood them for some time, but the cutlass and pistol
soon did their work; and in ten minutes they had taken to flight, and
the British flag was hoisted on the fort. One of the first on shore was
a seaman of the _Vixen_ (Denis Burke, stoker), who quickly fought his
way up to the enemy's colours, and captured them.
As the enemy fled, the British pursued them into the thick woods; but
after they had been chased for about thirty minutes, Captain Loch,
considering that they had been sufficiently punished, ordered the recall
to be sounded. The English then destroyed the stockades, spiked the
guns, broke the trunnions, and threw them, together with all the muskets
and ammunition left behind, into the river. The force was next
embarked, when the whole of the defences were set on fire.
From the dangers to which the party were exposed, and the difficulties
they overcame, this affair may well be considered as one of the most
gallant among those we have to record.