1804 to 1806.
Sir James continues in the command at Guernsey.--Proceedings of
his Squadron.--Letter from Lord Nelson, dated two days before
he was killed.--Capture and destruction of La Salamandre.--Sir
James's benevolent conduct at Guernsey.
The year 1804 is remarkable in the annals of the empire for the
extraordinary exertions made by the First Consul of France to collect
a powerful flotilla at the ports between Flushing, Cherbourg, and
Boulogne, with the avowed intention of invading England. The vessels
so collected were intended to convey the "Army of England," as it was
called by Bonaparte, across the channel. We have already mentioned the
fate of the Granville flotilla, after the attack made on it by Sir
James. Early in this year it was discovered that one of the vessels
belonging to it, a brig of 200 tons, had been driven on shore in the
Bay of Dillette, adjacent to Alderney; that the enemy had succeeded in
drawing her up to repair, and that she was nearly ready for launching.
The commander of the Carteret cutter, who first discovered this,
having represented it to Captain Bennet of the Tribune, (senior
officer of the detachment which Sir James had placed off Cherbourg,)
proposed to take advantage of the first nocturnal spring-tide, either
to launch her, if ready, or to destroy her. The Carteret was
accordingly reinforced by two midshipmen and ten men from the Tribune;
a landing was effected, and the guard defeated: but the brig was found
to have a plank out on each side of the keel, and she was therefore
destroyed. This service was performed with the loss of one of the
Carteret's men, Mr. Parker (a midshipman), and two men of the Tribune;
while the enemy's loss was five killed and ten prisoners, who were
afterwards released.[4]
[4] It is worthy of remark, that the French commanding officer,
who was killed, had in his pocket a watch belonging to the
commander of the Carteret, of which he had been robbed when
taken prisoner in 1800.
The Diomede, of fifty guns, having been refitted at Portsmouth,
returned to take Sir James's flag. Her former commander, Captain
Thomas Larcom, died at Portsmouth; and Captain Hugh Downman, who had
succeeded Captain Brenton in the Caesar, was, at Sir James's request,
appointed his flag-captain. The Cerberus was sent to refit at
Portsmouth, and on her way thither she captured a gun-boat.
During the years 1804 and 1805 the following vessels were taken and
destroyed by the squadron:
31st January.--The Hydra and Tribune captured four gun-boats.
17th March.--The Loire captured the Brave of St. Maloes, of
sixteen guns and 110 men.
18th March.--The Tartar lugger captured the Jeune Henri,
twelve, and 64 men.
-- April.--The Sylph destroyed several gun-vessels in the Race
of Alderney, in which she had one man killed and two wounded.
The Hydra captured a privateer off Cherbourg.
On the 9th October, the Albicore, Captain Henniker, destroyed
five French gun-vessels near Grosnez de Flamanville, without
any loss in men, although considerably damaged in the rigging
and hull.
In the course of this eventful year, Sir James kept up a constant
correspondence with his friend Lord Nelson, whose glorious career was
now near its close. Availing himself of the opportunity of a vessel
from Guernsey bound to Gibraltar, he sent his lordship a supply of
wines and other good things which that fertile island produces,
together with newspapers, &c. These reached the Victory only a few
days before the memorable battle of Trafalgar; and Lord Nelson's
answer, which we here transcribe, was dated only three days before the
action, and is probably the last but one ever written by him.
Victory, off Cadiz, Oct. 18th, 1805.
MY DEAR SIR JAMES,
You may rely upon it that, when I can, I will remove Lieutenant
Fisher of the R.M. into a frigate; at present, I fear the
frigates are full, and the line-of-battle ships empty: but in
whatever manner, my dear Sir James, I may be able to meet your
wishes, I desire you will let me know. Our friends at Cadiz are
ready to come forth, and I hope they will not again escape me:
the career of the Rochfort squadron, I think, has been several
days stopped by Sir Richard Strachan, but I wish his force had
been more equal to the contest. I have to thank you for your
great attention about my wine, and for recommending me some
excellent champagne. I beg my most respectful compliments to
Lady Saumarez; and, believe me ever, my dear Sir James, your
most faithful and obliged friend,
NELSON & BRONTE.
To Sir James Saumarez, Bart. & K.B.
Since writing my letter, I have to thank you for your packet of
newspapers and your letter of October 1st; nothing could
possibly be more acceptable. I hope we shall see Bonaparte
_humbled_. The Guernsey vessel has made a very valuable
recapture of a vessel loaded with cloths, bound to Lisbon.
Your's faithfully,
Nelson & Bronte.
The above was probably finished on the 19th, the day on which the
Penelope frigate left the fleet with despatches for England,--the last
his lordship ever sent.
During the year 1805 Sir James continued in the command at Guernsey,
having his flag in the Diomede, and occasionally on board a frigate in
her absence. The preparations of the French for invasion, which were
continued with unremitting vigour, made this station of more
importance than it would otherwise have been. Spain, having declared
war early in January, joined Napoleon in the grand object of invading
England; and it was calculated, including the Dutch fleet, that the
united force, which could be ready in the month of April, would amount
to seventy-five sail of the line, fifty frigates, and 2,300 smaller
vessels; and that the invading army would consist of 200,000 men.
It was evident that, without a junction of all his naval forces in the
British Channel, Napoleon had no chance of being able to make a
descent on the adjacent coast; and, to effect this, it was necessary
to draw off a part of our blockading fleets. With this view the Toulon
fleet went to the West Indies, whither it was pursued by Nelson; and,
after an action with the squadron under Sir Robert Calder, it entered
the port of Cadiz. The effectual blockade of that port and of Brest,
together with the interruptions his flotilla met with in its progress
towards Boulogne, defeated Napoleon's plans; and the Channel islands,
which were now in a complete state of defence, continued unmolested.
The only losses on this station were the capture of two gun-brigs,
after a very gallant defence, by a flotilla of very superior force,
off Granville; and the Pigmy cutter, which was wrecked near Jersey.
The memorable battle of Trafalgar at once put an end to all the
speculations of the ruler of France. The projected invasion was now
impossible; and, consequently, the force which had been requisite for
the station Sir James occupied, was no longer necessary. The Diomede,
of fifty guns, and several other vessels, were withdrawn, and Sir
James shifted his flag to the Inconstant. The year 1805 terminated
without any other remarkable occurrence.
During the year 1806 the enemy's convoys were proceeding in a westerly
direction; the victualling the French fleet at Brest, which had
considerably increased, being the principal object, the squadron under
Sir James was actively employed in intercepting these convoys. On the
9th of September the Constance, Captain Burrowes, fell in with Le
Salamandre, French frigate store-ship, of twenty-six guns; and,
assisted by the Strenuous and Sharpshooter, drove her on shore under a
battery; and, believing her destroyed, returned to Jersey. It was,
however, ascertained that she was floated off; and, returning to St.
Maloes, repaired her damages. On the 12th of October, when again
attempting to make her passage, she was attacked by the Constance,
Sheldrake, and Strenuous, and having taken shelter under the fort of
Equi, in the Bay of Brehat, the engagement, in which the gallant
Captain Burrowes was killed, became severe. Le Salamandre, after
running on shore, was compelled to strike, and was taken: but the
wind began to blow hard directly on the land; the Constance parted
her cables, which had been damaged by the shot from the batteries, and
drove on shore. It became therefore necessary, after taking out the
men, to burn both the Constance and the prize. In this affair ten men
were killed, and twenty-three wounded, exclusive of thirty-six men
made prisoners in the unsuccessful attempt to save the Constance. The
captain (M. Saloman) of the Salamandre and twenty-nine men were
killed; but of the wounded there is no account, excepting of nine, who
were among the prisoners taken on board the Sheldrake. Captain
Thicknesse, of that sloop, was made post-captain on this occasion.
Nothing else worthy remark, connected with the subject of this memoir,
happened during the year 1806: and Sir James had now enjoyed the
society of his family and friends at his native island for three
years; during which time his mind was not only actively employed in
the performance of his duty as commander-in-chief on this important
station, and in rendering his native island more capable of defence,
but also in the establishment and support of its charitable
institutions.