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diff --git a/21402.txt b/21402.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..984a63f --- /dev/null +++ b/21402.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10097 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Sailors, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Our Sailors + Gallant Deeds of the British Navy during Victoria's Reign + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: Charles Adrian (last name not clear) + +Release Date: May 9, 2007 [EBook #21402] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR SAILORS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Our Sailors; Gallant deeds of the British Navy during Queen Victoria's +reign, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This book was originally written by Kingston quite early on in his +career as a writer. As he died in 1880 he predeceased the Queen by +quite a few years. The book was bought up to date, including, we +believe, some input by George Henty, the writer of numerous books for +boys, who had been a friend of Kingston's. So this edition presses on a +quarter of a century beyond Kingston's death. + +Much the same can be said about the parallel book "Our Soldiers" which +is also to be found on the Athelstane website. + +Most of the stories are, surprisingly enough, actually military ones. +It is surprising how often naval forces were engaged in direct support +of military actions. It was not just the Relief of Mafeking in which +they were involved, though of course through the writings of +Baden-Powell most of us have heard of that event. + +The book is laid out in a way that is slightly different from the usual +Kingston book is presented, but we hope we have followed the book fairly +faithfully. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +OUR SAILORS; GALLANT DEEDS OF THE BRITISH NAVY DURING QUEEN VICTORIA'S +REIGN, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +OUR SAILORS. + +"Let fall the topsails, hoist away--up anchor, round goes the capstan-- +sheet home--haul taut the braces! and away we glide, to prove to our +countrymen that British sailors have not been sleeping on beds of roses +for the last quarter of a century since her gracious Majesty Queen +Victoria came to the throne." So wrote our author some forty years ago. +"Up anchor, full speed ahead," is, we suppose, the modern equivalent +for his nautical simile, and very prosaic and commonplace it sounds; but +we shall find that the romance of the Navy did not go out with the last +of the sailing frigates, and that the age of steam and electricity, of +enormous ironclads and rapid cruisers, affords as great a scope for +individual daring, resource, and heroism as the days of sailing frigates +and boarding parties; and that though in recent years our sailors have +not had many chances of using their weapons on the sea, the Naval +Brigade has taken its part in many an expedition, on land, and on all +occasions the British tar has proved himself a worthy successor to the +heroes of Trafalgar and the Nile. + +During the earlier years of the Great Queen's reign her sailors had +little to do in the fighting line, though on the West Coast of Africa +the slave traffic gave occasion to many a lively skirmish, and on other +seas various events from time to time afforded an opportunity for +showing that their weapons were as effective as of old. + +THE CAPTURE OF ADEN. + +Somewhat of that character was the capture of Aden, an Arab town on the +entrance of the Red Sea. A former sultan or chief of Aden had by treaty +given up the place to the British; but his successor, not approving of +the bargain, refused to submit to it. As it was important for the +English to hold the place, to facilitate the navigation of the Red Sea, +an expedition, under Captain Smith of the _Volage_, was sent by Sir +Frederick Maitland, then Commander-in-Chief on the East India Station, +to bring the Sultan to reason. + +It was not a big affair, though unhappily it cost several lives, but its +result was important and lasting. Captain Smith's expedition comprised, +besides HMS _Volage_, three smaller vessels and some transports. On the +19th of January 1839 he bombarded the town and landed his troops, who +after a short resistance overcame the Sultan's army, and hoisted the +flag on its walls, and Aden became a port of the British Empire, as it +has remained ever since. + +From early times it had been a very important centre for the trade +between Europe and the East, but when the Portuguese opened up the route +to India by the Cape it lost its advantage. In the hands of the British +its prosperity has returned, and the return of the Eastern trade by +means of the Suez Canal to the Red Sea has raised it to a far higher +position than ever it possessed in ancient days; it is now the great +coaling station for the British fleet and merchantmen in the East. The +trade passing through it to and from Southern Arabia exceeds five +millions a year, and it is also a strongly fortified naval station. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +WAR ON THE COAST OF SYRIA--1840. + +The next affair in which our bluejackets were engaged was the war on the +coast of Syria, in 1840. The causes of this were as follow. Mehemet +Ali, Pasha or Governor of Egypt, wished not only to make himself +altogether independent of the Sultan of Turkey, who claimed to be his +sovereign, but also to hold possession of Syria. Into that country he +sent an army under the command of Ibrahim Pasha, who was everywhere +successful, and was approaching Constantinople itself. This so alarmed +the Sultan, that he was about to ask for assistance from the Russians. +On this, England, France, and Austria thought it high time to interfere; +for had the Russians once taken possession of Constantinople, it would +have been a difficult matter to turn them out again. Accordingly, those +three powers sent to the Turks to promise them assistance if they would +hold out, and immediately despatched a large number of ships-of-war to +the coast of Syria. Sir Robert Stopford was Admiral of the British +fleet, and Sir Charles Napier, having his broad pennant flying, +commanded a squadron under him. + +BOMBARDMENT OF BEYROUT--SEPTEMBER 1840. + +The first place attacked was the town and fortress of Beyrout. The +English had thirteen sailing ships and four steamers. There was a +Turkish squadron of seven ships, under Admiral Walker, who was then in +the service of the Sultan, and three Austrian ships. Though cannonaded +for several days, the place still held out. However, on the 2nd of +October an Egyptian gunner, who had deserted, came on board the +_Hastings_ at Beyrout, and gave information that a train had been laid +along the bridge to the eastern castle, where a large quantity of powder +was concealed; and he undertook to guide a party to cut the train and +seize the powder. + +Commander Worth at once offered to perform this dangerous service, and +numbers volunteered to follow him. He embarked in one of the boats of +the _Hastings_, protected by the launch and pinnace of the _Edinburgh_, +and covered by the fire of the ships. Dashing on in the face of a heavy +fire of musketry, he landed on the bridge, cut off the train, and then +forced his way into the castle, over the walls of which he threw some +sixty or seventy barrels of powder, and succeeded in bringing off +thirty-one barrels more. + +Unfortunately, in this service, Mr Luscomb, a midshipman of the +_Hastings_, was killed; the Egyptian, and two seamen of the _Hastings_ +and one of the _Edinburgh_, were wounded. + +CAPTURE OF SIDON. + +While the fleet lay off Beyrout, it was considered important to drive +the Egyptians out of Sidon, a strong and important place. Commodore +Napier undertook to perform the work, and be back off Beyrout in three +days. With two steamers and five other ships, having on board 750 +English and 800 Turkish marines, he appeared off the place on the 26th +September. The town having been summoned to surrender, and no answer +being given, was cannonaded for half an hour. Captain Austin, at the +head of the Turkish battalion, landed, but was very warmly received, and +several of his followers were killed. The fleet again accordingly +opened fire, and battered down a number of houses, after which the +commodore, at the head of the main body of the British marines, and +Captain Henderson at the head of another, in the most spirited manner +broke open the gates, fought their way in, and took possession of the +castle. Numberless acts of gallantry were displayed. Among others, +there was a complete race from the spot where they landed between Mr +James Hunt, a midshipman of the _Stromboli_, and Signor Dominica Chinca, +a midshipman of the Austrian frigate _Guerriera_, who should first plant +their colours on the walls of the town. All now appearing quiet in the +town, the commodore left a guard in the castle, and descended into it. +No town was ever taken where less blood was unnecessarily spilt, or +disorders more speedily put a stop to. + +ATTACK ON THE CASTLE OF D'JEBEL. + +A strong body of Albanian troops being posted in the Castle of D'Jebel, +Captain Martin was despatched in the _Carysfort_, with the _Dido_ and +_Cyclops_, having on board 220 marines and 150 armed mountaineers, to +turn them out. + +As soon as the marines were prepared for landing, the ships opened their +fire on the castle, which was returned by musket-shots. + +After the fire had been continued for an hour, the marines, commanded by +Captain Robinson, accompanied by a large party of armed mountaineers, +pushed off from the _Cyclops_, and formed on the beach to the south of +the town, their landing being covered by the ships, which again opened +on the castle. The fire from the ships and the launch's carronades +having cleared the gardens in front of the castle, the signal was made +to push on. The marines on this advanced with their invariable +gallantry to the assault; but when they got within thirty yards of the +towers, a destructive fire was opened on them from a crenelated outwork, +having a deep ditch in front, which was completely masked from the fire +of the ships, and numbers fell killed and wounded. In vain Captain +Robinson and the other officers looked for some part of the castle wall +which might prove practicable. No gate was accessible, and they were +therefore compelled to abandon the enterprise. The ships again started +firing on the castle, but it was so stoutly built that no impression +could be made on it, and at half-past five the firing ceased and the +landing party re-embarked. + +As the force was retiring it was discovered that an English flag, which +had been planted on a garden wall by the pilot of the _Cyclops_ as a +signal to the ships, had been accidentally left there; it could not be +suffered to fall into the hands of the enemy, and therefore had to be +recovered, whatever the cost. It was a dangerous undertaking to run the +gauntlet of the enemy's guns and bring it back, but Lieutenant Grenfell +and a seaman from the _Cyclops_ volunteered to attempt it. Their +progress was watched with much anxiety. They crept along from cover to +cover, and at last reached the flag, which they hauled down, and +hastened back again with their prize. Loud cheers greeted them as they +returned to the ships uninjured and successful. + +Although the attempt to take the castle by storm had not been +successful, it was not found necessary to renew it on the following day, +for when morning came it was found that the steady fire from the ships +had proved too much for the nerves of the garrison, and that rather than +face it another day they had vacated the position and stolen away under +cover of the night. + +BOMBARDMENT AND CAPTURE OF ACRE--3RD NOVEMBER 1840. + +Ibrahim Pasha, who had taken Acre in 1837, had commenced to strengthen +it greatly; but the fortifications he had designed were not completed +when the allied squadron of twenty ships, mostly line-of-battle ships, +appeared off it, 2nd November 1840. Towed by the steamers, the ships +the next morning speedily took up their positions, and opened their fire +in the most spirited manner. + +After the ships had hotly engaged the batteries for nearly two hours, +the grand magazine blew up with a most tremendous explosion, whether +caused by a shell or by accident it is difficult to say. A large number +of the garrison were blown up, and many probably were buried alive in +the ruins or in the casements. The guns, however, notwithstanding this +catastrophe, kept up their fire with great spirit to the last. About +sunset the signal was made to discontinue the engagement; but the +commodore kept the fire up some time after dusk, lest the enemy should +be tempted to re-man their guns. The flag-lieutenant then brought the +orders to withdraw. + +In the middle of the night a small boat brought off the information that +the Egyptian troops were leaving the town, and in consequence, at +daylight, 300 Turks and a party of Austrian marines landed, and took +unopposed possession of the place. The havoc caused by the guns of the +squadron on the walls and houses was very great, though, notwithstanding +the hot and long-continued fire they had been exposed to, the ships +escaped with little damage, and the amount of casualties was very small, +being fourteen English and four Turks killed, and forty-two wounded. + +An entire battalion, which had been formed near the magazine, ready to +resist any attempts to storm, was destroyed. The appearance of the dead +and wounded, as they lay scattered about the town, was very dreadful, +but they seemed to excite but little sympathy in the breasts of the +Turks. Every living creature within the area of 60,000 square yards +round the magazine had ceased to exist, the loss of life being computed +from 1200 to 2000 persons. Certainly two entire regiments were +annihilated, with fifty donkeys, thirty camels, twelve cows, and some +horses. + +This was the first occasion on which the advantages of steam had been +fully proved in battle, by the rapidity with which the steamers took up +their positions, and the assistance they rendered to the other ships; as +also by the destruction caused through the shells thrown from them. + +On the 4th another explosion took place, by which a marine was killed +and Captain Collier had his leg fractured. + +The garrison being placed in a state of order, was left under the +command of Sir Charles Smith, with 3000 Turkish troops and 250 marines, +under Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, with the protection of the _Pique_ and +_Stromboli_. + +The results of the capture of Acre were very important. Ibrahim Pasha +evacuated Syria, and Mehemet Ali gave up the whole Turkish fleet, which +sailed for Marmorice under Admiral Walker. Soon after, the Sultan sent +a firman, according to the Pasha the hereditary possession of Egypt, +without any interference on the part of the Porte, while a yearly +tribute of 2,000,000 pounds was to be paid to the Sultan, besides about +2,000,000 pounds more of arrears. + +Thus terminated the part taken by the British at that time in the +affairs of Turkey and Egypt. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +WARFARE IN CHINESE WATERS--1840-1842. + +The war in China was undertaken to punish the Government for the +numerous injuries and insults they had offered to the English, and, by +teaching them to respect our power, to induce them to trade with us on +fair and equal terms, and to treat us in future as one civilised people +should treat another; also to demand reparation of grievances, and +payment for the property of British subjects destroyed at Canton; to +obtain a guarantee against similar occurrences in future; and, what was +of the greatest importance, to open up the trade at the different ports +along the coast. + +With these objects to be accomplished, a large squadron and a number of +transports, containing a considerable body of troops, were despatched in +1840 by the Governor-General of India to the Chinese seas. + +Soon after this a large fleet arrived from England, under the command of +Admiral the Honourable G. Elliot, while Sir Gordon Bremer had his broad +pennant flying on board the _Wellesley_. Captain Elliot, RN, it must be +understood, was acting on shore as Chief-Superintendent of Trade. + +The Chinese are a very clever people, but though their civilisation is +very ancient it has been stationary for ages, and all change and advance +of Western ideas has been violently opposed both by the governing +classes and the people. In the matter, however, of armament they have +in recent years made great advance, but at this time this advance had +hardly yet commenced, and they had nothing to oppose to the British +fleet. + +Not having the real thing, with great ingenuity they proceeded to +extemporise an imitation, the appearance of which they hoped would be +sufficient to frighten off the foreigner. They purchased an English +trading vessel, the _Cambridge_, intending to turn her into, at least in +appearance, a man-of-war, and built some strange-looking little +schooners upon a European model, for the purpose of employing them +against the English. Commissioner Lin also got up some sham fights at +the Bogue, dressing those who were to act as assailants in red coats, in +order to accustom the defenders to the sight of the red uniform,--the +redcoats, of course, being always driven back with tremendous slaughter. +They also ran up formidable-looking forts along the banks of many of +their rivers, which on examination, however, turned out to be merely +thin planks painted. The object of these was to alarm the barbarians, +and to prevent them from entering their harbours. But the crowning and +most ingenious device was the construction of some vessels, with large +paddle-wheels like those of steamers, which were worked inside by men; +though, that they might appear to be real steamers, they had, it is +said, funnels and fires under them to create a smoke. + +Although from these accounts it would appear that the Chinese were not +very formidable enemies, it must be understood that they also possessed +some forts which were really very strong; and that though the true +Chinese are not very fond of fighting, and, from their peculiar +temperament, (looking upon discretion as the better part of valour), +prefer running away to stopping with the certainty of being shot or +bayoneted, yet that, as they fully understand division of labour, they +employ a large number of Tartars to do their fighting for them. These +Tartars are very brave fellows, and so are their officers; and in +numberless instances they preferred death to defeat. They invariably +fought to the last; and often, when they could fight no longer, cut the +throats of their wives and children, and then their own, rather than +yield. This horrible practice arose undoubtedly from ignorance, they +believing that their conquerors would ill-treat and enslave them if they +captured them alive. Besides these Tartar troops, who were far from +contemptible enemies, our gallant redcoats and bluejackets had to +contend with the pernicious climate of the south of China, by which, +more than by the jingall-balls of the enemy, numbers were cut off. The +Tartars we have been speaking of are powerful men, armed with long +spears, and often they crossed them with the British bayonet, for which +the long spear was sometimes more than a match. Hand-to-hand encounters +with the Tartar troops were not uncommon, and our men learned to their +cost that they had held the Chinese too cheap. Instances occurred in +which the powerful Tartar soldier rushed within the bayonet guard of his +opponent, and grappled with him for life or death. + +A full description of the numerous actions which took place from the +commencement to the termination of the war, extending over so many +months, would at the present day be far from interesting. We shall, +therefore, but briefly allude to some of them. + +CAPTURE OF CHUSAN. + +The crisis had come. The Chinese had determined to drive away the +"foreign devils" from their coasts, and the "foreign devils" had equally +determined to show that they were a match for the Celestials. + +On 5th July 1840, Chusan, a small island in the Chinese sea, fell into +the hands of the British. The previous day, HMS _Conway, Alligator_, +and _Wellesley_, with a troopship and two transports, arrived in Chusan +harbour. The ships took up position opposite a large Joss House or +Temple. Sir Gordon Bremer was in command of our force. In the evening +a deputation was sent on shore, calling upon the governor to surrender +the town of Chusan and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. The Chinese admiral +and two mandarins themselves came to refuse this offer. During that +night the people were seen strengthening their fortifications, while the +inhabitants were flying up the river in their merchant junks, which were +allowed to pass without impediment, although their cargoes, probably +containing much that was valuable, would have made the fortunes of many +a British officer. However, they were allowed through untouched, for +our bluejackets had not come to war against civilians and women and +children. Indeed, to their credit, in no instance throughout the war +did the helpless suffer injury at the hands of either British soldiers +or sailors. + +On the 5th, vast crowds could be seen along the hills and shores, and +the walls of the city were lined with troops. Twenty-four guns were +placed on the landing-place, which, with the appearance of several +war-junks, showed that resistance was going to be offered. + +The troops were landed in two divisions, under Major-General Burrell's +supervision. The fire from the batteries and from the shores was soon +silenced by the British "men of war." Not far distant from the city was +a hill surrounded on three sides by a deep canal and very boggy land, +and our troops took up position on this hill; and though fire was opened +on them till nearly midnight, the effects of it were scarcely felt. On +the morning of the 6th the guns were directed towards the city, but as +no sound could be heard or troops seen, it was thought that the city had +probably been evacuated, and a party was sent forward to find out if +this was the case. The walls of the city were scaled, and then it was +found that, with the exception of one or two unarmed Chinese, the place +was empty. Over the principal gate was a placard on which was +inscribed, "Save us for the sake of our wives and children." The +British flag was, without loss of time, hoisted upon that gate. + +On 19th August 1840, Captain Smith, in the _Druid_, and a few smaller +ships of war and some troops, attacked and defeated the Chinese in a +very spirited manner, stationed in some fortifications known as the +Macao Barrier. The guns were spiked, and the whole of the troops fled; +nor did they ever again occupy the barrier. Two junks were sunk, and +the rest allowed to escape round the opposite point, while the barracks +and the other buildings were burned. The British, having four men only +wounded, re-embarked, and the ships returned the same evening to their +former anchorage in Macao roads. This well-timed and important piece of +service of Captain Smith's was the last hostile movement of the British +during the year 1840. On the 6th November a truce was announced by +Admiral Elliot, and on the 29th he resigned his command from extreme +ill-health, and returned to England, leaving Sir Gordon Bremer as +commander-in-chief. + +After this, nothing very remarkable was done till the Bogue forts were +captured, on the 7th January 1841. The Chinese Emperor had only opened +negotiations for the purpose of gaining time it was resolved, therefore, +to attack Canton itself. Several fleets of war-junks were destroyed, +some of the junks being blown up with all on board. On the 26th of +February the Boca Tigris forts were taken by Sir Gordon Bremer; and, on +the 5th of March, the squadron having advanced up the river, Howqua's +Fort was captured. Other forts in succession fell into the hands of the +British force; and on the 28th of March, the passage up to Whampoa being +forced, the forts of Canton and a large Chinese flotilla were captured. +After this, the Chinese came to terms; trade was again opened, and went +on for some time with great activity. All this time, however, the +treacherous Chinese were plotting how they might exterminate the +English; and, on the night of the 21st of May, a bold attempt was made +by them to destroy the British fleet by means of fire-rafts. The +attempt, however, was happily defeated, and warlike operations were once +more commenced. + +During these operations, Mr Hall performed a gallant act, which +probably saved the lives of Captains Elliot and Herbert and all standing +near. A congreve rocket had been placed in a tube and ignited, when it +hung within it instead of flying out. In another moment it would have +burst, scattering destruction around, had not Mr Hall thrust his arm +into the tube and forced it out from behind. The rush of fire, however, +severely burnt his hand, and caused him much suffering; it was long, +indeed, before he recovered the use of it. + +Canton was now attacked both by sea and land; and after some severe +fighting, which lasted from the 23rd up to the 30th of May, that +important city was taken possession of by the British. + +Amoy was captured on the 26th of August in a dashing manner, and +Chinghae on the 10th of October 1841, and Ningpo was occupied on the +12th of the same month. Early in the year, Captain Hall and the +officers and crew of the _Nemesis_ had a spirited brush with the +Chinese, to the north of Chusan. After this, the enemy kept at a +distance from that place. + +Several attempts were made by the Chinese to destroy the ships of the +squadron, each time defeated by the vigilance of the officers and crews. +On the 13th of May 1843, Chapoo, a large town near the sea, was +attacked and captured; and Woosung and Shanghai shared the same fate on +the 16th and 19th of June, the greater part of the fighting on both +occasions being performed by the seamen and marines of the fleet. + +CAPTURE OF CHIN-KEANG-FOO AND NANKIN--21ST JULY 1842. + +We now come to the crowning victory of the British in China in this war. + +Considerable reinforcements having arrived, it was resolved to advance +on Nankin itself, the ancient capital of the empire, as the most certain +way of bringing the Chinese to terms. To reach that city, the admiral +had determined to conduct his fleet, consisting of nearly eighty sail, +including two line-of-battle ships, up the great river Yang-Tze, into +the very heart of the empire, 200 miles from the sea. + +On the 6th July, this imposing fleet passed up the river without any +opposition, the Chinese having even withdrawn their guns from most of +the towns on its banks, to escape the injury they expected would be +inflicted had they made any hostile demonstration. At Seshan, however, +about fifteen miles below Chin-Keang-Foo, some batteries at the foot of +a hill, mounting about twenty guns, opened their fire on the _Pluto_ and +_Nemesis_, as those vessels were surveying in advance. On the following +day, the batteries having fired on the _Modeste_, she very speedily +drove out their garrisons, and destroyed them completely. + +On the 16th, the naval and military commanders-in-chief went up the +river in the _Vixen_, followed by the _Medusa_, to reconnoitre the +approaches to Chin-Keang-Foo. They approached the entrance of the +Imperial Canal, which passes close to the city walls, and is one of the +greatest works in China for facilitating the internal water +communication through the country. As no soldiers were seen on the +walls, and no other preparations for defence were visible, it was hoped +that resistance would not be offered, and that thus all effusion of +blood would be spared. When, however, some of the officers landed on +Golden Island, which is opposite the mouth of the Great Canal, and +climbed to the top of the pagoda in the centre of the island, they +discovered three large encampments on the slope of the hills to the +south-west of the city. This showed that the Chinese had a large army +ready to defend the place, though it was doubted if the troops would +fight. The British land force consisted of about 7000 men of all arms. +It had been determined that none of the ships-of-war should be engaged +in the attack. The _Auckland_ was therefore the only vessel which fired +into the city, when employed in covering the landing of the troops. + +On the evening of the 20th all preparations were completed for the +attack, which was to take place at daylight the next day. A body of +seamen and marines, however, under Captain Peter Richards, took an +active part in the engagement, accompanied by Sir William Parker, who +forced his way with the general through the gates of the city. Lord +Saltoun's brigade was the first on shore, and, gallantly attacking the +Chinese encamped outside the walls, soon drove them over the hills. +General Schoedde's brigade, however, was received by a hot fire of guns, +jingalls, and matchlocks, and in consequence he gave orders for +immediately escalading the walls. The Tartars fought with the most +determined bravery, often in hand-to-hand combats, and several of the +British officers and men were wounded. The walls were soon scaled; and, +as the troops scoured them to the right and left, they fell in with Sir +Hugh and Sir William, who had forced their way in at the gate, while +Captains Peter Richards and Watson, with the seamen and marines, had +scaled the walls in another direction. Still, in the interior of the +city, the Tartars held every house and street where they could hope to +make a stand, determined to sell their lives dearly; and often, when +driven back by superior force, they with perfect deliberation put an end +to their own lives, and frequently those of their wives and children. + +While these events were taking place, another of a more naval character +was enacting elsewhere. The _Blonde_ was anchored off the mouth of the +Grand Canal, and her boats had been employed in the morning in landing +the artillery brigade. At ten o'clock they were ordered away to carry +some of the artillery, with two howitzers, up the canal, to create a +diversion in favour of the troops. They were under the command of +Lieutenant Crouch, of the _Blonde_, who had with him Messrs. Lambert, +Jenkins, and Lyons, midshipmen. The barge, cutter, and a flat were a +little in advance, when, coming suddenly in sight of the west gate of +the city, they were assailed by a heavy fire of jingalls and matchlocks +from the whole line of the city wall, running parallel with the canal. +As the wall was nearly forty feet high, the gun in the barge could not +be elevated sufficiently to do service, and the fire of the musketry was +ineffectual. Lieutenant Crouch and Mr Lyons, midshipman, two artillery +officers, sixteen seamen, and eight artillerymen were wounded. As it +would have been madness to have remained longer than necessary exposed +to such a fire, the men leaped from the boats, which they abandoned, and +took shelter under cover of some houses in the suburbs. The crews of +the launch and pinnace, however, which were some way astern, remained +under cover of some buildings, and escaped without loss. Lieutenant +Crouch's party now saw that their only chance of escape was to join the +latter, though to do so they would have to pass across a wide space, +exposed to the fire from the walls. They succeeded, however, in doing +this without loss, and in getting on board the two boats. The whole +party returned down the canal to the _Cornwallis_, where they reported +what had happened to Captain Richards. They were compelled to leave +some of the wounded behind, who, it is satisfactory to report, were +kindly treated by the Chinese,--a strong proof of the advantage of the +example set by the British. + +As soon as Captain Richards was informed of the circumstances which had +occurred, he landed with 200 marines at the entrance of the canal, where +he was joined by 300 men of the 6th Madras Native Infantry, under +Captain McLean. + +This body then made their way through the suburbs, to escalade the city +walls. At the same time the boats of the _Cornwallis_, under Lieutenant +Stoddart, with those of the _Blonde_, pulled up the canal, with orders +to bring off the boats and guns which had been left behind, and to +endeavour to check the fire of the Chinese, while Captain Richards' +party were engaged in escalading the walls. As soon as Captain Richards +landed, he was joined by Captain Watson and Mr Forster, master of the +_Modeste_, with a boat's crew and a small body of seamen from that ship. + +A quantity of rubbish was found near the walls, on which the ladders +were planted by Captains Peter Richards and Watson, when, in face of a +strong body of Tartars, who opened a tremendous fire on them, they began +the hazardous ascent. Captain Richards escaped unhurt; but Captain +Watson was wounded, as was Lieutenant Baker, of the Madras Artillery; +and a marine, who with them was one of the first on the walls, was +killed. + +At this juncture, Lieutenant Fitzjames brought up some rockets and +lodged one in a guard-house, which, catching fire, threw the enemy into +such consternation that they gave way, followed by Captain Richards, +who, at the head of his men, had jumped down into an open space between +two gateways. At the same moment the gate was blown open by powder +bags; and Sir William Parker, with the third brigade under General +Bartley, accompanied by Sir Hugh Gough, dashed over its ruins. Several +officers and a large number of men suffered from the effects of the hot +sun. The Naval Brigade having in consequence rested for some time in a +guard-house, on hearing some firing, again sallied out, when they were +met by a sudden fire from a body of Tartars, drawn up across a street +behind a small gateway. Here Lieutenant Fitzjames was wounded, as were +several of the men. + +The British, however, uttering a loud cheer, attacked the Tartars with +such fury that they were soon driven back and put to flight, when +numbers fell by their own hands. The city was speedily in entire +possession of the British, when every means was taken to spare life, to +prevent plunder, and to restore order. We must not omit to speak of the +gallantry of several naval officers mentioned by Sir Hugh Gough. Having +heard that the canal was fordable, he had sent Major Gough to ascertain +the fact, accompanied by Captain Loch, RN, who acted as an amateur +throughout the campaign, as the general's extra aide-de-camp, and +Lieutenant Hodgson, of the _Cornwallis_, as also by Lieutenant Heatley. +Instantly rushing down the bank, the four officers plunged into the +canal and swam across, thus proving the impracticability of fording it. + +The city was now completely in the power of the British; but, in +consequence of the bad drainage and the number of dead bodies left in +the houses, the cholera broke out, and raged with fearful violence among +the troops, even though they were removed to an encampment outside the +walls. The number of Tartars who destroyed themselves and families was +very great; while much damage was committed by the Chinese plunderers, +who flocked in from the country, and pillaged in every direction; yet, +although the place had been taken by assault, none of the British troops +were allowed to plunder or to commit violence of any description. + +These triumphant successes of the British had at length brought the +Emperor to reason. + +The true state of affairs was represented to him; and, on the 20th of +August, his commissioner came on board the _Cornwallis_, with authority +to treat for peace. On the 24th, the visit was returned by Sir Henry +Pottinger, Sir Hugh Gough, Sir William Parker, and upwards of a hundred +officers. + +On the 29th, a treaty of peace, for which the British had been so long +contending, was happily signed on board the _Cornwallis_ by Sir Henry +Pottinger on the part of Great Britain, and by Ke-Ying, Elepoo, and +New-Kien, on the part of the Emperor of China. + +While the British fleet remained in the China seas, several gallant +acts, well worthy of record also, were performed by some of the officers +of the ships. + +Although a very imperfect account has been given of the operations in +the China seas, enough has been said to show that the Tartar troops were +no despicable enemies, while the bluejackets of Old England had ample +opportunities of exhibiting their daring courage, as well as that +perseverance, discipline, endurance, and humanity, for which they have +ever been conspicuous. + +A TIMELY RESCUE. + +CALLAO, 20TH AUGUST 1844. + +Her Majesty's ship _Collingwood_, Captain R. Smart, was lying off the +port of Callao, in China, on the 20th of August 1844. There were at the +time two mates on board, Mr Roderick Dew and the Hon. Frederick +William Walpole. The latter officer had, it appears, in the afternoon +gone on board a cutter-yacht, belonging to a gentleman at Callao. As +night came on there was a fresh breeze blowing, which knocked up a short +chopping sea. It was also very dark, so that objects at any distance +from the ship could scarcely be discerned. The officer of the first +watch on that night was Lieutenant Richard R. Quin, and the mate of the +watch was Mr R. Dew. In those seas the currents run with great +rapidity, and where the ship lay there was a very strong tide. Just as +the quartermasters had gone below to call the officers of the middle +watch, it being then close upon twelve o'clock, the look-out man forward +reported a boat ahead under sail. The lieutenant of the watch, on going +to the gangway, observed a small cutter on the starboard bow, which, as +well as he could make out through the obscurity, appeared to be hove to. +He judged from the position of the cutter that she wished to +communicate with the ship, but it was impossible to see what was taking +place on board of her. Shortly afterwards a dark object was observed on +the water on the starboard bow approaching the ship, but it did not look +like a boat. When it was at the distance of seventy or eighty yards, it +was hailed by the sentry. An answer was returned, but too indistinctly +for the officers aft to understand what was said. The sentry, however, +on the forecastle seems to have made out the answer, for he instantly +sung out the startling cry of "A man overboard!" No boats were down at +the time; and in that hot tideway in another minute the drowning man +would have been swept past the ship, and carried in all probability out +to sea, where he must have perished. Mr Dew was forward. Whether or +not he knew the person who was in peril of his life, I cannot say; +probably any human being would equally have claimed his aid; but without +a moment's hesitation he jumped fearlessly overboard, and swam to the +assistance of the man he supposed was drowning. He struck out bravely, +but could not at first succeed in the object for which he was aiming. +Meantime the order for lowering a boat was given; but long before she +was got into the water the figure of a human being was discerned close +to the ship. The sentry again hailed, when a voice, which was +recognised as that of Mr Walpole's, answered with a cry for help. Mr +Dew cheered him up by letting him know that he was coming to his +assistance; and very soon after he got up to him, and found him clinging +to a small boat full of water, and, as he was encumbered with a heavy +pea-coat, holding on with the greatest difficulty. Mr Dew, who was +lightly clad and fresh, enabled him to guide the swamped boat up to the +ship, near which the current was of itself carrying her. As they passed +near the gangway, a coil of rope was hove to them, which they getting +hold of, the boat was hauled alongside, and Mr Walpole and his gallant +preserver Mr Dew were brought safely upon deck. Mr Walpole then gave +an account of the accident which had befallen him. He had shoved off +from the cutter in her dinghy, which was very soon swamped; and as the +tide would not allow him to regain the vessel, he was being carried +rapidly to destruction, and would, he gratefully asserted, have +inevitably perished, had it not been for the heroic conduct of Mr Dew, +who, under Providence, was thus the means of preserving his life. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +CAPTURE OF A VENEZUELAN SQUADRON--FEBRUARY 1841. + +Among the numerous states which have arisen from the fragments of the +Spanish empire in South America is that of Venezuela, of which +Carthagena on the northern coast, and on the eastern shore at the +entrance of the Gulf of Darien, is one of the chief towns. Although the +inhabitants have proved themselves on many occasions to be a brave and +gallant people, they too frequently, after they drove out the Spaniards, +quarrelled among themselves, and at the time of which we write had +allowed their navy to fall into a very disorganised condition. It +appears that the British merchant brig _Jane and Sarah_, in company with +a sloop called _Little William_, were lying at Sapote, a harbour near +Carthagena, when, on the 6th of February 1841, some Venezuelan +ships-of-war, under the orders of General Carmona, attacked the two +vessels and plundered them of a large amount of goods and specie. A +Colonel Gregg and other passengers, together with their crews, were +taken on shore and imprisoned. We are not aware of what crime Colonel +Gregg and the other persons were accused. They found means, however, to +communicate their condition to the British consul resident at +Carthagena, who immediately interested himself on their behalf, and +applied to the Government for their release. + +His intercession was perfectly unsuccessful. As soon, therefore, as he +was able, he sent off a despatch to Lieutenant De Courcy, commanding HM +brig _Charybdis_, stationed on the coast to protect British interests, +and which was fortunately then in the neighbourhood. Immediately on +receiving the communication, Lieutenant De Courcy came off the port of +Carthagena, and despatched a boat with an officer bearing a letter to +the commodore of the squadron, then at anchor inside, demanding the +release of Colonel Gregg and the other British subjects. + +The Venezuelan squadron consisted of a corvette, a brig, and three +schooners of war. When the officer got on board the corvette, he found +the commodore, who treated him with great insolence, observing that, as +the letter was not written in Spanish, he could not understand it, and +therefore could not receive it, treating the threatened interference +with the greatest contempt. The unfortunate Colonel Gregg, it appears, +was shot, immediately after the application for his release had been +made; so that probably the commodore was acting under the orders of the +Government, who were little aware of the punishment they were about to +draw down on the head of the commander of their ships. + +As soon as the British officer had returned on board the _Charybdis_, +and reported these circumstances, Lieutenant de Courcy determined to +compel attention to his communications. The _Charybdis_ was rated as a +six-gun brig, but she carried only one long gun amidships and two +carronades, and her full complement of officers and men was but +fifty-five. Nothing daunted, however, he boldly entered the port, and +was passing up to an anchorage, when, without any provocation, he was +fired into by the corvette,--the commodore's vessel,--and the forestay +of the _Charybdis_ was shot away. + +This was an insult not for an instant to be borne, and, in spite of the +small size of his vessel and the apparently overwhelming force opposed +to him, he immediately took up a position, and opened his fire on the +corvette. His officers and crew enthusiastically supported him, and, +working their guns with a will, so rapidly was their fire delivered, and +so well was it directed, that in a short time the corvette hauled down +her colours and surrendered, when, on taking possession of her, it was +found that the commodore and twenty-five of his men had been killed. + +In the meantime, a brig-of-war had been coming down to the assistance of +the corvette, followed by three schooners; and scarcely had the first +been disposed of when she came into action. Unexhausted by their +exertions, the gallant crew of the _Charybdis_ fought their guns as +before, and in five minutes after they had been brought to bear on the +brig, she sank; and in a short time the schooners, after exchanging a +few shots, also surrendered. + +Thus, in the course of less than an hour, the whole of the squadron was +captured or destroyed,--the victor remaining at anchor in their port +with his prizes, to await the decision of the admiral on the station as +to their disposal. In consequence of Lieutenant De Courcy's capture of +the Venezuelan squadron, he at once received his promotion to the rank +of commander. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY IN BORNEO--RAJAH BROOKE. + +Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, went out as a cadet to India, where +he distinguished himself in the Burmese war, but, being wounded there, +he returned home. A warm admirer of Sir Stamford Raffles, by whose +enlightened efforts the flourishing city of Singapore was established, +and British commerce much increased in the Eastern Archipelago, he took +a voyage there to form a personal acquaintance with those interesting +islands. He found the people groaning under oppression, piracy +unchecked, and commerce undeveloped. He here secretly resolved to +devote his life to remedying these evils. On his return home he +purchased a yacht, the _Royalist_, of 142 tons, and with care and +kindness, for three years, he trained a crew zealously ready to follow +his fortunes. + +Having been appointed Governor of Sarawak, 24th September 1841, he set +himself actively to work to reform abuses, to improve the cultivation of +the country, and to secure peace and happiness to the people. Having +arranged the internal affairs of his government, he went back to +Singapore for the purpose of asking the aid of some ship-of-war to put +down piracy. The _Dido_, the Honourable Captain Keppel, was accordingly +sent to assist him in carrying out his object. Among the many gallant +acts performed by that officer and ship's company, we have space to +recount only one. + +ATTACK ON SAREBUS PIRATES. + +The _Dido_, after leaving Sarawak, proceeded to the island of Burong, +which was appointed as the place of rendezvous. The force selected for +the expedition consisted of the _Dido's_ pinnace, two cutters, and a +gig, with Rajah Brooke's boat, the _Jolly Bachelor_, carrying a long +six-pounder brass gun and thirty of the _Dido's_ men. Several chiefs +sent their fleets, so that the native force was considerable, and it +caused no little trouble to keep them in order. + +On the 11th, as they passed rapidly up the stream, the beating of gongs +and the loud yelling warned them that they were approaching their +enemies. A sudden turn in the river brought them in front of a steep +hill, which rose from the bank. As they hove in sight, several hundred +savages rose up, and gave one of their war-yells. "It was the first," +says Captain Keppel, "I ever heard. No report from musketry or ordnance +could ever make a man's heart feel so _small_ as mine did at that horrid +yell. I had no time to think, but took a shot at them with my +double-barrel as they rushed down the steep, while we hurried past." As +the large boat came up, she gave them a dose from her heavy gun. A +barrier of stakes was now encountered, but the gig pushed through, and +found herself in the presence of three formidable-looking forts, which +immediately opened a heavy fire on her. Luckily the enemy's guns were +elevated for the range of the barrier, a few grape-shot only splashing +the water round the gig. The boat was drifting fast towards the enemy. +The banks of the river were covered with warriors, who yelled and rushed +down to secure her. With some difficulty the long gig was got round, +and, Rajah Brooke steering, she was paddled up against the stream. +During this time Captain Keppel and his coxswain kept up a fire on the +embrasures, to prevent the enemy reloading before the pinnace could +bring her twelve-pounder carronade to bear. Unfortunately she fell +athwart the barrier, and had three men wounded while thus placed. With +the aid, however, of some of the native auxiliaries, the rattan lashings +which secured the heads of the stakes were cut, and the first cutter got +through. The other boats then followed, and kept up a destructive fire +on the fort. Mr D'Aeth, who was the first to land, jumped on shore +with his crew at the foot of the hill on the top of which the nearest +fort stood, and at once rushed for the summit. + +This mode of warfare--this dashing at once in the very face of their +fort--was so novel and incomprehensible to the enemy, that they fled +panic-struck into the jungle, and the leading men of the British could +scarcely get a snap-shot at them. That evening the country was +illuminated for miles by the burning of the capital, Paddi, and the +adjacent villages. The guns in the forts were also taken and the +stockades burnt. The banks of the river were here so narrow that it was +necessary to keep vigilantly on the alert, as a spear even could easily +be thrown across, though for the greater part of the night the burning +houses made it light as day. In the evening, Doctors Simpson and +Treacher amputated the arm of the captain of the forecastle on board the +_Dido_. In the morning, a fleet of prahus came sweeping towards them, +and were only discovered to be friends just in time to save them from a +deadly discharge from the six-pounder. + +In the evening, a party under Lieutenant Horton, who was accompanied by +Rajah Brooke, was sent up the left stream. Captain Keppel was at supper +on board the _Jolly Bachelor_, when the sound of the pinnace's +twelve-pounder carronade broke through the stillness of the night. This +was responded to by one of those simultaneous war-yells, apparently from +every part of the country. Captain Keppel, on this, jumping into his +gig, pulled off to the aid of his friends. From the winding of the +stream, the yells appeared to come from every direction--sometimes +ahead, sometimes astern. Proceeding thus for nearly two hours, a sudden +and quick discharge of musketry warned him that he was approaching the +scene of action. + +He kept his rifle ready for use on his knee; and to give an idea that he +was bringing up a strong reinforcement, he ordered the bugler he had +with him to strike up "Rory O'More." This was immediately responded to +by three British cheers, followed, however, by a deathlike silence, +which made him suppose that the enemy were between him and his friends. + +Seeing some human forms before him, he hailed, and, receiving no answer, +fired, supposing them to be Dyaks, when, to his horror, Lieutenant +Horton exclaimed, "We are here, sir." Providentially no one was hurt. +The sound of the current had prevented his hail being heard. The party +had taken up a very clever position on the top of a bank from which the +jungle had been cleared for about thirty yards, and which rose +perpendicularly from a little bay just big enough to hold the boats. +Here Lieutenant Gunnel was posted, with seven royal marines as a +rear-guard. This was an important position, and one of danger, as the +jungle itself was alive with the enemy; and although spears were hurled +from it continually during the night, no shot was thrown away unless the +figure of a pirate could be distinctly seen. The rain fell heavily, the +men wore their greatcoats to keep their pieces dry. Often during the +long night a musket was raised to the shoulder, and lowered, as the +enemy flitted by. Those in the boats below stood facing the opposite +bank of the river, with their arms in their hands. + +It appears that the enemy had come down in great force to attack the +boats from that side; and as the river was there very shallow, and the +bottom hard, they could, by wading not more than knee-deep, have +approached to within five or six yards of them. But in the first attack +they had lost a good many men, and it is supposed that their repeated +advances during the night were more to recover their dead and wounded, +than to make any attack on the compact little force of British, whose +deadly aim and rapid firing had told with such effect, and who certainly +were, one and all, prepared to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +For some object, the enemy had begun felling some large trees, and their +torches showing their position, Mr Partridge kept up a hot fire on them +from the pinnace, till a signal rocket fired among them made them take +to flight. Two natives and one marine of the British party were +wounded; and the latter poor fellow, a gallant young officer named +Jenkins, already distinguished in the Chinese war, volunteered to convey +in the second gig, with four boys only, down to the _Jolly Bachelor_. +He performed his duty, and was again up with the party before daylight. + +At dawn the pirates began assembling in some force; but as the boats +advanced up the river towards a spot where they had left their wives and +children, they sent in a flag of truce. Several chiefs soon appeared, +and the result of the conference was, that they undertook to abandon +piracy if their lives were spared. This was agreed to, and they have +strictly adhered to their promises. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +WARFARE ON THE RIVERS LA PLATA AND PARANA. + +BATTLE OF THE PARANA--30TH NOVEMBER 1845. + +Juan da Rosas, having made himself master of La Plata, and taken +possession of Buenos Ayres, closed the Rio de La Plata against all +strangers. This was contrary to a treaty with the English and French; +and accordingly an English and French squadron was despatched to open up +the channel of commerce, the lighter vessels forming an expedition to +force the Parana. + +Rear-Admiral Inglefield was commander-in-chief, with his flag on board +the _Vernon_. The French squadron was commanded by Admiral Laine. The +command of the English force was given to Captain Charles Hotham, of HM +steam-frigate _Gorgon_; and he had under him, _Firebrand_, +steam-frigate, Captain J Hope; _Philomel_, surveying brig, Commander BJ +Sulivan; _Comus_, eighteen guns, Acting Commander EA Inglefield; +_Dolphin_, brigantine, Lieutenant R Levinge; _Fanny_, tender, Lieutenant +AC Key. + +On the 18th, the expedition arrived within three miles of the very +strong defences General Rosas had caused to be thrown up on the right +bank of the Parana, on Punta Obligada, to oppose their progress. This +spot was about thirty miles below the river San Nicholas, and a hundred +from the mouth of the river. + +At daylight the following morning the two captains reconnoitred the +position of the enemy, and soon discovered that great military skill had +been evinced, both in the ground chosen and the plan of defence pursued. + +The morning of the 20th broke dark and foggy, but about eight a.m. the +weather cleared, and a southerly breeze sprang up. At a quarter to +nine, the southern division weighed, and with a light wind stood towards +the batteries, followed shortly afterwards by the _San Martin_ and +_Comus_. The _Dolphin_ and _Pandour_ had previously anchored on the +north shore. Two of the _Dolphin's_ crew--R Rowe, gunner's mate, and W +Ross, caulker's mate--though severely wounded, refused to leave their +quarters till the day was won. + +At about ten minutes before ten the batteries commenced the action by +opening a heavy fire on the _Philomel_ and the southern division, which +Commander Sulivan speedily returned with interest. On this occasion the +gallant Lieutenant Doyle, of the _Philomel_, had his arm shot away, and +for some time his life was despaired of; but, notwithstanding the agony +of his wound, he still showed his interest in the progress of the +action. On this the _Dolphin_ weighed, to support the ships in action; +but as some of her sails were shot away before she could reach her +appointed station, the current drove her astern, and compelled her to +anchor. Lieutenant Levinge, however, contrived to place her in a +position where her guns did good execution; she, however, was +unavoidably exposed all the time to a tremendous shower of shot, shell, +grape, and rockets, which came flying over her. During it several of +her people were wounded; and Mr G Andrews, clerk in charge, was +unhappily killed while assisting the surgeon in his duties to the +wounded. + +The remaining ships of the north division were gallantly led into action +by the brave Captain Trehouart, whose brig succeeded in reaching her +appointed station. + +A terrific cannonade was now taking place, increasing as the ships, one +after the other, got into action. It had, however, unfortunately the +effect of making the wind fall light; and, in consequence, the ships of +the northern division, having to contend with a current running three +miles an hour, were compelled to anchor two cables short of the stations +assigned to them. About this time the Spaniards cast loose the +fire-vessels, chained two and two together; and as they came drifting +down rapidly towards the squadron, the steamers kept moving about to tow +them clear, should they drift against any of the ships. Fortunately +they did no harm; but, till they had drifted past, the steamers could +neither anchor nor open their fire. + +At about ten minutes to eleven the action became general; and the effect +of the admirable gunnery practice, both of the English and French crews, +was soon evident by the unsteadiness with which the enemy continued +their fire. No men could, however, have fought more bravely than they +did. No sooner had the fire from the British ships swept one set of men +from their guns, than they were replaced by others, compelled, if not +determined of their own accord, to fight to the last. At length the +fire from the batteries began to slacken, some of the guns being +dismounted, and the gunners driven from the others; and at four p.m., an +occasional shot only being fired, Captain Hotham made the signal for the +boats of the squadron, manned and armed, to rendezvous alongside the +_Gorgon_ and _Firebrand_, sending at the same time to the French +commander, to propose that the remaining part of their plan, which was +that they should land and storm the batteries, should be carried into +immediate execution. Captain Hotham landed with 180 bluejackets and 145 +marines, when, giving three hearty British cheers, they formed on the +beach preparatory to making a rush up the hill. Commander Sulivan, who +had under him the skirmishing party and light company of seamen, led the +way up the hill; the rest quickly followed, and, as they reached the +crest, they were received by a smart fire of musketry. The enemy were, +however, quickly driven back before the bayonets of the marines, under +the command of Captain F Hurdle, RM; while, at the same time, the light +company of seamen, under Lieutenant AC Key, made a dash at the wood, +which it was most important to hold. In a few minutes it was carried +and taken possession of. Shortly after this the French brigade landed; +and, the enemy taking to flight in all directions, little more remained +to be done, beyond spiking the guns and destroying the batteries. +Captain Hope, after cutting the chain across the river, landed with +Captain Hotham, and acted as his aide-de-camp throughout the day. + +In consequence of this action, Captain C Hotham was made a Commander of +the Order of the Bath; Commander BJ Sulivan was posted; and Lieutenants +Inglefield, Levinge, Doyle, and Key were made commanders; R Rowe, +gunner's mate, was made a gunner, and W Ross, caulker's mate, was made a +warrant officer, both of whom, though severely wounded, had refused to +quit their quarters till the battle was over. + +Two ships of war being left to prevent the enemy offering any +obstruction to the navigation of the Parana, the squadron proceeded to +convoy a fleet of merchantmen up the river. + +Captain Hope, in a very gallant way, pursued and destroyed the schooner +_Chacabuco_, belonging to the enemy. + +ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE BATTERIES OF SAN LORENZO. + +After the squadron and convoy had passed up, which they did without the +loss of a single vessel or man, Rosas set to work to fortify the cliffs +of San Lorenzo. This he did in the most effectual way in his power, by +throwing up large works of earth, and in collecting guns from every +direction, and also in training his men to the use of them. He had +plenty of time to effect these objects, as the squadron was detained +some time at Corrientes, while the merchantmen were disposing of their +cargoes, and collecting fresh ones to take back in return. May 1846, +indeed, had arrived before the different vessels of the convoy had +settled all their affairs, and to the number of no were ready to descend +the river. + +In the meantime, a constant communication had been kept up with the +admiral at Monte Video by the men-of-war, which had on each occasion to +run the gauntlet of the batteries, and in some instances with severe +loss, their commanders at the same time affording a noble display of +gallantry, in obeying the orders they had received. Commander Sulivan, +among others, made himself very conspicuous by the accurate knowledge he +possessed of the river, which enabled him to pilot the ships up without +risk. + +The _Philomel_ having been despatched from Corrientes to Monte Video, as +she approached the batteries of San Lorenzo, Commander Sulivan made +preparations to pass them. Knowing that he could pass under the cliffs, +he judged it best to hug them as closely as possible, lest any guns +should already be mounted. Having made a barricade of hammocks and bags +for the helmsman, he sent all hands below to be out of harm's way,--he +himself only, and his first lieutenant, remaining on deck to con the +brig. Slowly and silently the little vessel drew near the point of +danger. A light and favourable air filled her sails, and, almost +grazing the perpendicular cliff, she glided slowly by. When the brig +was close under the first battery, the enemy opened their fire at her; +but so near was she to the cliffs, that they could not sufficiently +depress their guns to touch her decks, their lowest shot going through +the boom-mainsail, four or five feet above the hammock-netting. They +continued their ineffectual fire till the gallant little _Philomel_ was +quite clear and out of range. + +HM steamer _Lizard_, HM Tylden, lieutenant in command, which was sent up +the Parana on the 21st of April, was not so fortunate in escaping +without damage. When about six miles from San Lorenzo, Lieutenant +Tylden observed that large batteries had been erected on a commanding +point, and that the adjacent coast was lined with artillery and +field-pieces. As the _Lizard_ approached the batteries, Lieutenant +Tylden ordered three ensigns to be hoisted, as a signal to the enemy +that he intended to fight as long as the ship floated. At half-past +eleven a.m., the northern batteries opened a heavy fire; and on +approaching nearer, the other batteries and artillery commenced a quick +and well-directed fire also, which was returned by the _Lizard_ with +rockets and her forecastle gun, until the rocket-stand was shot away, +and the gun could no longer be elevated sufficiently to bear on the +enemy. + +When the gallant commander found that the heavy shot, grape, and +musketry were riddling his vessel from stem to stern, he ordered the +officers and men to go below, with the exception of those absolutely +required on deck, in the hopes that they might thus escape injury. +Scarcely, however, had they gone below, when two shots entered the +gun-room, one of which killed Mr Barnes, clerk in charge, and the other +Mr Webb, master's assistant. Two seamen also were killed; and Mr +Miller, assistant surgeon, and three men were wounded. As the wind and +current were against her, and there was a great deal of water in the +hold, she made but slow progress, and it was not till twenty-five +minutes past one p.m. that she got out of fire. She received 7 shot +between wind and water, besides 9 cannon, 14 grape, and 41 musket-balls +in the hull and bulwarks, and 7 cannon and grape in the funnel and +steam-pipe; while her boats, mainmast, and rigging were pierced through +and through by round shot. + +HM steam-sloop _Alecto_, Commander FW Austen, had previously, early in +April, gone up, towing three heavily-laden schooners against a current +of three knots and a head wind. On approaching a place called Tonelero, +a number of workmen were seen throwing up batteries, clearly for the +purpose of annoying the convoy on their way down. Opening her fire on +them, she soon put the men to flight. She came up to the batteries on +the morning of the 6th, with a strong wind and current against her, and +the heavy schooners in tow. She had been accompanied all the way by a +squadron of cavalry, who kept pace with her in an easy walk, halting +every now and then. At two her crew went to quarters; and at forty +minutes past two, having before fired a few shot, her three guns and +rockets were got into full play. This was answered by the lower guns on +the batteries with round shot until she reached the narrowest part, when +the enemy opened with round shot and grape together. Their guns were +raking her at this time from head to stern in such a way that none of +her guns could be brought effectually to bear on them. In this state +she remained for twenty minutes, scarcely going ahead, and receiving the +fire of seven eighteen-pounders, several of which were pointed down on +her decks. During this time she fired away in return at the enemy, who +appeared abreast of her, every charge of grape and canister on board, +and was then reduced to round shot. For a few minutes, also, she +exchanged with them a sharp fire of musketry. She then went gradually +ahead, and as the river widened, and the current decreased in strength, +she drew out of shot, having been an hour and fifteen minutes under +fire. + +Captain Austen, her commander, was the only person hurt, a spent +grape-shot having struck him a severe blow on the thigh. Commander +Mackinnon, then a lieutenant, who has written a most amusing account of +the affair, says "that in going into action the men appeared to take it +as a matter of course; but as the plot thickened and they warmed at the +work, they tossed the long guns about like playthings, and indeed +managed them in an admirable manner." This he attributes to the system +taught on board the _Excellent_. + +The crews of the Monte Videan schooners were in a dreadful fright all +the time, expecting to be sent to the bottom. On sounding the well on +board the _Alecto_, a considerable quantity of water was found in the +hold. When search was made, a shot-hole was discovered forward, between +wind and water. This was speedily plugged. Just as she came in sight +of the convoy, after her long and tedious voyage, she got on shore, and +there remained for some days before she was again floated off. + +GALLANT EXPLOIT OF A ROCKET-BATTERY. + +Santa Fe is situated on the east bank of the river. It is a place of +some size. Built partly at the foot and partly on the side of a lofty +hill, surrounded by _corrales_ where thousands of cattle are +slaughtered, their hides and their tallow being shipped from the port, +while vast flocks of vultures, carrion crows, and other birds of prey +hover over them to consume the refuse beef, which there are not human +mouths sufficient to eat. As may be supposed, it is far from an +agreeable place. The greater part of the English and French men-of-war +were lying at Baxadar de Santa Fe, which was the appointed rendezvous of +the merchantmen. Here the larger number, having effected their object, +collected towards the middle of May. The difficulty was now to get the +convoy safely back past the batteries of San Lorenzo. Sir Charles +Hotham had got up to settle some diplomatic affairs with the Government +of Corrientes, and on the 16th of May he returned in the _Alecto_. + +A plan had occurred to Lieutenant Mackinnon of that ship, by which the +passage of the convoy might be facilitated; and, having proposed it to +Sir Charles Hotham, he, after a short consideration of its possibility, +expressed his willingness to have it carried out, should everything be +as supposed. + +Lieutenant Mackinnon stated that opposite to the heavy part of the +batteries of San Lorenzo he had observed an island covered with long +reeds, grass, and small trees, but completely commanded by the guns of +the battery. He proposed, the night before the convoy was to fight +their way down, to take on shore a certain number of congreve rockets, +to land them at the back of the island, and to place them in readiness +for use when the time of action should arrive; this could be effected in +a few minutes,--then to dig by the side of each rocket a hole large +enough to contain the men working them, and to throw the earth up as a +kind of barricade before it; at the signal given by the +commander-in-chief, when all the enemy's batteries were fully manned, +waiting for the convoy, to commence a tremendous fire of rockets, which, +being totally unexpected by the enemy, would be proportionally effective +and destructive. The chances were that they would return this fire, +which the prepared holes would render harmless; and if the rocket-stands +or tubes were hit,--very difficult objects,--poles and instruments would +be at hand to repair them immediately. Besides, when the vessels were +passing, the chances were that, from the height of the cliffs, the +rockets would strike the enemy over the mast-heads of the ships, thus +causing a double-banked fire of great force. + +Sir Charles Hotham having consulted Captain Hope and Captain Trehouart, +who highly approved of the plan, provided the ground when reconnoitred +was found as suitable as expected, the execution of it was entrusted to +Lieutenant Mackinnon, of the _Alecto_, with Lieutenant Barnard, of the +_Firebrand_, as his second. For several days the preparations were +going on; and on the 25th of May, all being ready, the convoy and +men-of-war dropped down the river, and anchored about five miles above +the batteries of San Lorenzo, while the _Alecto_, continuing her course, +brought up still nearer to them. + +At length, on the night of the 1st of June, Sir Charles Hotham and the +French captain, with some other officers, reconnoitred the locality. +Besides the island we have spoken of, there were several others of +nearly the same size, and at the same distance from the western shore; +to the eastward of them, again, was an immense archipelago of low swampy +islands, covered with brushwood, extending in that direction six or +eight miles between them and the main shore of Entre Rios. + +There was just sufficient light for the reconnoitring party to see their +way as they steered through the intricate passages to the east of the +large islands. With muffled oars and in dead silence they pulled on +till they reached the island they wished to examine; and as they shoved +the boat's bow into the mud, a loud rustling was heard in the brushwood, +and a wild beast of some sort, which they took for a tiger, rushed +towards them. They dared not fire, of course, and without allowing a +moment's hesitation to interfere with the service they were upon, +proceeded to land according to seniority. As the first officers leaped +on shore, sword in hand, the supposed tiger, with a loud snort, jumped +into the river, proving to be a harmless capybara, or water-hog, +peculiar to the large rivers of South America. + +They now advanced cautiously, among the reeds and brushwood, across the +island, when, to their great satisfaction, they found that the river +itself had performed the very work required, by throwing up, when +swelled by the rains, an embankment many feet high along the entire +length of the island, so as completely to screen them from the enemy's +batteries,--a work, indeed, which many hundred men could not so well +have executed in a week. Behind this the land rising, there was +consequently a large natural trench; here the rockets might be placed in +comparative safety. The only difficulty would be to get the men into +the trench and to retire safely after the ammunition was expended, and +also to avoid any suspicion on the enemy's part of the proximity of such +a foe. The party then returned to the ship, and completed the necessary +preparations. + +The next night the rocket-party, in the _Alecto's_ paddle-box boat, took +their departure under the command of Lieutenant Mackinnon. He was +accompanied by his second in command, Lieutenant Barnard, of the Marine +Artillery, by Mr Hamm, the boatswain of the _Alecto_, and Mr Baker, +the pilot, with twelve artillerymen and eleven seamen. Silent as the +grave, they pulled behind the islands, and without accident reached the +appointed spot. They first set to work to get the rocket-stands and +rockets up to the embankment; and very fatiguing work it was to the men, +for they had to carry them through a swamp, into which they sank up to +their knees, and then a considerable distance over rough and uneven +ground, among thick reeds and brushwood. A glass of grog, with some +pork and biscuits, set them to rights again; and without delay they +planted the rocket-stands, pointing them so that the rockets might just +clear the top of the batteries. Fortunately, a few yards beyond the +little bay where the boat had been lying all night, a large willow tree +had fallen into the river, of her exact length, and beyond that was a +point of land running out likewise; between these she was hauled in. +Branches of willow were stuck in all round and inside the boat, which +most effectually concealed her,--so much so, that when Lieutenant Baker +arrived the next night at the spot, he was observed standing up in the +stern-sheets of the gig, looking wistfully towards the sandy beach, +without seeing anything of the boat, though the starboard bow-oar of his +gig splashed the water in Lieutenant Mackinnon's face. The latter +officer whistled; upon which Lieutenant Baker pulled in, and began +conversing. + +All this time Lieutenant Mackinnon was standing with one leg on the +gunwale of the boat and the other on land, the boat's gunwale being +flush with it; it appeared, therefore, as if he was partly standing on a +tree in the water, and so completely deceived Lieutenant Baker that he +exclaimed, "But where on earth have you put the boat to?" The low laugh +from the men, who were hid under a tarpaulin, revealed where she was. +When they were moving about in daylight, they were obliged to crouch +down like a herd of kangaroos, creeping behind the bushes and among the +long grass, so as not to be seen by the enemy, to whom the whole island +was then exposed to view. Had the Spaniards found out that they were +there, of course they would have sent boats across to attack them, and +would have fired on them from the forts; and though no doubt the +bluejackets would have made a good fight of it with their rockets, the +plan for preserving the fleet must have failed entirely. + +The first day all hands were roused from their sleep in the boat and +mustered at two p.m.; their arms being examined, they were ordered to +remain at the boat in readiness for any emergency, while the officers +and two artillerymen relieved the look-out at the battery. Twenty-eight +embrasures, with heavy guns in them, were counted in the enemy's forts; +and so close were the party, that with pocket-telescopes they could +clearly distinguish the faces of the people, and observed General +Moncellia, the brother-in-law of Rosas, drive up in his carriage with +four horses, and, dismounting, inspect the troops and guns. Little did +he suspect the foe he had near him. Having remained some time, the +officers crawled back to the boats to take some rest, but they were far +too anxious to sleep long; and the next night was passed, as before, in +paying constant visits to the rocket-battery. Once they were nearly +discovered, by one of the men incautiously exposing himself. As +Lieutenant Mackinnon was watching the battery, he observed the sentry +suddenly stop, and eye the spot narrowly. "Hold fast," he whispered to +the man; "don't move, as you value your life." The man obeyed, and, to +the lieutenant's infinite relief, he at last saw the sentry move on. + +Daybreak of the 4th came at length; the wind blew fairly down the +stream, and everyone was on the tiptoe of expectation, listening for the +report of two guns, the preconcerted signal of the fleet being about to +sail. It was a time of the greatest anxiety, for any moment, if +discovered, the twenty-eight pieces of ordnance might have commenced +playing on them, and blown them all to atoms; but fortunately the eyes +of the enemy were turned up the stream, towards the point from whence +the fleet was expected to appear. Slowly the hours seemed to pass, till +at length, at nine a.m., the welcome sound of the two guns came booming +along the water; and immediately the men proceeded from the boat to the +rocket-stands, creeping along like a band of North American Indians on a +war expedition to surprise a sleeping foe. + +A long pole, with the British flag made fast to it, had been prepared, +on the elevation of which the first discharge of rockets was to take +place. The squadron of men-of-war and merchantmen now approached, the +_Gorgon, Fulton_, and _Alecto_ leading. Majestically they glided on +till they came within range of the batteries, at which they commenced +firing their shells with admirable precision. The long and anxious +moment at length arrived for the discharge of the rockets. Lieutenant +Mackinnon waved his cap aloft; at this signal Lieutenant Barnard planted +the British flag under the nose of the enemy, and, taking off his cap, +made them a low bow. + +Up went a flight of rockets; two of them flew into the very centre of +the most crowded part of the batteries, completely clearing them of +their defenders, two went over their heads, and two stuck in the cliffs +beneath them. The elevation of the four stands which were wrongly +pointed being rectified, they were once more charged; and as soon as the +enemy had returned to their guns, and were looking along the sights to +take aim at the steamers, Lieutenant Mackinnon, jumping up on the +embankment, thoughtless of how he was exposing himself, sang out, +"Pepper, lads! pepper, lads! pepper, pepper, pepper!" and pepper away +the men did with a vengeance. The crash was tremendous. + +The enemy, with dismay, deserted their guns; and terrific must have been +the slaughter among them, for in one minute, forty rockets, admirably +directed, were poured in among them. To add to their confusion, a +rocket had penetrated an ammunition cart, which, blowing up with a +prodigious sound, filled the air with smoke. At the same time the dry +grass about the seamen catching fire, they were surrounded by so dense +an atmosphere that it was impossible for some moments to see what was +going forward. The wind, however, soon blowing aside the murky veil, +the fleet of merchantmen were seen passing quickly down, while the +steamers took up their position directly under the batteries. + +On this up went another shower of rockets, which continued without +cessation, filling the air with long delicate threads of smoke, under +which the vessels passed in safety, the effect being most beautiful. +These events occupied some time; and as soon as the sternmost ships of +the squadron were well out of range of shot, the _Gorgon_ hoisted the +signal for their return. The enemy's guns, as soon as they had no +floating opponents directly in front, directed their fire at the island, +but, misled by the flagstaff, peppered away at that, to the great +delight of the rocket-party, who were safe behind the bank; however, the +enemy discovered their mistake, and turned their guns in the proper +direction of the rocket-battery. The shot fell harmless, as they either +stuck in the bank or passed over the men's heads like cricket balls. + +Now and then a single rocket was sent into some of the enemy's +embrasures, which accelerated a return of shot. When the little +_Dolphin_ came down, leading the convoy, at the order, "Cover the +_Dolphin_," another volley and running fire burst forth, accompanied +with loud cheers for the gallant little vessel, which passed down with +slight damage. + +Preparations were made for decamping, and, as a last salute, the +flagstaff was waved in the face of the enemy, which appeared to annoy +them much, as a heavy fire was drawn towards the retreating party; but, +as they spread out wide apart, the shot passed through without touching +a single man or article belonging to them. The boat was soon reached, +the willows cast off, and all hands got on board, when "Out oars!" was +the word, and away they pulled down the stream to join the fleet. + +After these events, the British and French squadron relieved Monte Video +from an attack made on it by some of the allies of Rosas, and for some +time their marines and seamen occupied it, and assisted in placing it in +a better position of defence. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +EXPEDITION TO SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA. + +CAPTURE OF FORT SERAPAQUI--21ST FEBRUARY 1848. + +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. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE DESTRUCTION OF LAGOS--26TH DECEMBER 1851. + +The town of Lagos, built at the mouth of the river Ogun, which debouches +in the Bight of Benin, is a healthy place, and well situated for trade. +It is the seaport also of Abbeokuta, a town of considerable dimensions, +sixty miles inland from it, and which it is hoped will become a very +important place, now that Lagos is open for legal commerce. + +The more immediate cause of the attack on Lagos was in consequence of an +application made for assistance by Akitoye, the lawful chief of Lagos, +to Mr Beecroft, the British consul for the Bight of Benin, residing at +Fernando Po. + +Akitoye, the younger of two brothers, had, by his father's will, +succeeded as king of Lagos. The elder, Kosoko, had been, for +misbehaviour, banished. After the death of the old king, Akitoye +recalled Kosoko, and took him into favour; but Kosoko, bribing the army, +usurped the government, and drove Akitoye to take refuge at Badagry. On +this, Kosoko prepared to attack Badagry, and, had he been successful, +would doubtlessly, as he intended, have attacked Abbeokuta also, and +given a severe blow to the advancement of Christianity and civilisation +in Africa. On this account Mr Beecroft felt it his duty to apply to +the senior officer on the coast for a force to destroy Lagos, his +movements being hurried by hearing that the king of Dahomey had sent +1000 picked troops for its support. + +The commodore, however, sent only the _Bloodhound_ and a few boats; and +Lagos being really a strong place, they were compelled to retire with +the loss of several men. + +The first expedition against Lagos having failed solely from want of +sufficient force to keep possession of the town, Commodore Bruce sent +one of ample strength, and thoroughly organised, to drive the +slave-dealing chief Kosoko from his stronghold. + +The squadron appeared off Lagos by the 24th December. The boats of the +_Sampson_ and _Bloodhound_ were for some time employed in ascertaining +the position of the enemy's fortifications. The _Bloodhound_ and +_Teazer_ at this time got on shore, and while they were being hove off, +their people were exposed to a very hot fire from the negroes, who soon +proved that they were no contemptible antagonists. + +As the fire from jingalls, petrals, and muskets continued from the ditch +and embankment abreast of the ship, and as the enemy were observed +trying to bring their guns into position, at half-past two, Lieutenant +Thomas Saumarez, with the boats of the _Sampson_, accompanied by +Lieutenant E. McArthur, R.M.A., in command of the Marine Artillery, was +despatched to attempt a landing and to spike the guns. They did all +that men could do; but it was found impossible to make their way through +the showers of musketry opened against them. Mr Richards, a gallant +young midshipman, was mortally wounded, and ten men were severely +wounded; while so hot was the fire, that there seemed every prospect of +the whole party being cut off. Still they bravely persevered. While +undaunted efforts were being made to get on shore, Mr William J. +Stivey, carpenter of the _Sampson_, setting a noble example, which +others followed, leaped on shore, and, axe in hand, hewed manfully away +at the stakes to make a passage for the boats to go through them. + +All, however, was in vain; their numbers were thinning rapidly; and at +length Lieutenant Saumarez himself, being hit in three places, +reluctantly, but very properly, gave the signal for return. The +remainder of the day was spent in throwing shot and shell, as +circumstances required, so as to prevent any guns being moved against +the steamer. The nearest shot passed about ten yards astern of her. + +The _Teazer_ still continuing on shore, it became evident that before +the tide rose the enemy would destroy her, unless the guns which were +annoying her were captured. It was resolved, therefore, at once to +effect this. + +All being ready, the boats pulled in towards the stockade, where the +best place for landing appeared to exist, keeping up all the time a +continued fire of spherical, grape, and canister shot. As the boats +touched the shore, they received a discharge directly in their faces of +some 1500 muskets; but, notwithstanding this, the men undauntedly +landed, and, forming on the beach, after some severe fighting forced +their way into the stockade, driving out the enemy, who fled into the +thick bush close to the rear of it. Among those who landed and charged +with Captain Lyster were Mr Walling and Mr Sproule, surgeons of the +_Penelope_, and who afterwards exposed themselves equally in their +attendance on the wounded under fire. Scarcely had the blacks retreated +than Lieutenant Corbett rushed ahead and spiked all the guns in the +fort. + +This object being accomplished, Captain Lyster issued orders for the +re-embarkation of the party; but scarcely had he done so, when it was +discovered that the enemy, having made a desperate rush at the first +lifeboat, had succeeded in getting hold of her, and were tracking her +along the beach towards the spot where the guns were posted which had +first opened on the _Teazer_. On seeing this, the British, headed by +their gallant leader, Captain Lyster, hurried down to the shore for the +purpose of retaking her; but some delay occurred in consequence of +having to divide her crew of sixty men among the other boats, which +somewhat crowded them. The enemy, on seeing this, rushed back from +their concealment in the woods by swarms, and poured in a destructive, +crushing fire on the boats at pistol range. + +On this occasion a gallant young officer, Mr F.R. Fletcher, midshipman +in command of the second cutter, and who had charge of the boats while +on shore, was shot through the head and killed. Several officers and +men had before been wounded on shore, among whom was Lieutenant +Williams, of the Marine Artillery, who, though hit in three places, had +continued at the head of his men till they returned to the boats. +Commander Hillyar was also wounded, and very many of the men were +killed. Among the latter was James Webb, gunner's mate, belonging to +the first lifeboat. When he saw that she was likely to fall into the +hands of the blacks, he made a desperate attempt to spike her gun; but, +while thus engaged, he was cut down by the enemy, and mortally wounded. + +While Commander Hillyar was arranging the boats so that they might keep +up their fire as they retreated to the _Teazer_, some of the kroomen on +board Mr Beecroft's _Victoria_ let go her anchor, and there she lay +exposed entirely to the fire of the blacks. On seeing this, Captain +Lyster pulled back to her to learn what was the matter. "What has +occurred now?" he asked of Mr Blight, the boatswain. "The kroomen let +go the anchor without orders," he replied. "Then slip your cable, and +get out of this," exclaimed Captain Lyster. "It's a chain cable, +clenched to the bottom, and we can't unshackle it," replied Mr Blight. +On hearing this disheartening intelligence, Captain Lyster jumped on +board to see what assistance he could render. Just then Lieutenant +Corbett staggered up towards the stern, exclaiming, "I have done it, and +am alive!" In truth, he had cut the chain cable with a cold chisel, and +in so doing, while leaning over the bows of the boat, had received five +different wounds, which, with the addition of a severe one received on +shore, rendered him almost helpless. His right arm was hanging to his +side, but he still with his left worked away, and assisted in getting +the _Victoria_ off to the _Teazer_. + +While Captain Lyster was leaving the _Victoria_ to get into his own +boat, he was shot in the back with a musket-ball. On account of the hot +fire to which they were still exposed, and the number of men already +killed and wounded, he judged that he should not be justified in +attempting to recover the lifeboat on that occasion. Leaving her, +therefore, on the beach, the party returned to the _Teazer_. The people +who had at first got possession of the lifeboat had afterwards abandoned +her; but they now returned, and some forty or fifty got into her, +intending to carry her off. Seeing this, Mr Balfour, acting mate, +assisted by Mr Dewar, gunner, pulling back to the shore in the first +cutter, threw a rocket towards her, and so well-directed was it that it +entered her magazine and blew it up. As soon as the party got back to +the _Teazer_ (having now pretty well silenced the fire of the enemy), +they set to work to get all the provisions out of her, and then, having +thrown overboard all her coals with the exception of ten tons, they +contrived to shore her up, to await the rising of the tide. At length +their exertions were crowned with success, and at sunset they succeeded +in heaving her off. Then, getting up the steam, they anchored out of +gunshot for the night. + +On this unfortunate occasion there were no less than thirteen men killed +belonging to HMS _Penelope_, besides Mr Fletcher and Mr H.M. Gillham, +master's assistant, who afterwards died of his wounds; while Captain +Lyster, Commander Hillyar, Lieutenant Corbett, and First Lieutenant of +Marines J.W.C. Williams were wounded severely, together with +fifty-seven men of the _Penelope_ and two of the _Teazer_, most of them +also very severely wounded. Crowded together in so small a vessel +during the night, the poor fellows suffered greatly, though the medical +officers of the expedition, Mr R. Carpenter, senior surgeon, Mr +Walling, assistant surgeon of the _Penelope_, Dr Barclay, acting +surgeon, and Dr Sproule, assistant surgeon, exerted themselves to their +very utmost in the performance of their duty to the wounded. During the +day they had never flinched from exposing their own lives, as, in the +midst of the fire, they stepped from boat to boat to alleviate the +sufferings of the wounded and dying. + +Soon after seven o'clock in the morning the _Teazer_ was got under +weigh, and, finding the right channel, steamed up towards the +_Bloodhound_, with the squadron of boats in her company. As soon as she +was seen from the _Bloodhound_, Captain Jones ordered that the guns of +the _Bloodhound's_ gunboats should open a deliberate flanking fire on +the west part of the enemy's defences; and he then sent a boat under Mr +Bullen, his clerk, who was acting as his aide-de-camp, to point out to +Captain Lyster the position in which he wished the _Teazer_ to be +anchored. At ten minutes past eight, the _Teazer_ having anchored, +Captain Jones pulled on board her, to consult further with Captain +Lyster on the plan of proceeding. The rocket-boats were then ordered to +take up a position to the northward of the _Bloodhound_. This was +quickly done, and Lieutenant Marshall threw some rockets with beautiful +effect, setting fire to several houses, among which, to the satisfaction +of all, was that of the Prime Minister Tappis. When this was seen, a +hearty and spontaneous cheer ran through the whole squadron for the crew +of the rocket-boat, who had thus punished the chief instigator of the +former attack on the British boats. + +After this, the rocket-boat shifted her position ahead of the _Teazer_, +and a general but deliberate fire was opened from the whole force. At +forty-five minutes past ten, Lieutenant Marshall threw a rocket, which +struck the battery below Tappis' house, and at the same time a shot from +the _Teazer_ capsized the gun. The firing became still more rapid; an +awful explosion ensued; a magazine of the enemy's had blown up. And +from this moment the fate of Lagos was decided; house after house caught +fire, and the whole town was shortly in a general blaze. More +ships-of-war now came in, and Kosoko, finding his case hopeless, took to +flight, and Akitoye was reinstated. + +The only portion of the British forces landed was a small body under +Commander Coote, who went on shore to spike guns. + +The next morning he and Commander Gardner, with the boats' crews of the +_Sampson_ and _Penelope_, were employed in a similar way. They returned +in the afternoon, having by extraordinary exertions embarked or +destroyed fifty-two pieces of ordnance. + +Lagos has now become a British province. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE BURMESE WAR--1851-1852. + +By the treaty of Yandaboo in 1824 the Burmese granted security to +English merchants and English commerce. It seemed then as if the first +Burmese war had really had some good results, and as if civilisation had +taken an immense stride in the country. + +But, twenty-six years after this treaty had been signed, numerous +complaints reached the supreme government of Calcutta of the oppressive +tyranny of the governor of Rangoon, which, it appeared, was directed +chiefly against traders in Rangoon. + +One of the immediate causes of British interference was the conduct of +the governor towards certain captains of British trading vessels; one of +whom, on the false representations of a Burmese pilot, was placed in the +stocks and fined nine hundred rupees. A representative at Ava was +placed on an island on the Irrawaddy without provisions, and left there +till the river rose and nearly swamped him. Sooner than irritate the +court, the representative was withdrawn. Insult after insult was heaped +upon the British, and though every means was taken to ensure peace and +conciliate the Burmese, it was soon seen that sterner measures must be +taken with them. + +On 7th January the governor of Rangoon ordered a merchant, Mr Birrell, +to take down a flagstaff he had erected, and to remove a gun placed on +his landing-stage. + +Mr Birrell refused to comply with this order, as the flagstaff had been +placed there by consent of the commodore, as a means of communication +between the Europeans on shore and the men-of-war. + +The governor, enraged at this refusal, ordered all communication with +the shipping to be stopped. Commodore Lambert, sooner than give the +Burmese any cause of offence, directed the flagstaff to be removed, and +for the time trade was resumed. + +Not long after this a deputation from the British to the governor was +treated with the utmost incivility and contempt, and was even refused +admission to his presence. + +The commodore now resolved to take action. He ordered the King of +Burmah's ship, which was lying in the harbour, to be seized, and sent a +message to all the British residents in Rangoon to come on board the +frigate, and at the same time informed the governor that as the British +flag and Government had been grossly insulted, he intended to place the +town under blockade. + +By the same evening all the British subjects had embarked, and the +men-of-war moved down the river. + +Some of the Burmese officers now came to the flagship to offer apologies +for their rudeness; but as the viceroy himself refused to apologise, +none of these were accepted. The Burmese, seeing that the British were +in earnest, tried to avert the war for a time; and the commodore, also +anxious to avoid hostilities, allowed twenty-four hours' grace to give +the viceroy time to change his mind. Instead of an apology, however, +came a message, to the effect that if the British ships attempted to +pass the stockades on the banks of the river, they would be fired on. + +Information was received that nearly 5000 troops were assembled near the +stockades, and during the night and the following day numerous +war-boats, each containing from fifty to eighty men, were discovered +coming down the river. At the same time several vessels full of armed +men arrived at the general rendezvous from the Pegu river. The war had +begun. + +On the next morning active hostilities commenced. The _Henries_ +steamer, Captain Fishbourne, first towed the _Fox_ frigate to within 400 +yards of the stockade, where she anchored to protect the merchantmen as +they passed by to be out of fire. In the meantime the _Hermes_ went in +search of a large Burmese war-vessel, with which she soon returned as +her prize in tow. + +The English vessels, having dispersed or sunk a fleet of war-boats which +came out to meet them, steamed along the shore, pouring in an iron +shower, which tore the stockades to pieces and quickly silenced the +enemy's batteries. + +The squadron now took up a position at the mouth of the Rangoon river, +the commodore declaring the rivers of Rangoon, the Bassein, and the +Salween above Maulmain, to be in a state of blockade. + +Meanwhile the steamer _Proserpine_, after landing the hostages from +Rangoon at Maulmain, was ordered to proceed to Calcutta with despatches +from the commodore. + +On her arrival on the 17th of January, the Governor-general being +absent, the Supreme Council resolved to equip a force to carry on +hostilities against Burmah; while reinforcements were despatched with +unusual promptitude, to strengthen the forts guarding the passes leading +from the Burmese territory. + +General Godwin, the commander-in-chief, arrived on the 13th of April; +and the Burmese Emperor having offered no apology, the steamers ran +close in with Martaban, rapidly firing broadside after broadside. The +enemy for some time returned their fire with spirit; but their guns +being silenced, the troops were thrown on shore, and they fled in every +direction. The walls and defences exhibited the terrific effects of the +broadsides poured in on them. Of the English, only eight were wounded. + +The squadron was now augmented by twelve East India Company's steamers, +which had, besides marines, 5767 troops on board. + +With this formidable force Rangoon was attacked on the 12th of April. +The steamers fired for many hours shot and shell without intermission, +which destroyed and set on fire the enemy's stockades and other +defences. A small naval brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Darville, HMS +_Rattler_, did good service on shore. For three days the Burmese +garrison held out; stockade after stockade was stormed and taken in a +most gallant way by the troops. On the 14th the grand attack was made, +and the great pagoda was stormed, when, after some more severe fighting, +Rangoon fell into the hands of the British. Captain Armstrong and +several other officers and men of the land forces were killed, and many +wounded. + +Bassein was captured in the same spirited way on the 19th of May. At +the pagoda here, the Burmese defended themselves with much +determination; but it was stormed by some troops and some of the naval +brigade, when Lieutenant Rice, RN, was wounded severely, three men +killed, and seven officers and twenty-four men wounded. + +While these operations were going on, Martaban, in which only a small +garrison had been left, was attacked by the Burmese, but they were +driven back in a very gallant manner by Major Hall and his men. + +CAPTURE OF PEGU--14TH JUNE 1852. + +An attack on Pegu, seventy-five miles north of Rangoon, being next +resolved on, an expedition, consisting of 230 troops, who were embarked +on board the _Phlegethon_, and the boats of that vessel and HMS _Fox_, +under the command of Captain Tarleton, left Rangoon on the 3rd of June, +and proceeded up the river. + +As the boats advanced, a sharp fire of musketry was opened on them from +the Pegu side. On this, Captain Tarleton, seeing the disadvantage under +which they laboured from being beneath the enemy's fire, with no +effectual means of returning it, landed with the boats' crews of HMS +_Fox_, and was shortly after joined by Captain Neblett and the boats' +crews of the _Phlegethon_,--in all about fifty men. Meantime Mr +McMurdo, mate, was left in charge of the boats. + +As Captain Tarleton and his party advanced, the Burmese fired on them, +but were driven from point to point, until completely broken,--one party +retreating by the riverside to the northward, and the other within the +old wall of the city. The object of the British being attained, they +were retiring in close order to the boats, when a fire of jingalls and +musketry was opened on them from the walls. Deeming it unwise to allow +the Burmese to suppose they were retreating, Captain Tarleton led his +party to the attack, having found a native guide to show them the +causeway through the ditch. Having halted a few seconds to gain breath, +they rushed in over the causeway, and through a breach to the right of +the gateway. On the storming-party getting over the wall, after a stout +defence the enemy fled, and ultimately retired within the great pagoda. + +Meantime the boats had been attacked, but were bravely defended by Mr +McMurdo, who succeeded in getting them to the other side of the river, +Major Cotton having sent a detachment to their support. After the +troops and seamen had rested for some time, the Burmese were observed +issuing from the pagoda in considerable strength, with the evident +intention of attacking them. The troops lost not a moment in getting +under arms, and the seamen forthwith came on shore. The British +instantly advanced; and before the Burmese could recover from their +surprise at a movement so little expected, the place was carried without +another casualty. HMS _Fox_ had three men wounded, and the _Phlegethon_ +one seaman killed. + +The force, after destroying the fortifications, returned to Rangoon on +the 5th. + +EXPEDITION UP THE IRRAWADDY. + +It being important to ascertain the number and position of the enemy +posted on the banks of the Irrawaddy, Commodore Lambert directed Captain +Tarleton to take under his orders HMS _Medusa_ and three Company's +steamers, and to proceed up the river for the purpose of obtaining that +information. Accordingly, on the 6th of July, the vessels proceeded up +the Irrawaddy. + +At a place called Konnoughee, twenty-five miles below Prome, a large +body of armed men were observed collected on the banks; and on a shell +being fired among them, they opened a vigorous fire from six guns and +from a large number of musketry. At a short distance from Prome the +river divides into two streams,--the left, or western, being the +deepest, and the only navigable branch at any season but the rainy one. +At sunset the expedition anchored off Meaoung. At daylight on the 8th +it again weighed, and proceeded till within sight of an extensive +fortification, crowning the end of a ridge of hills 300 feet high, +terminating abruptly at the town of Akouktoung, which completely +commands the river. Here, the position being strongly fortified, a +Burmese army of about 10,000 men had been assembled, under General +Bundoola, to guard the passage to Prome and the capital. Captain +Tarleton having been warned of the resistance he would meet, and hearing +from the native pilots that at that season the eastern stream was +navigable, determined to try it. Instead, therefore, of keeping on, to +the disappointment of the enemy, who had begun to fire on him, he turned +off through the eastern channel, and was quickly beyond their reach, +having had not less than two fathoms water in the channel. By steaming +through the night, the rest of the squadron came off Prome by daylight +on the morning of the 9th. At the south end of the town, near the +water's edge, four heavy guns were seen, but no troops were observed in +the place. + +Captain Tarleton accordingly anchored the _Medusa_ abreast of the spot, +and soon hove them off. The iron guns were disabled and sunk in deep +water, and the brass ones were taken on board. When the other vessels +joined their crews with the boats' crews of the _Fox_, heartily entering +on the work, every gun in Prome, twenty-three in number, was brought +off. In the afternoon the _Medusa_ ascended the river ten miles higher; +but Captain Tarleton felt himself bound by his orders to return. His +feelings may be supposed when he thus found himself at Prome, within +four days' steaming of Ava, with a certain knowledge that there was +nothing to oppose him, and with a broad, deep river, easy of navigation, +before him. Had he had with him one regiment and half a battery of +guns, there is every reason to believe he might have taken the capital, +so totally unprepared were the Burmese for any advance in the rains. + +However, he was of course compelled to obey the orders he had received. +After remaining there for twenty-four hours, the place was evacuated, +and the flotilla returned. On reaching the main stream, the army of +Bundoola was observed in motion, crossing the river, evidently with the +intention of following the steamers. They in consequence opened with +shot and shell upon the confused masses on shore and on the boats, +spreading havoc and dismay among them. Between forty and fifty boats +were captured and destroyed. The general's state-barge, several large +war-canoes, a standard, two gold umbrellas, and other spoil fell into +the hands of the British. The whole trip occupied only nine days. In +its progress the expedition received the most convincing proofs that the +population of Burmah were adverse to the war, and anxious to come under +the British rule. Looking at the expedition by itself, it was as +gallant and dashing an undertaking as any which took place during the +war. + +When Captain Tarleton returned and reported what had occurred, a large +body of troops were sent up the river on board the steamers to Prome, +which was captured on the 9th of October, after a slight loss, only four +men being wounded on the side of the British. + +The inhabitants of Pegu were friendly to the English; but soon after the +troops had been withdrawn, a strong Burmese army re-entered the town, +and commenced fortifying the city. A force was accordingly sent to +drive out the enemy and reoccupy it. This was done in a spirited manner +on the 21st November. The morning being foggy, the Burmese, who did not +see the English approaching, were taken by surprise. They retreated as +usual to the pagoda, from whence, by a rush of the troops, they were +driven out. The fighting was severe, as no less than six men were +killed and thirty-one wounded of the troops. The navy, as usual, did +their part well. + +The principal towns of the province being in the hands of the British, +it became important to clear the intermediate country of the enemy, +especially the banks of the rivers, where they were of much annoyance to +the provision-boats. In this service the naval force were constantly +and very actively employed. Several of the expeditions were under the +command of the lamented Captain Granville Loch, who displayed in them +the same zeal and daring courage for which he had already made himself +conspicuous. + +ATTACKS ON MYA TOON, THE ROBBER CHIEFTAIN. + +The rapidity and success of the first movements of the British in Burmah +paralysed the Burmese authorities; but their subsequent inactivity again +gave heart to the Government at Ava, and encouraged the idea that it was +possible to drive them back to the sea. + +In consequence of the absence of all local government, robbers sprang up +in every direction, and, being allowed to organise themselves, +devastated and almost ruined the country. Among the most noted of these +robber chieftains was Mya Toon. He burned down Donabew, Zaloon, and +many other villages. His stronghold was about twenty-five miles inland +from Rangoon. In consequence of the depredations he was committing, +Brigadier Dickenson, the commandant at Rangoon, and Commodore Lambert +resolved to send a combined naval and military force to dislodge him. +The military force consisted of 300 men of the 67th Regiment Bengal +Native Infantry, who, together with a body of marines and bluejackets +from HM ships _Fox_, _Winchester_, and _Sphinx_, were placed under the +command of Captain Granville Loch. There were 185 seamen, 62 marines, +and 25 officers; but of these, 42 seamen and 5 officers were left in +charge of the boats. This force was conveyed from Rangoon to Donabew on +the 2nd July, in the _Phlegethon_ and ships' boats. They landed at +Donabew without opposition, and, having procured some natives to act as +guides and to aid in drawing the two three-pound field-guns belonging to +the _Phlegethon_, they proceeded to march on the following day towards +the position the enemy was supposed to occupy. + +The whole of the 3rd of February they marched along a pathway which lay +through a jungle of forest trees and brushwood. Encamping in a deserted +valley, about fifteen miles from Donabew, they were disturbed +occasionally by the distant shots and noises of the marauders. Early on +the following morning, the column moved on about five miles farther +along the same path, until it abruptly terminated on the side of a broad +nullah or creek, the opposite side of which was high enough to command +the approach, and the whole well entrenched and armed, after the manner +of the native fortifications of Burmah. The road at this point had been +narrowed by an abattis of sharp-pointed bamboos, which rendered it +impossible to deploy the whole strength of the column; indeed, the +advance-guard, consisting of seamen and marines, marched with difficulty +two or three abreast, and the field-guns were in the rear. At this +moment a heavy and murderous fire was opened by the enemy upon the +British troops, the Burmese being wholly concealed by the breastworks, +and the British, on the contrary, entirely exposed. + +Almost every man who approached the edge of that fatal creek was mowed +down. Lieutenant Kennedy, of the _Fox_, and Captain Price, of the 67th +Bengal Infantry, were killed on the spot. Captain Loch, with the daring +which had always distinguished him, led on his gallant followers to the +attack. For ten minutes he seemed, to use the expression of one of his +companions, "to bear a charmed life," for he stood unhurt in the midst +of that terrible fire. Twice he made an unsuccessful attempt to lead +his men across the nullah, to storm the fort hand to hand, but each time +he was driven back. As he again rallied the seamen and marines for a +third attack, a ball fired by a man in a tree struck him on the left +side, on his watch, and with such force that it drove the watch itself +into his body. He instantly felt that he was mortally wounded, but had +still strength and self-possession to fall back about fifteen paces to +the rear. + +The command of the naval force, which had hitherto sustained the brunt +of the action, devolved by the death and wounds of the senior officers +on Commander Lambert, the son of the commodore. Twice with his brave +companions he made determined but vain attempts to get across to the +enemy, when many more lives were lost. He himself received four balls +through his clothes, though he fortunately escaped unhurt; but a large +proportion of officers and men were already wounded. It therefore +became absolutely necessary to provide without delay for the retreat of +the party by the only road left open to them, the one by which they had +advanced, the jungle being impervious in every other direction. The +fire of the enemy was still very severe, and each instant more of the +British were falling. + +Most of the native dooly-bearers and guides had in a cowardly and +treacherous manner decamped; and it was therefore necessary to employ +every man in carrying the wounded. As, under these circumstances, it +was impossible to carry off the guns, they were spiked, and the +carriages destroyed. The party were compelled even to leave their dead +on the field. The enemy kept up a distant fire, but never ventured to +approach within fighting distance of the rear, which was manfully +covered by the grenadier company of the 67th. + +For twelve hours of a most fatiguing march did the dejected and mourning +party retreat towards Donabew, displaying in adversity the same courage, +discipline, and goodwill they had so often exhibited in success. +Lieutenants Glover and Bushnell, and also Messrs. Hinde and Wilson, +mates, though themselves suffering from their own wounds, successfully +exerted themselves in keeping up the spirits of their men, who, under a +burning sun, without water, had to carry the heavy burden of their +wounded leader for nearly twenty-four miles. At Donabew, the seamen and +marines embarked in their boats, and the troops were conveyed in the +_Phlegethon_ to Rangoon. The gallant Captain Loch was removed to the +_Phlegethon_, where he expired on the morning of the 6th February, about +forty hours after he had received his wound. He was buried near the +great pagoda at Rangoon, amid the general grief of all who served under +him or knew him. + +It was not till some time after this that Mya Toon was dislodged from +his stronghold, by a strong force under Sir John Cheape, when several +officers and men were killed and wounded. + +The war itself was soon afterwards brought to a successful conclusion. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +THE CRIMEAN WAR. + +Towards the end of 1853 difficulties had arisen between Turkey and her +ancient enemy Russia. The matters in dispute were of no real +importance. Russia was persuaded that the Turkish Empire was breaking +up, and that the time for its partition was at hand, and that therefore +any pretext was good enough upon which to found a quarrel. France and +England, however, were not willing to see Constantinople in the hands of +Russia, and accordingly formed forces to assist Turkey. On the 30th of +November a Russian fleet leaving Sebastopol under cover of a dense fog +made a dash upon the Turkish harbour of Sinope. Here they surprised a +Turkish squadron of eight frigates, two schooners, and three transports +utterly unprepared for battle. Without warning, the Russian Admiral +Nachenioff opened fire upon them, and though the Turks fought bravely, +in the course of a few hours all their ships but two were destroyed. +This action cannot be described as a battle, but as an inhuman, +unnecessary massacre, 5000 men, including the wounded, being destroyed +by the fire of the Russians, who offered no terms and gave no quarter. + +This barbarity aroused the utmost indignation in Europe, and the +prospect of war with Russia was greeted with enthusiasm by the British. +The allied fleets of Great Britain and France, the former consisting of +forty-nine ships mounting an aggregate of 1701 guns, and the latter of +thirty-six ships with 1742 guns, entered the Black Sea in January +following, and on the 28th of March war was formally declared. + +On 11th March Queen Victoria reviewed at Spithead the most powerful +fleet that up to that time had ever been collected. This was under the +command of Sir Charles Napier, with his flag on board the _Duke of +Wellington_, of 131 guns,--which ship alone would almost have been +capable of contending with the largest fleet Howe, Jervis, or Nelson +ever led to victory. That superb fleet was intended chiefly for the +Baltic, where it was hoped that not only would it humble the pride of +the Czar, by capturing Sveaborg, Helsingfors, and Cronstadt, but might +lay Saint Petersburg itself under contribution. Some of the ships went +to the Black Sea and in other directions; but Sir Charles Napier found +himself in command of a fleet in the Baltic, consisting altogether of +thirty steamers and thirteen sailing ships, mounting 2052 guns. The +French also had a fleet of twenty-three ships carrying 1250 guns. + +BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA. + +The naval operations were opened with two very regrettable incidents. +The steamer _Furious_ was sent to Odessa early in April, to bring off +the British consul. Having anchored in the bay with a flag of truce at +her mast-head, she sent off a boat, also with a flag of truce flying, to +the shore, when, against all the laws of civilised warfare, the +batteries opened fire on them. No one was hit, and the _Furious_ +steamed back to the fleet. + +The allied admirals, indignant at the outrage, addressed a note to the +Russian governor, General Osten-Sacken, pointing out the outrage which +had been committed, and demanding "that all the British, French, and +Russian vessels now at anchor near the citadel or the batteries of +Odessa be forthwith delivered up to the combined squadron; and that if +at sunset no answer or a negative be received, they will be compelled by +force to avenge the insult offered, though, for humanity's sake, they +adopt the alternative with regret, and cast the responsibility of the +act upon those to whom it belongs." + +No satisfactory answer having been received, the combined fleet opened +fire on the fortifications of Odessa on the 22nd of April. The +bombardment lasted for ten hours, during which the Russian batteries +were considerably injured, two batteries blown up, vast quantities of +military stores were destroyed, and several ships-of-war were sunk. + +On the 12th of May, during a thick fog, the steam-sloop _Tiger_, sixteen +guns, Commander Gifford, went on shore on the rocks near Odessa. While +she was thus utterly helpless, the Russians, as soon as she was +observed, opened fire on her, and Captain Gifford, being desperately +wounded (mortally, as it proved), was at length compelled to strike his +flag. The Russians, having removed her guns and stores, set fire to the +vessel, and forwarded the flag as a trophy to Saint Petersburg. It was +one of the very few, either from redcoats or bluejackets, they got +during the war. + +OPERATIONS IN THE BALTIC. + +Sir Charles Napier's squadron reached Wingo Sound on the 15th March, and +on the 25th it entered the Great Belt, and anchored in Kiel Bay. Soon +afterwards, Sir Charles was reinforced by Admiral Corry, with the second +division of the fleet. On the 12th of April Sir Charles sailed for the +Gulf of Finland, where he established a rigorous blockade. As, even at +this season of the year, there is a considerable amount of ice in the +Baltic, the navigation of the ships demanded all the vigilance of the +officer in charge. Sir Charles, hearing that a Russian squadron, +consisting of seven line-of-battle ships and one frigate, was shut up at +Helsingfors, made sail in that direction for the purpose of preventing a +junction between the two portions of the Russian fleet. In this very +important object, in which the enemy's plan of naval operations was +completely defeated, he was entirely successful. + +Admiral Plumridge meantime was scouring the Gulf of Bothnia, and in a +short period captured or destroyed forty-six merchantmen and a quantity +of naval stores, without losing a man. + +A SPIRITED ACTION. + +On the 19th May the _Arrogant_ and the _Hecla_, two steamers--the first +a screw, commanded by Captain Yelverton, and the second by Captain +Hall--had been detached from the fleet, and employed for a considerable +time in reconnoitring the forts of the enemy about Hango Bay. +Propulsion by means of a screw was at this time a novelty, the +steamships of war being generally large paddle boats and sailing ships +combined, a state of transition between the frigate of Nelson's day and +the modern steamship. + +The two captains, hearing that some ships lay off the town of Eckness, +some way up a narrow river, determined to cut them out. They boldly +entered the river, and on the evening of the 19th came to an anchor. + +A boat from one of the men-of-war was sent on ahead, but before she had +got 800 yards from the ship, a hot fire was opened on her from behind a +sandbank in a thickly-wooded place. At the same time some round shot +struck the _Hecla_. Both ships instantly beat to quarters, and, casting +loose their guns, poured showers of shot and shell into the wood, from +whence they speedily dislodged the enemy. They then shifted their +berth, and were not further molested during the night. A bright +look-out was kept, however, to prevent surprise. + +At two a.m. both ships weighed, the _Hecla_ leading, and the crews being +at their quarters. They slowly and carefully felt their way along the +intricate navigation of the river, till they suddenly found themselves +within range of the guns of a battery posted on a promontory before +them, which was crowded with Russian soldiers--stout-looking fellows, +habited in long grey coats and spiked helmets of steel, which glittered +brightly in the sun; and the bluejackets now for the first time saw the +enemy. + +The _Hecla_ immediately opened fire, which the battery returned with +spirit; and the _Arrogant_ now coming up, let fly a whole broadside +among the soldiers, just as some horse artillery had made their +appearance, and were unlimbering preparatory to engaging. As the smoke +cleared off, the troop of artillery were seen scampering away at full +speed. A heavy fire of musketry now burst forth from a wood on one +side, and continued for some time without intermission, the bullets +falling thick on board both ships. + +While this work was going forward, the _Arrogant_ ran aground within +twenty yards of the battery, but most fortunately in a position which +allowed her guns full play on it. At this close range the ship's guns +were more than a match for those in the fort, and so smartly were they +worked that in a short time they dismounted all the guns of the enemy +and drove the gunners from the fort. + +The crew were now able to turn their attention to the position their +ship was in, and turning to with a will, unmolested by the enemy, they +succeeded in getting afloat again. As they passed close to the fort, +they witnessed the state of complete ruin which they had so speedily +caused,--guns dismounted, carriages blown to fragments, and +accoutrements and helmets scattered around. + +As they proceeded up the river the town of Eckness now opened ahead of +the two steamers, and before the town lay the vessels which they wished +to carry off. The water now shoaled, and the _Arrogant_ could proceed +no higher. Just then artillery opened on them. The _Arrogant_ +accordingly anchored, swung broadside to the shore, and engaged the +batteries; while the _Hecla_, throwing shells at the enemy, steamed up +to Eckness, and running alongside a barque, the only one of the vessels +afloat, to the astonishment and dismay of the inhabitants took her in +tow, and carried her off in triumph. The two ships then returned down +the river with their prize. + +AN UNSUCCESSFUL VENTURE. + +On the 1st of June a gallant adventure similar to the last narrated was +not so successful. The _Odin_ and _Vulture_, two steamers belonging to +Admiral Plumridge's division in the Gulf of Bothnia, employed in +destroying the shipping and marine stores in various places along the +coast, had arrived in the neighbourhood of Old Carleby. + +At seven p.m., two paddle-box boats, two pinnaces, four cutters, and one +gig,--nine boats in all,--containing 180 officers and men, carrying six +twenty-four-pounder howitzers and two twelve-pounders, were sent away +under the command of Lieutenant Wise, of the _Vulture_, who was +accompanied by Lieutenants Madden and Burton, Marine Artillery, and by +Dr Duncan. + +After a long pull, the boats anchored near some store-houses at the +mouth of a narrow creek, when, with a flag of truce, Lieutenant Wise +went on shore and communicated with the authorities. + +On his return, the flag of truce was withdrawn, and some of the boats +went ahead to sound, the others following closely. A narrow creek +appearing, leading to the town, Lieutenant Carrington, in one of the +boats, was ordered up it to explore. On passing some buildings some +soldiers were seen, and the boat was on the point of returning to report +the circumstance, when a wall was thrown down, and a volley of musketry +was poured on her, which killed Lieutenant Carrington, Mr Montague, +mate, and Mr Athorpe, midshipman, and wounded Lieutenant Lewis, R.M., +and Mr McGrath, midshipman, and fourteen men. The boat, which was much +injured, was taken in tow, and carried out to the _Odin_. The other +boats immediately opened fire, the gunner of the _Vulture_ firing no +less than twenty-seven times before he fell, badly wounded. + +One of the _Vulture's_ boats, with Mr Morphy, mate, and twenty-five +seamen, was disabled, and, drifting on shore, was captured by the enemy. +In another of her boats one marine was killed and six were wounded. By +this time the enemy had brought five field-pieces into action; the +remaining boats, therefore, pulled off out of range, having lost +altogether fifty-two killed, wounded, and missing, in this most +unfortunate though gallant affair. + +No fault was found with the way in which the expedition was commanded, +while both officers and men behaved with the most perfect intrepidity +and coolness. + +Most of the crew of the missing boat escaped with their lives, and were +made prisoners. + +BOMARSUND--21ST JUNE. + +A small squadron, consisting of the _Hecla, Valorous_, and _Odin_, under +Captain Hall, was sent in to engage the batteries of Bomarsund on the +21st of June. This they did in the most spirited manner, receiving a +hot fire in return both from the forts and from riflemen posted in the +neighbourhood, rifle bullets and shot and shell falling thickly on +board. The British bluejackets were, however, far better pleased to +have a few shot sent among them, than to be doomed to play at long +bowls, with all the firing on their side, as was sometimes the case +during the war. + +The casualties were very slight. After engaging for three hours, and +setting some buildings on fire, the ships drew out of action. + +It was clearly perceived that the fleet alone could not take the place. +Bomarsund, indeed, might well be considered the Sebastopol of the +Baltic, its evident object being to overawe the neighbouring kingdoms of +Sweden and Denmark. Its destruction, therefore, was of the greatest +importance. The allied fleet lay at anchor at Ledsund, about eighteen +miles from Bomarsund, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the French +troops promised for the service. + +It was not, however, till the end of July that the first division +reached Ledsund, brought in British ships-of-war. They were under the +command of General Baraguay D'Hilliers. On the 5th of August the siege +artillery arrived, and on the 8th more troops and marines were landed. +The fortifications of Bomarsund lie on the eastern point of the largest +of the Aland Islands. The principal fortress commands a semicircular +bay on the south, with intricate passages leading to it. At the +northern side of the fort the land rises considerably; and the defence +on that part consisted of three round towers, one on the highest ground +to the west, a second in the centre, and a third to the east. On the +8th of August, 11,000 men were landed on the north side of the island, +in the short space of three hours, after the _Amphion_, _Phlegethon_, +and _Edinburgh_ had blown a fort to atoms, and cleared the ground with +their fire. The army then marched across the island, and encamped +against the western fort. The English and French marines, with some +seamen, were landed. + +Batteries were immediately thrown up round the fortress, while thirteen +ships of the allied fleet attacked from the sea. The towers were taken +in succession; and the large circular fort, mounting nearly 100 guns, +surrendered, with a garrison of 2000 men, soon after the effect of the +fire from the ships had been felt. The effect of the shot on the fort +is thus described by an eye-witness:-- + +"Three or four shots set the big stones visibly clattering, as I could +mark by a pocket-telescope. One block then fell out, then another, then +a third, fourth, etcetera; and these were followed by an avalanche of +loose rubbish, just as you see a load of gravel pour out from the end of +a cart when the back-board is removed." From this it was argued that +the fortifications of Sebastopol would be as easily knocked to pieces; +but experience showed that there was a vast difference in the two works. +Bomarsund was somewhat of contract work. The sea towers of Sebastopol +were as strong as hewn stone scientifically put together could make +them. + +The navy lost only one man killed and one wounded. A number of brave +and dashing acts were performed by naval men during the operations of +the fleet in the Baltic, to which it is impossible to refer in detail. +Amongst the many gallant acts performed by seamen on this occasion one +may specially be mentioned. During the first attack upon the batteries +at Bomarsund, a live shell fell on the deck of the _Hecla_ with its fuse +still burning. Had it remained there and been permitted to explode, +great damage to the ship and loss of life must have occurred. +Lieutenant Charles D. Lucas seeing this, with the greatest presence of +mind and coolness, and regardless of the risk he incurred of being blown +to pieces, took up the shell, carried it to the side and dropped it +overboard. + +A CAPTURE OF DESPATCHES. + +While Captain Yelverton's squadron was off the island of Wardo, +information was received that an aide-de-camp of the Emperor of Russia +was about to land in charge of a mail and despatches for the Russian +general. As there could be little doubt that these despatches would +contain valuable information for the guidance of the Allies, it was +important to secure them. + +It occurred to Commander Bythesea that he could render this service to +his country. He accordingly offered his services, and obtained +permission for himself and William Johnstone, a brave fellow, a stoker, +to proceed on shore for the purpose of intercepting them. Being well +armed, they put on disguises, and went on shore, leaving the boat at +some distance; they then, ascertaining the spot where the mail-bags +would be landed, concealed themselves in some bushes in the +neighbourhood. + +At length, after it was dark, on the night of the 12th of August, their +anxiety was relieved by the arrival of the Russian officer and the +mails, but they were accompanied by an escort of soldiers. It would +have been madness to attack so large a body, and there appeared no +prospect of carrying out their bold attempt. Great was their +satisfaction, however, to see the soldiers, believing that the coast was +clear, take their departure. The officer and four men, however, still +remained. The odds against them would have been great, had the men not +been loaded with the bags. + +As soon as the soldiers were out of hearing, the gallant commander and +his companion sprang from their concealment, attacked the five men; two +of them fled; the other three they succeeded in making prisoners and +dragged them off to the boat with the mail-bags, which they also +secured, and then rowed off in triumph to the _Arrogant_. The +despatches were carried to General Baraguay D'Hilliers, who expressed +high admiration at the bravery and dash of the exploit. Both Commander +Bythesea and William Johnstone obtained the Victoria Cross. + +ATTACK ON VIBORG--13TH JULY 1855. + +The _Arrogant_, Captain Yelverton, having been joined by the +_Magicienne_, Captain Vansittart, proceeded with the _Ruby_ gunboat +along the coast to Kounda Bay, where a large body of Cossack troops were +encamped. The _Ruby_ and the boats of the two ships stood in, and +dislodged the enemy with shells and rockets. In spite of a fire kept up +on them from behind hedges, they landed; but as it was found that the +place contained only private property, it was not injured. + +Next morning Captain Yelverton, having driven some soldiers from a +station at the mouth of the Portsoiki river, and destroyed some barracks +and stores, proceeded off Viborg. Here the ships anchored as close as +they could get to the island of Stralsund. An expedition was at once +formed to look into Viborg. It consisted of the _Ruby_, commanded by +Mr Hale, mate, and the boats of the _Arrogant_, commanded by +Lieutenants Haggard and Woolcombe, and those of the _Magicienne_, under +the command of Lieutenants King and Loady; Captains Yelverton and +Vansittart, with Captain Lowdes, R.M., in command of a strong detachment +of marines, going on board the _Ruby_, which steamer towed the boats. +The expedition having opened the bay of Trangsund, a Russian man-of-war +steamer, with two large gunboats in tow, was seen not far off. + +This novel and unexpected sight of a Russian man-of-war for once clear +of a stone wall, and to all appearance prepared for a fair and honest +fight, created the greatest enthusiasm among men and officers. The +_Ruby_ at once opened fire on her, and compelled her to retire out of +range, with some damage. The entrance of the Sound being reached, +Viborg was now in sight, and there was a fair prospect of attacking +three large gunboats lying with another steamer under an island about a +mile off, when suddenly an impenetrable barrier was found to have been +thrown across the passage. At the same moment, at about 350 yards off, +a masked battery on the left opened on the _Ruby_ and boats, which they, +however, kept in check by an ably-directed return fire. + +The enemy's steamer and gunboats now approached from under the island, +and opened fire on the expedition. As it was impossible to get the +_Ruby_ through the barrier, Captain Yelverton ordered her other boats to +return towards Stralsund,--the enemy's riflemen, who followed along the +banks, being kept off by their fire. Unhappily, an explosion took place +on board the _Arrogant's_ second cutter, by which the midshipman +commanding her, Mr Storey, was killed, and the boat was swamped. In +this condition the boat drifted under the enemy's battery, when a hot +fire was poured into her. + +All probably would have been killed or taken prisoners, had not George +Ingouville, one of the _Arrogant's_ crew, though already wounded, of his +own accord jumped overboard, and, taking the painter in hand, towed her +off the shore. Probably his gallant conduct might not have availed to +save the lives of his shipmates, many of whom were by this time wounded, +had not the condition of the cutter been perceived from the _Ruby_. + +On this, Lieutenant George Dare Dowell, R.M.A., of the _Magicienne_, +calling out for a volunteer crew, jumped into the _Ruby's_ gig, where he +was joined by Lieutenant Haggard of the _Arrogant_, and together they +pulled off, under a fire which grew hotter and hotter, to the rescue of +the boat and men. Lieutenant Dowell was waiting at the moment on board +the _Ruby_ while his own boat was receiving a supply of rockets. Taking +the stroke oar, he and his three companions pulled on, in spite of the +shower of grape and musketry which the Russians poured on them to +prevent them from accomplishing their object. They succeeded, in spite +of this, in taking in three of the cutter's crew, and were mainly +instrumental in keeping the boat afloat and bringing her off to the +_Ruby_. Two were killed and ten wounded during the whole affair. +Captain Yelverton speaks highly of the conduct of all the officers +engaged, where their cool and determined courage enabled them to handle +most severely, and to keep in check for upwards of an hour, a far +superior force of the enemy. These were perhaps the most creditable +acts of individual gallantry performed at this time in the Baltic. Both +Lieutenant Dowell and George Ingouville received the Victoria Cross. + +It would be scarcely interesting or useful to describe the numberless +performances of the boats of the fleets in destroying barracks, stores, +and shipping. + +It was a stern though painful necessity which demanded this mode of +proceeding. The object was to show the enemy the power of the Allies to +injure them, and to make them earnestly desire peace, at every cost. In +no instance was private property on shore intentionally injured. + +The shipping, however, did not escape; and in the two nights of the 23rd +and 24th of July, the boats of the _Harrier_, Captain Storey, destroyed +in the harbour of Nystad forty-seven vessels, amounting to nearly 20,000 +tons. + +On the 6th July the first shot was fired at Cronstadt, from a gun slung +on board a timber barge, by Captain Boyd. + +The Russians, in return, endeavoured to injure the vessels of the +Allies, and to protect their shores by the employment of infernal +machines, as they were then called. We call their much more certain and +more dangerous successors submarine mines, and regard them as a regular +means of defence. These were intended to explode under water, and some +were fired by voltaic batteries, but invariably failed of going off at +the proper time; others exploded on being struck; but though the +_Merlin_ ran on to one, which went off under her bottom, comparatively +slight damage was done her. The articles in her store-room, directly +over the spot where the machine struck her, were thrown about in every +direction, showing the force of the concussion. Admiral Dundas and +several officers with him had, however, a narrow escape, one of the +machines exploding while they stood around it examining its structure. + +BOMBARDMENT OF SVEABORG. + +Among the more important performances of the allied fleet in the Baltic +was the severe injury inflicted on the fortress of Sveaborg, one of the +strongest belonging to Russia to keep her neighbours in awe in that part +of the world. + +The fortress of Sveaborg is built on a granite island about a mile in +advance of Helsingfors, the Russian capital of Finland. There are eight +island rocks connected by strong fortifications, and in the centre is +situated the fort in which the Russian flotilla was congregated. It was +looked upon as the Gibraltar of the North, and had been considerably +strengthened since the commencement of the war. The citadel of this +water-surrounded fortress is called Wargon. The allied fleet, +consisting of seventeen British men-of-war, fifteen gunboats, and +sixteen mortar-vessels, with two French men-of-war, six gunboats, and +five mortar-vessels, left Nargen on the 6th of August, and anchored the +same night among the islands about five miles from Sveaborg. During the +night and next day, some batteries were thrown up on the neighbouring +islands; and early on the morning of the 9th, the squadron having taken +up their positions,--several behind the islands, where the enemy's guns +could not reach them,--the bombardment commenced. The showers of shot +and shell told with terrific effect on the devoted fortress; powder +magazines and stores of projectiles one after the other blew up, and +fires broke out in various directions, which all the efforts of the +garrison could not extinguish, and in a short time the whole of the +arsenal was reduced to ashes. Still the mortars continued to play, to +prevent the fires which were blazing up around from being extinguished. +Very few men were wounded, and none were killed during the whole of the +operations. Although the naval and military stores were destroyed, the +fortress still remained intact. The Russians, however, had been taught +the lesson that it would be better for them in future not to make +aggressions on their neighbours, or to venture hastily into war. + +Captains Yelverton and Vansittart had already shown them how little they +could rely on their boasted fortifications, by destroying all between +Viborg and Helsingfors, Fredericksham, Kotka, and Swartholme. + +THE WHITE SEA SQUADRON. + +A small squadron, consisting of the _Eurydice_, twenty-six guns, +_Miranda_, fifteen, and _Brisk_, fourteen, had been sent in July 1854 +into the White Sea, to destroy the Russian shipping and forts on the +coasts of Russian Lapland. + +On the 23rd of July the town of Novitska was attacked and burned by the +_Miranda_ and _Brisk_. + +On the 23rd of August the _Miranda_ anchored off Kola, the capital of +Russian Lapland. A flag of truce was sent on shore, demanding the +surrender of the fort, garrison, and government property. All night the +crew remained at their quarters, and no answer being returned in the +morning, the flag of truce was hauled down, and the ship, getting within +250 yards of the battery, opened a fire of grape and canister. A party +was then landed under command of Lieutenant J. Mackenzie and Mr +Manthorpe, mate, who, at the head of a party of bluejackets and marines, +rushed up, sword in hand, to dislodge the enemy from the batteries and +to capture the guns. A hot fire was opened on them from the towers of a +monastery; but they soon drove out the garrison, who took to flight, and +it, with all the government stores and buildings, was immediately set on +fire and completely consumed. + +Kola lies thirty miles up a river of most difficult navigation, with a +strong current, and often so narrow that there was scarcely room for the +ship to swing. Captain Lyons also had a very uncertain knowledge of the +strength of the enemy; but nothing could check his determination, and it +was, as we have seen, rewarded with complete success. Taking into +consideration the difficulties to be encountered, this was one of the +most daring naval exploits performed in the north. The _Miranda_, at +the approach of autumn, returned to England, and from thence went out to +join the fleet in the Black Sea. + +ACTION ON THE DANUBE--JUNE AND JULY 1854. + +The blockade of Sebastopol having been established, some of the lighter +cruisers were sent along the coast on various detached enterprises, for +the purpose of annoying and misleading the Russians, and effecting the +destruction of government property. + +Two of the cruisers, the _Firebrand_, Captain Hyde Parker, and the +_Vesuvius_, Captain Powell, were despatched to destroy the guard-houses +and signal-stations on the banks of the Danube, which kept up the +communication with the Russian forts. On the morning of the 22nd of +June the boats of the two steamers, manned and armed, with a Turkish +gunboat, all under the command of Lieutenant Jones, of the _Firebrand_, +pulled off towards a guard-house and signal-station about twenty miles +north of Sulineh. As they approached, the signal was made from station +to station, summoning aid. Behind some banks, close to the beach, were +posted bodies of Cossack cavalry, while others were scattered about +wherever they could find shelter from the shells and shot fired from the +boats' and ships' guns. They, however, could not stand this long, and +fled in confusion. + +On the boats reaching the shore, the seamen and marines landed, and, +forming on the beach, advanced in skirmishing order towards the +Cossacks, who, mounting their horses, fled in all directions. The +guard-houses were immediately burnt, the signal-staff destroyed, and the +men returned to their ships in admirable order. Several other stations +were destroyed on that and the following days; and on one occasion, on +the night of the 27th of June, Captain Parker surprised the garrison of +Sulineh, whom he put to flight, after capturing the officer in command +and others. The officer was forwarded to Lord Raglan, who obtained some +important information from him. + +The _Firebrand_ and _Vesuvius_ now kept up a strict blockade of the +Danube, and the crews were allowed to land without opposition; but at +length Captain Parker suspected that the gabion battery attached to the +quarantine ground was occupied, and, for the purpose of examining it, +entered the river on the 6th with the boats of the two ships. Nothing +was discovered until Captain Parker's galley arrived opposite the gabion +battery, when a single rifle-shot was fired, which passed through the +boat, and this was followed by a volley, piercing the boat, grazing the +captain's elbow, and severely wounding one man. Captain Parker on this +ordered the boat to pull round, and, as she retreated, with the greatest +coolness he discharged his rifle at the enemy, who were now pouring in a +galling and heavy fire on all the boats. The pinnace, being in advance, +was especially exposed, and unhappily grounded within fifty yards of the +battery. + +On seeing this, Captain Parker leaped on shore from his galley, +exclaiming, "We must storm--follow me, my men!" and gallantly rushed +forward, followed by all who had then come up. Parallel with the river, +and at about fifteen yards from it, ran a line of high canes growing in +a marsh. He advanced along this, and having fired and knocked down a +Cossack, he was reloading, when a volley of bullets came flying round +him, one of which pierced his heart, and he fell dead into the arms of +his coxswain, Mr Everard, a naval cadet, being at the moment by his +side. + +Commander Powell, who succeeded to the command, ordered a heavy fire of +shell and congreve rockets to be opened on the battery, under cover of +which the marines and seamen stormed the place, and drove out the +Russians, who took shelter in the marsh, where they could not be +followed. + +Captain Parker was a most gallant officer, and his loss caused deep +regret among all his brother officers. + +On the 13th, the _Spitfire_, Lieutenant Johnstone, towing the boats of +the _Vesuvius_, crossed the bar at the Sulineh mouth of the Danube, and, +having driven off the enemy, the marines and bluejackets landed and +totally destroyed the town of Sulineh, by setting it on fire in every +direction. + +BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL--17TH OCTOBER 1854. + +We have now to give an account of the chief naval exploits of the war, +when the wooden walls of Old England were to try their strength with the +stone ramparts of Russia. While the heavy artillery of the Allies +opened fire on the city from the newly-erected batteries on the +neighbouring heights, it was arranged that the fleets should attack from +the sea. The fleet was to form a semicircle before the harbour's mouth; +the French to engage the forts on the south, the English the forts +Constantine and Alexander and the Stone and Wasp forts on the north. +The morning was actively spent by the crews in preparing for action. + +At fifty minutes past ten the signal for weighing was made; and the +fleet, the fine old _Agamemnon_ leading, stood towards the batteries. +She was followed in order by the _Sanspareil_, screw, the sailing--ships +being moved by steamers lashed alongside,--_Albion_, by _Firebrand; +Queen_, by _Vesuvius; Britannia_, by _Furious; Trafalgar_, by +_Retribution; London_, by _Niger; Vengeance_, by _Highflyer; Rodney_, by +_Spiteful; Bellerophon_, by _Cyclops; Arethusa_, by _Triton_; while +_Samson, Tribune, Terrible, Sphinx, Lynx_, and _Spitfire_ acted as +look-out ships, and were allowed to take up independent positions. +Besides the stone fortifications, the enemy had thrown up numerous +earthworks, and placed guns along the cliff to the north. To one of +these forts the seamen gave the name of the Wasp; to another, the +Telegraph battery. + +The French weighed first, a little before ten, and proceeded to their +position, on the south of the line, when the enemy opened fire on them. +The Turks took up a position in the centre; and now the magnificent +_Agamemnon_ steamed on, with the gallant little _Circassian_, commanded +by the brave Mr Ball, piloting the way, sounding as he went, and +marking the position the larger ships were to take up. + +At half-past one the _Agamemnon_ began to draw in close with the land, +when, to try range, she opened fire from her large pivot-gun on the Wasp +battery, which instantly returned it; and in a short time Fort +Constantine commenced firing with terrible effect, the _Agamemnon_ +suffering fearfully. + +At two p.m. she anchored, head and stern, in a quarter less five +fathoms, 750 yards off Fort Constantine, on which she immediately opened +her fresh broadside. At five minutes past two, the _Sanspareil_ and +_London_ anchored astern, and ably seconded the gallant Sir Edmund by +the fire which they poured into the Star Fort and the smaller forts on +the cliff. At twenty minutes past two, the _Albion_ anchored, and +engaged the Wasp, to take off the fire from the _Agamemnon_, which, from +her position, exposed to a cross fire, was suffering more than the other +ships. The _Britannia_, now in fifteen fathoms water, and some two +thousand yards off, opened fire, and the action became general. + +The commander of the detached steamers determined that they also should +play their part. The _Terrible_ and _Samson_ dashed on inside the other +ships, and engaged the northern forts in the most gallant manner. +Nothing could exceed the steady way in which the _Vesuvius_ carried her +huge consort into action, nor the spirited manner in which the _Albion_ +engaged Fort Constantine. The _Arethusa_,--a name long known to fame,-- +urged on by the little _Triton_, well preserved the renown her name has +gained, by boldly engaging the huge stone fort, at which, in rapid +succession, broadside after broadside was discharged, the crew of the +_Triton_ coming on board to assist in manning her guns. At length, with +her rigging cut to pieces, and numerous shot-holes in her hull, and +eighteen killed and wounded, and five wounded belonging to the _Triton_, +she was towed out of action. + +The _Albion_, though farther out than the _Agamemnon_, was in reality +suffering far more than that ship, and she at length was compelled to +haul off, with one lieutenant and nine men killed, and three other +officers and sixty-eight men wounded. The _London_, also, with four +killed and eighteen wounded, was at the same time taken out of action. +All this time the gallant Sir Edmund Lyons refused to move; indeed, his +ship was suffering more aloft than in her hull, and, notwithstanding the +tremendous fire to which she had been exposed, she had only four killed +and twenty-five wounded. This was owing to the vice-admiral's bravery +in going so close to the shore; the majority of the shot, flying high, +struck her rigging instead of her hull. Still she was struck 240 times, +and became almost a wreck,--her hull showing gaping wounds, her +main-yard cut in two places, every spar more or less damaged, two +shot-holes in the head of the mainmast, and her rigging hanging in +shreds; the ship also having twice caught fire,--once when a shell fell +in her maintop and set fire to the mainsail, and another having burst in +the port side and set fire to the hammock-nettings. The _Rodney_, +however, suffered still more in masts and rigging, she having tailed on +the reef, whence she was got off by the gallant exertions of Commander +Kynaston, of the _Spiteful_. The _Albion_ and _Arethusa_ suffered +greatly in their hulls. + +At length one ship after another had drawn off; and the fire of the +forts being concentrated on the _Agamemnon_, Sir Edmund despatched one +of his lieutenants in a boat, to summon the _Bellerophon_ to his aid. +The appeal was nobly and immediately answered, and she contributed +greatly to take off the fire which the Wasp and Telegraph batteries were +showering on her. As the _Agamemnon_ was the first to go into battle, +so she was one of the last to haul out of the engagement, which she did +soon after six p.m., but not till darkness had compelled the combatants +on shore to cease from firing. The action lasted altogether from +half-past one to half-past six,--the loss being 44 killed and 266 +wounded. + +A naval brigade had at this time been formed, and a considerable number +of officers and men belonging to the different ships were consequently +serving on shore. Owing to this circumstance, probably, the casualties +were lessened. The admiral had also left all the spare top-masts and +spars on board the _Vulcan_, with the sick and prisoners, at the +anchorage off the Katscha; so that the ships were soon able to repair +the damages they had received aloft. No sooner had the fleet once more +anchored in safety, than the captains went on board the _Agamemnon_, to +pay their respects to Sir Edmund Lyons, as did the French on the +following day, all declaring that his ship had held the post of honour. +Still, many other ships were not behind his in the gallant way in which +they were fought. + +The French ships were also fought with great courage and judgment, and +suffered even more than the English. The Turks, from being much farther +out, escaped with slight damage. + +The result of the action, bravely as it had been fought, was not +satisfactory. It was a trial of strength between stone and wood, and +the stone was undoubtedly the victor. Probably a considerable number of +Russians were killed and wounded, and it served as a diversion to the +land attack; but next day not a gun the less frowned from the batteries +of Fort Constantine, and but a trifling damage had been done to the +stonework. + +However, the diversions caused by these attacks from the sea were of +much consequence; and on other occasions the smaller steamers, gun and +rocket-boats, were sent off the mouth of the harbour during the night to +distract the attention of the Russians. + +CRIMEAN NAVAL BRIGADE. + +Soon after the army reached Balaclava, portions of the crews of most of +the larger ships had been sent on shore, at first simply to assist in +garrisoning the heights above Balaclava, and placed under the command of +Captain Lushington. The brigade was soon afterwards increased by a +party under Lord John Hay, of the _Wasp_. Both officers and men, +however, very soon volunteered for other services, and in every post of +danger there was some portion of the naval brigade to be found. It was +here that Captain William Peel first showed the gallantry and judgment +for which he became so conspicuous. He took command of one of the +advanced batteries before Sebastopol, which did good service. During +the first six days of the bombardment, ending October 22nd, the naval +brigade lost twelve killed and sixty-six wounded. + +From the first, the conduct of all the men, though placed in a novel +situation, was excellent, and the gallantry of officers and men +conspicuous. From being near Balaclava, and from being supplied with +tents and clothing and food from their ships, they had not the same +dreadful hardships to endure as the soldiers; they yet sought out +danger, and as readily exposed their lives on shore as they are +accustomed to do at sea. + +Among all the acts exhibiting gallantry, coolness, and judgment, one +performed by Mr N.W. Hewett, then acting mate of HMS _Beagle_, stands +conspicuous. + +On the 26th of October 1854, the day after the battle of Balaclava, he +was in charge of the right Lancaster battery before Sebastopol, with a +party of bluejackets under him, when the Russians made a desperate +sortie from the walls against Sir De Lacy Evans' division. The advance +of the Russians placed the gun in great jeopardy; and their assault was +so vigorous that their skirmishers had got within 300 yards of the +battery, and were pouring in a sharp fire from their Minie rifles. By +some misapprehension the word was passed to spike the gun and retreat; +but Mr Hewett, taking upon himself to disregard what he heard, +answered, "That order did not come from Captain Lushington, and till he +directs us to desert the gun, we'll not move." This proceeding was +hazardous, for at the time the gun was in an ineffectual position, in +consequence of the enemy advancing on its flank. With the assistance, +however, of the seamen with him, and of some soldiers who came to his +aid, he got round the gun into position; then, blowing away the parapet +of the battery, he opened on the advancing column of the Russians so +effective a fire, that they were completely staggered, and their +progress was stopped. Seconded by his companions, whom his spirit +animated, again and again he discharged his death-dealing gun, till the +enemy gave way and retreated. + +A story is current that he actually did receive an order to abandon the +gun, and that afterwards, while he was reflecting what might be the +consequences of having disobeyed it, his commanding officer inquired, +"Mr Hewett, were you not ordered to spike that gun and retreat?" + +"I was, sir." + +"And you chose to disregard the order, and fight the gun?" + +"I did, sir; but I am sorry if--" + +"Well, then, you are promoted." Sir Stephen Lushington brought Mr +Hewett's conduct before the commander-in-chief, and he received from the +Admiralty, as a reward, his lieutenancy, which he so well merited. At +the battle of Inkermann his bravery was again conspicuous, and he was +soon afterwards appointed to the command of the _Beagle_ gunboat in the +Sea of Azov. + +A LIVE SHELL AMONG THE POWDER. + +Captain Peel of the _Leander_ repeated the exploit of Mr Lucas, already +related, under even more exciting circumstances. + +He was in command of a battery outside Sebastopol on the 18th of +October, when a live shell with fuse burning fell among the powder cases +outside the magazine. Had it exploded, it would in any case have +created great havoc, but there was the additional risk that it might +explode the magazine, in which case everyone near would have been +killed. The moment it fell, Captain Peel seized it and threw it over +the parapet, which was not quite the same as throwing it overboard at +sea, for it exploded as it fell, but happily, being outside the battery, +caused no mischief. + +Captain Peel distinguished himself on many occasions during the war. At +the battle of Inkermann he joined the officers of the Grenadier Guards, +and assisted them in defending and saving the colours of the regiment +when hard-pressed in the Sandbag Battery. At the assault of the Redan +he volunteered to lead the ladder-party, and carried the first ladder +until disabled by a severe wound. + +EDWARD SAINT JOHN DANIELS. + +This young officer, a midshipman of Captain Peel's ship, took example +from the conduct of his noble chief, and vied with him in feats of +daring. In Captain Peel's battery there was a call for volunteers to +bring in powder to the battery from a waggon in a very exposed +situation, a shot having disabled the horses. Instantly Mr Daniels +sprang forward, and, followed by others, performed the dangerous +service. At the battle of Inkermann he followed his captain as his +aide-de-camp through the terrific fire of that eventful day. Again, on +the 18th of June, he accompanied Captain Peel when he led the +ladder-party in the assault on the Redan. Together they approached the +deadly breach, when Captain Peel was struck in the arm, and might have +bled to death, had not young Daniels remained by him on the glacis under +a terrific fire, and with admirable devotion and perfect coolness +applied a tourniquet to his arm, not leaving him till he was able to +gain a less exposed position. + +BRAVERY OF FIVE SEAMEN AT INKERMANN. + +During the battle of Inkermann, while the right Lancaster battery was +fiercely attacked by the Russians, five gallant bluejackets, picking up +the muskets of the disabled soldiers, mounted the banquette, and, under +a fierce fire, kept rapidly discharging them, while their comrades below +loaded and handed them up others as fast as they could, contributing +much to keep the enemy at bay. Two were killed, or died from their +wounds; but the three survivors, Thomas Reeve, James Gorman, and Mark +Scholefield, obtained the Victoria Cross. + +COMMANDER ROBY. + +John Taylor, captain of the forecastle, and Henry Curtis, boatswain's +mate, were in the advance sap opposite the Redan on 18th June 1855, +immediately after the assault on Sebastopol, when they observed a +soldier of the 57th Regiment, who had been shot through both legs, +sitting up, and calling for help. Lieutenant D'Aeth, of HMS _Sidou_, +was also of the party, but died of cholera soon after. The brave seamen +could not bear to see their poor countryman thus perishing, and, though +the Redan was still keeping up a tremendous fire, climbing over the +breastwork of the sap, Captain Roby and the two seamen proceeded upwards +of seventy yards across the open space towards the salient angle of the +Redan, and, at the great risk of their own lives, lifted up the wounded +soldier and bore him to a place of safety. + +John Sullivan, boatswain's mate, while serving in an advanced battery, +on the 10th of April 1855, showed the most perfect coolness and bravery, +by going forward and placing a flag on a mound in an exposed situation, +under a heavy fire, to enable another battery, Number 5, to open fire on +a concealed Russian battery, which was doing great execution on the +British advanced works. Commander Kennedy, commanding the battery, +spoke in the highest terms of Sullivan's bravery on that and on other +occasions, and recommended him for promotion. + +DASHING SERVICE OF JOHN SHEPHERD, A BOATSWAIN. + +While he was boatswain's mate of the _Saint Jean d'Acre_, and serving in +the naval brigade, he volunteered to proceed in a punt, during a dark +night, into the harbour of Sebastopol, and to endeavour, with an +apparatus he carried, to blow up one of the Russian line-of-battle +ships. He reached the harbour, and had got past the enemy's steamboat +at the entrance of Careening Bay, when he was prevented from proceeding +farther by a long line of boats, which were carrying troops from the +south to the north side of Sebastopol. On the 16th of August, he again +made the attempt from the side of Careening Bay, then in possession of +the French. + +The above are only some few of the gallant deeds done by the officers +and men of the naval brigade before Sebastopol. All, from Sir Stephen +Lushington downwards to the youngest midshipman or ship-boy, did their +duty right nobly; and though the bluejackets of England have no cause, +as a rule, to complain that their gallantry is not sufficiently +appreciated, perhaps on this occasion the service they rendered to their +country is scarcely understood as it should be. On the disastrous +assault on the Redan, 18th of June 1855, the naval brigade consisted of +four parties of sixty men each, one for each column; but two only went +out, the other two being kept in reserve. They were told off to carry +scaling-ladders and wool-bags, and to place them for the +storming-parties. They were led by Captain Peel. Severely they +suffered. Out of the two small parties, fourteen were killed and +forty-seven were wounded. + +When the soldiers, overwhelmed by the terrific fire of the batteries, +retreated towards the trenches, several officers and men were left +behind wounded, and endured fearful agonies for hours, without a drop of +water or a cheering voice to comfort them. Among others, Lieutenant +Ermiston lay for five hours under the abattis of the Redan, and was +reported dead; but he had only a contusion of the knee, and, watching +his opportunity, he got safely away. + +Mr Kennedy, mate of the _London_, was also left behind, close to the +abattis, and, after several hours of painful suspense, concealed among +the dead, he rolled himself over and over down the declivity, and +managed to get into the trench. + +Lieutenant Kidd came in all safe, and was receiving the congratulations +of a brother officer, when he saw a wounded soldier lying out in the +open. He at once exclaimed, "We must go and save him!" and leaped over +the parapet in order to do so. He had scarcely proceeded one yard on +his errand of mercy, when he was shot through the breast, and died an +hour afterwards. + +Lieutenant Dalyell, of the _Leander_, had his left arm shattered by a +grape-shot, and underwent amputation. + +Lieutenant Cave, and Mr Wood, midshipman, were also wounded; as was +Captain Peel, as has been described. Indeed, of the whole detachment, +only three officers came out of action untouched. + +Not only were the subordinate officers of the navy thus conspicuously +brave and active, but a sailor was from the first one of the ruling +spirits of the campaign. To Sir Edmund Lyons did England owe, in an +incalculable degree, the success which attended our arms on the shores +of the Euxine. + +He it was who organised and conducted the expedition to the Crimea, +prepared the means of landing, and superintended all so closely, that +"in his eagerness he left but six inches between the keel of his noble +ship and the ground below it." Not only in matters connected with the +transport of the troops, but also in every subsequent stage of the +expedition, Sir Edmund Lyons gave the most valuable assistance to Lord +Raglan and his successors. How, at the battle of the Alma, he supported +the French army by bringing the guns of his ship to bear on the left +flank of the Russians, and what a conspicuous part he took with the +_Agamemnon_ on the first bombardment of Sebastopol, are incidents +well-known at the time. But he had more to do in the way of advice and +of encouragement than the public ever heard of. Day after day he might +have been seen on his grey pony, hovering about the English lines on the +heights of Sebastopol; he was present at Balaclava, and he was present +at Inkermann. It was thus that, having conveyed our soldiers to the +Crimea, he saved them from being compelled to leave it, baffled, if not +vanquished. A day or two after the battle of Balaclava, Sir Edmund +Lyons, on landing, learnt to his astonishment that orders had been +issued to the naval brigade to embark as many guns as possible during +the day, for Balaclava was to be evacuated at night,--of course, +surrendering to the enemy the greater portion of the guns. On his own +responsibility, the admiral at once put a stop to the execution of this +order, and went in search of Lord Raglan, who, it appears, had come to +the resolution of abandoning Balaclava, in consequence of the opinion +expressed by the engineers, that, after the loss of these redoubts in +our rear lately held by the Turks, we ought to concentrate our strength +on the plateau. Taking Lord Raglan aside, Sir Edmund Lyons strongly +opposed these views. He pointed out that the advanced position in the +valley in front of which these redoubts were situated had been +originally occupied in accordance with the advice of those very +officers, and in opposition to that of Sir Edmund, who had suggested at +the time that they were covering too much ground. He argued that, as +the engineers had been mistaken once, they might be wrong again; and he +clinched his argument by saying that, whatever might be the value of his +opinion in such a case, he was at all events entitled to pronounce an +opinion as to the insufficiency of Kamiesch as a harbour for the allied +armies; that this harbour was utterly inadequate; and that the +abandonment of Balaclava meant the evacuation of the Crimea in a week. +After some conversation, Lord Raglan said, "Well, you were right before, +and this time I will act upon your advice." Sir Edmund obtained leave +to countermand the orders which had been issued; Balaclava was +maintained as our base of operations, and the army was saved from what +might have proved an inglorious defeat, if not a terrible disaster. +This, as we have said, was perhaps the most important of all the +services rendered by the admiral, and he well deserved the peerage which +it earned for him. + +Sir Stephen Lushington, having attained his rank as admiral in July +1855, was succeeded in the command of the naval brigade by Captain the +Honourable Henry Keppel, whose gallantry on various occasions had been +especially conspicuous. At length, on the 19th September, Sebastopol +having fallen, the gallant naval brigade was disbanded,--the jovial +bluejackets leaving Balaclava to return to their ships, amid the +enthusiastic cheers of their red-coated comrades, among whom but one +feeling was universal, that of regret at losing the company of so merry +a band. Not a soldier but admired their bravery, their invariable +good-humour, and marvellous aptitude in adapting themselves to whatever +circumstances they might fall in with. + +EXPEDITION TO KERTCH. + +The importance of securing the outlet to the Sea of Azov had long been +seen; and on the 22nd of May an expedition sailed from Balaclava, under +the joint command of Sir George Brown and General D'Autemarre, for the +purpose of capturing the fortresses of Kertch and Yenikale, which +command its entrance. They had under them 15,000 troops and five +batteries of artillery. Admirals Lyons and Bruat accompanied the +expedition. While the troops were landed some miles to the south of +Kertch, the squadron proceeded on to attack it in front; but, before +they arrived, the Russians, believing that they could not defend the +place, evacuated it, as did most of the inhabitants. Yenikale was +deserted in the same manner, and the armies and fleets achieved a +bloodless victory, while the smaller steamers of the squadron were sent +off up the Sea of Azov in chase of the Russian men-of-war. + +A light squadron of English and French vessels was placed under the +command of Captain Lyons of the _Miranda_, with directions to capture +and destroy all the ships, magazines, and stores of provisions belonging +to the enemy. The larger quantity of provisions for the Russian army in +the Crimea had hitherto been conveyed across the Sea of Azov. In a few +days the _Miranda_ and her consorts destroyed four months' rations for +100,000 men, and not less than 300 Russian vessels. + +This work was ably done, and individuals often even thus had +opportunities of exhibiting their gallantry. Arriving off Genitchi on +29th May 1855, with his little squadron, Captain Lyons sent Commander +Craufurd with a flag of truce, to demand the surrender of a number of +vessels which were seen, as well as government stores. This demand +being refused, the squadron opened fire on the town, while the boats +under the command of Lieutenant Mackenzie pulled in, and set fire to +seventy-three vessels and some corn-stores on shore. The wind shifting, +there seemed a probability that the more distant vessels and stores +might escape. + +As the enemy had had time to make preparations, another expedition would +be, it was evident, more dangerous than the first. As, however, the +vessels were in a favourable position for supplying the Russian armies +in the Crimea, and their destruction was of the greatest importance, +Captain Lyons despatched the boats, commanded and officered as before. + +Seeing that there would be great risk in landing a party in presence of +a superior force out of gunshot of the ships, Lieutenant Cecil Buckley, +_Miranda_, Lieutenant Hugh Burgoyne, _Swallow_, and Mr J. Roberts, +gunner of the _Ardent_, volunteered to land alone and fire the stores. +While these three gallant officers proceeded on their dangerous +undertaking, Lieutenant Mackenzie pushed on under a fire of four +field-guns and musketry, and destroyed the remaining vessels, the ships +resuming their fire on the town. The shore party succeeded in reaching +the stores, to which they effectually set fire. On their retreat to +their boat, they were, however, very nearly cut off by a body of +Cossacks who charged down on them, but they got safe on board. Though +several shots struck the boats, only one man was slightly wounded. + +PROCEEDINGS AT TAGANROG--3RD JUNE. + +Captain Lyons arrived off this place with a large mosquito fleet of +steamers, gunboats, and boats from the English and French men-of-war. +Taganrog was summoned to surrender, but the governor refused, and a +brisk fire was opened on the place. In vain the enemy endeavoured to +get down to the store-houses on the beach to protect them. Lieutenant +Mackenzie, first of the _Miranda_, had charge of a separate division of +light boats, with rockets and one gun, to cover the approach of +Lieutenant Cecil Buckley, _Miranda_, who, in a four-oared gig, manned by +volunteers, accompanied by Mr Henry Cooper, boatswain, repeatedly +landed and fired the different stores and public buildings. This +dangerous, not to say desperate, service, when carried out in a town +containing upwards of 3000 troops, constantly endeavouring to prevent +it, and only checked by the fire of the boats' guns, was most +effectually performed. + +GALLANTRY OF S. TREWAVAS, SEAMAN. + +The _Beagle_, to the command of which ship Lieutenant Hewett had been +appointed on the 3rd July, was off the town of Genitchi, where there was +a floating bridge which it was most important to destroy, as it +communicated with the town and the Arabat spit. Mr Hewett accordingly +despatched his gig, under command of Mr Hayles, gunner of the _Beagle_, +and paddle-box boats under Mr Martin Tracy, midshipman of the +_Vesuvius_. The undertaking was one of considerable danger, for troops +lined the beach not eighty yards off, and the adjacent houses were +filled with riflemen, all of whom opened a hot fire on the boats. The +_Beagle_ fired on them in return, as did Mr Tracy from the paddle-box +boats, causing great confusion and dismay in their ranks. However, Mr +Hayles pulled in, ably seconded by a seaman lent from the _Agamemnon_, +Stephen Trewavas, who, though already wounded from the fire of the +enemy, cut the hawsers and cast the boats adrift. Mr Hayles was also +wounded. Trewavas obtained the Victoria Cross for his coolness and +determination on this occasion. + +The squadron continued its course round the coast, destroying fisheries, +guard-houses, barracks, stores of forage and provisions, and vessels, +wherever they could be found. + +BRAVE DEVOTION OF F. KELLAWAY, BOATSWAIN. + +The _Wrangler_, Commander Burgoyne, came off Marioupol, Sea of Azov, +where some boats, fishing-stations, and haystacks were discovered across +a small lake. On this, Commander Burgoyne despatched Mr Odevaine, +mate, and Mr Kellaway, boatswain, to destroy them. They had nearly +reached the spot, when they were fired on by a party of Russians, who +suddenly rushed out from their ambush, and endeavoured to cut off their +retreat. One seaman fell into the enemy's hands, but the rest of the +party were making good their escape, when Mr Odevaine tripped up and +fell. Mr Kellaway, believing that his commanding officer was wounded, +though at the risk of his life, ran back to his rescue. While lifting +him up they were surrounded by the Russians, and though the gallant +boatswain made a stout resistance, they were both made prisoners and +carried off. Commander Burgoyne and the other officers of the ship were +witnesses of the devoted conduct of Mr Kellaway, but were unable to +render them assistance. + +LIEUTENANT G.F. DAY AT GENITCHI. + +While Lieutenant Day was in command of the _Recruit_ he performed +several very gallant acts, but none surpassed the following:-- + +It was important to ascertain the practicability of reaching the enemy's +gun-vessels which lay within the Straits of Genitchi, close to the town. +With this object in view, Mr Day, having provided himself with a +pocket-compass, went on shore one dark but fine night, and proceeded +through the enemy's lines, traversing a distance of four or five miles, +occasionally up to his knees in water, till he got within 200 yards of +the vessels. From the perfect silence which reigned on board them, he +was persuaded that they were without crews; and when he returned, it was +with the conviction that the expedition was a feasible one. The +correctness of this opinion he was induced to doubt on the following +day, in consequence of the increased activity apparent in the direction +of the vessels. Notwithstanding the danger he must have been aware he +was running,--for it was in attempting a reconnaissance on the same +ground that Captain L'Allenand, of the French steam-vessel _Monette_, +lost his life,--he resolved to pay another visit to the spot. The night +was squally, and he thought it wiser to take a larger circuit than +before. He persevered, and gained the spot, when he ascertained that +the vessels were manned, and that their crews were apparently on the +alert. He decided, consequently, that it would be out of the question +to make any attempt to surprise them. + +CLOSELY PURSUED. + +Captain Commerell, having ascertained that large quantities of +corn-forage were collected on the Crimean shore of the Sivash, +considered that it was of importance to destroy them, and determined +himself to undertake the dangerous task, accompanied by Mr Lillingston, +mate, William Rickard, quartermaster, and George Milestone, A.B., and +another man. Having left the ship at nightfall, they hauled their small +boat across the spit of Arabat, and traversed the Sivash to the Crimean +shore of the Putrid Sea. Here Mr Lillingston and one man remained in +charge of the boat. They had now a distance of two miles to proceed, to +reach the magazine of corn and forage, amounting to 400 tons, which they +had devoted to destruction. They had also two rivers to ford,--the +Kara-su and Salghir,--the magazine being on the banks of the latter +stream. Near the magazine was a guard-house, and close to it a village, +in which twenty or thirty mounted Cossacks were posted. Nothing +daunted, they pushed on, and, having crossed the two rivers without +being discovered, they set light to the stacks. With unexpected +rapidity the whole blazed up, and soon gave notice to the enemy of what +had occurred. They beat a rapid retreat, and, having recrossed the +Salghir, ran for their lives, pursued by the Cossacks, who soon opened +on them a hot fire. On they ran, fortunately taking the right road, the +Cossacks increasing in numbers. Milestone at length gave signs of being +exhausted. The boat was yet some way off. The Cossacks were scarcely +fifty yards behind, when Milestone fell in some deep mud, from which, in +his tired condition, he had no power of drawing himself out. On this, +Rickard, discovering his condition, entreated his captain to make good +his escape, while he attempted to help Milestone. This he succeeded in +doing, though the Cossacks were now not forty yards from them, Mr +Lillingston and a man who remained in the boat covering them with their +rifles; and there fortunately being some 200 yards of mud for the +horsemen to traverse, all the party reached the boat in safety. Both +Captain Commerell and his brave boatswain Rickard most deservedly +received the Victoria Cross. + +CAPTURE OF KINBURN--17TH OCTOBER 1855. + +The allied fleet left Kamiesch on the 7th of October, with about 5000 +British troops on board, and a still larger number of French. Appearing +off Odessa to alarm that place, and to mislead the Russians, they +proceeded directly for Kinburn. + +The troops landed about three miles south of Kinburn early on the 15th, +and the bombardment soon afterwards commenced; but it was not till the +17th that the grand attack took place, thus described by an +eye-witness:-- + +"Continually on the move, the steamers and gunboats, firing as they +went, swept down the defences of the Russians, silencing their guns, +killing the men, or forcing them to take refuge underground. Then a +grand movement of the fleet took place. The admirals and their +three-deckers were observed at noon entering into action in splendid +order, French and English advancing in line under steam, and approaching +close into the land. The fleet in the lagoon closed in at the same +moment, and simultaneously heavy broadsides were poured in from all +quarters. The central fort was the only one which replied, and then +only with a solitary gun at long intervals. Nothing of a grander or +more imposing effect could be witnessed than the three-deckers veering +round to deliver their fire, their jibs set to bring their guns to bear. +Three times the _Montebello_, commanded by the French admiral, +delivered a broadside from every gun in her sides. As she did so, she +became lost in wreaths of white smoke. The iron shower swept over the +fort with a din that surpassed all other sounds, and the air +reverberated with the roar of ordnance. All round the enemy the fire +was delivered in continuous discharges, and there was no pause. It was +then that the Russians gave signs of surrender. A struggling form was +seen on the ramparts, waving a white flag as a token. As by magic, the +firing ceased." + +The old Russian general shortly afterwards came out of the castle, and +delivered his sword to Admiral Sir Houston Stewart and General Bazaine. +Only two seamen were hit; but the Russians lost 43 men killed, 114 +wounded, and upwards of 1200 prisoners. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE INDIAN MUTINY. + +THE "SHANNON'S" BRIGADE IN INDIA. + +From the Journal of Lieutenant E. Hope Verney, RN, published by +Saunders and Otley. + +HM screw steam-frigate _Shannon_, of fifty-one guns, 600 horse-power, +and 2667 tons, at that time the largest frigate afloat, was commissioned +at Portsmouth by Captain William Peel on the 13th of September 1856, and +destined for the China Seas. On her arrival at Hong-Kong, Lord Elgin, +hearing of the outbreak of the mutiny in India, embarked in her with a +body of troops for Calcutta. She arrived on the 6th of August in the +mouth of the Ganges, when Captain Peel offered the services of his crew, +with the ship's guns, to the Governor-General to form a naval brigade. +On the 14th, Captain Peel, with a number of officers and 450 seamen, +embarked in a flat, towed by a river steamer, and proceeded up the +Hooghly, to join the force advancing to the relief of Lucknow. On the +18th, they were followed by another party of five officers and 120 men, +under the command of Lieutenant Vaughan,--the frigate being left with +140 men, under the command of Mr Waters, the master. + +The steamers were of light draught, and could proceed but slowly with +the heavily-laden flats in tow against the strong current. The vessels +anchored at night, and proceeded on their voyage during the day, when +the men underwent a course of drilling, to fit them for the service they +had undertaken. At length, towards the end of October, they reached +Allahabad, at the junction of the Jumna and Ganges; and while one +division was left to garrison that place, the remainder proceeded on +towards Cawnpore by land. While at Futtehpore, near the Ganges, +information was received that a party of rebels were in the +neighbourhood; and 100 men of the naval brigade, commanded by Captain +Peel, with Lieutenant Hay, Mr Garvey, Lieutenant Stirling, RM, and Mr +Bone, and 430 men of different regiments, under command of Colonel +Powell, started in pursuit. "After marching about twenty-four miles, at +three p.m. they came in sight of the enemy, found entrenched in a strong +position behind some hillocks of sand; and, driving their skirmishers +out of a field of corn, engaged and defeated them, capturing two guns +and an ammunition waggon. The whole force of the enemy exceeded 4000 +men, of whom about 2000 were Sepoys, who fought in uniform. The enemy's +artillery was well served, and did great execution. The gallant Colonel +Powell, pressing on to the attack, had just secured two guns, when he +fell dead with a bullet through his forehead." + +Captain Peel then took the command. It was not till half-past four that +the enemy fired their last shot and retreated, leaving 300 killed behind +them, while the British loss was 95 killed and wounded. Of the naval +brigade, Lieutenant Hay, RN, was wounded in the hand, and Lieutenant +Stirling, RM, severely in the leg. + +On the 12th of November, the naval brigade arrived before Lucknow. On +the 14th, an attack was made on the city, when the Martiniere College +and another large building were captured. While the brigade's guns were +in action, one of them exploding, killed Francis Cassidey, captain of +the maintop and severely wounded several other men. + +Again, on the 16th, the naval brigade guns were engaged in the attack on +Secundra Bagh, when Lieutenant Salmon, RN, was severely wounded, and +Martin Abbot Daniel, midshipman, was killed by a round shot in the head. + +In writing to his father, Captain Peel says: "It was in front of the +Shah Najeef, and in command of an eight-inch howitzer, that your noble +son was killed. The enemy's fire was very heavy, and I had just asked +your son if his gun was ready; he replied, `All ready, sir'; when I +said, `Fire the howitzer'; and he was answering, `Ay, ay,' when a round +shot in less than a moment deprived him of life. We buried him where he +fell, our chaplain reading the service; and, in laying him in his +resting-place, we felt, captain, officers, and men, that we had lost one +the best and noblest of the `Shannons.'" + +Twelve or thirteen of the naval brigade were wounded on this occasion, +and three or four were killed. On the following day, that masterly +movement took place by which the women and children, and sick and +wounded, were safely brought out of Lucknow; and on the 24th, one of +England's noblest heroes--Sir Henry Havelock--died. + +On the 28th of November, the brigade marched on Cawnpore, when, meeting +the enemy, a party of thirty-six bluejackets, with two twenty-four +pounders, under Lieutenant Hay, with Mr Garvey, mate, and Mr H.A. +Lascelles, did good service. Mr Lascelles, naval cadet, aide-de-camp +to Captain Peel, greatly distinguished himself, seizing a rifle from a +wounded man of the 88th, and charging with that regiment. About this +time the brigade was joined by Captain Oliver Jones, RN, on half-pay, as +a volunteer, who did good service on various occasions. + +"Our army on the march is a sight affording much interest and +amusement,--such a menagerie of men and beasts, footmen and cavalry, +soldiers and sailors, camels and elephants, white men and black men, +horses and oxen, marines and artillery, Sikhs and Highlanders. + +"When we leave the encampment, all is shrouded in darkness, and everyone +naturally feels a little grumpy; but when the first streaks of dawn +appear, and we have been an hour on the road, the welcome note is heard +in the distance of the bugles sounding the `halt.' With great rapidity +it passes from regiment to regiment, and dies away in the rear. Cavalry +dismount, infantry pile arms in the middle of the road, and for a few +minutes the whole army disperses on each side of it. The favourite +refreshment of officers is bread, cold tongue, and `brandy pawnee,' +which find their way out of innocent-looking holsters. And now we take +off overcoats and monkey-jackets, which were needed when we started in +the cold and damp night; the bluejackets fasten theirs over their +shoulders, and the officers strap theirs to their saddles. The brief +halt is too quickly at an end, and after a ten minutes' rest the advance +again sounds down the line from bugler to bugler. All at once fall in, +arms are unpiled, and, enlivened by our band, we again step out; now +feet begin to ache, and boots to chafe; but the cheery music of the +bands, bugles, or drums and fifes of the regiments marching next to us, +generally the Rifles, infuses energy into the most footsore. We make +three halts in a march of thirteen or fourteen miles, of which the last +is the longest, to allow the quartermaster-general and his staff to ride +on and mark out the camp. As the sun rises, the heat rapidly increases, +and the camels and elephants are seen making short cuts across the +fields, and keeping always clear of the road. When our bands have blown +as much wind as they can spare into their instruments, our men strike up +a song; and old windlass tunes, forecastle ditties, and many a +well-known old ballad resound through the jungles and across the fertile +plains of Bengal, and serve to animate our sailors and astonish the +natives." + +On the 2nd of January 1858, the naval brigade were engaged at the battle +of Kallee-Nuddee. A party of seamen, under Lieutenant Vaughan, had been +repairing the bridge across that river, when the Sepoys opened fire on +him from a small gun in the opposite village. He returned it, and, +crossing the bridge with three guns, held in check a body of the enemy's +cavalry visible beyond the village. Brigadier Greathed's division and +other troops were engaged all the time. Lieutenant Vaughan now pointed +and fired one of his guns at a small gun of the enemy, which was +concealed behind the corner of a house. His first shot struck the roof +of the house; his second struck the angle of the wall about half-way +down; and a third dismounted the gun, and destroyed the carriage. +Captain Peel, who was standing by, said, "Thank you, Mr Vaughan; +perhaps you will now be so good as to blow up the tumbril." Lieutenant +Vaughan fired a fourth shot, which passed near it, and a fifth, which +blew it up, and killed several of the enemy. "Thank you," said Captain +Peel, in his blandest and most courteous tones; "I will now go and +report to Sir Colin." + +The village was stormed and the enemy driven out by the 53rd Regiment, +when the cavalry pursued and cut up the rebels terribly, capturing all +their guns. + +Soon after this, as Captain Peel and Captain Oliver Jones with three men +of the 53rd were passing through the battery, five Sepoys jumped out of +a ditch, and attacked them frantically. All were killed, Captain Jones +shooting the last with his revolver,--one man of the 53rd, however, +being dangerously wounded. + +Eighteen or twenty bluejackets were attached to each gun, and with +drag-ropes ran them about with the greatest rapidity. On the march they +were dragged by bullocks; but if a gun stuck, the animals were taken +out, and the wheels and drag-ropes manned by bluejackets; and having an +elephant to push behind with his forehead, they never failed to +extricate a gun from the worst position. This was carrying out to +perfection the principle of a "steady pull and pull together." + +On the 3rd of March the brigade were before Lucknow, and engaged in the +taking of the Dilkoosah, when two were mortally wounded. + +Captain Oliver Jones was at this time serving as a volunteer with HM +53rd Regiment. He was the second to mount a breach at the capture of +one of the forts, when he received a wound on the knuckles, but cut down +the fellow who gave it him. + +The naval brigade guns were now posted to the right of the Dilkoosah, +and near the river Goomtee. Mr Verney had a narrow escape. The enemy +brought two guns down to the corner of the Martiniere, and opened on +them. A shot struck the ground close to where he was standing, and so +completely surrounded him with dust that his comrades supposed he had +been killed, and were surprised to see him standing in the same place +when the dust cleared off. + +Lieutenant Vaughan was now made a commander, but resumed his former +duties. + +On the 9th of March, the brigade's six eight-inch guns and two +twenty-four pounders went down in front of the Dilkoosah, with four +rocket-hackeries, the whole under command of Captain Vaughan, +accompanied by Lieutenants Young, Salmon, Wratislaw, Mr Daniel, and +Lords Walter Kerr and Arthur Clinton, midshipmen. Captain Peel was also +there, with his two aides-de-camp, Watson and Lascelles. Unhappily, +while looking out for a suitable spot in which to post some guns for +breaching the Martiniere, he was severely wounded in the thigh by a +musket-ball. The brave captain was carried to the Dilkoosah, where the +bullet was extracted by the surgeon of the 93rd Highlanders. The +brigade's guns were most actively engaged in battering the Begum's +palace; and it was here, on the 12th, that Mr Garvey, mate, as he was +riding fast on in front of a row of cohorns to deliver a message, and +not perceiving that the quick-matches were alight, was struck dead by +one of the shells. He was the second officer of the brigade killed, and +a most promising young man. + +All the guns of the brigade were on that memorable day very hotly +engaged. Several had been posted behind some earthworks thrown up by +the enemy. As the men could not see over the bank to point their guns, +Captain Oliver Jones placed himself at the top, and, though thus +becoming a clear mark for the enemy, with the greatest coolness directed +their fire. + +On the 13th the naval guns were placed in a more advanced battery. +While warmly engaged with the enemy, some sand-bags forming the front of +the battery caught fire. A coloured man of the name of Hall, a +Canadian, under a heavy fire of bullets from loopholes not forty yards +distant, gallantly jumped out and extinguished some, and threw away +others that were burning. In the performance of this service he was +severely wounded. He was a man of athletic frame, and always remarkable +for his steady good conduct. He afterwards received the Victoria Cross. + +The next day, after Sir James Outram had, by his admirable manoeuvre, +driven the rebels from their lines, Captain Vaughan being in front, Sir +Colin Campbell met him, and desired him to bring up a gun's crew of +bluejackets to man an abandoned gun, which was to be turned against the +retreating enemy. Lord Walter Kerr was sent back for the gun's crew, +and Captain Vaughan and Mr Verney proceeded to the gun itself, which +was at the gate of an outer court of the Kaiser Bagh. They found that a +body of Sepoys were defending themselves in an adjoining court, and that +it was necessary to blow away the gate of it, that the troops might +storm. It was for this object that Sir Colin ordered the guns to be +turned against them. In the meanwhile, however, they kept a continual +fire on the little band of British, from the walls and over and round +the gate, whenever they approached the gun. Captain Vaughan then fired +a few rounds at the gate, Mr Verney loading and sponging, three of the +_Shannon's_ bandsmen bringing up the powder and shot, and some of the +men of the 38th, under command of Lieutenant Elles, running the gun up +after every round. Near them, all the time, was a house full of loose +gunpowder, while close to it was another in flames. A sentry, however, +was posted to give warning in time, should the flames approach the loose +powder. Captain Vaughan now went back to meet the gun's crew that had +been sent for, and to show them the way, leaving orders with Mr Verney +to keep up the fire. He discovered that the Sepoy charges were so heavy +that the shot went clean through the solid gate every time he fired. By +reducing the charges, the firing at last began to tell; and when the +bluejackets came up, under command of Lieutenant Hay, the gate was blown +open, and the court captured by the company of the 38th. + +On the 16th of March, the guns of the naval brigade were advanced to the +Residency, whence they occasionally fired a shot over the town. On the +22nd, the last of the rebels evacuated Lucknow; and, on the 29th, the +brigade handed over to the artillery, to go into park in the small +Imaumbarah, the six eight-inch guns which they had brought from the +_Shannon_. The word "Shannon" was deeply cut into each carriage, and +must last as long as the wood exists. There they will remain, a +memorial of what sailors can do on land. Here the active services of +the gallant naval brigade ceased. Mr Verney had been sent to the +Kaiser Bagh to bring out one of the King of Oude's carriages for the +conveyance of Captain Peel to Cawnpore. He selected the best he could +find, and the ship's carpenter padded it and lined it with blue cotton, +and made a rest for his feet, and painted "HMS Shannon" over the royal +arms of Lucknow. When, however, he saw it, he declined making use of +it, saying that he would prefer travelling in a doolie, like one of his +bluejackets. Alas! the doolie chosen for him had in all probability +carried a smallpox patient, for he was shortly afterwards seized with +that dire disease, under which, already weakened by his severe wound, he +succumbed, and the country lost one of the most gallant captains in the +naval service. + +The brigade now once more turned their faces towards Calcutta, and on +the 12th and following days of August rejoined their ship. On the 15th +of September, the _Shannon_ sailed for England. + +The officers received their promotion as follows:--Commander Vaughan +received the Order of C.B., an honour never before accorded to any +officer of that rank, and after serving a year he was posted. +Lieutenants Young, Wilson, Hay, Salmon, and Wratislaw were promoted to +the rank of commanders; Dr Flanagan, assistant surgeon, was promoted to +the rank of surgeon; Mr Verney, mate, was promoted to the rank of +lieutenant; Mr Comerford, assistant paymaster, was promoted to the rank +of paymaster; and each of the engineers and warrant-officers received a +step. On passing their examination, all the midshipmen and naval cadets +have been promoted. + +The Victoria Cross was presented to Lieutenants Young and Salmon, and to +three bluejackets, "for valour" at the relief of Lucknow. The Indian +medal with the Lucknow clasp was presented to each officer and man who +formed part of the naval brigade. The following officers, who were +present at the relief of Lucknow on the 19th of November, received also +the "Relief of Lucknow" clasp:--Lieutenants Vaughan, Young, Salmon; +Captain Grey, RN; Reverend EL Bowman, Dr Flanagan, Mr Comerford; +Messrs. MA Daniel, REJ Daniel, Lord Walter Kerr, Lord Arthur Clinton, +and Mr Church, midshipmen; Messrs. Bone and Henri, engineers; and Mr +Brice, carpenter. + +Never was medal more highly prized or clasp more nobly won. + +The following letter from Sir Edward Lugard to Captain Vaughan shows the +high estimation in which the _Shannon's_ naval brigade was held by the +military officers high in command:-- + +"The _Shannon's_ Brigade advanced upon Lucknow with my division, and +acted with it during the entire operations, as you well know. The men +were daily--I may say hourly--under my sight, and I considered their +conduct in every particular an example to the troops. During the whole +period I was associated with the _Shannon's_ Brigade, I never once saw +an irregularity among the men. They were sober, quiet, and respectful; +and often I remarked to my staff the high state of discipline Sir W. +Peel had got them into. From the cessation of active operations until I +was detached to Azimghur, I commanded all the troops in the city; and +all measures for the repression of plundering were carried out through +me, and, of course, every irregularity committed was reported to me. +During that period, not one irregularity was reported to me. Indeed, in +the whole course of my life, I never saw so well-conducted a body of +men... All I have written about the good conduct and discipline of the +_Shannon's_ men would, I am convinced, be confirmed by the unanimous +opinion of the army at Lucknow. Poor Adrian Hope and I often talked +together on the subject; and many a time I expressed to Peel the high +opinion I had of his men, and my admiration of their cheerfulness, and +happy, contented looks, under all circumstances of fatigue and +difficulty. + +"Believe me, my dear Vaughan, sincerely yours-- + +"Edward Lugard. + +"Captain Vaughan, C.B." + +Another naval brigade was formed from the officers and ship's company of +HMS _Pearl_, which did good service, and won the respect of all +associated with it. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +THE SECOND CHINESE WAR--1856-1860. + +The Chinese Government, forgetting the lesson they had received in the +former war with Great Britain, or believing that they could follow the +bent of their inclinations with impunity, committed a series of +aggressions on British subjects, which demanded our immediate +interference. Sir Michael Seymour, the admiral on the station, +commenced vigorous measures, without loss of time, to recall them to +their senses, with the squadron and marines under his command. He began +by opening fire on Canton in October. On the 5th of November he +destroyed several Chinese war-junks; and on the 12th and 13th of that +month, the Bogue Forts, mounting 400 guns, were captured. On the 12th +of January 1857, the marines, with a detachment of the 59th Regiment, +attacked the suburbs of the city of Canton, when a few casualties +occurred both among the seamen and troops. + +We now come to the month of May, when more active operations were +commenced. Near Canton several creeks run into the Canton river, with +which the English were but slightly acquainted; up these the war-junks +had to take refuge whenever the British ships approached. Commodore +Elliot heard that a large number of war-junks were collected some five +miles up one of them, called Escape Creek, and accordingly, early on the +25th of May, he went on board the _Hong-Kong_ gunboat, and got under +weigh, followed by _Bustard, Staunch, Starling_, and _Forbes_, towing +the boats manned from the _Inflexible, Hornet_, and _Tribune_. Steaming +into the creek, they before long came upon forty-one Mandarin junks, +moored across the stream. Each junk had a long twenty-four or +thirty-two pounder gun forward, and carried also four or six +nine-pounders. The _Hong-Kong_ gallantly led. No sooner had she got +within range, than the Chinese, with much spirit, opened fire, the first +shot striking her, and others following rattling thick and fast on +board. The other gunboats coming up, formed in as wide order as +possible, and opened fire. It was wonderful, considering the exposed +position of the Chinese guns, that the crews so long stood the return +shower of shot sent at them by the gunboats. In time, however, they +began to show signs of not liking the treatment they were receiving. +First one was seen to cut her cable, get out her oars, or hoist her +sails, and, falling out of the line, turn her stern for flight up the +creek. + +The example set by one was quickly followed by others. The whole +Mandarin fleet was soon in full flight, firing away, however, with their +stern-chasers; but they were guns of light calibre, and were not well +served, thus doing little damage. The junks were fast craft, and the +crews pulled for their lives, to aid the sails, so that the steamers had +to put on all speed to come up with them. They had not got far before +the water shoaled. The gunboats drew upwards of seven feet, the junks +less than three. One after the other the gunboats grounded. "On, lads, +on!" cried the commodore, leaping into one of the boats towing astern; +"never mind the vessels." Imitating his example, officers and men +jumped into the boats, each boat having a gun in her bows; and after the +junks they pulled with might and main. Away went the junks up the +creek, the boats hotly pursuing them. The guns in the bows of the +latter kept up a hot fire on the enemy, and told with great effect. The +speed of several lessened, and, one after the other, numbers were +overtaken. Though all hope of escape was gone, when a boat got +alongside, the Chinese fired a broadside of grape into her, and then, +leaping overboard on the opposite side, swam towards the shore, and were +soon beyond pursuit among the rice-fields which bordered the banks of +the stream. In this way sixteen junks were captured in succession, and +destroyed in the principal channel. Ten more took refuge in a channel +to the left, but a division of the boats was sent after them. No +sooner, however, did the English appear, than the crews, setting fire to +their vessels, abandoned them, and swam to shore. They burned like +touch-paper, and were quickly destroyed. Another turned into an inlet +on the right, but some boats were quickly after her; and so frightened +were the crew, that they forgot to set her on fire, and she was thus +towed out in triumph. + +The heat of the sun was terrific, many men suffered from sunstroke, and +the casualties from the shot of the enemy were considerable. Thirteen +junks escaped by dint of hard pulling, and the commodore determined to +have these as well as many more which he suspected were concealed in the +various creeks. + +Next day he accordingly blockaded the mouths of all the creeks. Captain +Forsyth, in the _Hornet_, was stationed at the mouth to prevent escape, +the _Inflexible_ at that of Second Bar Creek, and the _Tribune_ at the +Sawshee channel entrance. This done, the commodore, with the gunboats +and a large flotilla of the boats of the squadron in tow, proceeded up +the Sawshee channel. For twelve miles no enemy was seen. At length, +leaving the steamers, he pulled up another twelve miles, when suddenly +he found himself in the midst of a large city, with a fleet of war-junks +before him, one of large size and richly adorned, while a battery +frowned down on the invaders. It was not a moment for hesitation. +Every gun and musket was discharged at the enemy ahead, and then, with a +cheer, the British seamen dashed alongside the big junk. As they +climbed up the side the Chinese sprang on shore, and immediately a hot +fire from jingalls was opened on the boarders. The marines at the same +time were landed from the other boats, and, forming, prepared to charge +the enemy. As they were about to do so, flames burst out from the +houses near the big junk. "To the boats! to the boats!" was the cry of +the officers on board her. It was discovered that a quantity of powder +had been left in her, and that a train was laid from her to the shore. +Not a moment was to be lost. Her captors sprang into their boats; the +crew of the last, a pinnace, were leaping from her sides, when up she +went, with a loud explosion. Several of the seamen were singed, if not +more seriously hurt. The other twelve junks were immediately set on +fire, while the gallant marines charged down the street, and put all the +jingall firers to flight. No work could have been accomplished more +effectually, though at severe loss, for one man in ten at least had been +hit. The surgeons having attended to the hurts of the men, the boats' +heads were once more turned down the creek. The crews had fitted them, +from the captured junks, with an extraordinary variety of sails,--some +of matting, others of coloured cloths, or any material which could be +stretched on spars to hold wind. In this guise they returned to the +steamers. The town thus unexpectedly entered was found to be Tunkoon. + +BATTLE OF FATSHAN. + +To the south of Canton, one of the numerous creeks of that river runs up +to the city of Fatshan. Some considerable distance up this creek, and +nearly south of Canton, is the long, low island called Hyacinth Island, +making the channels very narrow. On the south shore of the creek is a +high hill. On the summit of this hill the Chinese had formed a strong +fort of nineteen guns. A six-gun battery was erected opposite it, and +seventy junks were moored so as to command the passage. The Chinese +fully believed that this position was impregnable. The British squadron +had rendezvoused a short distance below this formidable obstruction of +the navigation. The admiral was on board the little _Coromandel_ +steamer, and before dawn on the 1st of June he led the way up the +channel, towing a whole flotilla of boats, with 300 soldiers on board +them. The other steamers followed, all towing boats with red- and +bluejackets on board. The _Coromandel_ was steaming up the left-hand +channel, when she ran on to a line of junks which had been sunk across +the passage. The admiral had wisely chosen the time of dead low water +to commence the ascent. Lieutenant Douglas leaped into a dinghy, and +sounded on all sides. A passage was found close in shore; but the +little steamer could not get off, and a heavy fire was opened on her +from the nineteen-gun battery. In vain her crew ran from side to side +to start her. Several were struck. The boats had been cast off, and +landed the troops. Now Commodore Keppel came up in the _Hong-Kong_, and +obtained leave to proceed through the channel Mr Douglas had +discovered. The _Haughty_, with boats in tow, _Bustard_ and _Forester_, +followed. _Plover_ stuck on the barrier; but _Opossum_, casting off her +boats, dashed up the right-hand channel. Now boats of all descriptions +raced up, each eager to be first, many a brave fellow being picked off +as they passed through the showers of shot hurled on them from the +Chinese batteries. The Chinese were showing themselves to be of sterner +stuff than many had supposed. The garrison of the hill battery fought +bravely. + +Meantime the troops were climbing the heights, the admiral had landed, +and so had Commodore Elliot and many other naval officers, leading their +bluejackets. As the stormers got within fifty yards of the summit, the +garrison fired a volley, and then retreated down the hill; nor could the +fire of the marines, who had gained the fort, make them run. The fort +gained, the naval officers hurried down to their boats and pulled up +towards the junks, which, as the flotilla advanced, opened a heavy fire. +As the boats dashed alongside, the Chinamen invariably discharged a +round of grape, but generally too high to do damage; and the seamen +boarding under it, they leaped overboard and swam on shore. Then junk +after junk was set on fire and blown up. It being low tide, they were +nearly all on shore, and could not escape. The _Haughty_ ran stem on +into one, and crumpled her up as if she had been paper. Thus +seventy-two were either burnt or captured. Heavy firing was heard in +the distance. Commodore Keppel had meantime gone up through the +right-hand channel. His own steamer grounded, and so did the _Plover_; +and he, therefore, with seven boats of the _Calcutta, Bittern_, and +_Niger_, pulled on under the fire of the six-gun battery, and boarded a +big junk, which, when the boats were scarcely free of her, blew up. On +he went, right through the junks, till he came to an island causing two +narrow channels. One was thickly staked. Across the other were moored +twenty large junks, their guns so placed that they could sweep both +channels. In vain the commodore attempted to dash through with his +galley. Three boom-boats following took the ground. Grape, canisters, +and round shot came tearing among them. Numbers were struck. Major +Kearney, a volunteer, was torn to pieces; Barker, a midshipman of the +_Tribune_, was mortally wounded; the commodore's coxswain was killed, +and every man of his crew was struck. A shot came in right amidships, +cut one man in two, and took off the hand of another. Lieutenant Prince +Victor of Hohenlohe was leaning forward to bind up with his neckcloth +the arm of the seaman whose hand had been taken off, when a round shot +passed between his head and that of the commodore, wounding two more of +the crew. Had he been sitting in his place, it would have taken off his +head. The boat, almost knocked to pieces, was filling with water. The +commodore jumped on one of the seats, to keep his legs out of the water, +when a third round shot went through both sides of the boat, not more +than an inch below the seat on which he was standing. Many of the boats +had now got huddled together, the oars of most being shot away. A boat +of the _Calcutta_ being nearest, Commodore Keppel and his officers got +in, hauling all the wounded men after them. The commodore had a dog +with him, "Mike" by name, and the animal having been a favourite of the +coxswain, Tolhurst, and always fed by him, refused to leave his dead +body, and remained in the wreck of the boat drifting up towards the +junks. It became absolutely necessary to retire for reinforcements. As +the boats began to pull down the stream towards the _Hong-Kong_, the +Chinese in triumph redoubled their fire, setting up loud shouts and +strange cries, and beating their gongs with increased vigour. One shot +knocked away all the oars on one side of the _Calcutta's_ boat. The +commodore had just directed Lieutenant Graham to get his boat, the +pinnace, ready for his pennant, as he would lead the next attack in her, +when a shot wounded Mr Graham, killing and wounding four others and +disabling the boat. Mr Graham appeared to be a mass of blood, but it +was that of a marine who stood next to him, and part of whose skull was +forced three inches into another man's shoulder. The _Hong-Kong_, +supported by the _Starling_, was meantime throwing shot and shell among +the Chinamen, to which they responded with considerable vigour. + +At length the deck of the _Hong-Kong_ was reached. Her deck was covered +with the wounded who had been brought on board; but the whole fire of +the Chinese was now concentrated on her, and she was hulled twelve times +in a few minutes. One shot struck a marine standing near the wounded, +and he fell dead among them. The sound of the firing had, however, +brought up numerous others boats. The commodore had got a piece of blue +bunting ready to represent his broad pennant. "Let us try the row-boats +once more, boys," he shouted, as he jumped into the _Raleigh's_ cutter. +A true British seaman's shout was the answer to the proposal, and a sign +that it was all up with John Chinaman. He might sink twenty boats, but +thirty others would be ready to follow. On dashed the British boats. +The Chinese did not wait their coming, but, cutting their cables, with +oars and sails attempted to escape; still, however, keeping up a hot +fire, and retiring in good order. Again three cheers rose from the +British boats, and the chase commenced, not to end for seven miles. As +the shot and shells from the English guns began to play on the junks, +they ran on shore, the terrified crews leaping out and escaping. Junk +after junk was captured, but some eight remained. Suddenly entering a +fresh reach, the pursuers close astern of the pursued, the British found +themselves almost in the middle of a large city, Fatshan itself, with +shops and other houses lining the quays, and trading-junks along the +banks. Five of the junks were headed, abandoned, and captured; three +escaped, and they would have been farther pursued, had not a large body +of troops--militia probably--turned out to repel the invaders. The +commodore instantly landed his marines, who, firing a volley, made ready +to charge. The Chinese braves, not liking their aspect, went about, and +marched double-quick time into the town, where they could not be seen. +Commodore Keppel proposed landing and fortifying himself in the city, +and demanding a ransom; but a message from the admiral recalled him, and +he had to give up his daring scheme. Most unwillingly he obeyed the +mandate; and, having secured five junks, he towed them out astern of his +flotilla, promising the Chinese that he would pay them another visit +before long. As he went down the river, a dog was seen on the shore, +and, plunging into the stream, the animal swam off to his boat. It was +his faithful "Mike," who had escaped the shower of shot and shell and +the hungry Chinese, and now recognised the boat of his master. + +Of the fleet of war-junks captured, only five were saved from +destruction; and for some time during the night they were burning away, +sending their shot right and left, and occasionally one of them would +explode. The British lost, in killed and wounded in these two +engagements, no less than eighty-four men, and found to their cost that +the Chinese were no contemptible opponents. + +CAPTURE OF CANTON--29TH DECEMBER. + +Although the capture of Canton may be looked upon as a military exploit, +the bluejackets took so large a share in it that it must not be passed +over. + +The British had now been joined by a considerable French force; and the +united squadron having proceeded up the river, the troops prepared to +land at Kupar Creek, on the north shore, just to the east of Napier's +Island, on the 28th of December. The _Actaeon, Phlegethon_, and a +squadron of English gunboats, followed by the French fleet, had in the +meantime gone on, and anchored directly facing the city, opposing a line +of forts along the banks of the river. + +A naval brigade was formed under the command of Commodore Elliot, +consisting of 1501 men, formed in three divisions,--the first under +Captain Stuart, second under Captain Key, and third under Captain Sir R. +McClure, who landed with the troops. At a signal given, the steamers +and gunboats opened fire on the devoted city, and immediately the +landing commenced. The fleet gave ample occupation to the Chinese, and +drew off their attention from the operations of the troops. These now +landed, and, while the fleet continued their slow and steady +bombardment, marched to the capture of Lin's Fort, a powerful battery on +a hill to the east of the town. The British naval brigade entered a +village to the right, and from thence clambered up the height to storm +the fort; but, as they rushed in, the Chinese rushed out and down the +hill, while the bluejackets in hot haste made chase after them, led by +Captains McClure and Osborne. On they went, rifle, cutlass, and bayonet +pitted against jingalls and rockets. Meantime Lin's Fort blew up. +While reconnoitring the walls to discover a suitable spot for placing +the ladders, the much-esteemed and excellent Captain Bate, RN, was shot +dead. Early on the morning of the 29th the signal for the assault was +given. The English and French troops rushed on most gallantly to the +attack. Of the bluejackets, Commander Fellowes was the first on the +walls, from which, after a stout resistance, the Chinese were driven +into the town, which, after a week, was occupied by the Allies. + +The fleet, with the army on board, now proceeded to Tientsin, +preparatory to an attack on Pekin. The naval officers obtained deserved +credit for the admirable way in which so large a fleet of eighty ships +or more, including men-of-war and transports, was navigated, and for the +perfect order and regularity with which the army was landed. An account +of the operations against Pekin, which were of a military character, +will be found in _Our Soldiers_, page 198. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE SLAVE TRADE. + +Ever since the settlement of Europeans on the continent of America and +the West Indian Islands, a trade in slaves had existed to a very great +extent. The slaves were taken from among the many tribes in the +interior of Africa in large numbers, and transported across the +Atlantic. + +The evils of such an inhuman custom were manifold, and were a very dark +stain on civilisation. In course of time the conscience of England was +awakened to the evil, and the nation decided to take some stern steps to +put a stop to this trade in human beings, both in the interests of +humanity and justice, and for the sake of Africa. + +On 25th March 1807 the Royal assent was given to a Bill for the total +abolition of the British slave trade on and after 1st January 1808. At +first only a penalty of money was exacted from those who were convicted +of slave-dealing. This, of course, was soon found to be without much +effect, and in consequence, in 1811, slave-dealing was made punishable +by transportation for fourteen years. Even this was found to be very +inadequate. The slave-dealer knew that the risks of his being caught at +his illicit trade were very small, and as the profits were very great he +was quite willing to run that risk. Slave-dealing still continued with +renewed zeal, and, if possible, greater cruelty than before. + +In 1824, therefore, the offence was declared to be piracy, and +punishable with death. In 1837, however, the punishment inflicted on +British subjects for trading in slaves was changed to transportation for +life. + +A squadron of small vessels supposed to be suited for the purpose was +forthwith equipped and sent to the African coast, to capture slavers +wherever they could be found north of the equator, either embarking +their cargoes or prepared to receive them, or with full ships, and +whether up rivers, on the coast, or out at sea. + +These expeditions were full of excitement for the bluejackets, and +countless were the chases after slavers by the ships of the squadrons. +The danger was great in many cases. The slave-dealers were of the +lowest grade of humanity, and cruel to the last degree. The barbarity +with which they tore away the poor blacks from their native country, and +the cruelty with which they treated them on board, is indescribable. + +The slaves were treated worse than animals, and many died during the +voyage, but that mattered little to the slave-dealer, who had paid +nothing for them, and who could find plenty more where they came from. +Often the slave-dealers had on board, or rather in the hold of the ship, +something like 900 slaves. When the decks were battened down during +storms the tortures they endured were frightful. Often when the hatches +were opened after a hurricane more than one-third of the slaves were +found to be dead from suffocation or want of food, and often, sooner +than have the trouble of hauling up the dead bodies, the hatches were +battened down again and the poor slaves left in their misery till the +end of the voyage, when perhaps another third were found to have died. + +It was to prevent atrocities such as these that our sailors were called +upon to perform such gallant deeds on the African Coast, and their +gallantry and powers of endurance were never displayed to better purpose +than during the chases and captures of slavers. Accounts of some of +them are given, to show the sort of work our officers and men are called +upon to perform to keep down this horrible evil. + +CAPTURE OF BRAZILIAN SLAVER "FIRME" BY THE BOATS OF HMS "DOLPHIN"--1840. + +At daylight on the 30th May 1840, the _Dolphin_ being under easy sail +off Whydah, a brigantine was observed on the lee-bow. All sail was +immediately made in chase; but as the stranger increased her distance, +the cutter, a twenty-foot boat, with nine men, including the officer, +and the gig with six, were despatched at half-past six o'clock, under +command of Mr Murray and Mr Rees, to endeavour to come up with and +detain the chase before the setting in of the sea-breeze. Both boats +being soddened from constant blockading pulled heavily, and the crews +had been employed during a squally, rainy morning in trimming and making +sail; but after a harassing pull of two hours and a half under a hot +sun, they came up with the chase, the gig being rather ahead. The +brigantine bore down upon her, opening a sharp and continued fire of +musketry, which was returned, when both boats, after steadily reloading +under her fire, cheered and boarded on each quarter. The sweeps of the +brigantine were rigged out, which prevented their boarding by the +chains, thereby rendering it difficult for more than one or two to get +up the side at a time. + +Mr Murray was the first on board; and though knocked back into the boat +with the butt-end of a musket, which broke his collar-bone, he +immediately clambered up the side again, in which act his left hand was +nearly severed at the wrist with the blow of a cutlass. Another cut was +made at his head, which he parried, cutting the man down. The bowman of +the gig was shot through the heart while laying his oar in, and the +bowman of the cutter in getting up the side. After a resistance of +twenty minutes, the vessel was captured, most of the crew running below, +firing their muskets as they retreated. + +Mr Rees had previously proved himself a most zealous and active +officer, particularly in the destruction of the slave factories at +Corisco, by the boats of the _Wolverine_, Captain Tucker. + +VOYAGE OF A PRIZE FROM ACCRA TO SIERRA LEONE. + +FROM 12TH AUGUST 1840 TO 5TH JANUARY 1841. + +The _Dores_, a schooner of about sixty feet in length and fifteen in +breadth, had been taken at Quettah in June, and sent in charge of the +_Dolphin's_ gunner to Sierra Leone. Six weeks afterwards she was found +about twenty miles below Accra, having performed scarcely thirty miles +of her passage, and lost almost all her prize-crew, including the +gunner, from fever. Mr Murray, who had but just recovered from wounds +received in the action with the _Firme_, was then put in command of her, +with a crew of two men, two boys, and a prisoner boy, the only one who +had survived the fever. + +His orders were to proceed to Sierra Leone; and the indomitable +perseverance with which he adhered to them, through formidable dangers +and difficulties, together with his care for the men under his command +during a voyage of 146 days, are well worthy of being recorded. + +The only cabin which was at all habitable was eight feet in length, five +in height at the centre, and three at the sides, the breadth decreasing +from eleven to two and a half. It was entirely destitute of furniture, +swarming with vermin, and, before the end of the voyage, the fumes of +the rotting tobacco, with which the vessel was laden, clinging to the +beams, formed a coat nearly an inch in thickness. This, with an awning +of monkey skins, manufactured by themselves, was the only refuge for the +young officer and his men. The fourth night of the voyage was ushered +in by the most fearful squalls, which gradually freshened till about two +in the morning, when a tremendous storm came on, and obliged them to +bear up under bare poles; the seas washing over the little vessel, and +the wind blowing in the most terrific manner until about seven, when it +moderated and fell calm. The schooner was then observed to float much +deeper than before, and on sounding, nearly three feet of water were +found in the hold. The pump was immediately set to work, but it had +hardly fetched when it broke and became useless. This was repaired by +about sunset, and in two hours afterwards the vessel was cleared. + +They then made sail and tacked, steering for Sierra Leone, till, on the +morning of the 14th of September, they sighted land just below the river +Sestos. Finding that they had but three days' provisions left, the +commander determined to make them last six, and stood on, in the hope of +weathering Cape Palmas. This was baffled by a tide that set down along +shore; but, on the 20th of September, they anchored off Cape Coast +Castle. They had no provisions remaining, but the governor supplied +them with sufficient for forty days; and, having refitted the schooner, +they put to sea again on a close, sultry morning, which was succeeded by +a violent gale, lasting three days. + +About two o'clock one afternoon, a rakish-looking brigantine was +perceived standing towards the _Dores_; and judging her to be a slaver, +the young officer called his crew together, and having loaded the +muskets and got the cutlasses ready, they silently awaited her coming +up, determined to defend themselves. To their great joy, when she got +within two miles and a half of them, a strong breeze sprang up, which +placed the schooner dead to windward, and in the morning the brigantine +was out of sight. Their sails were now so worn that they were obliged +to lower them, and drift about for a whole day to repair them. Having +neither chronometer nor sextant, and only a quadrant of antique date, +often ten and even twenty miles out of adjustment, the position of the +vessel could only be guessed. The men behaved admirably during this +weary time, employing themselves in cleaning their arms, fishing, or +mending their clothes. The rain generally fell in torrents till the 4th +October, when the day closed in with appearances threatening heavy +weather. All preparations were made for the coming gale; the sails were +lowered down with the exception of the fore-staysail, and everything +lashed and secured. The fore-staysail was kept up in order to put the +schooner dead before the wind. + +At about five in the evening it became a dead calm, the atmosphere +close, and all around dark. After about half an hour, a sound like +heavy thunder was heard in the distance, and through the gloom a bank of +foam was seen hastening towards the schooner; in a few minutes the +staysail was stowed, and the wind caught her, gradually freshening until +it burst upon her in all its fury; the rolling sea broke in upon her, +and completely filled her upper deck; but the side bulwarks were open, +and the sea found vent. Having battened his crew down below, Mr Murray +lashed himself to the deck, and steered the vessel through the storm, +which continued with heavy thunder and torrents of rain till about two +in the morning, when, completely exhausted, he fell asleep, and was +aroused by the crew (who, having knocked once or twice without reply, +believed him to have been washed overboard) hammering at the skylight to +get out. This gale so strained the schooner that the water gained two +feet a day, and, to add to their disasters, one of the crew was ill for +a fortnight. + +From the 10th of October till the 4th of November, when land was again +discovered, the _Dores_ continued her course for Sierra Leone, +experiencing the whole weight of the rainy season. It now became +evident that she could not stem the current, for in the course of many +days she had not made more than four or five miles. Mr Murray then +determined to try again to reach Cape Palmas, by standing along the +land; and thus nearly incurred a new danger from the natives, who +assembled on the beach, armed with pikes and clubs, and as night drew on +prepared to attack the schooner should she run on shore. Happily a +slight breeze sprang up, which gave her steerage way, and enabled her to +draw off the land. No resource remained but to shape her course again +for Cape Coast Castle, to obtain provisions, their stock being +exhausted. The governor made every effort to prevail on Mr Murray to +relinquish the undertaking, which now appeared so hopeless, but he was +resolute in staying by the charge entrusted to him; and, calling his men +together, he gave them the choice of going on shore to await a passage +down to the _Dolphin_. With one consent they replied that they would +never leave him; holding to the old feeling of a true seaman, never to +leave his officer at a time of difficulty till death parts them. Their +provisioning was just completed when a fatal accident diminished the +number of the crew. They had been bathing after their day's work, and +one of them, a black, was still in the water, when he was seized by a +shark, and so fearfully injured that he died before he could be got on +board. The weary voyage recommenced, and, as before, their chief +diversion was fishing. The sharks, skipjacks, dolphins, and bonetas +which were caught were counted by hundreds, for they literally sailed +through a sea of fish. Two parrots had been added to their crew, and +were a great amusement, becoming so tame that they would obey their +master's call, and follow him afterwards through the streets like a dog. + +The 9th of December was marked by a serious disaster. Seeing a huge +shark alongside, they had fastened a boneta as a bait to a piece of +small line, and made a running bowline in the end of a peak-halliard +with the fish towing a little ahead of it; the shark immediately saw it +and swam after it; they were already on the bowline to run him up the +side with his head a little out of water; gliding silently along, not +two feet from them, he came up to the bowline, which was held wide open, +while the bait was quietly hauled ahead until he was far enough through +it; then, giving a sudden jerk on it, they closed it just behind the two +side-fins and tried to catch a turn with the rope; but, quick as +lightning, the shark gave a terrific plunge and tore it through their +hands, when Mr Murray unfortunately got in the middle of the coil, and +as the men had all let go, it had got a half-hitch round his leg, and in +an instant he was drawn up and over the gunwale. Catching at the +peak-halliards, which were belayed close to him, he held on with his +only sound hand as he was flying overboard, the men also seizing him by +the arm. Before he could be extricated, the limb was severely injured +and torn. The only remedy which could be applied was bathing it in oil. + +In the meantime the _Dores_ progressed, though very slowly; she had +become much more leaky, the cargo was completely rotten, and the stench +drove them all on deck; nor could they heave a particle of it overboard, +for then the vessel would have capsized, as she had no ballast in. The +sails were perfectly rotten--so bad that the vessel was often a whole +day without a stitch of canvas set when the wind fell light, that they +might be repaired with monkey skins, of which there was a good stock on +board. + +The fourth month closed, and the schooner had not yet performed a voyage +of ten days, from seven to fifteen miles a day being the progress lately +made; but now the current seemed to favour her, for a change of forty +miles a day was observed in the latitude, and the hearts of officer and +men grew lighter, notwithstanding their miserable plight, always wet to +the skin, and unable to change their clothes for days together. Two +terrific storms were still to be encountered; and, at the commencement +of the second, Mr Murray sent the men below, and remained alone on the +deck, which he never expected to leave alive. The heat of each flash of +lightning was felt as if from a fire; the rain falling in torrents, +leaked in every direction through the deck, and the schooner was fast +filling with water. At length the rain ceased, and the lightning became +fainter, when they made sail again, pumped out, and proceeded till they +had made sufficient northing for Sierra Leone. They then bore up east, +and, on the 31st December, the colour of the water showed that they were +nearing the land. On this day they kept their Christmas, and many were +the hearty toasts they drank to those at home. It was not till the 6th +January, 146 days from the commencement of their voyage, that they +anchored off Sierra Leone, where it was fully believed that they were +lost. Here Mr Murray found his promotion awaiting him for the capture +of the _Firme_, and was at once invalided home. + +CAPTURE OF AN ARMED SLAVER BY A FOUR-OARED GIG--1844. + +On the 13th of August 1844, Mr John Francis Tottenham, mate of HMS +_Hyacinth_, Commander Scott, performed a gallant and dashing exploit, +which obtained for him his promotion to the rank of lieutenant, and the +testimony of his commander to the coolness, decision, and gallantry +displayed by him on the occasion. When off Fish Bay, on the West Coast +of Africa, Mr Tottenham was sent in a four-oared gig, with one spare +hand, to communicate with the Portuguese governor. The weather became +thick, and he missed his port; but knowing that the _Hyacinth_ was +working along the coast, he anchored for the night, and pulled to the +southward. On the morning of the 13th he discovered a brig at anchor +without colours, and saw her slip and make sail, on which he gave chase. +Being to windward, and the breeze light, he was enabled to approach her +weather-beam, and fire a musket ahead, to induce her to heave to and +show her colours. This and a second were disregarded; but a port was +opened and a gun run out and brought to bear on the boat, which caused +the officer to pull into her wake, when part of the crew of the brig +commenced firing musketry, while the others got the gun on the poop, and +pointed it at the boat. + +Mr Tottenham now commenced firing as fast as the spare hand could load +for him, being just able to keep way with the brig. + +Four of the men on board the brig having been hit, her crew left the +gun, and after firing muskets for twenty minutes, finding that they were +unable to weather the land or tack without being boarded by the boat, +they ran the brig on shore. Here her crew, to the number of eighteen, +including three wounded men, abandoned her, leaving another mortally +wounded on board. + +In the course of the afternoon the brig was perceived from the mast-head +of the _Hyacinth_, which stood in and anchored, and hove her off; when +she proved to be of 200 tons, fully equipped for conveying about 1000 +slaves, with two guns of four pounds calibre loaded, a barrel of powder, +and a quantity of langridge-shot, a number of muskets, swords, and +bayonets on the deck. Almost every bullet expended in the gig was +traced to the gun-carriage, or its immediate vicinity on the poop. + +A PINNACE ATTACKS A SLAVER--1845. + +On the 12th of January 1845, Lieutenant Lodwick, first lieutenant of HM +steamer _Growler_, Captain Buckle, who had been away for some time +cruising in the pinnace on the look-out for slavers, fell in with a +felucca, which, on seeing the pinnace, hove to. The lieutenant +naturally expected that she would make no resistance, as she might have +got away if she had chosen. When the pinnace, however, was within +thirty yards of the felucca, a whole range of muskets was observed +pointed over her bulwark. After this, Lieutenant Lodwick cheered his +men on to get up to her before she discharged this fearful battery; but +no sooner was the cheer uttered than the felucca opened on the boat. +This was a staggerer for the British boat; but fortunately the slaver's +crew fired too high (the felucca had now filled, and was going just as +fast as the boat could pull). Lieutenant Lodwick--the rim of whose hat +was shot through--at once returned the first volley with a round shot +and 180 balls in a bag. A second volley from the felucca told with far +more disastrous effect; two men were shot dead, and Lieutenant Lodwick +and two men severely wounded--the lieutenant having been struck on the +left knee and thigh. This left the pinnace with so few men, that, +having also had six of her oars shot away, Lieutenant Lodwick was +obliged to abandon the chase, and was picked up by the _Growler_, +standing towards the _Gallinas_, boat and gear being literally riddled +with shot. + +Lieutenant Lodwick was promoted for his gallantry. The felucca had been +chased by every vessel on the coast, and always got away clear. She was +afterwards captured by a war-steamer, and bore evident marks of her +conflict with the pinnace. There were about seventy men on board-- +English, French, and Americans--and she was commanded by an Englishman. + +ADVENTURE OF HMS "WASP"--1845. + +As HMS _Wasp_, Captain Usherwood, was cruising in the Bight of Benin, +near Lagos, on the 27th of February 1845, a strange sail was seen, and +Lieutenant Stupart was immediately ordered in pursuit. At about eight +o'clock in the evening he came up with her, and found her to be the +_Felicidade_, a Brazilian schooner, fitted for the slave trade, with a +slave-deck of loose planks over the cargo, and a crew of twenty-eight +men. With the exception of her captain and another man, they were +transferred to the _Wasp_; and Lieutenant Stupart, with Mr Palmer, +midshipman, and a crew of fifteen English seamen, remained in charge of +the prize. On the 1st of March, the boats of the _Felicidade_, under +Mr Palmer, captured a second prize, the _Echo_, with 430 slaves on +board, and a crew of twenty-eight men, leaving Mr Palmer, with seven +English seamen and two Kroomen, on board the _Felicidade_. Several of +the _Echo's_ crew were also sent on board as prisoners, with their +captain. Soon afterwards Mr Palmer and his small crew were overpowered +and murdered by the crew of the _Felicidade_, and an unsuccessful +attempt made by the miscreants to gain possession of the _Echo_. The +_Felicidade_ was seen and chased on the 6th of March by HMS _Star_, +Commander Dunlop. When she was boarded, no one was on her deck, the +crew being concealed below; and on being found and questioned, they +stated the vessel to be the _Virginie_, and accounted for their wounds +by the falling of a spar; but there were traces of a conflict, and many +tokens which proved that English seamen had been on board. She was then +sent to Sierra Leone, in charge of Lieutenant Wilson and nine men. + +Whilst on the passage, during a heavy squall, the schooner went over, +filled, and sank, so as only to leave part of her bow rail above water. +When the squall passed, the whole of the crew were found clinging to the +bow rail. Some expert divers endeavoured to extract provisions from the +vessel, but without success; and nothing but death stared them in the +face, as the schooner was gradually sinking. Lieutenant Wilson +ascertained that there were three common knives among the party, and it +was resolved to make a raft of the main-boom and gaff, and such other +floating materials as remained above water. These they secured by such +ropes as could be cut and unrove from the rigging, and a small quantity +of cordage was retained to make good any defects they might sustain by +the working of the spars; a small topgallant studding-sail was obtained +for a sail; and upon this miserable raft the ten persons made sail for +the coast of Africa, distant 200 miles, without rudder, oar, compass, +provisions, or water. + +Being almost naked, and washed by every wave, their sufferings were very +great. Destitute of food or fresh water, scorched by a burning sun +during the day, and chilled with cold during the night, they thus +remained twenty days. Delirium and death relieved the raft of part of +its load of misery, two blacks being the first to sink under their +sufferings. + +The question naturally suggests itself, How did the survivors support +life? Some persons would be almost afraid to put the question, or hear +the answer. There is nothing, however, to wound our feelings, but much +to admire in the admirable conduct of Lieutenant Wilson and his men +during these melancholy and miserable twenty days. Showers of rain +occasionally fell; they caught some water in their little sail, which +they drank, and put some into a small keg that had floated out of the +vessel. The sea was almost always breaking over the spars of the raft, +which was surrounded by voracious sharks. + +The famishing sailors actually caught with a bowling-knot a shark eight +feet in length, with their bare hands, and hauled it upon the raft; they +killed it, drank the blood, and ate part of the flesh, husbanding the +remainder. In this way three other sharks were taken, and upon these +sharks the poor fellows managed to prolong their lives till picked up +(in sight of the land) in what may be termed the very zero of living +misery. Lieutenant Wilson and four seamen survived, and recovered their +strength. Order and discipline were maintained upon the raft; +fortitude, forethought, a reliance upon Divine Providence, and good +conduct, enabled these Englishmen to surmount such horrible sufferings, +while the Kroomen and Portuguese sank under them. + +CAPTURE OF A SLAVER--1845. + +HMS _Pantaloon_, ten-gun sloop, Commander Wilson, had been for two days +in chase of a large slave-ship, and succeeded in coming up with her +becalmed, about two miles off Lagos, on the 26th May 1845. The cutter +and two whale-boats were sent, under the command of the first +lieutenant, Mr Lewis D.T. Prevost, with the master, Mr J.T. Crout, +and the boatswain, Mr Pasco, some marines and seamen, amounting to +about thirty altogether, to make a more intimate acquaintance with the +stranger. The pirate gave the boats an intimation of what they were to +expect as they neared, by opening on them a heavy fire of round shot, +grape, and canister, in so spirited a style, that after returning the +compliment by a volley of musketry, the boats prepared for hard work. +Animated by the show of resistance, each boat now emulated the other in +reaching the enemy, the pirate continuing a sharp fire as they steadily +advanced, the marines as briskly using their muskets. In half a hour +from the discharge of the first gun from the slaver, the boats of the +_Pantaloon_ were alongside; Lieutenant Prevost and Mr Pasco on the +starboard, and Mr Crout, in the cutter, on the port side. The pirate +crew, sheltering themselves as much as possible, nevertheless continued +to fire the guns, loading them with all sorts of missiles, bullets, +nails, lead, etcetera; and, amidst a shower of these, our brave sailors +and marines dashed on board. Lieutenant Prevost and his party, in the +two boats, were soon on the deck of the prize. The master boarded on +the port bow, and, despite the formidable resistance and danger, +followed by one of his boat's crew, actually attempted to enter the port +as they were firing the gun from it. He succeeded in getting through, +but his seconder was knocked overboard by the discharge. The gallant +fellow, however, nothing daunted, was in an instant up the side again, +taking part with the master, who was engaged in a single encounter with +one or two of the slaver's crew. Having gained the deck after a most +determined resistance, they now encountered the pirates hand to hand, +when the cutlass and bayonet did the remainder of the work. Lieutenant +Prevost finally succeeded in capturing the vessel, but the pirates +fought desperately; and it was not until seven of their number lay dead +on the deck, and seven or eight more were severely wounded, that they +ran below and yielded. In the encounter, two British seamen were +killed; the master and boatswain, and five others were severely wounded. +Lieutenant Prevost received immediate promotion. + +AN ATTEMPT TO RECAPTURE A PRIZE--1847. + +On the 22nd of July 1847, HMS _Waterwitch_, with HMS _Rapid_ in company, +captured the Brazilian brigantine _Romeo Primero_, which was +subsequently given in charge to Lieutenant W.G. Mansfield, RN, and four +seamen, to be conveyed to Saint Helena for adjudication. Owing to +adverse winds, and the unmanageable qualities of the prize, the officer +in command found it necessary to alter his destination, and to bear up +for Sierra Leone. + +On the 11th of August, about midday, two of the crew being engaged +aloft, and the others in the bunks, where the arms were stowed, the +lieutenant being at the moment pulling a rope which had been recently +spliced, was murderously assailed from behind by one of the prisoners, +with an axe used for chopping firewood. There were four of them who +were during the daytime allowed the liberty of the vessel. At the same +moment, the other three prisoners furiously attacked the sailors in the +bunks, who, from the unexpected nature of the assault, were driven from +their post wounded and unarmed. Lieutenant Mansfield, laying hold of a +piece of firewood, gallantly but unequally contended with a Brazilian +armed with a cutlass. In the course of a desperate struggle, the +officer received no fewer than nine wounds, more or less severe; a +greatcoat which he wore being, under Providence, the means of saving him +from instant death. The two sailors who had been occupied in the +shrouds, having reached the deck, of course unarmed, the lieutenant, +nearly exhausted by profuse haemorrhage, made a violent effort to join +them, in which he fortunately proved successful, though in his progress +one of the prisoners discharged at him a marine's musket, the contents +of which took effect, inflicting a most dangerous wound in his head, and +bringing him for an instant to the deck. Having succeeded in recovering +his feet and gaining his men, he encouraged them to rush aft upon their +armed antagonists--a piece of service which three of their number +performed in the most daring manner; the fourth seaman (since dead) +being _hors de combat_ from his wounds, and the lieutenant himself +fainting at the instant from loss of blood. The intrepidity of the +three British tars rendered them more than a match for their armed +antagonists, whom they speedily overpowered, one of the prisoners +leaping overboard and perishing in the waves. Believing their officer +to be killed, the seamen, in the excitement of the moment, were about to +hurl the surviving prisoners over the gangway, when Lieutenant +Mansfield, partially reviving, ordered them to be imprisoned, that their +wounds should be washed, and that they should be reserved to be dealt +with by the authorities at Sierra Leone. + +On the 1st of September the _Romeo Primero_, the scene of this bloody +encounter, entered the port. Lieutenant Mansfield, who, since the day +of the conflict, had scarcely been able to stir hand or foot, was +promptly conveyed to sick-quarters, and for many days his life was +entirely despaired of by his medical attendants. The gallant little +crew, all wounded, were also looked after in the best manner which skill +and sympathy could suggest; but two were soon beyond the reach of human +succour,--one dying of the direct consequences of his wounds, and the +second of fever induced by them. After a fortnight of extreme danger on +shore, Lieutenant Mansfield showed symptoms of recovery, and in the same +year received the rank of commander. + +ATTEMPT TO RETAKE A PRIZE--1848. + +The _Grecian_ having captured a clipper Brazilian hermaphrodite brig, +with nearly 500 slaves on board, Lieutenant D'Aguilar was placed in +charge of her as prizemaster, with ten men, and ordered to proceed to +Bahia, the sloop following him thither. The prize duly arrived, and +anchored at Bahia before the _Grecian_, and not the slightest suspicion +was entertained but that she was safe. In the course of the day, +however, Lieutenant D'Aguilar received some hints to the effect that a +combination was being made on shore among the slavers to attempt to +retake the prize; and, although nothing definite was communicated, it +was sufficient warning to him to be on the alert, and to take +precautions which saved him and his men from being massacred. The +evening passed off without disturbance; but about ten o'clock at night +several boats from the shore were seen pulling for the brig, containing, +it was estimated, 150 Brazilians. As they neared the prize, they were +hailed, and ordered to keep off, but with some boldness they advanced +alongside. The strangers having approached too near to be agreeable, +Lieutenant D'Aguilar endeavoured to check them by a discharge of +musketry. This commenced a most severe conflict, the fire being +returned by the pirates as they dashed alongside and attempted to board. +That firmness and undaunted bravery, however, which is characteristic +of British seamen, was here displayed in an eminent degree; and the +Brazilians, with their overpowering numbers, were completely beaten off +by Lieutenant D'Aguilar and his little band, with a loss, on the enemy's +side, it is said, of upwards of ten killed and thirty wounded. As may +naturally be supposed, where the contest was one at close quarters, and +where each of the gallant defenders had so many assailants to wait upon, +they did not come out of the _melee_ unscathed. Scarcely one of them +escaped a mark, and several of them were severely wounded. Lieutenant +D'Aguilar received many hurts about the head. It subsequently +transpired that it was the intention of the Brazilians to have silently +got alongside the vessel, and to have secured the prize-crew. They +would then have cut the cables and made sail, to land the cargo of +slaves at another part of the coast. This affair was the theme of +general applause in the squadron on the station. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY SAINT PIERRE BY CAPTAIN WILLIAM WILSON--1862. + +The recapture of the _Emily Saint Pierre_ reminds us of the fighting +days of the wars with France and America, when several similar events +took place; but during the whole course of English naval history we find +no deed more gallant or more worthy of record. The _Emily Saint Pierre_ +was a large Liverpool East Indian trader, commanded by Captain William +Wilson. She left Calcutta on the 27th of November 1861, with orders to +make the coast of South Carolina, to ascertain whether there was peace +or war. If peace had been declared, Captain Wilson was to take a pilot +and enter the port of Charleston; if there was a blockade, he was to +proceed to Saint John's, New Brunswick. + +On the 8th of March 1862, he considered his vessel to be about twelve +miles off the land, when a steamer was made out approaching. When the +steamer, which proved to be a Federal vessel of war, the _James Adger_, +came within hail, the _Emily Saint Pierre_ was ordered to heave to, and +was soon afterwards boarded by two boats, whose officers and crews took +possession of her. Filling on the main-yard, they steered for the +Federal squadron. Captain Wilson was now ordered into the boat, and +carried on board the flagship, when he was informed by flag-officer +Goldboursh that his vessel had saltpetre on board, and that consequently +she was a lawful prize to the Federal Government, but that he might take +a passage on board her to Philadelphia. He replied that his cargo was +not saltpetre, that his ship was British property, and that he could not +acknowledge her a lawful prize. + +On returning to his ship in about an hour, he found that all his crew +had been taken away except the cook and steward, and that a fresh ship's +company had been placed on board, consisting of Lieutenant Stone, a +master's mate, twelve men, and an engineer, a passenger, fifteen in all. +Having weighed anchor, they proceeded to sea. Captain Wilson felt +confident of the illegality of the capture, and that if he could regain +possession of his ship, he was justified in making the attempt. He had +studied the characters of his cook and steward, and knew that he could +trust them. He waited his opportunity. There was, however, not much +time to spare. The 21st of March arrived. The commanding officer, +Lieutenant Stone, had the watch on deck. It was about half-past four, +and still dark, when Captain Wilson called his steward and cook into his +state-room, and told them that he was resolved to regain his ship or +lose his life. He asked their assistance, which they at once promised +to afford. He then gave them each a pair of irons, which he had +secured, and a sheet, and told them to follow him, as the moment for +action had arrived. The master's mate was asleep in his berth. Captain +Wilson opened the door, and walked in. After handing out his revolver +and sword, he grasped the mate's hands. In an instant the gag was in +his mouth, and the irons were fixed. The brave captain, with his two +followers, then went to the passenger's cabin, and having taken the arms +from his berth, secured him in the way they had the mate. The most +difficult part of the undertaking was now to overcome the commanding +officer, who, unsuspicious of danger, was walking the deck of his prize. +However, retaining wonderful coolness, and undaunted by the hazard he +ran, Captain Wilson went on deck, as if he had just turned out, and +joined Lieutenant Stone in his walk, making some remarks as to the state +of the weather. After walking for about ten minutes, he induced him to +go down into the cabin to look at the chart which he had himself been +examining, taking up on his way, as he followed, a belaying-pin. Now +was the critical moment--the cook and steward stood in ambush behind the +door. They reached the door of the after-cabin, where the chart was +spread out, when, lifting up the belaying-pin, Captain Wilson told the +lieutenant that if he moved he was a dead man, and that the ship should +never go to Philadelphia; when the cook and steward, springing on him, +had in a moment the irons on his wrists and the gag in his mouth, and he +was pitched without ceremony into a cabin, and the door locked upon him. +The crew had next to be mastered. Three were walking the deck, another +was at the helm, and a fifth was on the look-out forward. + +With truly wonderful nerve and command of voice, Captain Wilson called +the three men aft, and pointing to the hatchway of the store-room, near +the helm, told them that a coil of rope was wanted up. He then shoved +off the hatch, and as he showed them the corner where it was, they all +three jumped down. Quick as lightning he replaced the hatch, which his +followers secured, while he warned the man at the helm that his life +would pay the penalty if he moved or uttered a word. The look-out was +then called aft, and being seized, was asked if he would assist in +navigating the ship to a British port. On his declining to do so, he +was handcuffed and secured in a cabin. Captain Wilson then called the +watch, knowing well that they would not all come on deck together. He +was consequently able to secure two before the suspicions of the rest +were aroused. The third, however, drew his knife as the steward was +about to seize him, when the latter shot him in the shoulder with his +pistol, and he was seized. The remaining men, jumping on deck, were +knocked over and secured. + +Once more Captain Wilson had entire command of his ship, but with a crew +of two men, neither of whom could even steer, nor were they accustomed +to go aloft; while he had fifteen prisoners below, who would naturally +lose no opportunity of retaking the ship. His greatest difficulties +were only now beginning. What consciousness of his superlative +seaman-like qualities, what perfect and just self-reliance he must have +possessed, to have undertaken the task of navigating a ship completely +across the Atlantic with such means at his disposal! Considerate and +generous, as well as brave, as soon as he had shaped a course for +England, he went below, and announced to Lieutenant Stone that the ship +was his own again; but offered to take the gag out of his mouth and the +irons off his wrists if he would consent to remain a prisoner in his +berth, and make no attempt to regain possession of the ship. + +To this Lieutenant Stone consented, and dined at table every day under +guard, while the crew were supplied with an ample allowance of bread, +beef, and water. Four of their number, after some consideration, +volunteered, rather than remain prisoners, to lend a hand in working the +ship; but as they were landsmen, they were of no use aloft. It seems +surprising that Captain Wilson should have trusted them; but undoubtedly +his bravery must have inspired them with such awe that they dared not +prove treacherous. + +But few days had passed after he had commenced his homeward passage, +with his crew of six landsmen, than it came on to blow so hard that he +had to close reef the topsails. Placing his cook and steward at the +helm, he made the other men take reef tackles to the capstern, while he +went alone aloft, lay out on the yard, passed the earings, and tied the +reef-points, keeping an eye all the time at the helm, and directing his +two faithful men by signs how to steer. The wind increased till it blew +a heavy gale, and the sea getting up, the tiller by a sudden jerk was +carried away. He now began for the first time, perhaps, to have fears +that he might not after all make his passage; but undaunted, he set to +work to repair the mischief as well as he was able. His strength and +energies, as well as those of his brave companions, were tried to the +utmost. They had both to navigate the ship, to watch the four men who +had been liberated, and to feed and attend to their prisoners. + +Providence favoured them; the weather moderated, the wind was fair, and +without accident Captain Wilson brought the _Emily Saint Pierre_ into +the Mersey thirty days after he had retaken her, having accomplished a +passage of nearly 3000 miles. As an act of individual courage, +forethought, coolness, nerve, and the highest seaman-like qualities, the +recapture of the _Emily Saint Pierre_ stands unsurpassed by any +performed by a sailor of any period, rank, or country. + +Captain Wilson received the welcome he so richly deserved on his arrival +at Liverpool, from the mercantile as well as all other classes. The +Council of the Mercantile Marine Service presented him with a gold +medal, and silver medals with suitable inscriptions to the steward and +cook; they also each of them received a purse with twenty guineas, and +170 merchants of Liverpool bestowed on Captain Wilson the sum of 2000 +guineas; while numerous other presents were made by various companies, +eager to show him in what high estimation his gallantry was held. His +officers and crew who had been made prisoners by the Federals, on their +arrival at Liverpool after their release, presented to him a valuable +sextant, to show their sense of his kindness to them during the voyage +from India, and of his noble conduct. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +ARCTIC EXPLORING EXPEDITIONS. + +THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. + +The discovery of a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean has +been the darling project of numberless Englishmen of science as well as +navigators, from the time of Henry the Eighth down to the present day. +A short account of the various expeditions, and of the adventures of the +gallant men who have made the attempt, would alone fill a volume. By +these expeditions, unsuccessful though they mostly were in accomplishing +their object, the names of many of the bravest and best of England's +naval commanders have become immortalised. Well indeed may Englishmen +be proud of men such as Ross, Parry, Clavering, Lyon, Beechey, and +Franklin, and of others who have in still later days exhibited their +dauntless courage and perseverance in the same cause--Collinson, +McClure, McClintock, Sherard Osborn, Forsyth, and many more. + +Nowhere can all the noble qualities which adorn the British seaman be +more fully called forth than during a voyage in the Arctic seas, and the +detention to which he is subject for years together on its ice-bound +shores. From the first entering these regions, dangers beset him. +Suddenly he finds his vessel among immense fields of floating ice, +through which he can with difficulty force a passage or escape +shipwreck. Then, in the darkness of night, icebergs of vast height are +seen close aboard, towering above the mast-heads, the sea dashing with +fury round their bases, from which, should he not scrape clear, his +destruction is certain. Sometimes, to prevent his vessel being drifted +on icebergs, or the rocky shore, or fields of ice, to leeward, he +secures her on the lee side of some large berg. The base of the mass +beneath the water is continually melting; and, while he fancies himself +secure, it decreases so much as to lose its balance, and its lofty +summit bending down, it may overwhelm him in its ruins. Then, again, +large masses become detached from its base, and, rising up violently +from far down in the sea, strike the bottom of the vessel with terrific +force, capable of driving in her planks and breaking her stout timbers. +Often, also, he has to saw his way through sheets of ice, cutting out +canals with untiring perseverance to gain a piece of clear water beyond. +Sometimes his vessel is so tightly frozen within a field of ice that he +has no power to extricate her; then the field, urged by the tides or +wind, moves on at a rapid rate for hundreds of miles, till it encounters +some other field or a projecting shore. Now commences a scene of horror +which may well make the stoutest heart tremble. The field breaks into +thousands of fragments; huge masses of many hundred tons weight, and +larger than his ship, are thrown up, one on the other, rising almost as +if they had life, till they tower far above the sides of his vessel, and +appear ready every instant to crush her, as she lies helplessly among +this icy mass of a seeming ruined world. Sometimes a huge lump, bigger +than the ship herself, becomes attached to her bottom; and as the mass +around her melts, it rises to the surface, and throws her on her +beam-ends. Sometimes, as she is sailing in an open space, two fields +suddenly close in on her. If her crew have time to cut a dock in the +field nearest her, or find a bay ready formed, she may escape; if not, +when the fields meet, her stout ribs are crushed in as if they were of +wax, and the explorer is fortunate if he escapes to the ice with some of +his boats and a few provisions and clothes before his vessel disappears, +to encounter a voyage without shelter in that frigid region, till he +falls in with some whale ship, or can gain its inhospitable shores. But +suppose he escapes the dangers of the sea I have described, and many +others, and takes shelter for the winter in some bay or gulf, ice-bound, +he must remain during the winter without any communication with the rest +of his fellow-creatures besides those who form his own adventurous band. +The sun sinks below the horizon, and it is not seen again for months +together; darkness is around him, and one dreary mass of snow covers the +face of nature. The intense cold prevents him often from venturing +beyond the shelter with which he has surrounded his vessel; or if he is +tempted to do so, frost-bites may attack his hands and his feet, and +deprive him of their use. Sometimes the Arctic explorer has had to +journey for weeks together across the barren waste of ice or +snow-covered ground, dragging his sledge after him, and sleeping night +after night under the thin roof of a canvas tent; and, as summer draws +on, often wet through from the melting snow, without an opportunity of +drying his clothes. Seldom has he an abundance, and often he suffers +from a scarcity, of provisions; while, if his strength fails him from +illness or injury, he can scarcely hope to regain his ship alive. The +first exploring expedition which was sent out during the reign of Queen +Victoria was placed under the command of Sir George Back, in the +_Terror_; but winter setting in early, his ship was caught by the ice, +thrown on her beam-ends, and nearly destroyed. Though in a dreadfully +shattered condition, she was providentially enabled to return home. It +was not till the year 1845 that a new expedition by sea was determined +on, and the command given, at his earnest request, to Sir John +Franklin--an expedition over the fate of which for many long years hung +a mysterious uncertainty, full of pain and anxiety. Notwithstanding the +hazardous nature of the work in which they were to be engaged, numbers +of officers and men eagerly pressed forward as volunteers to serve under +the veteran Arctic explorer. The chief difficulty was in selecting the +most fit among the many applicants, and happy did those consider +themselves who were chosen. + +The following is a list of the officers who were finally appointed to +the expedition:-- + +"_Erebus_." + +Captain, Sir John Franklin, KCH; Commander, James Fitzjames; +Lieutenants, Graham Gore, Henry T. Le Vesconte, James William Fairholm; +mates, Charles T. des Vaux, Robert O'Sargent; second master, Henry F. +Collins; surgeon, Stephen Stanley; assistant surgeon, Harry D.S. +Goodsir; paymaster and purser, Charles H. Osmer; master, James Reid, +acting; fifty-eight petty officers, seamen, etcetera. Full complement, +seventy. + +"_Terror_." + +Captain, Francis R.M. Crozier; Lieutenants, Edward Little, George H. +Hodgson, John Irving; mates, Frederick J. Hornby, Robert Thomas; +ice-master, T. Blakey, acting; second master, G.A. Maclean; surgeon, +John S. Peddie; assistant surgeon, Alexander McDonald; clerk in charge, +Edwin G.H. Helpman; fifty-seven petty officers, seamen, etcetera. Full +complement, sixty-eight; making in all one hundred and thirty-eight +souls. + +The expedition sailed from England, May the 26th, 1845. They arrived at +the Whalefish Islands, a group to the south of Disco, on the 4th of +July. On the 26th they were seen moored to an iceberg, in 74 degrees 48 +minutes north latitude, and 66 degrees 13 minutes west longitude, by a +Hull whaler, the _Prince of Wales_, Captain Dannet. The ships had then +on board provisions for three years, on full allowance, or even four, +with the assistance of such game as they might expect to obtain. +Everyone on board had resolved to persevere to the utmost in pushing +their way through any channel which might offer a prospect of success +towards the west; but the letters of Captain Fitzjames especially seemed +to point clearly to Wellington Channel as the passage they would most +probably first attempt. No news of the expedition having reached +England up to the year 1847, some slight apprehensions began to be felt, +though the general hope was that Sir John had pushed on perhaps into the +Polar basin, and might make his appearance by way of Behring's Straits. +However, it was thought right in 1848 to despatch another expedition to +search for the missing ships. Two vessels were commissioned for that +purpose, and placed under the command of Sir James Ross, an officer who +has been nearer the northern and southern poles than any other human +being. The ships were not ready for sea till the 12th of June. They +were fitted to contend with the dangers of the Polar seas in a way no +former ships had been, and every means that could be devised for the +comfort and convenience of their crews were liberally supplied; while +the officers and men were influenced by an earnest zeal to discover +their missing countrymen, and to rescue them from the forlorn condition +in which it was too probable they were placed. Such have been the +motives which have induced, year after year, numbers of other gallant +officers and men to volunteer their services to encounter the terrific +dangers and hardships of a Polar voyage to search for Sir John Franklin +and his brave followers. Who also has not heard of the noble efforts +and sacrifices the late Lady Franklin made to despatch expedition after +expedition in search of her gallant husband? and with what untiring +zeal, and deep, earnest devotion, she and his faithful niece laboured +on, month after month, and year after year, with talents, mind, and all +their best energies devoted to the cause? All honour be to those noble +ladies, worthy to be loved and reverenced by all who love and respect +the British navy, and admire the gallant spirit which imbues it. + +But to return to our narrative. Our space will not allow us to give +more than a very brief sketch of the several searching expeditions which +have been sent out, and the names of the ships and officers composing +them. + +The first, then, was that under Captain Sir J. Ross, consisting of-- + +"_Enterprise_," 540 Tons. + +Captain, Sir James C. Ross; Lieutenants, R.J.L. McClure, F.L. +McClintock, and W.H.J. Browne; master, W.S. Couldery, acting; surgeon, +W. Robertson, acting; assistant surgeon, H. Matthais; second master, +S. Court; clerk, Edward Whitehead. Total complement, sixty-eight. + +"_Investigator_," 480 Tons. + +Captain, E.J. Bird; Lieutenants, M.G.H.W. Ross, Frederick Robinson, +and J.J. Barnard; master, W. Tatham; surgeon, Robert Anderson; mates, +L. John Moore and S.G. Cresswell; second master, John H. Allard; +assistant surgeon, E. Adams; clerk in charge, J.D. Gilpin. Total +complement, sixty-seven. + +The expedition left England on the 12th of June 1848, and reached +Barrow's Straits by the end of August. Sir James Ross then endeavoured +to find a passage through Wellington Channel; but it was so completely +blocked up with ice that he was compelled to give up the attempt that +year as hopeless. The ice closing in on the ships at an unusually early +period, after running great risk of being crushed, Sir James took refuge +in Leopold Harbour for the winter. Hence several expeditions were sent +out on foot. Sir James Ross and Lieutenant McClintock set out in May, +with sledges, each accompanied by six men, and explored the whole of the +north and west coasts of North Somerset; and, being absent thirty-nine +days, returned to the ships on the 23rd of June. Meantime Lieutenant +Barnard started for the northern shore of Barrow's Straits, crossing the +ice to Cape Hind. Lieutenant Browne visited the eastern shore of Regent +Inlet, and Lieutenant Robinson the western shore, and reached several +miles to the southward of Fury Beach. No traces were discovered, +however, of Sir John Franklin, but every device that could be thought of +was employed to let his party know of the position of the ships. At +Fury Beach, Lieutenant Robinson discovered Sir John Ross' house, and +much of the provisions left there by the _Fury_ in 1827 still remaining, +and in excellent condition. On the 28th of August the vessels quitted +Leopold Harbour, where, at Whaler Point, a large supply of provisions, +fuel, and a steam-launch were left, in the hopes that some of Sir John's +party might visit the place. Again, from the 1st to the 25th of +September, the vessels were so closely beset with ice, that it was +feared they might be compelled to spend another winter in those regions, +even should they escape being crushed to fragments. Happily they got +clear, after drifting into Baffin's Bay, and reached England in +November. + +The _North Star_, an old twenty-six-gun frigate, of 500 tons, had in the +meantime, in the spring of 1849, been despatched with provisions for Sir +James Ross, under command of Mr J. Saunders. Having got blocked in by +the ice for sixty-two days, she was compelled to winter in Wolstenholme +Sound, on the western coast of Greenland. + +Immediately on the return of the _Enterprise_ and _Investigator_ they +were re-commissioned, and placed under the command of Captain B. +Collinson, with directions to proceed to Behring's Straits, to resume +the search in that direction. HMS _Plover_, Commander Moore, was +already there, employed in surveying the north-western coasts of the +American continent. + +The following were the officers appointed to them:-- + +"_Enterprise_." + +Captain, R. Collinson; Lieutenants, G.A. Phayre, J.J. Barnard, and +C.T. Jago; master, R.T.G. Legg; second master, Francis Skead; mate, +M.T. Parks; surgeon, Robert Anderson; assistant surgeon, Edward Adams; +clerk in charge, Edward Whitehead. Total complement, sixty-six. + +"_Investigator_." + +Commander, B.J. McClure; Lieutenants, W.H. Haswell and S.G. +Cresswell; mates, H.H. Saintsbury and R.J. Wyniatt; second master, +Stephen Court; surgeon, Alexander Armstrong, MD; assistant surgeon, +Henry Piers; clerk in charge, Joseph C. Paine. Total complement, +sixty-six. + +Mr Miertsching, a Moravian missionary, who had spent five years on the +coast of Labrador, was appointed to the _Enterprise_ as interpreter. +The vessels sailed from Plymouth on the 20th of January 1850, and +reached the Sandwich Islands on the 29th of June. Meantime the +_Herald_, Captain Kellet, had been ordered up from Oahu to Behring's +Straits, to assist in the search. At Petropaulski she met the Royal +Thames Yacht Club schooner _Mary Dawson_, owned by Mr Shedden, who had +come along the Chinese coast to Behring's Straits, also in search of Sir +John Franklin. After exploring for some time in company, they were +compelled by the ice to leave the Straits; but the _Plover_ wintered +there, while Lieutenant Pullen led a boat expedition of a most arduous +nature along the northern shores of America, towards the Hudson's Bay +establishment on the Mackenzie River. Sir John Richardson also led a +land party from the south to the Polar seas, but was compelled to return +without discovering any trace of the expedition. + +In 1846, also, the Hudson's Bay Company sent out an expedition, +commanded by Dr John Rae, to survey the unexplored portion of the +American continent, between the farther point reached by Dease and +Simpson and the strait of the Fury and Hecla. + +In the year 1850 several expeditions were sent out. The first consisted +of HMS _Resolute_ and _Assistance_, Captain Ommaney, with the +screw-steamers _Pioneer_, Lieutenant Osborn, and _Intrepid_, Lieutenant +Cator, as tenders, under the command of Captain Horatio T. Austin, in +the _Resolute_. Their chief aim was to visit Melville Island, and to +explore the shores of Wellington Channel, and the coast about Cape +Walker. The ships were provisioned for three years, and a transport +completed their supply at Whalefish Islands. + +No expedition ever left England with a greater prospect of success, all +engaged in it being enthusiastically resolved to use every exertion to +advance the noble cause. + +The ships were commissioned on the 28th of February 1850, and left +England the 3rd of May. On the 16th of June they arrived at the +Whalefish Islands, where they received the remainder of their supply of +provisions from the transport. + +At the same time that Captain Austin's expedition was fitting out, +another was arranged and placed under the command of Mr William Penny, +an experienced whaling captain of Dundee, to act in concert with it. +Mr Penny, by the directions of the Admiralty, proceeded to Aberdeen and +Dundee, where he purchased two new clipper-built vessels, which were +named the _Lady Franklin_ and _Sophia_; the first in compliment to Sir +John's devoted wife, the latter to his admirable niece. These vessels +were placed under Mr Penny's command, with separate instructions direct +from the Admiralty. The ships showed during the voyage the good +judgment employed by Mr Penny in their selection, and the men acquitted +themselves throughout the enterprise in a way to justify the praise +bestowed on them by their associates in the ships-of-war. Mr Penny had +been employed in the Arctic seas since he was twelve years old, and had +commanded a whaling ship for sixteen years. + +The ships left Aberdeen on the 13th of April, but did not fall in with +Captain Austin's squadron till the 28th of June, off Berry Island, on +the west coast of Greenland. + +About the same time that the above-named ships left England, three other +expeditions were despatched; one in the _Prince Albert_, under Commander +Forsyth, chiefly at Lady Franklin's expense. She had a crew of twenty +men. Her mates were W. Kay and W. Wilson, and Mr W.P. Snow acted as +clerk. She sailed from Aberdeen on the 5th of June, and was thus the +last vessel which left England that year. Another in the _Felix_ yacht, +with a tender--the _Mary_--under the veteran Captain Sir John Ross, at +his own charge. The Americans likewise showed a generous sympathy in +the fate of the missing expedition, and sent out one to aid in the +search, under Lieutenant de Haven, in the U.S. brig _Advance_, and the +U.S. vessel _Rescue_, commanded by Mr S.P. Griffen. + +These various expeditions were to examine the different channels up +which it was supposed Sir John Franklin might have endeavoured to work +his way. The result of their examinations proved beyond almost all +doubt that he proceeded up Wellington Channel. + +Without following the ships step by step through their laborious +progress across Baffin's Bay, down Lancaster Sound and Barrow's Straits, +we will carry them at once to Beechey Island, which lies at the +south-eastern extremity of Wellington Channel, just at its entrance into +Barrow's Straits. Here, on the 27th of August, Mr Penny discovered +undoubted traces of Sir John Franklin. Here, accordingly, the ships +assembled to prosecute the examination. Dr Sutherland, who went out in +the _Lady Franklin_, gives the following account of the interesting +event:-- + +"Traces," he observes, "were found to a great extent of the missing +ships: tin canisters in hundreds, pieces of cloth, rope, wood--in large +fragments and in chips; iron in numerous fragments, where the anvil had +stood, and the block which supported it; paper, both written and +printed, with the dates 1844 and 1845; sledge marks in abundance; +depressions in the gravel, resembling wells which they had been digging; +and the graves of three men who had died on board the missing ships in +January and April 1846. One of the shore party was despatched with this +intelligence to Mr Penny, who immediately came on shore, accompanied by +Sir John Ross, Commander Phillips of the _Felix_, Sir John's vessel, +Commander De Haven and Lieutenant Griffiths of the American expedition, +which had joined our ships in Barrow's Straits, and other officers. +There were unequivocal proofs that the missing ships had spent their +first winter in the immediate vicinity of Beechey Island. A finger-post +was picked up, which we at once supposed had been made use of to direct +parties to the ships during winter, if they should happen to have lost +their way in a snowstorm. Captain Parry adopted the same precautions +around his winter quarters at Melville Island; and it is not improbable +some of the posts may be found, after a lapse of thirty years. Our +ideas were, that the ships had wintered in a deep bay between Beechey +Island and Cape Riley, which we called Erebus and Terror Bay. + +"Immediately adjacent to the supposed position of the ships, we found +the site of a large storehouse and workshop, and smaller sites, which +were supposed to have been observatories and other temporary erections. +Meat-tins to the amount of 600 or 700, and a great number of coal-bags, +one of which was marked `T-e-r-r-o-r,' were found. _But there were no +papers found anywhere that had been left by the missing ships_." + +This station, in the opinion of Captain Penny, was occupied by Sir John +Franklin's party until the 3rd of April 1846, if not longer, as a +look-out up Wellington Channel, to watch the first opening of that icy +barrier which seems so frequently to block it up. + +No record, however, was left to show in what direction the bold +explorers had proceeded. With deep regret, therefore, that no further +information could be gained, the various vessels continued the search. +Captain Forsyth had, however, before this returned in the _Prince +Albert_ to England, with news of an interesting discovery made by +Captain Ommaney, of some articles left by Sir John Franklin on Cape +Riley. He reached Aberdeen on the 22nd of October, having been absent +somewhat less than four months. + +Early the next year the _Prince Albert_ was again despatched, under the +command of Mr Kennedy, an old Arctic explorer; but he was unable to +effect more than to prove where Sir John Franklin and his followers were +not. + +Captain Austin's ships were constantly placed in great peril as they +proceeded on their voyage. "The _Assistance_ was hemmed in by the ice +in the centre of Wellington Channel, and was in such imminent danger of +being crushed to pieces, that every preparation was made to desert her," +writes an officer belonging to her. "Each person on board was appointed +to a particular boat, provisions were got on deck, and every two men +were allowed one bag between them for spare clothes, attached to lines +which were passed through the upper deck, ready to be pulled up at any +moment. One day the vessel was raised six feet out of the water by the +pressure of the ice; and it became so probable that she would fall on +her broadside, that the men were employed with shovels and pickaxes in +smoothing a place on the ice for her to lie upon." Again, on the 6th, a +large floe came down upon them with great violence, and, pressing the +vessel against the land ice, lifted her several feet out of the water. +Everyone rushed on deck, with the exception of the carpenter, who coolly +sounded the well to ascertain the depth of water in the hold. For some +hours the ship was in danger of being driven on shore; the ice continued +to grind and pile up round her, while all the ice-anchors were laid out, +one of which was wrenched in two by the tremendous strain, and thrown +high up into the air. The wind, however, providentially changed, the +ice slackened, and they were safe. At length, while Captain Austin's +squadron were secured for the winter in a field of ice between +Cornwallis and Griffiths Islands, Mr Penny and Sir John Ross reached +Assistance Harbour, where they wintered. A variety of means were taken +to amuse the crews during the depth of winter; and, as soon as spring +began, exploring parties went out in every direction. We cannot trace +the progress of the several parties in boats and sledges. Their +persevering struggles serve to prove the existence, at all events, if +that were required, of the heroic endurance of hardships, the +indomitable courage, the invariable cheerfulness under the most +depressing trials, and the unconquerable ardour, in spite of every +obstacle, characteristic of British seamen. About 2000 miles altogether +were traversed by the different parties. Mr Penny made every effort to +ascend Wellington Channel; but his success was trifling compared to his +unwearied endeavours. When his sledge was stopped by open water, and +after incredible labours a boat was brought to the spot, thick-ribbed +ice had collected to impede its progress. All the efforts of the heroic +explorers were in vain. Lieutenant De Haven's ships returned to the +United States, after enduring many hardships; and Captain Austin, Sir +John Ross, and Mr Penny came back to England in the autumn of 1851. + +Another year, however, was not allowed to pass before a further +expedition was entrusted to the command of a talented officer, Sir +Edward Belcher. The _Assistance_ and _Resolute_ were again +commissioned, and, with the _Pioneer_ and _Intrepid_ screw-steamers, +were placed under his orders, many of the officers who before +accompanied Captain Austin volunteering their services. Captain Kellet, +who had returned home in the _Herald_, was appointed to command the +_Resolute_. + +They proceeded early in the spring for Wellington Channel, and, favoured +by an open season, part of the squadron entered that mysterious inlet, +with a favourable breeze, in high health, and with buoyant hopes that +they were about to carry succour to their long-lost countrymen--how +soon, like those of many others, to meet with disappointment! Up that +very channel, it has since been ascertained, the expedition under Sir +John Franklin had gone, but had been compelled, as those in search of it +soon were, to return southward. + +In the meantime, Commander Inglefield, who had first gone out in the +_Isabel_, commissioned the _Phoenix_ steam-sloop, with the _Lady +Franklin_ as a sailing-tender, and proceeded to Baffin's Bay. Mr +Kennedy again went out in the _Isabel_, and the Americans sent forth the +well-known expedition under Dr Kane, whose narrative must be read with +the deepest interest by all, and his early death, the result of the +hardships he endured on that occasion, sincerely deplored. + +While Sir Edward Belcher in the _Assistance_, accompanied by the +_Pioneer_, proceeded up Wellington Channel, Captain Kellet in the +_Resolute_, accompanied by the _Intrepid_, leaving the _North Star_ with +stores at Beechey Island, continued his voyage to Melville Island, which +he reached after encountering many dangers, and where he was frozen up +at Bridport Inlet, on the 11th of September 1852. + +We before narrated how the _Enterprise_ and _Investigator_ left England +in January 1850, and, proceeding round Cape Horn, the latter reached the +Sandwich Islands in June, and sailed again for Behring's Straits the day +before the arrival of her consort. The _Investigator_ had a remarkably +quick passage to Behring's Straits; and after communicating with the +_Herald_, Captain Kellet, off Cape Lisbourne, and exchanging signals +with the _Plover_, which vessel wintered in those seas, she pursued her +course easterly along the north coast of North America, and passed Point +Barrow under press of sail on the 5th of August. Thus it will be seen +that several ships as well as land parties were engaged in the search +for the long-lost crews of the _Erebus_ and _Terror_ at the same time-- +from the east and west as well as from the south. + +Since the 5th of August 1850, no tidings had been received of Captain +McClure and the _Investigator_, till the time that Captain Kellet, who +last saw him in the west, had once more made his way into the Arctic +Ocean from the east, and was now commencing his long winter imprisonment +at Bridport Inlet, Melville Island, in September 1852. The only time +that exploring parties can travel is during daylight in the early autumn +or in the spring. The spring is most fitted for crossing the Frozen +Sea, before the ice breaks up and the cold has become less intense. In +the autumn of 1852, Lieutenant Median, of the _Resolute_, was despatched +by Captain Kellet to explore the coast of Melville Island to the west, +and to form depots of provisions, as were other parties in different +directions. On his return, passing through Winter Harbour, in Melville +Island, at no great distance to the west of Bridport Inlet, what was his +surprise and satisfaction to find in a cairn, a record, with a chart of +his discoveries, left by Captain McClure on the previous May, stating +that he should probably be found in Mercy Harbour, Banks' Land, unless +he should be able to push on through Barrow's Straits, which it seemed +very unlikely that he could have done. This was the first evidence to +the new explorers of the actual existence of a continuous channel from +the Atlantic to the Pacific--that there exists a North-West Passage. + +Most tantalising was it, however, to them to know that at that season +they could not possibly venture across to meet their countrymen. +Indeed, the gallant McClure expressly forbade them in the document they +had discovered. "Any attempt to send succour will only increase the +evil," were his words. The winter passed rapidly away, but it was not +till March that Captain Kellet considered it prudent to send an +expedition across the Straits to where he supposed the _Investigator_ +was to be found. + +We will now trace the progress of the _Investigator_, from the time she +was last seen passing Point Barrow under a press of sail. + +She made the ice on the 2nd of August, and, more than once being nearly +caught by it, she reached Cape Bathurst by the 30th. Rounding it, she +stood east and north, passing the south of Baring Island, which was +called Cape Nelson. She then reached a channel with Baring Island on +the west, and another land on the east, to which the name of Prince +Albert's Land was given, when, on the 30th of September, she was fairly +frozen in. Prince Albert's Land was taken possession of on the 8th of +October, in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty, by Captain McClure, +with a party of officers and men, who landed, and planted a staff with a +flag to it on the shore. On their return to the ship, they found that +the land and sea ice had separated, and they were alarmed with the +prospect of having to remain on shore during the whole of an Arctic +autumn night. Happily, their signals were at last seen, and a party, +with two of Halkett's inflatable boats, was sent to their assistance. +In consequence of the excessive roughness of the ice, no other boat +could have been got across. "By these means a large party were +relieved, who were without tents, clothing, fuel, provisions, or in any +way provided to withstand the severities of a Polar night, with the +thermometer eight degrees _minus_." We take the opportunity of advising +that all vessels should be provided with one or more of these admirable +contrivances. They may be of any size, from that in which one man alone +can sit, to one capable of carrying fifty people. One might always be +kept on deck, which could be launched in a moment should a man fall +overboard. By this means numberless lives might be saved. + +Captain McClure, feeling assured that the ship was immovably fixed for +the winter, started with a sledge party on the 21st, to proceed to the +north-east, in the hopes of discovering Barrow's Straits; and, after +travelling for upwards of seventy miles, they had the intense +gratification, on the 26th of October, of pitching their tents on its +shores. The next morning, before sunrise, he and Mr Court ascended a +hill, 600 feet in height, whence they could command a view of forty or +fifty miles over the Straits, though the opposite shore of Melville +Island could not be discerned. They found, however, by their +observations, that Sir Edward Parry had very correctly marked the loom +of the land on which they stood; and that thus the long-vexed question +was solved, and that, whatever others might have done, or might be +doing, they had, at all events, found a watery way from the Pacific to +the Atlantic Oceans. + +They reached the ship again on the 31st, narrowly escaping destruction +in a fog, when Captain McClure had to wander about during a whole night +on a floe, with the thermometer from five to fifteen degrees below zero. +And now the first winter of the _Investigator_ was commenced in those +ice-bound regions. By the middle of April, expeditions were sent out in +all directions, and depots of provisions established for the relief of +the long-lost companions of Sir John Franklin. + +Both sides of the Prince of Wales' Straits were thoroughly explored, as +was Baring Island and Prince Albert's Land as far as its southern shore, +known as Wollaston Land,--a continuous coast-line being thus laid down +along the whole southern shore of Barrow's Straits, and that of the +north shore of the American continent, united with the discoveries of +previous explorers. This, it will be remembered, was the winter of +1850-51. + +When the short summer once more returned, Captain McClure made every +endeavour to get the ship to the north-east, through the Prince of +Wales' Straits into Barrow's Straits, but in vain. So closely was the +ice packed at the north-east end, that, after running great hazard of +shipwreck, he was compelled to give up the attempt on the 16th of July, +when only twenty-five miles distant from Barrow's Straits, and bearing +up, he ran to the south and west round Baring Island. The voyage off +the west coast of that large island was full of danger, the ship +frequently narrowly escaping being cast away, till at length, with a +fair breeze, she entered Banks' Straits, which, leading into Melville +Sound, may be looked upon as the western end of Barrow's Straits. They +were but some eighty miles distant from Barrow's Straits, with every +prospect of gaining them, and being able the following season to return +home, when a heavy barrier of ice rose before them to intercept their +progress. Backward they were driven into a deep bay, to which the name +of the Bay of Mercy was given, as an acknowledgment of the merciful way +in which they had been preserved from so many dangers. They had +actually been only five days under weigh after leaving their winter +quarters in Prince of Wales' Straits. + +As in the previous season, their time was fully occupied in making +exploring expeditions in all directions, and in shooting excursions. +With the exception of about three weeks in January, when it was too dark +to shoot, enough game was killed to enable them to enjoy a meal of fresh +meat three days in the fortnight. + +On the 11th of April, Captain McClure, with Mr Court, second master, +and a sledge party, started to cross the ice on sledges, to visit Winter +Harbour, in Melville Island. Soon after leaving the ship a thick fog +came on, and continued for several days, so that their destination was +not reached till the 28th. + +We must picture to ourselves the sort of work these brave men had to go +through, to do full justice to their perseverance and courage,--day +after day travelling on, dragging their sledges across the frozen +strait, often in the face of biting winds, encamping night after night +with simply a tent to shelter them and a spirit-lamp only with which to +cook their food or to afford them warmth. Yet thus, during that +eventful period in the history of Arctic discovery, were many hundred +British seamen employed in different portions of the icy ocean, all +nobly engaged in the search for their lost countrymen and brother +sailors. Not only for month after month, but year after year,--the only +interruption being the dark, long night of mid-winter, and the brief +period of summer navigation,--when, amid icebergs and ice-fields, +whirled here and there, tossed by storms, and urged impetuously on by +currents, they forced their way onward, in the hope of gaining the open +ocean in another hemisphere. + +At Winter Harbour Captain McClure found a large fragment of sandstone, +with this inscription--"His Britannic Majesty's ships _Hecla_ and +_Griper_, Commanders Parry and Lyddon, wintered in the adjacent harbour +during the winter of 1819-20. _A. Fisher, sculpsit_." Lieutenant +McClintock had left a notice of his visit on the previous year on the +same fragment, and protected it by a large cairn. In this cairn Captain +McClure now deposited his own despatches, giving a plan of the way he +intended to proceed under the various circumstances which might occur. +One portion especially is worthy of notice. + +After stating his intention of visiting Port Leopold, in Barrow's +Straits, and of leaving there information of the route he purposed to +pursue, he says: "Should no intimation be found of our having been +there, it may be at once surmised that some fatal catastrophe has +happened, either from being carried into the Polar Sea, or smashed in +Barrow's Straits, and no survivors left. If such should be the case, it +will then be quite unnecessary to penetrate farther to the westward to +our relief, as, by the period that any vessel could reach that port, we +must, from want of provisions, all have perished; in such case I would +submit that the officer may be directed to return, and by no means incur +the danger of losing other lives in quest of those who will then be no +more." Admirable indeed is the calm courage with which he contemplated +that fearful contingency which we now know too well overtook the +expedition of which he was in quest, and his generous anxiety that no +more valuable lives should be sacrificed in searching for him. +Accomplishing in ten days what occupied eighteen upon the outward trip, +the party reached the ship on the 9th of May. Summer was approaching. +Some deer and musk oxen were shot. By the 10th of August the frozen-up +mariners began to entertain the joyful hopes of being liberated. Lanes +of water were observed to seaward, and along the cliffs of Banks' Land +there was a clear space of six miles in width extending along them as +far as the eye could reach; and on the 12th the wind, which had been for +some time from the northward, veered to the south, which had the effect +of separating the ice from that of the bay entirely across the entrance. +Every moment they were in expectation of their release, and then a few +days' sail would carry them into Barrow's Straits, and perhaps into +Baffin's Bay itself. Shortly, however, the wind changed to the +northward, the ice again closed: in vain they waited for it to open. + +On the 20th the temperature fell to 27 degrees, and the entire bay was +frozen over. The ice never again opened, and the usual preparations +were made for passing a third winter in those Arctic seas. It is +wonderful to observe how officers and men kept up their spirits, and how +cheerfully they bore their trials and privations. They had for a year +been placed on two-thirds allowance of provisions; the consumption was +still further decreased, to enable them to exist another eighteen +months. The winter was severe, but passed away without sickness; and +now Captain McClure informed his crew that it was his purpose to send a +portion home in a boat by Baffin's Bay. The intended travellers were +put on full allowance, and all preparations were made for their starting +on the 15th of April. + +One day towards the end of March, Captain McClure and his first +lieutenant were taking their daily exercise on the floe near the ship, +when they saw running towards them a person whom they supposed to be one +of their own men chased by a bear. They hurried on, when, to their +surprise, they discovered that he was a stranger, his face so blackened +by the smoke from the oil-lamp that his features could not be +recognised. "Who are you? Where are you come from?" + +"Lieutenant Pim--_Herald_--Captain Kellet," was the answer. Wonderful +indeed it seemed; for Lieutenant Pim was the last person with whom the +captain of the _Investigator_ had shaken hands in Behring's Straits. It +was some time before Lieutenant Pim could find words to express himself, +when he announced that he was ahead of his party, who had crossed from +the winter quarters of the _Resolute_ in Bridport Inlet, Melville +Island. Captain McClure then set out with a party of officers and men +to visit the _Resolute_, which ship was reached on the 19th of April +1853, after traversing a distance of 170 miles. + +Great was the satisfaction of the two gallant captains at thus again +meeting. It was finally resolved that a portion of the crews of both +ships should be sent home, while the remainder should stay in the hopes +of extricating them during the coming summer. As, however, many of the +_Investigator's_ crew were suffering from scurvy, only a small number +were able to continue the journey westward, under command of Lieutenant +Cresswell and Lieutenant Wynniett. + +On the 2nd of June they arrived on board the _North Star_, Captain +Pullen, at Beechey Island. The distance was 300 miles, and it had taken +them four weeks to perform the journey. + +On the 8th of August the _Phoenix_ screw-steamer, Captain Inglefield, +arrived. At that time Captain Pullen had been away a month up +Wellington Channel, to communicate with Sir Edward Belcher. By the time +he returned, the season had so much advanced, that it was decided to +send back the _Phoenix_ with Lieutenant Cresswell and his party. On the +4th of October they landed at Thurso, and on the 7th of October arrived +at the Admiralty, with the announcement of the safety of the +_Investigator_, and the tidings that the geographical question of the +existence of the long-sought-for North-West Passage had been +satisfactorily solved. + +We must now turn briefly to narrate the fate of the numerous exploring +vessels left in the Arctic regions at the setting in of the winter of +1853-54. + +Before we do so, we must, however, give a brief account of the progress +made by the persevering and brave Captain Collinson. + +When, in 1850, Captain McClure succeeded in reaching the ice through +Behring's Straits, the _Enterprise_, from having been somewhat longer on +her voyage, was not so fortunate, and was compelled to winter in Port +Clarence. Hence the _Enterprise_ again sailed on the 10th of July 1851, +to push her way eastward along the American coast, visiting the islands +which form the northern shore of the channel. Here he found several +depots and marks left by Captain McClure in the spring or in the +previous autumn. The _Enterprise_ finally was frozen in, in a sheltered +harbour in Prince Albert's Land, near the entrance of Prince of Wales' +Straits. + +Several long and hazardous expeditions were performed on foot with +sledges during the spring of 1852, both north and east, being out +between forty and fifty days. Again putting to sea, the _Enterprise_ +passed through Dolphin and Union Straits and Dean's Straits eastward. +By the 26th of September the _Enterprise_ reached Cambridge Bay, when +she was again frozen in, to pass her third winter in the ice--one of the +most severe ever experienced in those regions. During the next spring, +that of 1853, Captain Collinson, with his Lieutenants Jago, Parkes, and +other officers, were employed in pushing on their laborious explorations +in the direction where they hoped some traces of their long-lost +countrymen might be found. In latitude 70 degrees 3 minutes north and +longitude 101 degrees west they fell in with a cairn erected by Dr Rae, +from which they obtained the first intimation that any parties had +preceded them in the search, and their observations tended to +corroborate his, namely, that the ice, _except in extraordinary seasons, +does not leave the east coast of Victoria Land_. + +Little did Captain Collinson know that from the shore on which he stood, +as he looked eastward, he gazed on the very ice-field in which the +_Erebus_ and _Terror_ had been beset, and that amid it, not many miles +distant, the brave, the noble Franklin had breathed his last--that it +was during an extraordinary season the two exploring ships had entered +the icy snare, from which they were never to be released. + +But we are anticipating the events of our deeply interesting and +melancholy history. + +Captain Collinson and his companions reached their ship on the 31st of +May, after an absence of forty-nine days. It will be thus seen, that in +justice the honour should be awarded to Captain Collinson and his +followers, equally with Captain McClure and his, of having discovered +the North-West Passage. Indeed, it is believed that it is only by the +way he came, if any passage is practicable, that a ship could get round +from the east to the west. + +On the 10th August the _Enterprise_ once more put to sea, steering +westward. The Straits were found free of ice till they were abreast of +the mouth of the Coppermine River, where they were detained till the +23rd. They passed Cape Bathurst on the 31st, again encountering ice; +Herschel Island on the 5th of September; and, after overcoming various +obstacles, were finally fixed for the winter on the west side of Camden +Bay. + +The season passed mildly away. In the spring more expeditions were +made, and visits received from the Esquimaux. The ship was not free +till the 20th of July. She reached Port Clarence on the 21st of August; +and at length Captain Collinson was able to send home despatches +announcing the safety of his ship, officers, and crew. + +We are inclined to consider Captain Collinson's voyage, with the light +of the information subsequently given us, not only as the most +remarkable of all the Arctic voyages, but as guided by the greatest +wisdom, and executed with a courage, forethought, and perseverance +unsurpassed. He may well claim the honour of being "the first navigator +who took a ship of 530 tons through the narrow Dolphin and Union Straits +and Dease's Strait, ice-strewn and rocky as they are, in safety to +Cambridge Bay (105 degrees west), preserved his men in health through +three winters, and finally brought them home in health and his ship in +safety." + +We must now return to Sir Edward Belcher's expedition. The greatest +service it rendered was through Captain Kellet, by whose means the brave +Captain McClure and his crew were rescued from their perilous position. +We left the _Resolute_ and _Intrepid_ on the northern side of the +Strait, frozen up in Bridport Inlet, in the spring of 1853. Although a +northern gale drove them to sea during the summer, when they drifted +about for eighty-seven days helplessly in the pack till off Cape +Cockburn, on the 12th of November they were again frozen in; and the +_Investigator_, also remaining fixed, was abandoned, the officers and +crew spending the winter on board the _Resolute_. The _Assistance_ and +_Pioneer_ being likewise frozen in, Captain Kellet received orders from +Sir Edward Belcher to abandon his part of the squadron; and on the 26th +of August the two last-named ships were also abandoned, the officers and +crews arriving safely on board the _North Star_ on the following day at +Beechey Island. Fortunately the next day the _North Star_ met the +_Phoenix_ and _Talbot_, when all the ships returned to England. + +All due praise must be awarded to the gallant officers and men of the +expedition, who exerted themselves heroically in the great cause they +had undertaken. An Arctic passage was discovered; McClure and his +followers performed it _on the ice_, probably the only way in which it +ever will be performed; but the most important Arctic mystery was still +unsolved--the fate of Franklin remained undiscovered. It was only known +where he was not. As if to teach all those engaged in that +well-arranged, powerful expedition a lesson of humility, the discovery +was reserved for others with far humbler means at their disposal. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +VOYAGE OF THE FOX. + +None of the numerous expeditions sent forth to discover traces of Sir +John Franklin's expedition afford matter of greater interest than that +of the little yacht the _Fox_, while it has surpassed all in +successfully clearing up the mystery which for ten long years or more +hung over the fate of that gallant Arctic explorer and his brave +companions. + +The _Fox_, a screw-steamer of 177 tons, was the property of Lady +Franklin, and the command of her was confided to Captain McClintock, RN, +who had already made several Arctic voyages. He had as officers, +Lieutenant Hobson, RN, and Captain Allan Young, a noble-minded commander +of the mercantile marine; with Dr Walker as surgeon, and Mr Carl +Petersen as interpreter. She was prepared at Aberdeen for her arduous +undertaking, and sailed 1st of July 1857. She entered Baffin's Bay, and +had got as far north as Melville Bay, on its north-west shore, when she +was beset by the ice early in September, and there blocked up for the +winter. + +Soon after midnight on the 25th of April 1858, she was once more under +weigh, and forcing her way out from among huge masses of ice thrown in +on her by the ocean swell. Repeatedly the frozen masses were hurled +against the sharp iron bow, causing the vessel to shake violently, the +bells to ring, and almost knocking the crew off their feet. On one +occasion the ice stopped the screw for some minutes. Anxious moments +those--"After that day's experience I can understand how men's hair has +turned grey in a few hours," says Captain McClintock. + +Touching at the Danish settlements to refit, and at Pond's Bay, the +little _Fox_, narrowly escaping destruction, at length reached Beechey +Island on the 11th of August. Here a tablet was erected to the memory +of Sir John Franklin and his officers and crew, and the _Fox_, having +filled up with stores and coals from the depot there, left again on the +16th. + +On the 18th she had run twenty-five miles down Peel's Straits, the hopes +of all raised to the utmost, when a pack of ice appeared, barring their +farther progress. Putting about, she visited the depot at Port Leopold, +where boats and an abundant supply of all sorts of articles were found, +which, in case of the destruction of their own vessel, would afford the +explorers a fair prospect of escape. + +Far different was the condition of Arctic explorers now, than it had +been when Franklin sailed on his fatal expedition. Then they had to +depend entirely on their own resources; now, through the sagacity and +forethought of those who sent them forth, depots of provisions and boats +and sledges, and even huts, had been provided, to afford every possible +means of escape should any disaster overtake their ships. + +Captain McClintock, on leaving Leopold Harbour, sailed north down Prince +Regent's Inlet, but in vain attempted to force a passage through any +channel to the east. At last he returned some way north to Bellot's +Straits, discovered by Mr Kennedy, and called after his unfortunate +companion, Lieutenant Bellot, of the French navy, who lost his life when +belonging to Sir Edward Belcher's expedition. He passed some distance +through Bellot's Straits, and the _Fox_ was finally beset, on the 28th +September, in a beautiful little harbour in them, to which the name of +Kennedy Harbour was given. + +Depots were now established by travelling parties to the north-east, +some eighty miles or more from the ship, and all preparations made for +prosecuting their interesting search in the spring. This commenced the +winter of 1858-59, the second passed by the _Fox_ in the ice. + +On the 17th February, Captain McClintock started with Mr Petersen and +one man, Thompson, on a long pedestrian expedition, with two sledges +drawn by dogs. Lieutenant Hobson set off about the same time, as did +also Captain Young,--all three expeditions in different directions, +towards the south; the first two accomplished several hundred miles to +King William's Island. + +Great indeed were the trials and hardships they underwent in these +expeditions. Day after day they trudged on, employed for two hours each +evening, before they could take their food or go to rest, in building +their snow huts, exposed to biting winds, to snow and sleet, and often +to dense fogs. + +On one occasion one man alone of a whole party escaped being struck by +snow-blindness; and he had to lead them with their packs, and to guide +them back to the vessel. How terrible would have been their fate had he +also been struck with blindness! + +On the west coast of King William's Island, which is separated by a +broad channel from the mainland of America, they fell in with several +families of Esquimaux, among whom numerous relics of the Franklin +expedition were discovered. The most interesting were purchased. +Farther north, on the west coast, a cairn was found, within which was a +paper with the announcement of Sir John Franklin's death, and with the +sad statement, written at a subsequent period, that it had been found +necessary to abandon the ships and to proceed to the southward. + +A boat on runners also was found with two skeletons in her, and another +skeleton at a distance--all too plainly telling a tale which shall be +narrated hereafter. The Esquimaux also said that they had seen men sink +down and die along the shore; and that one ship had gone down crushed by +the ice, and that another had been driven on shore. With this terrible +elucidation of the long-continued mystery, only partly cleared up before +by Dr Rae, they began their return journey. + +On the 19th of June Captain McClintock reached his ship, the ice having +begun to melt with the increased warmth of the weather. August arrived, +and the explorers began to look out anxiously for the breaking up of the +ice. + +At last, on the 10th, a favourable breeze drove the ice out of the bay, +and the trim little _Fox_, under sail and steam, merrily darted out of +her prison, and hurried north towards Barrow's Straits. She reached +Baffin's Bay, and, touching at the Danish settlements, arrived in the +English Channel on the 20th of September, having made the passage under +sail in nineteen days from Greenland. + +THE FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION. + +The last intelligence which had been received of the _Erebus_ and +_Terror_ was from the whalers in July 1845, at Melville Bay. Thence the +expedition passed on through Lancaster Sound to Barrow's Straits, and +entered Wellington Channel, the southern entrance to which had been +discovered by Sir Edward Parry in 1819. Up by it the ships sailed for +150 miles, when, being stopped by the ice, they returned south by a new +channel into Barrow's Straits, and passed the winter of 1845-46 at +Beechey Island. In 1846 they proceeded to the south-west, and +ultimately reached within twelve miles of the north entrance of King +William's Land. + +Here they spent the winter of 1846-47, as far as can be known, in the +enjoyment of good health, and with the intention and hope of prosecuting +their voyage to the westward through the only channel likely to be open +along the northern shore of America, and from the known portion of which +they were then only ninety miles distant. + +On Monday the 24th May 1847, Lieutenant Gore, with Mr Des Voeux, mate, +and a party of six men, left the ship, and proceeded for some purpose to +King William's Island, where, on Point Victory, he deposited a document +stating that Sir John Franklin and all were well. + +This document was afterwards visited by Captain Crozier, and a brief but +sad statement of after events written on it. In less than three weeks +after that time, the brave, kind, and well-beloved commander of the +expedition, Sir John Franklin, had ceased to breathe, as Captain Crozier +states that he died on the 11th of June 1847. Who can doubt that his +life was taken by a merciful Providence before he could become aware of +the dreadful doom about to overtake his gallant followers? + +Probably Lieutenant Gore returned from that journey of exploration, as +Captain Crozier speaks of him as the late Commander Gore, showing that +on the death of their chief he had been raised a step in rank; but not +long to enjoy it--he having among others passed away. The command of +the expedition now devolved on Captain Crozier; but who can picture his +anxiety and that of his officers and men, as the summer of 1847 drew +on--the sea open to the north and south, but the ships immovably fixed +in the vast mass of ice driven down upon them from Melville Sound? How +bitter must have been their grief and disappointment when August and +September passed away, and they found that they must pass another +winter, that of 1847-48, in those regions! We know, too, that the ships +were only provisioned up to 1848. + +Painfully that dreary winter must have passed away, and sad must have +been the feelings of Captains Crozier and Fitzjames when they came to +the resolution of abandoning the ships, by which a high sense of duty +had induced them hitherto to remain. + +Up to 22nd April 1848, the total loss by deaths had been nine officers +and fifteen men. On the 22nd April 1848, Captains Crozier and +Fitzjames, with their officers and crews, consisting of 105 men, +abandoned their ice-bound ships, and landed on the 25th on King +William's Island, and started the following day for Back's Fish River, +which runs through the Hudson's Bay territories from the south. + +Their hope was that they might, voyaging up that river, at length reach +some of the Hudson's Bay Company's trading posts. That they reached the +mouth of Fish River we have melancholy evidence. Here they probably +encamped, and, when the season advanced, proceeded some way up, but, +finding the difficulties of the navigation insurmountable, they returned +to the mouth of the river, with the intention perhaps of proceeding +along the coast to the westward through the North-West Passage, which +they now knew for a certainty to exist. Before, however, they could do +this, it was necessary to send to the ships for stores and any +provisions which might have remained on board. + +For this purpose a strong party must have been despatched with a boat on +a sledge, showing that they started rather early in the summer season, +before the Straits were frozen over, or late in the spring, when they +might expect to have to return by water. They greatly overrated their +strength. When still eighty miles from the ships, they left the boat +with two or more invalids in her, and a variety of valuables, hoping to +reach the ships more speedily, and to return to her. One or more of +those left with the boat attempted to follow, and dropped by the way. +Some, perhaps, reached the ships, and attempted to regain the boat; but +the greater number, overcome with hunger, disease, and cold, fell on +their northward journey, never to rise again. + +Two skeletons were found in the boat; and one, supposed to be that of a +steward, between her and the ships. Of the ships, one was seen by the +Esquimaux to go down, while the other drove on shore with one body only +on board, probably that of a person who had died during the final visit. +Certain it is that no one regained the boat on their return journey to +the south. Plate and vast quantities of clothing were found along the +route, showing that on leaving the ships the hapless men considered +themselves capable of considerable exertion; and as they carried a large +amount of powder and shot, they undoubtedly hoped to maintain themselves +by means of their guns. + +In vain did the main body at the mouth of Back's Fish River wait the +return of their shipmates. Week after week, month after month, passed +by--they did not appear. How long they remained encamped on this bleak +and barren coast it is difficult to determine. If the account received +by Dr Rae is to be credited, it was not till the spring of 1850 that +the survivors of that gallant band made a last desperate attempt to push +their way inland, and sank down, as had their companions in suffering +many months before them. Thus perished the whole of that gallant band +of true-hearted seamen, who, with high hopes and spirits, had left +England five years before in the prosecution of an undertaking which +they had every reason to believe would so greatly redound to the honour +and glory of England, and to their own high renown. The task was +accomplished; a knowledge of the North-West Passage was obtained. Their +lives were sacrificed in the attainment; but they won names imperishable +in English naval history, and gave another example of the undaunted +courage, hardihood, and perseverance of British seamen. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE--1875. + +Since the numerous expeditions connected with the search for Sir John +Franklin, England had sent forth none towards the North Pole. Other +nations, in the meantime, had been making efforts to reach the +long-desired goal. Influenced by the representations of numerous +officers and other scientific men interested in Arctic discovery, the +British Government at length came to the resolution of despatching some +ships under the command of naval officers, who were to penetrate through +Smith's Sound, to ascertain whether an open Polar sea existed, and to +endeavour to reach the North Pole. + +Two screw-steamers, the _Alert_ of 751 tons, and the _Discovery_ of 668 +tons,--being strengthened by every means science could devise for +resisting the Polar ice,--were fitted out, and Captain Nares was +selected to command the expedition. Commander Markham, who had +considerable experience, was appointed to act under him on board the +_Alert_. Captain Nares and Commander Markham were the only two officers +in the expedition who had previously crossed the Arctic Circle, but all +the others were selected for their known high character and scientific +attainments. + +The other officers of the _Alert_ were Lieutenants Aldrich, Parr, +Giffard, May, and Sub-Lieutenant Egerton. Various important duties +connected with the scientific objects of the expedition were undertaken +by them. Dr Colan, the fleet surgeon, was known as a good ethnologist; +Dr Moss, in addition to other scientific attainments, was an excellent +artist. Captain Fielden went as ornithologist; Mr Wootton, the senior +engineer, was an officer of experience; Mr White was the photographer +of the _Alert_; and Mr Pullen, the chaplain, was a botanist. Besides +the officers, the complement of the _Alert_ was made up of petty +officers, able seamen, marines, and others, forty-eight in all, some of +whom were well able to assist the superior officers in their scientific +duties. Christian Neil Petersen, a Dane, who had served in the +expedition of Dr Hayes, was engaged as interpreter and dog-driver on +board the _Alert_. + +The _Discovery_ was commanded by Captain Henry Stephenson. His active +staff consisted of Lieutenants Beaumont, Rawson, Archer, Fulford; +Sub-Lieutenant Conybeare; Doctors Ninnis and Coppinger; engineers +Gartmel and Miller; assistant paymaster Mitchell, a photographer and +good artist. Mr Hodson was the chaplain, and Mr Hart the botanist. + +Their scientific duties were divided like those of the officers of the +_Alert_. HM steamship _Valorous_ was at the same time commissioned by +Captain Loftus Jones to accompany the exploring ships up Davis' Straits +as far as Disco, where she was to fill them up with the coals and +provisions which she carried for the purpose. She was an old +paddle-wheel steamer of 1200 tons, and was but ill fitted to withstand +the ice she was likely to encounter in those seas. Loud cheers from +thousands of spectators rose in the air, as, on the 29th of May 1875, +the three ships steamed out of Portsmouth harbour and proceeded towards +Bantry Bay, which they left on the 2nd of June for their voyage across +the Atlantic. Heavy gales were met with, which tried the gear of the +ships, the _Alert_ and the _Discovery_ each losing a valuable +whale-boat, besides receiving other damage. The _Valorous_ reached +Godhaven on the 4th of July, and the _Alert_ and _Discovery_ arrived +there on the 6th. Some days were spent here in transferring the coals +and stores brought out by the _Valorous_ to the two exploring ships--the +_Alert_ receiving also twenty-four dogs, which had been provided by the +Danish Government. The ships then proceeded, accompanied by the +_Valorous_, to Riltenbenk, where the _Discovery_ received her twenty +dogs, and an Eskimo named Frederik, who came on board with his kayak. + +On the 17th of July the _Alert_ and _Discovery_ steamed northward on +their adventurous expedition, while the _Valorous_ proceeded towards the +Disco shore, where, from its coal cliffs, she was to supply herself with +fuel. + +A fog coming on hid the ships from each other. After running through a +perfectly clear sea for some distance, the weather being fine, Captain +Nares determined to take his ships through the middle ice of Baffin's +Bay, instead of passing round by Melville Bay. On the 24th of July the +pack was entered, but the floes were rotten, and at first not more than +250 yards in diameter. As the ships advanced, the ice became closer, +and the floes of much larger circumference, making it necessary to look +out for channels. The commanders were constantly in the crow's nests, +and succeeded at length in carrying their ships through, in the space of +thirty-four hours, although not without some scratches, and having to +put on full steam. + +They found the entrance to Smith's Sound perfectly clear of ice, none +drifting southward, although there was a fresh northerly breeze. The +scene of the wreck of the _Polaris_ was visited, and either the log, or +a copy, of the ill-fated vessel discovered. The next point touched at +was Cape Isabella, on the 29th of July. Here a cairn with a small depot +of provisions was erected, at an elevation of 700 feet from the water, +by the crew of the _Alert_, while the _Discovery_ pushed forward. On +the 30th of July the _Discovery_ was beset off Cape Sabine, by a close +pack five or six miles broad. The _Alert_, having bored through it, +joined her, and both ships spent three days, sometimes getting under +weigh and attempting to escape, until the 4th of August, when the pack +moving forward enabled them to round Cape Sabine. Proceeding twenty +miles farther along the south side of Hayes Sound, they put into a snug +harbour, near which was discovered a valley with abundance of +vegetation, and traces of musk oxen. Finding, however, that there was +no channel in that direction, they bore away to the eastward, towards +Cape Albert. Here a clear space of water appeared along the shore of +the mainland; but the coast affording no protection, they ran into the +pack, with the expectation of forcing their way through. In this they +were disappointed, and, unable to extricate themselves, they were +drifting at a fearful rate towards an iceberg. The _Discovery_ seemed +to be in the greatest danger, but suddenly the floe wheeled round, and +the icy mountain was seen tearing its way through the surface ice +directly down on the _Alert_. Her destruction seemed inevitable, when, +at the distance of scarcely a hundred yards, the iceberg turned over, +the floe splitting up, when the ship, although nipped, made her escape. +They both then got round in the wake of the iceberg. For the next +twenty-four hours they were struggling towards the shore, through ice +four feet thick, amidst bergs of 300 feet in diameter, although only +from twenty to forty high. At length successful, they reached, on the +8th of August, the land of Victoria. Thus they pushed forward, +sometimes struggling with the ice, and boring their way through the +packs, at others making progress by an open space near the shore. So +closely-packed was the ice, that the channel by which the ships advanced +was often immediately closed astern, so that they would have found it as +difficult to return as to proceed northward. + +On the 25th August, after many hairbreadth escapes, a sheltered harbour +was reached on the west side of the channel in Hall's Basin, north of +Lady Franklin's Sound, in latitude 81 degrees 44 minutes north. Here +the _Discovery_ was secured for the winter, while the _Alert_, as it had +been arranged, pushed onwards, for the purpose of proceeding as far as +possible through the supposed open Polar Sea, and reaching, some might +have vainly hoped, the Pole itself. + +After rounding the north-east point of Grant's Land, instead of +discovering, as had been expected, a continuous coast leading a hundred +miles farther towards the north, the _Alert_ found herself on the +confines of what was evidently a very extensive sea, but covered as far +as the eye could reach by closely-packed ice of prodigious thickness. +Through this ice it was at once seen that it would be impossible to +penetrate. The ship, indeed, herself was placed in the greatest peril, +for the ice was seen bearing down upon her while she lay unable to +escape, with a rock-bound coast to the southward, and no harbour in +which to seek for refuge. + +Happily she was saved by the extraordinary depth to which the ice sank; +for the mass grounding on the beach, formed a barrier inside of which +she was tolerably safe. We can well enter into the disappointment of +those who expected to have found the long-talked-of open Polar Sea, +instead of which ice, evidently of great age and thickness, the +accumulation, it might be, of centuries, and resembling rather low +floating icebergs massed together, than the ordinary appearance of +salt-water. When two vast floes meet, the lighter portions floating +between the closing masses are broken up and thrown over their surface, +sometimes to the height of fifty feet above the water, forming a +succession of ice-hills of the most rugged description. + +Although Captain Nares saw at once the almost impracticable character of +the ice in the direction of the Pole, and which there was every +probability would prove continuous, he resolved, as soon as the weather +would allow, to despatch a sledge party in the desired direction. The +supposed Polar Sea was appropriately named the "Palaeocrystic Sea," or +"Sea of Ancient Ice." + +The ice hitherto met with was seldom more than from two to ten feet in +thickness; that which was now stretched before them was found to measure +from eighty to one hundred and twenty feet in depth, its lowest part +being fifteen feet above the water-line. This enormous thickness was +produced in consequence of its being shut up in the Polar Sea, with few +outlets by which it could escape to the southward, the ice of one season +being added in succession to that of the previous year. + +The two ships were now in their winter quarters,--the _Alert_ off the +coast of Grant's Land, with a bleak shore to the southward, and to the +north a vast wilderness of rugged ice, extending in all probability to +the Pole, in latitude 82 degrees 27 minutes, many miles farther than any +ship had ever attained; while the _Discovery_ was seventy miles off, in +a harbour on the coast of Greenland, inside Smith's Sound, in latitude +81 degrees 45 minutes. Lieutenant Rawson, with a party of men, had come +on board the _Alert_ in order to convey notice of her position to the +_Discovery_. He made two determined attempts to perform the journey +between the two ships without success, owing to the ice remaining +unfrozen till late in the autumn in Robson's Channel. He and his men +had therefore to pass the winter on board the _Alert_. As soon as the +safety of the _Alert_ was secured, sledge parties were sent on along the +shore to the southward and westward, with boats and provisions for the +use of the travelling parties in the spring, under the command of +Commander Markham and Lieutenant Aldrich. The latter advanced three +miles beyond Sir Edward Parry's most northward position, and from a +mountain 2000 feet high sighted land towards the west-north-west; but no +land was seen to the northward. On their return journey, which lasted +for twenty days, most of the people were frost-bitten in the feet. + +The winter was passed by the officers and crews of the two ships much in +the same way. Banks of snow were heaped round the vessels, and the +decks covered ten feet thick with snow to keep out the cold from below, +the only apertures being those required for ventilation or egress. The +interiors of the ships being warmed by hot-water pipes, a comparatively +comfortable atmosphere below was maintained. The time was passed by +holding schools, with theatricals, penny readings, and games of all +sorts. As soon as travelling was possible, on the 12th of March, +Lieutenant Rawson and Mr Egerton, accompanied by Neil Petersen and his +dog sledge, set off from the _Alert_ to communicate with the +_Discovery_, the temperature being at this time forty degrees below +zero. Two days after leaving the ship Petersen was taken ill. A camp +was pitched, but, as he showed no signs of recovering, the officers +determined to return. At the utmost risk to themselves they succeeded +in retaining heat in the body of the sufferer, and were thus able to +bring him alive to the ship; but his feet, which they were unable to +protect, were so severely frost-bitten that it was found necessary to +amputate both of them, from the effects of which operation he died two +months afterwards. The following week, the two officers with fresh men +set out and succeeded in reaching the _Discovery_, thus relieving those +on board of the anxiety they had felt in regard to her consort's safety. +During the first week in April, the exploring parties, with sledges +from both ships, started off in various directions. The party selected +to make the desperate attempt to reach the North Pole was under the +charge of Commander Markham and Lieutenant Parr. Such was the rough +nature of the ice, that a road had to be formed in many places by +pickaxes before an advance could be made, even with light loads. The +sledges having thus to go backwards and forwards over the same road, the +advance was very slow, averaging not more than a mile and a quarter each +day. Unable to obtain any fresh provisions, their food was of a +character not calculated to maintain their health, and consequently ere +long they were all attacked by scurvy. Notwithstanding this, the +gallant men pushed on, until on 12th May they planted the British flag +in latitude 83 degrees 20 minutes 26 seconds north, leaving only 400 +miles between them and the North Pole--many miles farther to the north +than any explorers had hitherto succeeded in gaining. The distance made +good was 73 miles only from the ship, but in order to accomplish it 276 +miles had been travelled over. Commander Markham saw clearly that by +proceeding farther he should run the risk of sacrificing the lives of +his people. Thus, with a heavy heart, he determined to go back. + +The return journey was attended by even greater difficulties than the +advance. From the time of their start in April to their return in June, +the days had been spent in dragging the sledges over a desert of +ice-hills, which resembled a stormy sea suddenly frozen; half the time +the men facing the sledges, and hauling forward with their backs in the +direction they were going. On getting to within 30 miles of the ship, +so large a number were suffering from scurvy, that Lieutenant Parr +gallantly volunteered to set out alone to obtain relief. Happily he +succeeded, after much difficulty, in arriving, and help was immediately +despatched, the officers and men vieing with each other in dragging +forward the sledges. Unhappily one man had died before assistance had +arrived. Of the rest, only two officers and three men were able to +work; three others painfully struggling on rather than add to the +difficulties of their companions. The remainder, being perfectly +helpless, were carried on the sledges. + +Another party sent out by the _Alert_ proceeded to the west under +Lieutenant Aldrich, and, after exploring 220 miles of coast-line, they +also were attacked by scurvy. Not returning at the time appointed, +relief was sent to them. Lieutenant Aldrich and one man alone, out of a +crew of seven, remained at the drag-ropes. Numerous expeditions had +been sent out also by the _Discovery_, one of which proceeded along +Greenland and suffered greatly. When met by a party, under Lieutenant +Rawson, sent out to their assistance, they were found dragging forward +four of their helpless comrades, two at a time, advancing only half a +mile a day. Two of the men died just as Polaris Bay was reached, +opposite Discovery Harbour. + +Other exploring expeditions were made in various directions. Captain +Stephenson made two trips across Hall's Basin to Greenland. When at +Polaris Bay he hoisted the American ensign and fired a salute, while a +brass plate, which had been prepared in England, was fixed on Hall's +grave. On the tablet was the following inscription:--"Sacred to the +memory of Captain C.F. Hall, of the U.S. _Polaris_, who sacrificed his +life in the advancement of science, on 8th November 1871. This tablet +has been erected by the British Polar Expedition of 1875, who, following +in his footsteps, have profited by his experience." + +No inhabitants were seen in the neighbourhood of the ships' winter +quarters, but ancient Eskimo remains were traced on the west side of +Smith's Sound up to latitude 81 degrees 52 minutes. From thence they +crossed it at the narrowest parts of the channel to Greenland. It seems +surprising that animal life should exist so far north; but that it does +so was proved, six musk oxen having been shot at the _Alert's_ winter +quarters, besides fifty-seven others near Discovery Grave. In the same +neighbourhood, although not, unfortunately, until the summer had +commenced, a seam of good coal, easily worked, was discovered by Mr +Hart, the naturalist. It is remarkable that the aurora was far less +magnificent than in more southern latitudes. Of the numerous +expeditions sent out by the _Discovery_, several were exposed to extreme +danger, while nearly the whole of the men engaged in them suffered from +scurvy. One expedition had been despatched to explore North Greenland +with a lifeboat. In this party Lieutenant Rawson with four men had +become detached, when, with the exception of the lieutenant and a +marine, they were attacked with scurvy. One of the men died on the way. +Happily they were met by Dr Coppinger, by whose assistance they were +greatly restored; an Eskimo, also, being successful in shooting seals, +supplied them with fresh food. Dr Coppinger, feeling anxious about the +North Greenland party, set out with the Eskimo in a dog sledge, and +found them in a most exhausted condition; everything had been left +behind, and four were so crippled with scurvy that they were being +dragged on by two others, who were only slightly attacked. When the +doctor arrived they had not a particle of food, and must inevitably have +succumbed. One of the party died the morning after their arrival at +Hall's Rest, to which they had been dragged. So critical was the +condition of the sufferers, that an officer and two men were despatched +in a dog sledge to communicate with the ships; but, as the ice was +already breaking up, it was with the greatest difficulty that the +channel was crossed in about three days. On their arrival, the captain +immediately set out with a relief party. Great anxiety was felt for +another party under Lieutenant Beaumont, which was absent far longer +than had been expected. He had with him a whale-boat, in which he and +his people were driven far up the Sound, and it was not until the ships +were on the point of returning home that they were picked up. + +The above brief account may give some faint idea of the hardships and +sufferings endured by the officers and men of the expedition, as well as +of their courage and perseverance. + +At length the icy barrier which had enclosed the _Alert_ for so many +long months began to break up; but there appeared not the slightest +indication of a passage opening up to the northward by which the desired +goal could be reached. Captain Nares felt fully confident that the sea +before him had for centuries remained frozen, and would continue for +ages more in the same condition. His crew were all, more or less, +suffering from scurvy. + +As much resolution and moral courage is often exhibited in retreating as +in advancing. Captain Nares saw that to remain longer in the Polar Sea, +in the vain attempt to carry out the object of the expedition, would not +only be useless, but would in all probability prove destructive to the +lives of his gallant followers. Steam was accordingly got up, and the +_Alert_, boring her way through the ice, succeeded in again entering +Smith's Sound. Early in August she got within ten miles of the +_Discovery_; but for some time being prevented moving farther south by +the ice, an officer was despatched overland to direct Captain Stephenson +to get ready for sea. Not, however, until the 28th of August could the +_Discovery_ force her way out of her ice-bound harbour. + +It often appeared as if all their efforts to get free would be baffled, +but by dint of constant watchfulness for an open channel, by boring and +blasting the ice before them, and often running full tilt at the mass +which impeded their progress, they forced their onward way, until at +length the open sea was gained. The Arctic Circle was recrossed on the +4th of October, exactly fifteen months after it had been crossed on the +northward voyage. + +Happily the _Pandora_, Captain Allan Young, who had gone in search of +the expedition, was met with, and returned with the ships. Heavy gales +were encountered in the Atlantic, when they were all separated. The +_Alert_ reached Valencia harbour, in Ireland, on the 27th of October, +and the _Discovery_, Queenstown, on the 29th, soon after which they both +returned to Portsmouth. + +Besides Neil Petersen, three men, George Porter, James Ward, and Charles +Paul, seamen, died of scurvy. The scientific results of the expedition +are considerable; and the gallant men engaged in it have fully +maintained the high reputation of British seamen for courage, +perseverance, high discipline, hardihood, and endurance. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +MEMOIR OF COMMODORE JAMES GRAHAM GOODENOUGH. + +To die in the path of duty, whatever that duty may be, is as honourable +as to fall when engaged on the field of battle, or on the deck in fight +with an enemy; and for either lot, British officers have ever shown +themselves ready. + +Among those of whose services the country has lately been deprived, none +stood higher in the estimation of all who knew him than Commodore James +Graham Goodenough. A brief notice of his career may induce others to +follow his example. He was the second son of the Dean of Wells, was +born in 1830, and sent at the age of eleven to Westminster School, of +which his father had once been headmaster. He there gained the +character he ever maintained of a brave, noble, and kind-hearted boy, +who hated all evil doings or evil things. He was diligent and +successful in his studies, and was beloved by all his companions. + +In 1844 he joined HMS _Collingwood_ as a naval cadet, and in her +proceeded to the Pacific station. Here he spent four years, gaining +from his messmates the same warm regard he had won from his +schoolfellows. Ready for the performance of every duty, he was the +leader among his companions on all occasions. He was a good linguist, +and equal to the best in navigation and seamanship, as well as in all +exercises. His chief characteristic was the thought of others rather +than himself. When the _Collingwood_ was paid off, he joined the +_Cyclops_, commanded by Captain Hastings, and in her continued some time +on the coast of Africa. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in +1851, passing the best examination at college. In that rank he served +on board the _Centaur_, the flagship on the Brazilian station. He next +served, during 1855, on board the _Hastings_, commanded by Captain +Caffin, a Christian officer, whose advice to his young midshipmen when +joining is worthy of being noted: "If you are a Christian, nail your +colours to the mast and fight under them; you will be sure, in the end, +to overcome your opponents!" While belonging to the _Hastings_, he was +gazetted as having served with the rocket-boats at the bombardment of +Sveaborg. After commanding the gunboat _Goshawk_, he proceeded to +China, where he joined the _Calcutta_, flagship; and was gazetted on +four occasions: for the capture of a large snake-boat from pirates in +the Canton River, for being thrice in action in boats for the +destruction of Chinese war-junks, for gallant services at the assault +and capture of Canton, and for services on shore at the capture of the +Chinese forts in the Peiho River. He now obtained the rank of +commander, and returned for a brief time to England. After this he had +for three years the command of the _Reynard_, on the China station. He +next served as commander on board the _Revenge_, in the Channel +squadron, and in 1863 was promoted to the rank of captain. During a +residence on shore of about eighteen months he married. In 1864 he was +sent by the Admiralty to America to visit the dockyards of the United +States, and, at the end of that year, he went out to the Mediterranean +as captain of the _Victoria_, flagship of Sir Robert Smart. + +For five years, until 1870, he was in command of the _Minotaur_. The +high esteem in which he was held was shown by his having been selected +to assist in the revictualling of Paris after the Prussian siege, and +also in distributing the peasant relief fund, when, accompanied by his +wife, he gained the affection of all with whom he came in contact. + +In 1871 the Admiralty again employed him to visit and report on the +naval dockyards of Russia, Austria, Italy, and France,--another proof of +the confidence reposed in him. + +At length, on the 22nd of May 1873, he was appointed to command HMS +_Pearl_, as commodore on the Australian station. He went out with the +determination of doing his utmost for the advancement of science and for +furthering the cause of humanity. In the duties he had undertaken he +was engaged for nearly two years, during which, while cruising through +various parts of the Western Pacific, he never failed when visiting +islands inhabited by savage races to endeavour by every means in his +power to establish with them a friendly intercourse. On the 12th of +August he had landed at Carlisle Bay, on the island of Santa Cruz, +accompanied by an interpreter, through whose means, according to his +usual plan, he was engaged in communicating with the natives, when, +after a conference with some who appeared to have no hostile intentions, +as he was in the act of stepping into his boat, a savage, a few yards +off, shot a poisoned arrow, which struck him in the side. The example +thus set was followed by the other natives, and several of the British +were wounded. The boats immediately returned to the ship, but, +notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeons to counteract the effects of +the poison, the commodore felt that death was approaching. His great +anxiety during the following days of intense suffering was to impress +the principles by which he had been guided on those serving under him. +As he lay in his cabin and his last hours were passing, not a murmur +escaped his lips. The only regret he expressed was that he had not +strength enough to praise God sufficiently for all His mercies. "The +day before his death, believing that he would not live out the night, he +had all his officers summoned to his bedside," writes his chaplain, +"where, in lovely and loving words, he spoke of the truth and the +infinite love of God, and the readiness he felt to go. He had a word +for each--a word of love--as, at his request, each kissed him and said +good-bye. He then caused himself to be carried on to the quarter-deck +and placed on a bed there, the ship's company being assembled to hear +his last words to them. He earnestly desired that no revenge should be +taken on the natives of Santa Cruz. In these last words to the men he +spoke to this effect: `We cannot tell their reason, perhaps they had +been injured by white people, but we cannot communicate with them, not +knowing their language; perhaps some day, it may be twenty or thirty +years hence, some good missionary, some Christian man, may go among them +and find out why they did this.' His heart was full of God's love to +himself. He spoke of this love, and exhorted all to love God, telling +them how he had loved them all, even when having to punish them, seeing +good in them to love. Many such words were spoken before he said +good-bye, blessing them all in the name of God. He passed away in +perfect peace at 5:30 p.m., on Friday the 20th of August 1875. Thus +died, in the performance of his duty, as true and noble a sailor as any +of the gallant officers who have graced our naval annals. The two young +seamen, Smale and Rayner, who had been wounded at the same time as the +commodore, died within a few hours of him." + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION--1867. + +Far to the south of Egypt, beyond Nubia, lies a little known and +mysterious country now called Abyssinia, formerly a part of Ethiopia, +the wonderful kingdom of the renowned Prester John and once of the Queen +of Sheba. + +Bounded on the north by the Eastern Soudan, on the east by a stretch of +sterile, uninviting ground varying in width to the Red Sea from a dozen +to at least two hundred miles, and a sort of "no man's" land unless +claimed in a measure by Egypt and in a kind by Italy in these latter +days; adjacent in the south to the broad lands of the warlike Gallas +tribes, and approached from the west by the barren Southern Soudan,-- +Abyssinia has from time immemorial been the arena of rebellions, of +inter-tribal hostilities, of inroads by neighbouring tribes, of attacks +by civilised powers. Least of all has the land produced signs of +progress in the arts of peace. Its mountains, towering to heights of +8000, 10,000 and 13,000 feet, have been the hiding-places of cruel +robbers, of deposed chiefs, of disappointed insurgents; and its valleys +have rung with countless cries of dying men in hotly contested battles. + +Abyssinia has throughout the ages been divided into provinces, although +the greatest authority has been nominally centred in one royal +personage, or Negus. In the fact of these divisions, or principalities, +we have largely the secret of continual disturbance. Jealousy has been +responsible for much. The three principal provinces are Amhara, Tigre, +and Shoa; the first being in the centre, with Tigre in the north, and +Shoa in the south. Gondar is the capital of Amhara, Adowa is the main +town of Tigre, and Amkobar is the most important place in Shoa. The +prince, or governor, of each province, is known as "Ras," a term we +often find in reference to Abyssinian matters. + +In the seventh century of the Christian era, 200 years after the country +had passed the zenith of its power and glory, the Mohammedans swept like +a great avalanche upon Abyssinia, stifled but did not utterly destroy +Christianity, which had been introduced in the middle of the fourth +century of the era in which we live; and maintained such a strong +influence, that for century after century the whole land was in darkness +and ignorance; and though the Christian religion has remained, it is in +a debased and corrupt form. Europe knew nothing of Abyssinia worth the +name for ages. Then a princess of Judah, Judith, prosecuted designs +upon poor Abyssinia, sought out the members of the reigning family, and +would have caused each one to be slain. Fortunately, a young prince was +carried off to a place of safety. Coming to maturity, he ruled in Shoa, +while for nearly half a century Judith reigned in the north. In the +year 1268 a.d. the true royalists were restored to power in the whole +kingdom. + +When the warrior-mariners of Portugal were searching for new empires in +every sea and upon every continent, rumours reached them of a kingdom +somewhere, at the head of which was Prester John. This was just prior +to the dawn of the fifteenth century. + +Filled with wonder at the reports that reached them, and curious to +solve the mystery that enshrouded Prester John and his wonderful +kingdom, the Portuguese went on making their searches, under Pedre de +Covilham, of renown, fixed upon Abyssinia, entered it, and secured the +friendship of the chief ruler. Strange to relate, the Portuguese made +no serious attempt to add Abyssinia to their dominions--possibly they +did not think the task worth the trouble and expense; but they +maintained some degree of power over the people through their religion, +an influence whose effects were seen by Bruce and by other travellers of +scarcely a hundred years ago--one not obliterated by tribal warfare and +by a terrible, merciless coming of the Gallas from their country in the +south. + +In the year 1818 was born in Kaura, a child to whom the name Lij Kassi +was given--a lad whose uncle was then governor of that part of +Abyssinia. The boy grew to be wilful, self-reliant, and very ambitious; +it is even said that he set himself out to be the elect of God, who +should raise his country to a glory equal to that of Ethiopia of old. +There was a prophecy indeed, "And it shall come to pass that a king +shall arise in Ethiopia, of Solomon's lineage, who shall be the greatest +on earth, and his powers shall extend over all Ethiopia and Egypt. He +shall scourge the infidels out of Palestine, and shall purge Jerusalem +clean from the dealers. He shall destroy all the inhabitants thereof, +and his name shall be Theodoras." Whether Lij Kassi really pretended to +be the elect of Heaven, the Messiah, or not, certain it is that when he +had fought very bravely to found a state of his own, and had defeated +the prince of Tigre in pitched battle, he gave himself out to his +followers and to all Abyssinia as Theodore, king of Ethiopia, and was +crowned under that name in his thirty-eighth year. + +The ambition of Theodore was still boundless. He gathered an increased +following, conquered tribe after tribe in Abyssinia proper, and +prosecuted a most successful crusade in the country of the Gallas, +subduing descendants of those who had wrought havoc in his native land +from time to time, and established himself at a place nearly a mile +square, and 9000 feet above the level of the sea. The town is known to +us as Magdala. + +Gondar was still the capital of Abyssinia, and to it and the country +generally Theodore invited Europeans. Ambitious as he was, and warlike, +the king--for Theodore had become the acknowledged ruler of the nation-- +was anxious to develop the resources of his kingdom, and that his people +should be taught trades and industries. He was intelligent enough to +see that Abyssinia could not be a great country if its natives were not +imbued with ideas of civilisation, and if its products were not +purchased by foreigners and their wares imported to the interior. Many +merchants and artisans in search of employment under another flag went +out to Abyssinia, therefore, and found employment; while consuls, or +representatives, of European powers were appointed, and welcomed by +Theodore to his court. + +The British consul, Mr Plowden, was killed by a rebel force in March +1860, while on his way to the port of Massowah upon the coast; and so +grieved was Theodore that he commissioned a superior body of his +soldiers, not only to subdue the offending tribes, but to seek out the +murderers of Mr Plowden and to punish them. This was done, and the +king was greatly pleased when the British Government freely acknowledged +he was in no sense to blame for the massacre. They sent out Captain +Cameron to succeed the unfortunate Plowden, and presents were carried +from our Queen. Theodore was delighted, further, to receive Protestant +missionaries from England, and to show other tokens of friendship for +Britannia. + +A great change came over Theodore's conduct at length. His temper was +soon ruffled, his pride was unbearable, he practised cruelties upon his +people, and he became cold towards England, more particularly when +months passed away and he received no answer to a letter sent to the +British Government. So wroth was the king when he heard that Cameron +was going to Egypt--a country Theodore disliked--that he ordered the +arrest of the British consul and two missionaries, named Sterne and +Rosenthal. They were thrown into a dungeon, in the year 1863. Great +indignation was aroused in England. When, however, it was known that +Theodore had some grounds for thinking that he had not been treated with +full courtesy, Mr H.J. Rassam, then at Aden, was sent with Lieutenant +Prideaux and Dr Blaine on an embassy to Theodore, taking with them +friendly letters from the British Government, together with handsome +presents; and it was expected that upon their arrival and explanation +the prisoners would be released. + +The king at first received them courteously, but, his mood soon +changing, they too were seized and thrust into prison. The British +Government in vain endeavoured to procure their release; but finding +this impossible, an expedition was prepared. + +As the Red Sea lies under the jurisdiction of the Indian Government, it +was at Bombay that the preparations were made, and the command was given +to Sir Robert Napier, then commander-in-chief of the Bombay army, with +Sir Charles Staveley second in command. Vast numbers of ships were +taken up for transport, 30,000 animals were purchased in India, Arabia, +Egypt, and the Mediterranean, and 15,000 troops received orders to +embark. An advance party under command of Colonel Merewether, arrived +at Zula, a tiny village in Annesley Bay, and preparations were at once +commenced for the disembarkation of the troops and stores upon their +arrival. HMS _Satellite_ and other men-of-war also arrived in the bay, +and the work of making the piers and preparing store-houses commenced. +The construction of the piers, and the duty of landing the stores, fell +upon the naval force, and were admirably performed, the manner in which +the Jacks worked under a blazing sun eliciting the warmest encomiums +from the military officers. Water was terribly scarce, and the boilers +of the men-of-war were kept constantly at work distilling for the use of +the transport animals and troops. + +When the expeditionary force marched inland a Naval Brigade of eighty +men with two rocket tubes, commanded by Captain Fellowes of the _Dryad_, +was organised. These marched forward, and speedily took their place +with the advanced division, under General Staveley. Their arrival was +warmly greeted in the camp, their cheerfulness and good-humour here, as +during the Indian Mutiny, rendering the men of the Naval Brigade great +favourites with the soldiers. Their camp was a sort of rendezvous, and +round the fires many a cheerful song was sung, many a joke exchanged, +after the day's work was over. + +Theodore had retreated, upon the news of our advance, to Magdala, a +natural fortress of immense strength situate 400 miles from the coast. +At Antalo, half-way up, a halt was made for three weeks, to allow stores +to be accumulated. Here, fortunately, large quantities of provisions +were procured from the natives, and numbers of little cattle hired for +transport; for the want of water upon landing, and a terrible disease +which broke out among the horses in the passes up to the plateau land, +had disorganised the transport train, and immense as was the number of +animals, it proved wholly incapable of transporting the stores for so +large a force. At Senafe, at Adigerat, and at Antalo, strong fortified +camps were erected, and bodies of troops left to overawe the king of +Tigre, who, although professing to be our ally, could not have been +depended upon had misfortune of any kind befallen us. + +The march from Antalo led over a mountainous country almost bare of +habitations, and the fatigues endured by the men were very great. The +climate, however, proved exceedingly healthy, and although the heat by +day was great, at night the air was cool and bracing, and in some places +even sharp cold was experienced. From the plateau of Dalanta, some 15 +miles from Magdala, a view of the fortress was obtained, and after a +day's halt the advanced column was ordered to move forward. It +consisted of the 4th Regiment, a regiment of Punjaubees, one of +Beloochees, and the Naval Brigade. + +The march commenced at daybreak. The road was extremely difficult, and +the men suffered greatly from want of water. The baggage had proceeded +up a valley under the charge of the Beloochees and a baggage guard of +men of the 4th Regiment, the rest of the column marching along the hill, +so as to protect it from a flank attack. It had been intended that the +column of baggage should not emerge from the valley upon the plateau of +Aroge until the troops had arrived there for its protection. Owing to +some misapprehension, however, upon the part of Colonel Phayre, who +commanded it, the Beloochees were marched up on to the plateau before +the covering force arrived there, and while the column of baggage was +still in the valley. A continuation of this led direct to Magdala, and +Theodore seeing it there, apparently unprotected and open to attack, +ordered his men to advance and seize it. + +The fortress of Magdala consists of three hills. Magdala itself, the +strongest of the three, upon which the royal town is situate, lay behind +the other two, and, except across a wide neck separating it from them, +was inaccessible, as upon its other three sides it rose almost +precipitously from the plain. The two hills in front were called +Sallasye and Fala. As there was no intention of attacking until the +second division had reached the spot, the troops were ordered to lie +down, and an hour or two passed in inactivity. Then, with telescopes, a +stir could be seen upon the top of Fala, where several guns were in +position. Presently there was a flash, a pause for a second or two, and +then the sound of a ball whistling through the air. This fell near the +Beloochees, who were lying with piled arms on the plateau. Almost +simultaneously a great body of men were seen descending by the road +which led from the neck connecting the hills of Fala and Sallasye. When +the head of this body reached the plateau it broke up, and was seen to +be composed of great numbers of natives, headed by many chiefs on +horseback. + +Sir C. Napier at once gave orders for the 4th to advance. Thirst and +fatigue were forgotten in a minute, and at a swinging trot the 4th +passed to the front. The next order was for the Naval Brigade to +advance to a knoll which commanded the plateau, and to open fire with +their rockets upon the crowd of advancing enemies. + +The moment was critical, the head of the baggage train had just reached +the plateau from the ravine below, and there was a doubt whether the +enemy would not be upon it before the troops could come to its +assistance. The sailors were but a short time in laying their tubes, +and a cheer broke from the troops as the first rocket whizzed out across +the plateau. The roar and rush of this strange, and to them unknown, +missile caused an instant halt of the advancing crowd of Abyssinians. +The horses of the chiefs swept round and round, and scampered hither and +thither in wild affright. The footmen paused, and for a moment it +seemed as if the attack was coming to an end. Rocket after rocket +whizzed out; but as the Abyssinians soon saw that the destruction +wrought by these missiles bore no proportion whatever to the noise they +made, they speedily recovered themselves, and advanced bravely to the +attack. + +The delay, short as it was, had, however, enabled the 4th to come into +line, and as the Abyssinians advanced they opened a heavy fire of +musketry upon them with their breechloaders, which were here for the +first time used by British soldiers in actual warfare. For a few +minutes the Abyssinians stood bravely against the storm of shot; then, +leaving the ground scattered with dead and wounded, they turned and made +towards the fortress. + +In the ravine itself the combat had been more serious. There a large +number of Abyssinians, coming straight down from Magdala, fell upon the +baggage train. The company of the 4th under Captain Roberts, forming +the baggage guard, defended themselves and their charge gallantly. +Fortunately many of the mules were loaded with ammunition. These were +broken open, and the contents served out; and the men were consequently +enabled to keep up a steady stream of fire upon their opponents. These, +however, pressed gallantly forward, and did not give way until the +Punjaubees, advancing to the edge of the plateau, took them in flank, +and, pouring volley after volley among them, drove them up the hillside +with a loss of more than 500 killed. This body was estimated at 2000 +strong, and it is questionable whether any of them returned to Magdala. + +As the enemy upon the plateau retreated, the Naval Brigade moved forward +and took up a fresh position, and sent their rockets into the crowd as +they ascended the path to their fortress, and then, turning their aim at +the guns upon its edge, near which Theodore was himself standing, sent +their rockets up with so accurate an aim that the guns were speedily +deserted. King Theodore himself was greatly moved by these strange +implements, and asked Mr Rassam, whom he had placed near him, if they +were allowed in civilised warfare. In all, the fight cost the +Abyssinians 800 killed and 1500 wounded, besides the 1500 whose retreat +to the fortress was cut off. + +The effect of this encounter upon Theodore was immense. Hitherto he had +looked upon himself as invincible, and believed that he should defeat +the English without the least difficulty. This view was also held by +all the people through whom we had marched upon our way. In Abyssinia +it is the priests only who wear head-gear, and the people viewed the +helmets of our soldiers as signs that, if not absolutely clerical, they +were at least men of a peaceful disposition. Our close formation, too, +had altogether failed to impress them, and the reports which had been +forwarded to Theodore had no doubt confirmed his belief that we were not +formidable as opponents. The complete defeat of his army on the plateau +of Aroge, in which his most trusted general, Fitaurari Gabriye, was +killed, completely shook him, and among his people the disinclination to +renew the combat with men armed with such wonderful weapons was +complete. The Abyssinians, indeed, complained that we did not fight +fair; their custom being that a line of men should advance, discharge +their pieces, and then retire, after which the opposite side did the +same. Then when the battle had gone on for some hours, the party that +had lost most men retired. The steady advance of the British troops, +and the incessant fire which they kept up, struck them as opposed to all +rules of fairness. + +Theodore now sent down to inquire what terms would be given him; but the +reply was that nothing short of unconditional surrender could now be +granted, but that if he would send down his captives, and submit, his +life should be spared, and honourable treatment given him. He now sent +down a large herd of cattle, and these were, somewhat unfortunately, +received, for there is no doubt that the reception was, in accordance +with Abyssinian customs, a sign that hostilities would come to an end, +and the following morning the whole of the captives were sent into camp. +Theodore again asked for terms; but was again informed that +unconditional surrender could alone be accepted. + +By this time the second division had arrived upon the scene, and a +strong force prepared to attack the stronghold of the Abyssinian king. +The Gallas, the hereditary enemies of the Abyssinians, had come up in +great numbers and encircled the fortress behind, rendering all escape in +that direction impossible, for although the fortress could not be +attacked from the rear, there existed two or three narrow paths by which +escape was possible. On the night before we attacked, Theodore +attempted to escape in this manner; but finding the Gallas everywhere in +force, he returned to his citadel and prepared to defend it to the last. +His army was now, however, determined to offer no further resistance. +Cowed by the terrible slaughter at Aroge, and seeing that the power to +order wholesale executions had now passed out of the tyrant's hands, the +whole of the chiefs and their followers declared that they would no +longer obey his orders, and only some twenty or thirty faithful men +remained with him. + +The 33rd Regiment led the assault, and advanced up the steep road by +which the enemy had before descended to the attack. Fala and Sallasye +were covered with natives, and at every moment an attack was expected +upon us, although messages had been sent down by the chiefs saying that +they rendered their submission. The 33rd, however, gained the top of +the hill without a shot being fired, and there some 15,000 or 20,000 +persons were seen sitting quietly down. Orders were given to disarm the +men, and they and their families were then suffered to leave, and the +force moved over the shoulder of Sallasye towards Magdala itself. + +A small party of officers and others, riding on in advance, came, at the +edge of the shoulder connecting Sallasye with Magdala, upon some fifteen +of Theodore's guns, which he had not had time to take with him into +Magdala. At the same moment a party of horsemen, among whom the natives +recognised Theodore himself, came down the steep path from the fortress, +and rode about on the plateau, brandishing their arms and shouting +defiance. The officers dismounted, and finding some cases of ammunition +with the guns, turned these upon Theodore, and speedily drove him and +his companions up into the fortress again. + +Presently the 33rd and Naval Brigade arrived on the spot, as well as +Penn's Battery, and fire was opened upon Magdala by the guns and +rockets. Soon some of the conical thatched houses which covered the top +of Magdala were in flames, and after half an hour's fire the 33rd +advanced to the attack. As they ascended the steep hill, shots were +fired from the inside. The 33rd replied by thrusting their muskets +through the loopholes; others climbed up a steep shoulder, from which +they commanded the back of the gate. The defenders were shot down, and +the English soon entered the place. A few shots more only were fired, +and one of these proved fatal to the Abyssinian king. Whether he killed +himself, or whether he was shot, will ever remain a disputed question. +But the general opinion was that he fell by his own hands. Certain it +was that the shot entered his mouth and passed out at the back of his +head. + +The work of the expedition was now over. Great numbers of native +prisoners, many of whom had been detained in Magdala for years, were +released; the huts dignified by the name of the Palace were fired; and +soon nothing remained of the royal town save blackened ashes. The +expedition then turned its face to the sea, which it reached just in +time. Had it been a few days later, the rains, which had already +commenced, would have filled the passes, and confined the troops +prisoners on the plateau land until their subsidence. + +The result of this expedition gave great satisfaction at home, and a +peerage was conferred upon the able and fortunate commander, under the +title of Napier of Magdala. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE ASHANTI WAR--1874. + +Seven years after the Abyssinian campaign another African war broke out, +this time upon the western coast. + +Here, at a short distance above the line, lies the British colony of +Cape Coast. The town, known as Cape Coast Castle, had been in the +possession of the English for centuries, and a large tract of country +down the sea coast, and extending back 80 miles to the river Prah, was +under their protectorate. + +North and west of the Prah were the Ashantis, a warlike race, who had +gradually conquered and absorbed all their neighbours. The rites and +ceremonies practised by the kings at Coomassie, their capital, were of +the most savage and bloodthirsty nature, rivalled in this respect only +by the neighbouring kingdom of Dahomey. At coronations, funerals, or +other state occasions, it was customary to immolate hundreds of victims, +and in order to supply this demand constant wars were undertaken. The +Ashantis had for the most part kept up their connection with the sea +through Elinina, a town situate some seven or eight miles from Cape +Coast Castle. This place belonged to the Dutch; but a short time +before, it had been handed by them to us in exchange for some positions +farther up the coast. This caused much offence to the Ashantis, who +maintained that Elmina was tributary to them, the Dutch having been in +the habit for very many years of sending an annual present, or, as the +Ashantis regarded it, tribute. + +The Ashantis had some grounds for their belief that they could overcome +any force that the English could send against them, for in the year 1824 +an expedition, headed by the governor, Sir Charles Macarthy, had crossed +the Prah against them, and had been surrounded and cut to pieces, only +three men escaping. As this defeat had never been avenged, the Ashantis +were justified in the belief that they were capable of overrunning our +country; and in 1873 a large force crossed the Prah and fell upon the +villages of the Fantis, as the natives of this part under British +protection are called. The natives of the protectorate having for very +many years been prevented from fighting among themselves, had lost all +their national virtues of bravery, and the consequence was that they +were utterly unable to withstand the advance of the Ashantis. + +The only forces at the command of the governor were some companies of +the 2nd West India Regiment, a body of Fanti police, and a small force +of Houssas, an extremely brave and warlike people living near Lagos, +ready at all times to enlist where fighting is likely to go on. This +little force was commanded by Lieutenant Hopkins; but, when the Ashantis +approached, the great body of our Fanti allies, after fighting for a few +hours, fled, and Lieutenant Hopkins, being unable with so small a force +to withstand the approach of the enemy, fell back. The Ashantis took +possession of Dunquah, and thence threatened both Elmina and Cape Coast +Castle. The castle itself was originally strong, and was still in +sufficiently good repair to resist any attack that the enemy were likely +to make upon it, but the town was entirely incapable of defence; and had +the Ashantis pushed on after their victory, there can be little doubt +that both Cape Coast and Elmina would have fallen into their hands. + +Fortunately, however, HMS _Baracouta_, Captain Freemantle, arrived upon +the spot, and a body of 110 marines under the command of Lieutenant-- +Colonel Festing, of the Royal Marine Artillery, was landed. Martial law +was proclaimed. The inhabitants of the native town of Elmina rose; but +the _Baracouta_ bombarded the place, and set it on fire, and the natives +retired to join their Ashanti friends in the woods. These were now +approaching the town; and Colonel Festing landed with the marines and +marine artillerymen, a party of bluejackets belonging to the _Baracouta, +Druid, Seagull_, and _Argus_, under Captain Freemantle, some men of the +2nd West India Regiment, and a body of Houssas. The Ashantis, some 2000 +in number, marched boldly along, and attempted to outflank the position +occupied by the English. + +In this they would have succeeded had not Lieutenant Wells of the +_Baracouta_ opened fire upon them with a very heavy fire of Sniders on +the part of his tars. The head of the column was arrested, and Colonel +Festing, advancing upon them with his main force, opened fire, and thus, +attacked both in front and on the flank, the Ashantis fled, leaving 200 +killed. Several other skirmishes took place. Lieutenant Gordon, who +had raised a body of Houssas, did excellent service, and formed a +redoubt at the village of Napoleon, about five miles from Cape Coast. +Except, however, within range of the guns of the forts, the whole +country was in the hands of the Ashantis. + +It was now evident that a force which was estimated at 20,000 could not +be driven out from the vast woods which covered the whole country as far +as the Prah, with so small a force as that at the disposal of the +authorities, and it was determined by the Home Government to send out an +expedition to deliver the protectorate of its invaders, and to chastise +the Ashantis on their own ground. In the meantime the _Simoom_ arrived +on the coast with a strong body of marines and marine artillerymen, and +Commodore Commerell came up from the Cape of Good Hope and took the +command of the naval portion of the forces. + +He determined to ascend the Prah with the boats of the squadron, to see +what facilities that river offered as a means of advance into the +interior, and to communicate with the chiefs upon the bank. He had +ascended the river only about a mile and a half when a very heavy fire +was suddenly opened upon him by the enemy concealed in the thick bush +which lined the banks. The commodore himself was badly wounded; +Captains Luxmore and Helden were also severely hurt; and 4 men killed +and 16 wounded. The boats returned at once to the _Rattlesnake_. The +town of Chamoh, which stood at the entrance of the Prah, was the next +day bombarded and burnt. + +Several other skirmishes occurred; but as we were not in a position to +take the offensive, and the Ashantis appeared indisposed to renew their +attacks upon Elmina or Cape Coast, things remained quiet until the +arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley, with some twenty English officers, in +the _Ambriz_. No troops had been sent with him, as it was considered +that the situation might have changed before he reached the coast, or +that upon his arrival there he might find the force of marines and +bluejackets, with the aid of the 2nd West India Regiment, another wing +of which had come down from Sierra Leone, sufficient for the purpose. + +He found, however, that the situation was far too serious: that the +Fantis were utterly untrustworthy; and that with so small a force he +could make no impression upon the great Ashanti armies gathered in the +woods. Two regiments of natives were, however, enrolled, the one under +Lieutenant-colonel Evelyn Wood, the other under Major Russell, each of +them numbering some 300 or 400 men. It was decided that the advance +into Ashanti should be attempted from two different points. At the +southern point of the colony, where the river Volta forms the frontier +of the territory, Captain Glover, formerly of the Royal Navy, was +commissioned to raise a large native force. Upon the opposite side of +the Volta the people were in alliance with the Ashantis, and unless a +strong demonstration had been made at this point, they might at any +moment have crossed the river and attacked the protectorate from the +east. + +The first operation undertaken by Sir Garnet Wolseley was an attack upon +several of the villages near Elmina, occupied by the Ashantis. The most +perfect secrecy was maintained as to the plans, for it was certain that +the enemy were accurately informed of all our doings. It was given out +that Sir Garnet intended to go down to Accra, some 50 miles down the +coast, and many of his officers at the time of embarkation believed this +to be the true state of the case. + +On board ship all preparations had been made for landing, and before +daybreak the men-of-war were off Elmina. The boats were at once +lowered, and the marines and bluejackets disembarked. At Elmina they +were joined by several companies of the 2nd West India Regiment in +garrison there. A large number of native bearers were also in +readiness, these having been sent off the night before, with orders to +bring back stores. + +Morning was just breaking when the force moved forward. For the next +three hours no resistance was met with. One village found deserted was +burnt. + +As they passed along through the bush, the Houssas, who had been drilled +by Captain Rait, RA, kept up a tremendous fire, yelling and shouting. +But as their aim was quite wild and half the guns fired into the air, +much ammunition was wasted. Captain Freemantle with the sailors then +made for the left of the wood so as to divert the enemy's attention. A +heavy fire was poured in upon them by the natives, who were completely +hidden from our men. + +The marines and bluejackets pushed on steadily in the direction of a +village which lay in the centre of the wood. The natives, who were +assembled in large numbers, kept up a heavy fire from the roofs of the +huts. As Captain Freemantle was advancing to find a better place for +the gun, he was wounded by a slug, which passed right through his arm, +but fortunately was able to continue directing the gun. The Houssas +under Captain McNeill were doing little good by their indiscriminate +firing, and indeed it was a matter of some difficulty to keep them +together. Colonel McNeill was severely hit in his arm, and subsequently +had to return to England from the effects of the wound. + +A combined movement was made upon the enemy, who retreated from the +village before the dashing of the bluejackets. + +From this village the force marched to the sea coast, whence a portion +continued their way some four miles farther, and attacked and carried +another village, where the Ashantis made a somewhat obstinate defence. +The force here was embarked by the boats of the squadron, while the +remainder marched back to Elmina. The distance marched by the seamen +and marines who had been up all night, was no less than 21 miles, under +a burning sun. In the course of the march several deep swamps, where +the water came over the men's knees, had to be crossed. The paths were +everywhere difficult in the extreme, and yet no man fell out, and only +four were admitted to hospital upon the following day. + +The next engagement took place near Dunquah, where Colonel Festing +commanded the force. Sallying out to attack a large body of Ashantis, +he inflicted considerable damage upon them; but their numbers were so +strong, and they fought with such determination, that he was obliged to +fall back. Lieutenant Wilmot, who commanded eight Houssas of the +artillery, was early in the fight wounded in the arm, but continued at +his post until, an hour later, he was shot through the heart. A few +days afterwards another indecisive fight of the same nature took place. + +A position of much importance, lying some three miles off the main road, +was the village of Abrakrampa. This place had been a missionary +station, and contained a church and several houses, besides the village +huts. It lay in the heart of the forest, and at night the sound of the +war-drums of the Ashantis could be plainly heard. The post was +commanded by Major Russell, with his black regiment, and he had with him +a body of seamen and marines. As, however, the amount of fever among +the white men on shore was very great, and the naval officer in command, +Captain Freemantle--for Commodore Commerell had been obliged to return +to the Cape from the effect of his wound--was anxious that his men +should not remain upon shore, orders were sent up to Major Russell to +march the marines and seamen down to the shore. Fortunately, however, +an hour or two before the men were to start, the news arrived that the +Ashantis were advancing to attack the camp. + +A breastwork had been thrown up round the village, and the church was +converted into a sort of keep, platforms having been raised inside to +the level of the upper windows, through which the marines and seamen +could fire at the advancing enemy. When, from the noise in the woods, +Major Russell became assured that the news was true, he sent a messenger +to Cape Coast for assistance, and prepared to repel the attack. The +Ashantis advanced with great bravery, but were driven back by the rapid +fire kept up upon them from the breastworks and church, and presently +fell back into the woods again. They, however, continued to beleaguer +the place, occasionally showing in great masses. + +Directly the news reached Cape Coast every available seaman and marine +was landed from the ships, and at seven in the morning the column +started. The distance was about 15 miles, and the heat tremendous. An +hour's rest was allowed at a village where the road for Abrakrampa +turned off from the main line, and at the end of that time the great +proportion of our men were sufficiently recovered to continue their +march. They made a long detour, so as to avoid coming down by the road +by which the Ashantis would naturally expect them to advance, and in +which they would have been engaged in a fight in the thick of the +forest. They therefore arrived at Dunquah without firing a shot. + +It was then late in the evening. The following morning the black troops +advanced into the forest, and reported that the Ashantis were in full +flight. The garrison then sallied out, and found that the village +occupied as the Ashanti headquarters had been deserted, and that the +enemy had left. They still, however, lingered in large numbers in the +woods near, for a party of Fantis were fallen upon, and many were +killed. + +The force of bluejackets and marines, together with the 2nd West India +Regiment, now advanced towards the Prah, the Ashantis hastily +retreating, and no more fighting took place. + +Thus the invasion of the protectorate was defeated, and the invaders +driven across their frontier, with a loss admitted by themselves of +several thousands, before the arrival of a single soldier from England, +solely by the naval forces, aided by the one black regiment upon the +spot. The West Indians were placed in garrison upon the Prah, and the +bluejackets returned to their ships. + +In December the 42nd, a battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and the 23rd +Fusiliers arrived. It was found, however, that it was impossible to +provide transport for so large a force, and the 23rd were therefore +re-embarked, together with a battery of Royal Artillery which had also +come out. Two hundred of the Fusiliers, however, subsequently re-landed +and marched to the front. + +On the 1st January the disembarkation took place, and the 42nd +Highlanders and Rifle Brigade marched for the front, the Naval Brigade +having gone up a week previously. On the 20th the bridge across the +Prah was completed by the bluejackets and engineers, under the command +of Colonel Home. Lord Gifford, in command of a party of native scouts, +first went forward, and was followed by Wood and Russell's native +regiments. These pushed forward without opposition, and gained the +crest of the Adansi hills. The King of Ashanti was now seriously +alarmed, and sent in three German missionaries and a French merchant, +whom he had retained for some time as prisoners. + +Short as the time had been that the force was on shore, already large +numbers were suffering from sickness, and out of the total European +force of 1800 men, 215 were already unfit for duty. + +Without opposition the force arrived as far as Fommanah, a large village +30 miles from Coomassie. Here letters were received from the king, +asking for peace. Sir Garnet Wolseley, however, demanded that hostages +consisting of leading members of the king's family should be given up as +proofs of his sincerity. The king, however, who was in reality only +trying to gain time, took no notice of the demand, and the advance +continued. + +At the village of Borborassie, a few miles farther, the Ashantis offered +their first resistance. The place was carried with a rush by the Naval +Brigade, a company of Fusiliers, and some of Russell's regiment. +Captain Nicol, who led the advance, was killed. + +Information was now gained that the enemy was posted in great force near +the villages of Amoaful and Beckquah, and here a battle was expected to +take place. Owing to the number of garrisons left at the various posts +upon the road, Wood's regiment was now reduced to three companies only, +Russell's to four companies. These regiments took their place in the +line in the rear of the Naval Brigade. + +The plan of battle was that the 42nd were to form the main attacking +force, and were to drive the enemy's scouts out of Agamassie, a little +village two miles in front of Amoaful, situate in a dense wood. After +carrying the village, they were to move straight on, extending to the +right and left, and if possible advance in a skirmishing line through +the bush. The right column, consisting of half the Naval Brigade and +Wood's regiment, was to cut a path out to the right, and then turn +parallel with the main road, so that the head of the column should touch +the right of the skirmishing line of the 42nd; the left column, +consisting of the other half of the Naval Brigade, was to proceed after +a similar fashion on the left. The Naval Brigade, it should be said, +was commanded by Commodore Hewett. The company of the 23rd was to go +behind the head-quarter staff, and the Rifle Brigade to remain in +reserve. Thus, could this plan of battle have been carried out, the +whole would have formed a hollow square, the right and left columns +protecting the 42nd from any of those flanking movements of which the +Ashantis were always so fond. + +Upon the preceding evening Major Home, advancing from the village of +Quarman, at which the head of the column had halted the night before, +cut a wide path to within 50 yards of the village of Agamassie, and +ascertained that that village was held by a small body only. + +The 42nd went on in advance, and with a rush carried the village. For a +minute or two the fire lulled, and then from the circle of woods lying +around it, a tremendous fire broke out upon them. The first shot was +fired a few minutes before eight. The 42nd gradually made their way +forward; but some delay elapsed before the Naval Brigade could take up +the two positions assigned to it, for Agamassie was but a tiny village, +and this was so encumbered by the troops, and with the bearers of the +hammocks and ammunition, that movement was difficult in the extreme. +The noise was prodigious, the Ashantis using very heavy charges of +powder. Close to the village Captain Buckle of the Royal Engineers was +shot dead as he led his men, cutting a path into the forest from which +the Ashanti fire was pouring out. + +For an hour but little advance was made, the Ashantis holding their +ground most tenaciously. The two bodies of the Naval Brigade were +accompanied by parties of Rait's artillerymen with rockets, but the fire +of these and the Sniders was insufficient to clear the way. Even after +an hour's fighting, the Ashantis still held the bush, not 200 yards from +the village, and two companies of the Rifle Brigade were sent up the +left-hand road to keep the line open. The wood was so thick that the +Naval Brigade were unable to make much way, and were forced to lie down +and fire into the dense bush, from which the answering discharges came +incessantly, at a distance of 20 yards or so. The air above was +literally alive with slugs, and a perfect shower of leaves continued to +fall upon the path. + +In the wood, all just views of direction were lost. The sailors +complained that the 23rd or the 42nd were firing at them, and the 42nd +and 23rd made the same complaint of the Naval Brigade. In fact, from +the denseness of the wood, and the general and continuous roar of +musketry, it was impossible to gain any just ideas of direction. + +Colonel Macleod, who commanded the left column, presently found the +resistance in front of him cease; but he knew nothing of the position of +the 42nd, with whose left he should have been in touch. + +The 42nd were having a hard time of it. They were well handled by Major +Macpherson, who was in command. For a time they succeeded in forcing +the enemy back, but coming to a swamp between two rises, their advance +was for a time completely arrested. Not an enemy was to be seen; but +from every bush on the opposite side the puffs of smoke came thick and +fast, and a perfect rain of slugs swept over the ground on which they +were lying. Captain Rait, assisted by Lieutenant Saunders, brought his +gun--for from the narrowness of the path he was able to bring only one +into action--well to the front of the 42nd, and poured round after round +of grape into the enemy, until their fire slackened a little, and the +42nd again advanced. At the top of the hill the Ashantis made again a +desperate stand. Here the gun again did good service, and at last the +regiment fought their way over it, the enemy contesting every foot. +Another rush was made, and the regiment then burst through the wood into +the open clearing in which the large village of Amoaful was situate. +Out of 450, they had 9 officers and 104 men wounded. For a short time +the Ashantis kept up a fire from the houses; but the 42nd soon drove +them from the village, and all further resistance at this point was at +an end. + +The right-hand column, too, had suffered severely. Colonel Wood +received a slug in the left breast, and 6 naval officers and 20 men were +also wounded. Captain Luxmore, RN, was in command here. A company of +the Rifle Brigade had been sent out to strengthen them, when all at +once, just when the battle appeared over, the Ashantis made a tremendous +effort to turn our flank and to retake the village of Agamassie. The +Rifles in reserve sprang to their feet and advanced to meet them, and +for a while the roar of musketry was as heavy as it had been during the +day. Then, after an hour's fighting, Sir Garnet Wolseley gave the word +to advance. The men of the Rifle Brigade sprang forward, and in five +minutes the Ashantis were in full retreat. Altogether, including the +natives, the number of British casualties exceeded 250. + +The force slept at Amoaful, and the next day the Naval Brigade, with +Russell's regiment and Rait's battery, supported by the 42nd, moved off +the main road to attack the neighbouring village of Beckquah, which was +the capital of one of the most powerful of the Ashanti kings. As the +narrow road entered the clearing, the enemy opened a tremendous fire +upon them. Lord Gifford rushed forward, followed by his scouts. The +Houssas, who were next behind, for once hung back; but the sailors, who +came next, sprang forward over the Houssas, and entered the village. +The natives, encouraged by the smallness of our force, fought strongly; +and as there were over a thousand fighting men in the village, we should +have suffered heavily had not the lesson given the day before of the +white men's superiority stood us in good stead; and as the Houssas and +other companies of Russell's regiment now poured in, the enemy speedily +lost heart and fled. The troops were placed in position to defend the +place from any attack from the bush, and the sailors, provided with +port-fires, set fire to the town from end to end. + +Next day the advance began, the orders being that every man was to +receive four days' rations, and each regiment take its own provision and +baggage. The advance began at seven o'clock. The road was found strewn +with the litter cast away by the retreating enemy. The road was very +difficult and boggy. Streams had to be bridged in many places by the +engineers, and it took six hours to move as many miles. At one village +on the way, a thousand of the enemy assembled to make a stand; but their +defence was feeble, and Russell's regiment carried the place at a rush. + +Upon reaching the village of Agamemmoo, the general sent back for the +baggage. This did not arrive until nearly four o'clock, and it was then +too late to move on in the night. The clearing was a small one, and so +close had the troops to lie, that the whole width and length of the +street was paved with human bodies. The next day there was fighting +during the whole march, the Ashantis having placed several ambushes. +The streams and swamps were even more frequent than upon the day +preceding, and eight hours were occupied in going six miles, when the +camp halted on the river Dah. A flag of truce came in, but as the king +did not send the hostages required, preparations were made for an +advance at daybreak in the morning. The engineers set to work to bridge +the river, and Russell's regiment waded through, and bivouacked upon the +opposite bank. + +The night was tremendously wet; but the troops moved forward in high +spirits in the morning. The fight commenced as soon as the column had +crossed, and was a repetition of that of Amoaful. Lieutenant Saunders, +in the front, with his gun cleared the way with grape. The Bonny men, +who were in advance, would at last go no farther, and Lieutenant Eyre, +adjutant of Wood's regiment, to which they belonged, was killed. + +The Rifles then came forward, and very slowly the advance was continued +until the head of the column was within 50 yards of the village. Then +the Rifles gave a cheer, and with a sudden rush cleared the way to the +open, and carried the village. In the meantime the whole column was +engaged in repelling a series of flank attacks. These attacks were most +gallantly persevered in by the Ashantis, who at times approached in such +masses that the whole bush swayed and moved as they poured forward. +Their loss must have been extremely large, for our men lined the road +and kept up a tremendous Snider fire upon them. Our own casualties were +slight, the road, like almost all roads in the country, being sunk two +feet below the level of the surrounding ground; consequently the men +were lying in shelter, as behind a breastwork. + +The Naval Brigade at one time inflicted great slaughter upon the foe, by +remaining perfectly quiet, until the enemy, thinking that they had +retired, advanced full of confidence, cheering, when a tremendous fire +almost swept them away. + +It took us, altogether, nearly six hours from the time our advance began +until the rear-guard had gained the village, a distance of only a mile +and a half. Coomassie was still six miles off, and had the Ashantis +continued to fight with the same desperation, we should not have reached +Coomassie that night. + +The instant the baggage was all in the village, the advance again began. + +At first the Ashantis fought with great determination. But our men +pushed steadily forward, and then, advancing at a double, the foes, +scared by the onslaught, gave way, and fled at the top of their speed. +The whole force now pushed forward, and without further opposition +crossed the pestilential swamp which surrounds Coomassie, and entered +the town. + +The king and the greater portion of his fighting men had retired, and as +the provisions were running short, and the force greatly weakened by the +number of wounded and of men who had dropped with fever, it was +impossible to pursue him in the bush. After a day's halt, the +blood-stained capital was burnt, and the army retired to the coast. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +SPIRITED AND GALLANT EXPLOITS. + +A REMARKABLE RESCUE. + +The following account is given in the words of Admiral Castle:-- + +"In the year 1837, I commanded HMS _Pylades_, on the East India station. +We were on our return home, by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, when, +on the 8th of May of that year, we were off Cape L'Agulhus. It was +blowing a heavy gale of wind, with a tremendous sea running, such a sea +as one rarely meets with anywhere but off the Cape, when just at +nightfall, as we were taking another reef in the topsails, a fine young +seaman, a mizen-topman, James Miles by name, fell from the +mizen-topsail-yard, and away he went overboard. In his descent he came +across the chain-span of the weather-quarter davits, and with such force +that he actually broke it. I could scarcely have supposed that he would +have escaped being killed in his fall; but, as the ship flew away from +him, he was seen rising on the crest of a foaming wave, apparently +unhurt. The life-buoy was let go as soon as possible, but by that time +the ship had already got a considerable distance from him; and even +could he reach it, I felt that the prospect of saving him was small +indeed, as I had no hope, should we find him, of being able to pick him +out of that troubled sea; and I had strong fears that a boat would be +unable to swim, to go to his rescue, should I determine to lower one. I +was very doubtful as to what was my duty. I might, by allowing a boat +to be lowered, sacrifice the lives of the officer and crew, who would, I +was very certain, at all events volunteer to man her. It was a moment +of intense anxiety. I instantly, however, wore the ship round; and +while we stood towards the spot, as far as we could guess, where the +poor fellow had fallen, the thoughts I have mentioned passed through my +mind. The sad loss of the gallant Lieutenant Gore and a whole boat's +crew a short time before, about the same locality, was present to my +thoughts. To add to the chances of our not finding the man, it was now +growing rapidly dusk. As we reached the spot, every eye on board was +straining through the gloom to discern the object of our search, but +neither Miles nor the life-buoy were to be seen. Still, I could not +bring myself to leave him to one of the most dreadful of fates. He was +a good swimmer, and those who knew him best asserted that he would swim +to the last. For my part, I almost hoped that the poor fellow had been +stunned, and would thus have sunk at once, and been saved the agony of +despair he must be feeling were he still alive. Of one thing I felt +sure, from the course we had steered, that we were close to the spot +where he had fallen. Anxiously we waited,--minute after minute passed +by,--still no sound was heard; not a speck could be seen to indicate his +position. At least half an hour had passed by. The strongest man alive +could not support himself in such a sea as this for so long, I feared. +Miles must long before this have sunk, unless he could have got hold of +the life-buoy, and of that I had no hope. I looked at my watch by the +light of the binnacle lamp. `It is hopeless,' I thought; `we must give +the poor fellow up.' When I had come to this melancholy resolve, I +issued the orders for wearing ship in a somewhat louder voice than +usual, as under the circumstances was natural, to stifle my own +feelings. Just then I thought I heard a human voice borne down upon the +gale. I listened; it was, I feared, but the effect of imagination; yet +I waited a moment. Again the voice struck my ear, and this time several +of the ship's company heard it. `There he is, sir! There he is away to +windward!' exclaimed several voices; and then in return they uttered a +loud hearty cheer, to keep up the spirits of the poor fellow. Now came +the most trying moment; I must decide whether I would allow a boat to be +lowered. `If I refuse,' I felt, `my crew will say that I am careless of +their lives. It is not their nature to calculate the risk they +themselves must run.' At once Mr Christopher, one of my lieutenants, +nobly volunteered to make the attempt, and numbers of the crew came +forward anxious to accompany him. At last, anxiety to save a drowning +man prevailed over prudence, and I sanctioned the attempt. + +"The boat, with Mr Christopher and a picked crew, was lowered, not +without great difficulty, and, sad to say, with the loss of one of the +brave fellows. He was the bowman; and, as he stood up with his +boat-hook in his hand to shove off, the boat give a terrific pitch and +sent him over the bow. He must have struck his head against the side of +the ship, for he went down instantly, and was no more seen. Thus, in +the endeavour to save the life of one man, another was already sent to +his long account. With sad forebodings for the fate of the rest of the +gallant fellows, I saw the boat leave the ship's side. Away she pulled +into the darkness, where she was no longer visible; and a heavy pull I +knew she must have of it in that terrible sea, even if she escaped +destruction. It was one of the most trying times of my life. We waited +in suspense for the return of the boat; the minutes, seeming like hours, +passed slowly by, and she did not appear. I began at length to dread +that my fears would be realised, and that we should not again see her, +when, after half an hour had elapsed since she had left the ship's side +on her mission of mercy, a cheer from her gallant crew announced her +approach with the success of their bold enterprise. My anxiety was not, +however, entirely relieved till the falls were hooked on, and she and +all her crew were hoisted on board, with the rescued man Miles. To my +surprise I found that he was perfectly naked. As he came up the side, +also, he required not the slightest assistance, but dived below at once +to dry himself and to get out of the cold. I instantly ordered him to +his hammock, and, with the doctor's permission, sent him a stiff glass +of grog. I resolved also to relieve him from duty, believing that his +nervous system would have received a shock from which it would take long +to recover. After I had put the ship once more on her course, being +anxious to learn the particulars of his escape, as soon as I heard that +he was safely stowed away between the blankets, I went below to see him. +His voice was as strong as ever; his pulse beat as regularly, and his +nerves seemed as strong as usual. After pointing out to him how +grateful he should feel to our Almighty Father for his preservation from +an early and dreadful death, I begged him to tell me how he had +contrived to keep himself so long afloat. He replied to me in the +following words:--`Why, sir, you see as soon as I came up again, after I +had first struck the water, I looked out for the ship, and, getting +sight of her running away from me, I remembered how it happened I was +there, and knew there would be no use swimming after her or singing out. +Then, sir, I felt very certain you would not let me drown without an +attempt to pick me up, and that there were plenty of fine fellows on +board who would be anxious to man a boat to come to my assistance, if +you thought a boat could swim. Then, thinks I to myself, a man can die +but once, and if it's my turn to-day, why, there's no help for it. Yet +I didn't think all the time that I was likely to lose the number of my +mess, do ye see, sir. The next thought that came to me was, if I am to +drown, it's as well to drown without clothes as with them; and if I get +them off, why, there's a better chance of my keeping afloat till a boat +can be lowered to pick me up; so I kicked off my shoes, and then I got +off my jacket, and then, waiting till I could get hold of the two legs +at once, I drew off my trousers in a moment. My shirt was soon off me, +but I took care to roll up the tails, so as not to get them over my +face. As I rose on the top of the sea, I caught sight of the ship as +you wore her round here, and that gave me courage, for I felt I was not +to be deserted; indeed, I had no fear of that. Then I knew that there +would be no use swimming; so all I did was to throw myself on my back +and float till you came up to me. I thought the time was somewhat long, +I own. When the ship got back, I saw her hove to away down to leeward, +but I did not like to sing out for fear of tiring myself, and thought +you would not hear me; and I fancied also that a boat would at once have +been lowered to come and look for me. Well, sir, I waited, thinking the +time was very long, and hearing no sound, yet still I could see the ship +hove to, and you may be sure I did not take my eyes from off her; when +at last I heard your voice give the order to wear ship again. Then +thinks I to myself, now or never's the time to sing out. And, raising +myself as high as I could out of the water, I sang out at the top of my +voice. There was a silence on board, but no answer, and I did begin to +feel that there was a chance of being lost after all. "Never give in, +though," thinks I; so I sung out again, as loud, you may be sure, as I +could sing. This time the answering cheers of my shipmates gave me +fresh spirits; but still I knew full well that I wasn't safe on board +yet. If I had wanted to swim, there was too much sea on to make any +way; so I kept floating on my back as before, just keeping an eye to +leeward to see if a boat was coming to pick me up. Well, sir, when the +boat did come at last, with Mr Christopher and the rest in her, I felt +strong and hearty, and was well able to help myself on board. I now can +scarcely fancy I was so long in the water.' I was much struck with the +extraordinary coolness of Miles. He afterwards had another escape, +which was owing less to his own self-possession, though he took it as +coolly as the first. On our passage home, the ship was running with a +lightish breeze and almost calm sea across the Bay of Biscay, when Miles +was sent on the fore-topgallant-yard. By some carelessness he fell +completely over the yard, and those aloft expected to see him dashed to +pieces on the forecastle. Instead of that, the foresail at that moment +swelled out with a sudden breeze, and, striking the bulge of the sail, +he was sent forward clear of the bows and hove into the water. A rope +was towing overboard. He caught hold of it, and, hauling himself on +board, was again aloft within a couple of minutes attending to his duty, +which had so suddenly been interrupted. On his arrival in England, +Lieutenant Christopher received the honorary silver medal from the Royal +Humane Society for his gallant conduct on the occasion of saving Miles' +life." + +TWO COURAGEOUS SWIMMERS--1838. + +HMS _Seringapatam_, Captain Leith, was lying off the island of Antigua, +in August 1838, when, on Sunday, the 26th of that month, eight of her +officers, three of whom were youngsters, and all belonging to the +midshipmen's berth, with a gentleman, a resident in the island, and two +seamen, started away from the ship in a pinnace on a cruise. Their +intention was to go down to Falmouth Bay, situated about two miles to +leeward of English Harbour, where the ship was, and to beat back. The +afternoon was very fine, and everything seemed to promise them a +pleasant excursion. Having spent a short time in Falmouth Harbour, they +hauled their wind, and made three or four tacks on their way back to the +ship. The boat, however, made little or nothing to windward, in +consequence of the wind being very light. Forgetful of the sudden +squalls which visit those latitudes, the merry party of young officers +seemed to have kept but a bad look-out to windward; for, while standing +in on the starboard tack, the boat was taken by a sudden squall. The +helm was put down; but the boat not coming up to the wind so as to lift +the sails, she was capsized under every stitch of canvas. She, however, +went over so gradually, that all hands had time to creep to windward and +seat themselves on the gunwale. The sails prevented her from turning +bottom up, and at the same time protected them in some measure from the +breaking of the sea. What seems very extraordinary is, that not one of +the party, officers or seamen, had a knife in his pocket, so that they +had no means of cutting away the rigging and righting the boat. As soon +as they had settled themselves on the side of the boat, they had time to +look about them, and to consider their perilous position. They were +fully two miles from the shore, whence it was scarcely possible anyone +should have observed the accident, and they were an equal distance or +more from the ship; thus the current might carry them far away before +anyone could come to their assistance. A sea might get up and wash them +off the wreck; or sharks might attack and devour them, for the boat's +gunwale was only six inches awash. Not a sail was in sight; and all +felt convinced that if some unforeseen assistance did not come to their +aid, they must perish. Despair was well-nigh taking possession of the +bosoms of all the party. Silent and melancholy they sat on the wreck, +meditating on their fate. All were young. Life, with all its fancied +charms and anticipated pleasure, had a few short moments previously been +before them; and now, death in all its terrors--slow, lingering, and +agonising--stared them in the face. One only of the whole party was a +good swimmer, Mr W.R. Smith, and he was a very bold and strong one. +He looked at the shore: two miles was a long distance to swim, with a +full consciousness, too, that those deep waters swarm with those +terrific monsters of the deep, the seamen's just dread--the hideous, +shark. "Well," said Smith at last, looking wistfully at the distant +shore, "I feel that I ought to try, as it is the only chance of saving +all hands; and I think I could have managed it if I had had but a +companion, but it's a long way to go alone through the silent water." + +"If that is your only reason, Smith, why, I will try and keep you +company," said Palmes, another midshipman, who had hitherto sat silent, +not complaining like some of the rest. "I am not much of a swimmer, and +I don't feel as if I could ever get to shore. However, it's a good +cause, and I'll do my best." Thus it was speedily settled, for there +was no time to be lost. The two noble adventurers, having bid farewell +to their shipmates, whom Palmes, at all events, never expected to see +again, threw off their jackets and shoes, and struck away together from +the wreck. The prayers of those they left behind followed them, for the +safety of all depended on their success. Smith swam steadily and +strongly, and Palmes made amends for his want of strength and skill by +his courage and spirit. Still, before they got half-way to the shore, +the courage of one of them was to be sorely tried. As Smith swam along, +he felt his legs strike against something, and, looking down into the +clear water, he saw, to his horror, two enormous sharks swimming past +him. As yet they had not noticed him; and fortunate was it for both of +the brave fellows that they had kept on their trousers and socks, for +had the monsters seen the white flesh of their naked feet, they would to +a certainty have fixed on them as their prey. With admirable presence +of mind, Smith kept this dreadful fact to himself, lest the knowledge of +it should still further unnerve his companion, who already was almost +exhausted by his exertions. At this time they were still full a mile +from the shore, which, to their anxious eyes, appeared still farther +off. "Smith, my dear fellow," exclaimed Palmes, "I can swim no farther. +Do you push on, and leave me to my fate." + +"Not I, my lad," answered Smith. "Cheer up, man; we'll yet do well. +Here, rest on me for a time; but don't cease striking out." Suiting the +action to the word, he came alongside and supported his companion; but +he did not tell him why he urged him to keep striking out. Again they +struck out together, and Palmes seemed somewhat recovered; but once more +his strength forsook him, and he fancied himself incapable of +proceeding. Still Smith did not lose courage; but he saw the necessity +of keeping their limbs moving, lest the dreadful sharks should be +tempted to lay hold of them. Palmes had fully as much moral courage as +his companion, but he was his inferior in physical strength; yet, +feeling that not only his own life and that of Smith, but that of their +nine fellow-creatures remaining on the wreck, depended on their reaching +the shore, nerved him to further exertions. + +Those only who have swam for their lives, when the arms have begun to +ache, the knees refuse to bend, and the breath grows short, can tell the +feelings of the two gallant young men, but more especially those of the +brave Palmes. Spurred on by Smith, each time that he grew faint and +weary, he nerved himself for fresh exertions. At last, as they strained +their eyes ahead, the shore seemed to come nearer and nearer. They +could distinguish the sandy beach and the green herbage beyond. On a +sudden, before even he expected it, Smith felt his foot touch the shore. +With a joyful exclamation of thankfulness, he grasped Palmes by the +hand, and aided him to wade on to the dry land. No sooner had they +emerged from the water, than, overcome with fatigue, poor Palmes sank +down on the beach, where he lay for some time unable to move. We fain +would believe--nay, we are certain--that they both offered up in their +hearts a silent thanksgiving to the Great Being who had thus mercifully +preserved them from the perils of the deep. But the gallant Smith, +while rejoicing in his own preservation and that of his friend, did not +forget the shipmates he had left floating on the wreck. As soon as he +had recovered sufficient strength to move, he hurried off to the nearest +habitation, to give information of the accident, and to procure a boat +to go to their assistance. Already much time had been lost. It was +half-past four when the accident occurred, and they had been two hours +in reaching the shore, so that darkness was now rapidly approaching, +which, of course, would increase the difficulty of finding the wreck. +The instant Palmes was able to move, he also got up and went in search +of a boat. He procured one, with a crew to man it, while Smith took +charge of another; and they immediately started in search of their +shipmates. Meantime information of the sad accident had been conveyed +on board the _Seringapatam_. The kind heart of the captain was much +grieved when he heard of it, for he could not but fear that the +remainder of the party had perished. From him, downwards to the +smallest boy in the ship, everybody was most painfully anxious about +them. He instantly despatched boats in all directions to search for the +missing party. All sorts of reports were flying about on board; and as +sharks were known to abound, it was feared by the seamen that they might +have destroyed their young shipmates. The night also became very bad: +the wind rose, and threatened to increase; the sea got up with it, thick +clouds collected, and the white-topped waves added to the gloominess of +the night, while the rain came down in torrents, and the lightning burst +forth in sharp and vivid flashes, increasing the dangers to be +apprehended. The boats of the _Seringapatam_ took different directions, +each officer commanding shaping the course he thought most likely to +bring him up to the wreck. Some of the searching boats went in a wrong +direction altogether, being misled by a pilot as to the direction the +current took. Hour after hour passed by, and no sign of the wreck was +perceived; and both those on board, and many of those in the boats, +began to despair of success. As they looked out through the darkness, +they fancied they could hear the voices of their shipmates at a +distance, imploring aid, or that they saw their figures on the bottom of +the boat amid the surrounding gloom. We shall, however, follow the +_Seringapatam's_ barge, commanded by her gunner. He knew the set of the +current; and, as soon as he shoved off from the ship's side, he ran +directly down to leeward along the coast, at the distance he understood +the boat had been capsized, he being thus better able to calculate the +direction in which she would have drifted. His purpose was then to beat +back again, thus entirely covering the ground where the wreck must be. +On his way down he fell in with the shore-boat, commanded by Mr Smith, +who, at once approving of his plan, joined him in the search. By their +calculations, the boat would have drifted some five or six miles to +leeward, and would be drawn rather off shore. They were right; and +about the very place where they expected, she was discerned still +floating as Smith had left her. With anxious hearts they pulled up to +her. Five only of the nine were seen still clinging to her. The other +four had too probably given themselves up to despair. The crew of the +barge cheered, and were answered with a faint hail from those they had +come to save, almost sinking from exhaustion. "Where are the rest?" +exclaimed Smith, as he saw their diminished numbers. "Only a short +distance inshore of us," was the answer. "They have not left the wreck +five minutes." + +"Alas! but in those five minutes the poor fellows may have sunk fathoms +down, or been grasped by the jaws of the hungry sharks," thought Smith, +as he instantly pulled away in the direction indicated. + +His four shipmates were found not far apart, each of them lashed to an +oar, and striking out as well as they could for the shore; but, strange +to say, only one of them could swim at all. + +It was then past nine o'clock, making nearly five hours that the poor +fellows had held on to the boat, with all the horrors of death staring +them in the face; for of course they were not aware that Smith and +Palmes had reached the shore, and indeed had begun to fear that they +were already numbered with the dead. Their pleasure, and--we believe, +their gratitude--was increased when they discovered that both had +escaped, and had been the means under Providence of preserving their +lives. + +Their sufferings had been very great. When the storm came on, they +expected every moment to be washed from the wreck; and, to add to their +horrors, a shark had been for most of the time lying between the masts +of the pinnace, his fiery eyes glaring up at them, and watching them, as +about soon to become his prey. Had it not, indeed, been for Smith's +coolness and skill as a swimmer, and for the generous daring of Palmes, +in all human probability every soul must have perished. The +circumstances we have narrated having been represented to the Royal +Humane Society, the silver medallion of the Society, with a +complimentary letter, was sent out, and presented on the quarter-deck of +the _Seringapatam_, by Captain Leith, to each of the two young officers, +in the presence of the whole ship's company,--a suitable and gratifying +reward for their gallantry, in addition to that their own consciences +could not fail to afford. + +Some years after the events I have just described, Mr W.R. Smith, +having reached the rank of lieutenant, belonged to HMS _Endymion_. On +the 4th of February 1847, she was at anchor off Sacraficios Island, near +Vera Cruz. The night of the 4th was excessively dark, and a strong +current was running past the ship, when Mr West, mate, slipped his foot +from the gangway, and fell into the sea, striking his head against the +ship's side. On the cry of "A man overboard!" which was instantly +raised, Lieutenant W.R. Smith and others rushed on deck; but, owing to +the excessive darkness and the strong current, no object could at first +be seen floating. At length something white was perceived at a +distance, when Lieutenant Smith immediately plunged into the water, and +struck rapidly out towards it. On reaching the object, he found it to +be Mr West, who was lying quite motionless, though, from his head +sinking under water, he would speedily have been deprived of life. +Lieutenant Smith at once raised his head above water, and kept him +floating until by repeatedly calling he attracted a boat to his +assistance, when he and his companion were carried on board. The crew +were thickly clustering on the rigging to see them return, and from +among them another man missed his footing and fell overboard from the +main-chains. Mr Smith, who saw the accident, not knowing whether the +man could swim, instantly plunged in again to his assistance, but found, +on reaching him, that he was perfectly able to keep himself afloat till +the boat could arrive to pick him up. + +RESCUE OF A BOAT'S CREW--JANUARY 1840. + +HMS _Wolverine_ formed one of the African squadron, and was commanded by +the brave and kind Commander Tucker. She had been cruising off the +coast, when, on the 15th of January 1840, she anchored off the river +Brass, or Saint John, one of the mouths of the far-famed and mysterious +Niger. Captain Tucker had made himself thoroughly acquainted with the +coast, as well as with the modes of proceeding of the slave-dealers and +of the slavers, and he was thus enabled to capture a very large number +of vessels, though, with single-minded purpose, as his object was to +stop the slave trade, he endeavoured to take them before they got their +slaves on board. Soon after the brig had brought up, about four miles +from the shore, Captain Tucker ordered the boats to be hoisted out, and +to be fitted for service during an absence of three days. While this +work was going forward, a canoe was observed paddling off from the shore +towards the ship. On her coming alongside, she was found to contain two +natives of great consequence, it seemed, judging from their costume,-- +that is to say, if scarlet dresses, or rather wrappers round the loins, +and ornamented caps, might be admitted as tests of rank. They came up +the side without hesitation, and, after some cross-questioning, they +informed Captain Tucker that they had seen a fine schooner, under +American colours, up the river Nun, and that from her appearance and +movements there could be no doubt that she was a slaver. The promise of +a reward induced them, with negro eagerness, to undertake all Captain +Tucker proposed,--to act as spies, and to bring further information +about the vessel, and then to perform the part of pilots in conducting +her, when captured, down the river. This information, which it was +hoped was correct, hurried the departure of the boats. Lieutenant +Dumaresq took charge of the pinnace, as commanding officer of the +expedition; Mr Arthur B. Kingston, then a mate, had the cutter; and +Mr Thorburn, another mate of the _Wolverine_, went in the gig. Water, +provisions, and arms having been placed in the boats, and all being +ready, they shoved off from the ship at half-past ten in the morning. +Lieutenant Dumaresq had one of the black pilots in his boat, and Mr +Kingston had the other with him. Sometimes sailing when there was a +breeze, and at others, when it fell light, the crews, eager for work of +some sort, pulling away with a will, they soon reached the mouth of the +river Brass. The river is here pretty broad; its banks, as far as the +eye can reach, covered with tall mangroves, their dark foliage imparting +a sombre and almost funereal aspect to the scenery. After the boats had +pulled about ten miles up the Brass, they reached a sort of natural +canal which connects the Brass with the Nun. On passing through this, +they entered the Nun, when they hove to for dinner,--a meal not at all +unwelcome after their long pull. The crews being refreshed, they again +bent to their oars, and proceeded about 30 miles up the Nun. Darkness +now rapidly came on, and they were no longer able to see ahead, nor had +they been able to discover anything of their looked-for prize. On +questioning their black volunteer pilots, the worthy gentlemen seemed +very uncertain, not only whether the slaver had sailed, but where she +had been and where they then were. One declared that they had come much +higher up than where she was last seen, and that she had probably been +sheltered from their observation in one of the numerous creeks which run +through the banks of the river. In this dilemma a council of war was +held, and at first it was proposed to retrace their steps, till the +elder of the black pilots offered to take a small canoe they had with +them higher up the river, to ascertain whether or not the slaver was +there. This proposal being agreed to by Lieutenant Dumaresq, the two +negroes pulled away, and were soon lost in the darkness, not without +some slight misgivings as to whether or not they would ever return. +However, to pass the time during the absence of the negroes, they piped +to supper. A small portion only of the ship's biscuit and salt pork had +been discussed, and a glass of grog had just been served out all round, +when the canoe was seen gliding at full speed out of the darkness, the +dip of her paddles just breaking the stillness of the night. "Well, my +men, any news of the slaver?" asked the lieutenant in an eager whisper, +for the return of the canoe gave him hopes that a prize was at hand. +"Ship live there," answered the elder black, in the clear and distinct +tones in which his race can speak, but still only in a whisper. No +sooner was this announcement made than the oars were got out +simultaneously, and, at a word from Lieutenant Dumaresq, the boats went +ahead like magic. Not a word except the necessary ones of command was +uttered. Everyone knew the importance of silence. The three boats, +urged on by their eager crews, advanced abreast at full speed. Ten +minutes, or little more, were sufficient to show the dark outline of a +schooner, her masts and spars relieved against the starry sky. Silent +as the grave, the boats pulled on, their oars so carefully dipped, that +scarcely a splash was heard. Those on board the schooner slept, or +seemed to sleep, for not a sound was heard from her decks. A slaver's +crew, however, conscious of the risks they are running in their +nefarious traffic, are seldom off their guard, and the British seamen +were fully prepared for a reception with a shower of grape and musketry. +Yet, without a thought of the consequences, on getting close to her, on +they dashed with a cheer, and in another instant were alongside and +scrambling up her sides. So unexpected had been their attack, that not +an attempt at resistance was made; and, to the no small delight of +Lieutenant Dumaresq and his followers, they found themselves in +possession of a fine little schooner, which proved to be the _Lark_, +with a crew of no less than thirty Spaniards. They were first all +properly secured and sent down below, with orders to behave themselves, +and a hint that if they did not, it would be the worse for them. + +A slaver's crew have a right, it is understood, to try and retake their +vessel without being treated as pirates and hung in case they do not +succeed, or are afterwards captured; so it becomes necessary to keep a +very sharp look-out after them. Her papers were at the same time +secured, and, on her circumstances being investigated, not a doubt +remained as to her character. + +Bending sails, and getting all ready for an early start, occupied some +time, when, the watch being set, with strict orders to keep a wakeful +eye on the prisoners, the rest of the party lay down on the sails, and +were soon sound asleep. + +At early dawn all hands were roused up, and the schooner was very soon +got under weigh. There was little or no wind to fill her sails, so the +boats' crews had to tow her down the river, hoping to find a breeze, as +they got near its mouth, to take her out. Nine miles of their distance +had been thus accomplished, when, at about seven o'clock, as she was +passing through a long reach of the river Nun, a sail hove in sight, +which was soon discovered to be a rakish two-topsail schooner. She +stood boldly on up the river towards the barracoons, either not +observing the little _Lark_, or, at all events, not suspecting into +whose hands she had fallen. Lieutenant Dumaresq on this instantly +ordered the man-of-war boats to be hauled up alongside of the schooner +on the opposite side to that on which the stranger was approaching, so +that she should not observe them, and, by taking fright, endeavour to +make her escape. At the same time, the pinnace and gig were manned and +held in readiness (the crews being well armed) to board the schooner, +Mr Kingston receiving orders to remain in charge of the _Lark_ with the +cutter's crew. On slowly came the stranger, the light wind only just +enabling her to stem the current. She seemed totally unconscious of the +neighbourhood of her enemies. On a sudden something seemed to awaken +her suspicions; and Lieutenant Dumaresq, judging that the best time had +arrived for taking possession, shoved off and pulled towards her as fast +as the crews could lay their backs to the oars. Mr Kingston meantime +was left in command of the _Lark_, with the cutter's crew; Mr Thorburn +accompanied their leader. Away went the boats. The stranger now for +the first time was aware of her danger, or rather certainty of capture, +unless she could blow the approaching boats out of the water; but she +could have had but slight hopes of doing so with any chance of ultimate +success, as she saw that the _Lark_ was in the hands of her enemies, and +she could not tell how many people might be remaining on board to avenge +the destruction of their comrades. Still, slavers, when they have seen +a chance of success, have often fought desperately; and the cutter's +crew on board the _Lark_ watched with deep interest the approach of the +two boats to the big schooner, not knowing what moment she might open +her fire on them; but the slaver's crew had not even the brute-like +courage to induce them to fight in defence of their accursed calling, +and, without firing a shot, they allowed the two boats to come +alongside. Once having a firm hold of the slaver's chains with their +boat-hooks, the British seamen very quickly scrambled on board. The +crew, who were chiefly Spaniards, made no opposition, nor did a number +of other people, who, dressed in shore-going clothes, announced +themselves as passengers. There was certainly a wonderfully sea-going +look about them, though they all seemed very anxious to leave the vessel +as fast as possible. Now, as the consequences of detaining people +against their will are often very disagreeable, Lieutenant Dumaresq, +whatever might have been his suspicions, thought it best to allow the +gentlemen to take their departure. It was afterwards discovered that +the fellows, who were all of them belonging to the slaver's crew, took +on shore a very considerable number of doubloons, which form in general +the most valuable portion of a prize, unless she has her cargo of slaves +on board; the slave-vessel herself and her stores rarely sell for much. +What was called head-money has of late years been reduced to one-fourth +of what it was formerly. The new prize proved to be the _Asp_, a fit +name for a slaver, though she was now effectually deprived of her sting. +As soon as she was thoroughly overhauled, and all her forthcoming +papers secured, the Spanish crew were sent below, and the man-of-war's +boats began towing the two schooners down the river. It was laborious +work, after the incessant labour for so many hours the men had gone +through; but a prize tows easily, and the gallant fellows cheerfully +bent to their oars. Thus the two vessels proceeded on rapidly between +the mangrove-covered banks of the river. By five p.m. the entrance of +the Nun appeared in sight, and preparations were instantly made for +crossing the bar,--I must rather say bars, for there are three, one +within the other, at some distance apart; and over them, when the +current sets out and the wind blows in, the sea breaks with great +violence, so that, under those circumstances, the crossing them, even in +a decked vessel, is a work of very considerable danger. On this +occasion appearances were far from favourable: the wind was foul, and +blowing very strong; a heavy sea was breaking over the bars, its +incessant roar seeming like a warning not to venture into its power; +while evening was rapidly closing in, the coming darkness threatening to +increase the difficulties to be encountered. Still Mr Dumaresq was +unwilling to expose his followers to the baneful atmospheric influences +of another night spent within the mouth of the river, or to the chances +of attack from any of the slavers' friends who might be in the +neighbourhood, and who would always be ready to win back a prize at any +sacrifice of the lives of the captors; though that was a contingency not +likely to happen. He was rather influenced, probably, by his anxiety to +secure his prizes, and to report his proceedings to his superior +officer. The schooners had anchored just inside the inner bar, and all +the necessary preparations having been made, and the tide serving, they +again got under weigh. Mr Dumaresq led in the _Asp_, directing Mr +Kingston to follow in his wake. This Mr Kingston did, approaching the +bar on the starboard tack, the _Lark_ having the cutter towing astern, +and her own boat, which could not be hoisted up on account of the +tackles being unrove, and a net full of vegetables being worked athwart +the davits. Neither could her boat be got on board, on account of the +crowded state of the decks. As the _Lark_ drew close to the bar, the +appearance of things in no degree mended. Hands were placed in the +chains, who kept the lead constantly going; and, as the water shoaled, +the schooners had to tack repeatedly, wearing sometimes, as the heavy +swell threatened otherwise to prevent their coming round. From the +first, Mr Kingston had but little confidence in the black volunteer +pilot who had accompanied him on board the _Lark_; and now, though he +urged him by threats to perform the duty he had undertaken, and tried to +stimulate him to exertion by reminding him of his promised reward, he +only answered, "This is no my bar!" and finally threw himself down on +the deck under the bulwarks, refusing to take any further charge of the +vessel. It must be remembered that the boats had entered the Niger by +the _Brass_ river, the bar of which was _his bar_, and that he had +bargained to act as pilot through its mouth, so that there was ample +excuse for the poor wretch; this, however, in no degree lessened the +danger of the position in which the little _Lark_ was placed. + +It was now perfectly dark and very squally, while nothing was visible to +mark the course the vessel should pursue but the phosphorescent light of +the breakers stretching across the bar from shore to shore; while to all +appearance there seemed to be reef only beyond reef, destruction on +which it was scarcely possible the schooner could escape. Though the +_Lark_ was pressed to the utmost, the _Asp_ soon distanced her; and +though Lieutenant Dumaresq showed lights, they were of little or no use +in guiding her course. Squall after squall struck the little schooner; +and, as she heeled over, it sometimes appeared that she would never +again rise, or be able to beat out through the tremendous surf which +came rolling in. At length Mr Kingston judged it wise to shorten sail, +which he forthwith did, having set only his mainsail, jib, and +fore-and-aft foresail, a fore-trysail. He also sent a good hand on the +fore-yard to look out for any break which might happily appear in the +white wall of surf which came rolling in over the surrounding shoals. +The little _Lark_ had now reached the innermost of the three bars, and +was pitching into the seas, which came foaming up and rolling over her +decks. She had the cutter towing after her, and astern of that was the +schooner's boat. That very soon began to fill, and finally swamped, +when it became necessary to cut her adrift. This was done, and she +quickly disappeared. At about a quarter to eight a blue light was +observed close to windward; and as the _Lark_ was wearing off the +heaviest part of the bar, some voices were heard hailing her. It was +soon discovered that they proceeded from the pinnace, which had +apparently several hands in her. Again they hailed, imploring to be +picked up, stating, as far as could be understood, that they had broken +adrift from astern of the _Asp_, with the gig, which was lost; and from +the words which reached the _Lark_, Mr Kingston was very much afraid +that several lives were already sacrificed, while it seemed too probable +that those in the pinnace would share the same fate, unless he could +manage to get near them to take them on board. There was not a moment +to spare. The pinnace, it must be understood, was inside the _Lark_, +higher up the river, the _Lark_ having passed her after she had broken +adrift from the _Asp_. In another minute she would have drifted among +the breakers, when the destruction of all on board would be sealed. To +pick her up under weigh was almost impossible; and, with the tide and +heavy sea, the schooner could not be steered with any degree of +certainty even near her; and could even this be done, the probabilities +were that she would be swamped before the men could be got out of her. +The young officer therefore saw that but one course only was open for +him to pursue with any chance of success, and that involved immense risk +both to the vessel and his people. To think is to act with a British +seaman in a case of emergency. He saw that to intercept the boat he +must anchor; and, having both anchors clear, and a hand by the weather +one all along, he ordered it to be let go, though he had but two fathoms +at the time under the vessel's keel, while the surf from the second bar +was curling up round the vessel's sides, threatening to make a clear +sweep of her decks. His order to let go was perhaps not understood, or +the Spanish crew, some thirty in number, seeing what was about to be +done, and expecting instant destruction in consequence, endeavoured to +impede it; at all events, he had to rush forward and cut the stoppers +with an axe, which he luckily had at hand. + +The schooner brought up all standing, the sea at the same instant making +a terrific breach over her; but the helmsman was a good hand, and +sheered her over to the exact spot the pinnace must pass. The whole was +the work of a moment. The boat drifted near, a rope was hove into her, +and providentially caught by the nearly exhausted crew. She was hauled +alongside, her people being got out, while some fresh hands went down +into her and secured her with her own cable and the end of the +schooner's main-sheet. At the same time the schooner's fore-sheet was +passed into the cutter as a preventer. Four men were saved from the +pinnace. They stated that she and the gig had been towing astern of the +_Asp_, with two hands in each, when, on crossing the inner bar, they +both broke adrift together. Instead, however, of the two men in the +pinnace getting into the gig, which they might have managed, those in +the smaller got into the larger boat, fancying they would be safer, when +they found themselves totally unable to pull her against the tide, or to +guide her to shore. The _Lark_ very soon after this began to drive, +when the other anchor was dropped under foot, while they veered away on +the larboard cable. She now held, but the breakers made a clean breach +over her decks, washing adrift the numerous casks, loose spars, +fowl-coops, and a variety of other things; and in addition, what was +worse than all, a large scuttle-butt of palm-oil. Meantime, to increase +the confusion and danger, the cutter and pinnace were striking the stern +and quarters of the vessel with great force, often coming as far forward +as the main-chains on both sides. The Spaniards had from the first been +very unruly, and they now gave symptoms of an intention of breaking into +open mutiny. In addition, therefore, to the variety of other duties the +British seamen were called on to perform, it became necessary for them +to keep their arms in readiness, to repel any sudden attack the fellows +might venture to make on them for the purpose of regaining the schooner. +The palm-oil, also, which is like very thick red mud, had coated the +whole deck from before the foremast nearly as far aft as the mainmast, +making it more slippery even than ice, so that no one could either stand +or walk on it. The water, also, had no effect on its greasy +composition, and as there were no ashes on board to strew over it, one +part of the deck became almost separated from the other. The Spaniards +were evidently watching their opportunity, and kept eyeing the British +seamen with no friendly intentions. They were four to one of them, and +though deprived of their muskets and cutlasses, they had still the long +knives in their belts, without which no Spaniard ever thinks his costume +complete. The wretches kept up such a hubbub, and did so much to impede +the work of the vessel, that some of them very nearly got shot, as a +hint to the rest of what they might expect if they proceeded to +extremities. The gallant young officer himself had little fear of what +they might venture to do, as, considering the dilemma the vessel was +placed in, surrounded by shoals, with heavy breakers close at hand, and +in thick darkness, they could scarcely hope to get out to sea and escape +that way, or, if they returned up the river, to avoid recapture should +they regain possession of the vessel. In obedience, however, to his +written instructions, he kept some of his people under arms to watch the +fellows. For full half an hour the little schooner lay in this way, it +being expected every instant that her anchors would part, when a roller, +more severe even than the others, threw the cutter on board on the +larboard quarter, breaking the bunk adrift and capsizing it. As the +vessel rose again, the boat fell aft and immediately filled, when she +was of necessity cut adrift to prevent her doing more damage; and as +soon as this was done she sank. Shortly after this the squalls began to +become less frequent, and the breakers moderated gradually; an opening, +also, was seen in the line of sparkling foam from the fore-yard; so Mr +Kingston resolved to make sail and to get out of the river. He +contrived to weigh the starboard or lee anchor, after very many +fruitless attempts to do so on account of the heavy surges; but as it +was found impossible to purchase the weather one, it was slipped, and +the schooner wore round under her jib in a quarter less two fathoms. A +sharp-sighted seaman stood on the fore-yard, from whence he conned the +vessel,--the lead kept going as before. The mainsail was then set, and +the schooner stood out towards the opening which appeared in the surf. +She obeyed her helm readily, the rocks and shoals were avoided, and at +length the outer bar was safely passed. At about ten p.m. she came up +with the _Asp_, anchored a short distance outside. Lieutenant Dumaresq +stood with speaking-trumpet in hand, and hailed the _Lark_. "I'm glad +you've got out safe; but I fear four of my poor fellows are lost, and +our two boats." + +"They're safe on board, and I have your boat in tow," was the answer. A +loud congratulatory cheer from the British seamen on board the _Asp_ +signified their satisfaction at the success of Mr Kingston's gallant +exploit. He then anchored, and, going on board the _Asp_, was further +thanked and congratulated by his superior officer; who had not only +given up all hopes of the people in the pinnace and gig having escaped, +but of the _Lark_ herself, as his own vessel had had a most perilous +passage across the bars. She had struck three times, in one of which +shocks the boats had broken adrift. The two schooners again weighed and +ran down to the _Wolverine_, lying off the Brass, ten miles distant. On +their arrival, Mr Kingston had the satisfaction of receiving the +warmest approval of his excellent commander for the gallantry and +judgment he had displayed. The vessels were afterwards sent to Sierra +Leone, where they were condemned and cut up. + +Mr Kingston having taken the _Lark_ schooner to Sierra Leone, where she +was condemned, was appointed to HMS _Saracen_, which soon afterwards +arrived there. From that place the _Saracen_ sailed for the river +Gambia, soon after the 2nd of March. + +On the evening of the 13th of the same month, while on her passage +there, when it was blowing fresh, with a heavy cross sea, a lad +aged nineteen, named John Plunket, fell overboard from the +main-topgallant-yard. In falling he struck against the topsail-yard and +the sweeps stowed on the quarter, and was bleeding at the mouth and +almost senseless when he reached the water. The lad could not swim, and +his death seemed inevitable; when Mr Kingston, who was on the +quarter-deck, without a moment's hesitation sprang overboard, exclaiming +to his commander as he ran aft, "Send a boat as quick as you can, sir-- +I'll save him." He struck out bravely towards the poor lad, but before +he could reach him he sank. A cry of horror arose from all on board, +for they thought the lad was lost, though every exertion was made to get +a boat in the water to pick up Mr Kingston. Plunket, however, again +rose, and Mr Kingston grasping hold of him, supported him above water, +though with much difficulty, as the lad, who bled profusely from the +mouth and nostrils, convulsively clung round him, and almost dragged him +down to the bottom. Fortunately, he released himself from the clutch of +the now senseless youth, and continued to support him by swimming and +treading water. For fear of exhaustion, he afterwards threw himself on +his back, and, placing the head of his almost inanimate shipmate on his +chest, he kept him up for a quarter of an hour, till a boat reached them +and took them on board. + +On another occasion, while on the coast of Africa, in a spot where +sharks were known to abound, Mr Kingston leaped overboard after another +lad who had fallen into the water. Fortunately the life-buoy was let go +at the same time, and, wisely catching hold of it, he towed it up to the +sinking youth, and providentially preserved his life. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +GALLANT DEEDS. + +HUMANITY OF LIEUTENANT BREEN, RN--MEDITERRANEAN, 1850. + +That the seamen of the British navy are as humane as they are brave we +have numberless examples to prove. The following is one of numerous +instances in which they have risked and often sacrificed their lives for +the good of others, and should on no account be passed over. + +As one of the boats of HMS _Ganges_, forming part of the British fleet +in the Piraeus, with Lieutentant Breen, Mr Chatfield, midshipman, and +16 men, was returning from the shore, laden with water, she was swamped +and turned over just half-way between the _Queen_ and the east point of +the island of Lypso. + +Mr Breen, Mr Chatfield, and most of the men, immediately struck out +for the island, and reached it. The gale increased, and the cold became +so intense that their clothes were frozen stiff upon them. In the +morning they could see the fleet, but were unable to draw attention to +themselves by the signals they were making. One of the men suffered so +much from the cold that Lieutenant Breen generously stripped off his +coat and put it on him. As the day closed, most of the men retired into +a cave; but Mr Breen separated himself from the others, and was no more +seen. On board the _Ganges_ it was thought that they had not put off +from shore; but next night it was known that they had set out, and a +boat was sent to search. As she was passing by Lypso at dawn on the +third day, the wrecked boat was accidentally descried on the beach. Mr +Chatfield and half a dozen men were found in the cave in a torpid state; +Mr Breen was found dead, crouched under a bush, and ten seamen were +missing. There is little doubt that poor Mr Breen lost his life from +his generous act in favour of the suffering seamen. The survivors found +in the cave all recovered. + +GALLANTRY EXHIBITED IN PRESERVING LIFE--CAPTAIN WASEY, RN--1860. + +On the 22nd of January 1860, the schooner _Ann Mitchell_ went ashore +near Fleetwood. A new lifeboat, not long before placed there by the +National Lifeboat Institution, was immediately launched, when Captain +Wasey, Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, to encourage the men, +went off in her. A strong tide was running in, and a hard gale blowing +from the west-north-west. It was night. Stronger and stronger blew the +gale, the sea breaking terrifically on the shore and over the hapless +vessel. A small steamer was got ready, and took the lifeboat in tow. +Even thus but slow way was made in the teeth of the gale, the tide, and +the raging sea. Still the steamer persevered. Slowly she gained +ground, and at length, having got to windward of the wreck, the tow-rope +was cast off, and the boat proceeded alone on her work of mercy. She +got within a few yards of the wreck, when a tremendous sea rushing in, +struck her and filled her, breaking some of her oars. At that moment it +seemed as if the lifeboat herself was doomed to destruction. She was +but small, pulling only six oars, and scarcely fitted for the arduous +work in which she was engaged. Captain Wasey now anchored, and +attempted to veer her down to the wreck, but the strong tide running +defeated his intention. The anchor being then weighed, another attempt +was made to board the vessel to leeward; but a heavy sea striking her, +she was thrown over altogether, her masts falling within a few feet of +the lifeboat, whose brave crew thus narrowly escaped destruction. +Again, therefore, Captain Wasey determined to anchor to windward, and +once more to veer down. This time success attended the efforts of the +lifeboat's crew, lines being thrown on board of the wreck and secured. +One of the people from the schooner then threw himself into the sea, and +was hauled into the boat; but unhappily the others appeared to be either +fearful or unable to follow his example; and, from the pitchy darkness +and the noise of the sea and wind, it was impossible to communicate +intelligibly with them. Captain Wasey learned from the man saved, that +three persons remained; one--the master--had his back hurt, and +another--a boy--his leg broken. While endeavouring to carry out their +humane purpose, a heavy sea broke over both vessel and boat, carrying +away the lines, and sweeping the boat some 300 yards to leeward. Many +seamen might have despaired of regaining the wreck, but the men of the +lifeboat, encouraged by their gallant leader, pulled up once more, in +the hopes of saving the poor fellows on the wreck. Great was their +disappointment, however, on again getting alongside, to discover that +the last heavy sea had washed them all off. Captain Wasey and his +gallant followers having done all that men could do, had at length to +return to the shore with one only out of the four people who had formed +the crew of the _Ann Mitchell_. They had been thus occupied for nearly +nine hours of a dark winter's night, with untiring exertion and +exposure. The lifeboat had been launched at six p.m. on the 22nd, and +did not return to the shore till forty minutes past two a.m. on the +23rd. + +Their labours in the cause of humanity were, however, not over for that +day. Soon after daylight broke, it was reported to Captain Wasey that +another vessel had apparently sunk on the shoals which surround and +extend to a long distance from the port of Fleetwood. Rising without a +moment's hesitation, he summoned John Fox, chief boatman of the Coast +Guard, and coxswain of the lifeboat, with some other men, and two of his +former crew, James Turner and John Aspingal, fishermen. The lifeboat +was once more afloat, and, towed for two hours against a strong tide and +heavy sea by the steam-tug, she at length reached the wreck, which +proved to be the schooner _Jane Roper_, of Ulverstone. Her crew, +consisting of six men, were in the rigging, crying out for aid. Captain +Wasey and his men happily succeeded in getting them all on board, and in +landing them safely at Fleetwood. + +On the 19th of February, while it was blowing a heavy gale from the +north-north-west, with squalls, the schooner _Catherine_, of Newry, went +on shore, when again Captain Wasey went off in the lifeboat, and +succeeded in saving all the crew. + +On 20th October 1861, the same brave officer, taking command of the +lifeboat, was instrumental in saving the lives of 16 persons from the +barque _Vermont_, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, wrecked on Barnett's Bank, +three miles from Fleetwood. For these and various other similar +services he has received several medals and clasps from the Royal +National Lifeboat Institution. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT BOYLE, RN. + +Lieutenant the Hon. H.F. Boyle, RN, chief officer of the Coast Guard +at Tenby, distinguished himself in the same humane manner. + +At daybreak on the 2nd of November, the smack _Bruce_, of Milford, +anchored, being totally dismasted, about three miles east of Tenby. It +was blowing a furious gale from the west-south-west, and the sea, +running very high, threatened every instant to overwhelm the smack, or +to drive her on the rocks. Lieutenant Boyle, immediately on seeing her +condition, embarked in the Tenby lifeboat, and pulled off towards the +unfortunate vessel. Her crew, three in number, were found in an almost +exhausted state, and taken into the lifeboat, which then made for the +small harbour of Saundershott, four miles distant. + +On the 9th of November, at nine p.m., the commencement of a dark cold +night of that inclement season, a large brig was observed to go on shore +in Tenby Bay. The lifeboat, manned by her usual varied crew of +coastguardsmen and fishermen, under the charge of Robert Parrott, chief +boatman of the Coast Guard, who acted as coxswain of the lifeboat, at +once proceeded through a tremendous sea towards her, the wind blowing a +gale from the south-west. The vessel was discovered to be on shore, in +a peculiar position, on a rocky reef, so that she could only be +approached from windward. The lifeboat's anchor was accordingly let go, +with the intention of being veered down to the wreck, but a heavy roller +striking the boat, carried away the cable and broke three of her oars. + +Finding it then impossible to close with the vessel, in consequence of +her peculiar position and the heavy sea breaking over her, the lifeboat +returned to Tenby, and Lieutenant Boyle and his crew proceeded to the +spot with all haste by land with the rocket apparatus. Several efforts +were made before the party succeeded in sending a line over the wreck. +At length perseverance crowned their efforts, a line was thrown, and +caught by the crew on the wreck; a stouter rope was next hauled on +board, and by its means, in the course of three hours, the whole of the +crew, who would otherwise have met with a watery grave, were safely +landed. The silver medal of the Lifeboat Institution was awarded to +Lieutenant Boyle, and the second-service clasp was added to the medal +received on a former occasion by Robert Parrott. + +LOWESTOFT LIFEBOAT. + +Few boats have been the means of saving more lives from destruction than +that of the lifeboat belonging to Lowestoft, on the Suffolk coast. We +will mention a few instances to show the way in which the seamen and +boatmen of that place have risked their lives for the sake of those of +their fellow-creatures. On the 26th of October 1859, the schooner _Lord +Douglas_ parted from her anchors in a heavy gale from the south, and +foundered off the village of Carton, on the Suffolk coast; the crew, as +she went down, climbing into the rigging, where they lashed themselves. + +The Lowestoft lifeboat proceeded under sail to the spot, and, having +anchored to windward of the wrecked vessel, succeeded in getting lines +down to the crew, who were then drawn from the masts safely on board, +and were landed at Carton. So heavy was the gale, that she split her +foresail in the service. Scarcely had the lifeboat returned from saving +the crew of the _Lord Douglas_, than another schooner, though lying with +three anchors ahead, drove ashore at Carton. A foresail was borrowed, +and the lifeboat again started on her mission of mercy. She reached the +vessel under sail, and happily succeeded in rescuing all the crew; but +having split her borrowed sail, she was compelled to run in for Yarmouth +beach. Here the shipwrecked crew were hospitably received at the +Sailors' Home. + +Again, on the 1st of November, the screw-steamer _Shamrock_, of Dublin, +ran on shore on the Holme Sand during a heavy gale from the south-west. +As soon as the position of the unfortunate vessel was discovered, the +lifeboat was launched, and proceeded under sail to the spot. The sea +was breaking fearfully over the mast-head of the steamer, repeatedly +filling the lifeboat. To increase the danger, an expanse of shoal-water +lay close to leeward of the wreck, so that had the lifeboat's cable +parted, her destruction and that of her crew might have followed. Fully +aware of the risk they ran, they persevered, as brave men will, in spite +of danger to themselves; and, sending lines on board the wreck, the +whole crew, not without considerable difficulty, were hauled on board. + +BRAVERY OF JOSEPH ROGERS, A MALTESE SEAMAN--25TH OCTOBER 1859. + +No one will forget the dreadful loss of the _Royal Charter_ on the Welsh +coast, when, out of 490 souls on board, not more than 25 persons came on +shore alive; but many may not recollect that it was owing, under +Providence, to the bravery, presence of mind, and strength of one man +that even these few were saved. When the ship struck on the rocks, the +sea instantly broke over her with fearful violence, filling the +intermediate space between her and the shore with broken spars and +fragments of the wreck; while the waves burst with fury on the hard +rocks, and then rushed back again, to hurl with redoubled force on the +iron shore the objects which they had gathered up in their forward +course. Pitchy darkness added to the horror of the scene and the danger +to be encountered by the hapless passengers and crew of the ill-fated +ship. Among the ship's company was a Maltese, Joseph Rogers--a +first-rate swimmer, as are many of the inhabitants of the island in +which he was born. To attempt to swim on shore in that boiling caldron +was full of danger, though he might have felt that he could accomplish +it; but the difficulty and danger would be far greater should the +swimmer's progress be impeded by a rope. In spite of that, thinking +only how he might save the lives of those on board the ship to which he +belonged, taking a line in hand, he plunged boldly into the foaming sea. +On he swam; the darkness prevented him from being seen, but those on +board felt the rope gradually hauled out. Anxiously all watched the +progress of that line, for on the success of that bold swimmer the lives +of all might depend. If he failed, who could hope to succeed? At +length they felt it tightened, and they knew that it was being hauled up +by many strong hands on shore. Now a stout rope was fastened to the +line, and that being hauled on shore was secured, and a cradle was +placed on it. No time was to be lost. The large ship was striking with +terrible violence on the rocks, it appearing that every instant would be +her last. One after the other, the people on board hastened into the +cradle--as many as dared to make the hazardous passage. Ten, fifteen, +twenty landed--the twenty-fifth person had just reached the shore, when, +with a horrible crash, the ship parted, breaking into fragments, and 454 +persons were hurried in a moment into eternity. Even Rogers, brave +swimmer as he was, could not have survived had he attempted to swim +among those wreck-covered waves. For his heroic courage the National +Lifeboat Institution awarded the gold medal to Rogers and a gratuity of +5 pounds. + +REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF ENDURANCE OF A CREW OF BRITISH SEAMEN. + +A small fishing smack, with a crew of five people, was wrecked off +Bacton, near Great Yarmouth, on the 27th of November 1859. The poor men +were in the rigging, without food or drink, for 60 hours before they +were rescued from the mast of their sunken vessel, to which they had +been clinging for more than 60 hours. For three nights and two days +they held on to this uncertain support, about 8 feet above the raging +sea, without food, and almost without clothing. One of the men took off +his shirt and held it out as a signal of distress, till it was blown +from his feeble grasp. The vessel struck upon the Harborough Sand on +Friday evening at nine o'clock, and they were not rescued till ten +o'clock on Monday morning--a case of most remarkable endurance. The +vessel was but a small one, a smack with four hands. The fourth hand, a +boy, climbed the mast with the others, and held on till the Saturday, +when he became exhausted, and, relaxing his hold, slipped down into the +sea. One of the men went down after him, seized him, and dragged him up +the mast again; but there was nothing to which to lash him, and no +crosstrees or spars on which to rest; so that during the night, when +almost senseless with cold and fatigue, the poor boy slipped down again, +and was lost in the darkness. On Sunday they were tantalised with the +hope of immediate succour. A vessel saw their signals and heard their +cries, and sent a boat to their relief; but after buffeting with the +wind and tide, they had the mortification to see her give up the +attempt, and return to the vessel. Then it was that black despair took +possession of them, and they gave themselves up for lost; but clinging +to their frail support for an hour or two longer, they heard a gun fire. +This gave them fresh courage, for they took it to be a signal, as in +fact it was, that their case was known, and an attempt would be made to +save them. The vessel stood in and communicated with the shore, and a +boat put off to search for them; but they were such a speck on the +ocean, that, night coming on, they could not be seen, and the boat +returned to shore. For the third night, therefore, they had still to +cling on, expecting every moment that the mast would go over and bury +them in the deep. On the Monday morning the Bacton boat made another +attempt, fell in with them at ten o'clock, and landed them at Palling, +more dead than alive, whence, as soon as they could be moved, they were +brought to the Yarmouth Sailors' Home, their swollen limbs, benumbed +frames, and ghastly countenances testifying to the sufferings they had +undergone. At this Home the poor men remained several weeks, receiving +every attention from the officers of the establishment. + +To conclude our short account of the services of lifeboats, we may state +that in the year 1860 the lives of no less than 326 persons were saved +by those stationed on the British coast, every one of which would have +been lost. + +We will give another example, to exhibit more clearly the nature of the +work the brave crews undertake. + +In the early part of that year, as the day closed, it was blowing a +heavy gale off Lyme-Regis. About eight o'clock at night the alarm was +given that a vessel was in distress in the offing. It was pitchy dark; +indeed, the intense darkness, the strong gale, and the heavy surf on +shore were enough to appal any man entering the lifeboat. After some +short delay, however, the boat was manned by a gallant crew--her +coxswain, Thomas Bradley, being early at his post. Tar barrels were +lighted up on shore, and the boat proceeded on her mission of mercy. So +truly awful was the night, that nearly everyone on shore believed she +would never return again. However, after battling with the fury of the +storm, and after an absence of about an hour and a half, the lifeboat +did return, laden with the shipwrecked crew of three men of the smack +_Elizabeth Ann_, of Lyme-Regis. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A BRUSH WITH AN IRONCLAD. + +On the 29th of May 1877 two British corvettes, the _Shah_ and the +_Amethyst_, were engaged in the only encounter at sea in which Her +Majesty's ships have been engaged, (with the exception of fights with +slavers) for very many years, and this conflict was the more remarkable +inasmuch as their opponent was an ironclad. Peru is the land of +revolution and revolt against authority. Such a rising took place in +the last week of May. Pierola, the leader, had as his friends the +officers of the Peruvian ironclad the _Huascar_, and this vessel +pronouncing in his favour, put to sea with him on board. The Peruvian +Government at once sent news of the mutiny on board this ship to Admiral +de Horsey, and also notified that they would not be answerable for the +proceedings of those on board. The _Huascar_ put into Perajua, and took +coal from an English depot there; she then put to sea, stopped two +British steamers and took coal also from them. As this was an act of +piracy on the high sea, Admiral de Horsey determined to engage her +whenever he met her. + +On the 28th of May the _Huascar_ appeared off the port of Iquique. Her +boats disembarked a portion of her crew, and after a fight with the +Peruvian troops, they captured the town. A few hours after that the +Peruvian squadron, consisting of the ironclad _Independencia_, the +corvette _Unica_ and the gunboat _Pilsomayo_, arrived, and it was +resolved to engage the _Huascar_. The fight lasted for an hour and a +half, and then darkness came on and the _Huascar_ steamed away. + +The next morning she met the _Shah_ and the _Amethyst_. Admiral Horsey +sent an officer on board the _Huascar_ to demand her surrender. Pierola +refused, and upon the return of the officer to the _Shah_, the battle at +once commenced. + +The _Huascar_ was built for the Peruvian Government by Messrs. Samuda, +and was a turret-ship mounting two 300-pounder guns in her turret. She +had also two 40-pound pivot-guns. The _Shah_ and _Amethyst_ were +unarmoured cruisers, but in point of number of guns they were superior +to the ironclad. The fight lasted for three hours. The _Huascar's_ +smoke-stack was pierced, and damage done to her deck beams, but the +metal of the British guns were not heavy enough to pierce the armour. +In the course of the fight the _Shah_ launched a Whitehead torpedo +against the ironclad, but it failed to strike her. The British ships +were ably handled, and received no serious damage in the encounter; and +after a three hours' engagement the _Huascar_ steamed away and made for +a Peruvian port. As this was the first time that unarmoured vessels had +ventured to engage an ironclad of modern type, every credit is due to +the gallantry of our seamen, although they were unsuccessful in their +attempt to capture or sink their opponent. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +GALLANT DEEDS PERFORMED BY NAVAL MEN. + +DEATH OF CAPTAIN BROWNRIGG--1881. + +This officer had greatly distinguished himself by the energy and success +with which he had carried on operations against the slaving dhows during +the term of his command on the Zanzibar coast. On the 27th of November +1881 he started in the steam pinnace of the _London_, accompanied by his +steward, a native interpreter, and a writer, with a crew consisting of a +coxswain, Alfred Yates, three seamen, and three stokers. Captain +Brownrigg was going upon a tour of inspection among the boats engaged in +repressing the slave trade, and the various depots. On his way he +examined any dhows he met which he suspected to contain slaves. On the +3rd of December a dhow was sighted flying French colours. In such cases +it was not Captain Brownrigg's custom to board, but only to go alongside +to see that the papers were correct. He therefore ordered the boat's +crew to be careful not to board without direct orders, intending a mere +cursory examination, and no detention whatever, as he did not arm the +boat's crew, and directed the time alongside to be noted. + +He went alongside without hailing or stopping the dhow in any way, the +wind being light and the craft scarcely forging ahead. + +Prior to getting alongside he sent the coxswain forward to make a hook, +with a chain and rope attached, fast to the dhow, his object in doing so +seemingly being to prevent the necessity of the vessel stopping, and to +enable him to converse with the captain and to quietly verify her +papers. He took the tiller himself, and was alone, with the exception +of his steward (a Goanese) and a native interpreter, in the after-part, +which is separated from the rest of the boat by a standing canopy, over +which one has to climb to get fore or aft. It was still more cut off by +the fact of the main-boom having been raised to the height of the top of +the ensign staff on the mainmast, and over it the after-part of the +rain-awning was spread, being loosely gathered back towards the mast. + +When the boat was quite close to the dhow, a man, supposed to be the +captain of her, stood up aft with a bundle or roll of papers in his +hand, and said something as he unfolded them, and pointed to the French +flag. What he exactly said is unknown. + +There were then visible on board the dhow four men, two aft and two +forward, all armed with the usual Arab swords and creeses. The +forecastle sun-awning was spread at the time from the foremast to a +stanchion shipped abaft the stern-piece, and under it were two +bluejackets and the writer, the leading stoker was at the engines, +whilst the two stokers appear to have been sitting on the inside of the +gunnel of the well, i.e. the space for boilers and engines. + +As the coxswain was standing on the stem of the boat, in the act of +making fast with the hook rope, he caught sight of some eight or ten men +crouched in the bottom of the boat with guns at the "ready" position. +He sang out to the captain aft, when they rose up and fired; he flung +the hook at them, and closed with one, both falling overboard together. + +The Arabs, the number of whom is variously estimated at from fifteen to +twenty-five, then jumped into the pinnace with drawn swords and clubbed +guns. As their first fire killed one man (a stoker) outright, mortally +wounded another, and severely wounded two others of the boat's crew, the +Arabs found but little difficulty in driving the rest, unarmed as they +were, overboard. + +Captain Brownrigg and his steward were the only two left, and both were +in the after-part of the boat. He seized a rifle, and at the first shot +knocked an Arab over; but before he could reload three or four of them +rushed aft to attack him, getting on the top of the canopy and at the +sides, but he, clubbing his rifle, kept them at bay, fighting with a +determination that filled the survivors, who were then in the water +unable to get on board, with the greatest admiration, they describing +him as "fighting like a lion." + +He knocked two of his assailants over, but was unable to get at them +properly, owing to the awning overhead, whilst they were above him on +the canopy cutting at him with their long swords, but fearing to jump +down and close with him. As he knocked one over, another took his +place. + +The first wound that seems to have hampered him in the gallant fight was +a cut across the forehead, from which the blood, pouring over his face, +partially blinded him. He was then cut across the hands, the fingers +being severed from the left and partially so from the right one, and, +badly wounded in both elbows, he could no longer hold the rifle. + +He then appears to have tried to get hold of any of his foes or of +anything wherewith to fight on, but, blinded as he was, his efforts were +in vain. He fought thus for upwards of twenty minutes, keeping his face +to his assailants, and having no thought, or making no effort, to seek +safety by jumping overboard. At length he was shot through the heart +and fell dead, having, besides the fatal one, received no less than +twenty wounds, most of them of a severe, and two of a mortal nature. + +During this time, of the men in the water, Thomas Bishop, seaman, was +badly wounded, and was supported to the dinghy astern of the pinnace by +William Venning, leading stoker, who was himself slightly wounded in the +head by a slug. There he held on, but the Arabs, hauling the boat up +alongside the pinnace, cut him over the head until he sank. + +Samuel Massey, A.B., was severely wounded, and was supported to the +shore, a distance of about 700 yards, by Alfred Yates, leading seaman, +and William Colliston, ordinary; the remaining stoker swam there by +himself, as also did the interpreter. The writer (third class), John +G.T. Aers, having been mortally wounded at the first fire, there was +left on board the pinnace only the captain's steward, who lay quiet, +pretending to be dead. + +The Arabs then left the boat and sailed away in their dhow, when the +leading stoker got on board of her,--he having been in the water all the +time,--got up steam, and picked up the men on the beach. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN--1882. + +The bombardment of Alexandria, which commenced the war in Egypt, was of +the highest interest to naval men; for here, for the first time, +ironclad ships, armed with new and heavy ordnance, attacked forts +mounted with the heaviest guns. A bloodless revolution had taken place +in Egypt. The army, headed by Arabi Pasha, had quietly pushed aside the +authority of the Khedive, and had become supreme in Egypt. The people +at large were with the army, and regarded the movement as a national +one; its object being to emancipate the country from foreign control. +England was unable to behold the change without apprehension; the +Khedive was her own nominee, and had from the commencement of the +trouble with the army acted entirely in accordance with the advice of +the representative of England. We had a large stake in the country from +the numerous loans which had been raised for the most part in England; +but we were principally affected by the fact that the rebels would have +it in their power to stop the canal, and so to block the highway to our +Eastern possessions. + +The Egyptians began to manifest a hostile spirit towards foreigners, and +an attack was made upon the Europeans in Alexandria; a large number were +killed, and the rest compelled to take shelter on board a ship. A +powerful English fleet was assembled in the port of Alexandria; the +attitude of the Egyptians became more and more threatening, and they +proceeded to throw up batteries to command the British fleet. Admiral +Seymour, who was in command, peremptorily called upon them to desist; +but in spite of his threat to open fire upon them they continued to work +upon the forts; the fleet therefore prepared for action. All neutral +ships were warned to withdraw from the harbour, and the fleet then +steamed out and took up its position facing the outer forts. + +At seven o'clock on the morning of the 5th of July 1882, the signal to +engage the batteries was made on board the admiral's ship the +_Invincible_; and the _Invincible, Monarch_, and _Penelope_ immediately +opened fire on the forts known as the Mex batteries; while the _Sultan, +Alexandria, Superb_, and _Inflexible_, at the same moment, opened fire +on the forts at Pharos Point and Ras-el-Tin. The Egyptians were +standing at their guns, and instantly replied to the fire. The gunboats +were lying in a second line behind the line of battle-ships, but the +sailors who manned them were not content to remain idle, and, though +without orders to engage, the _Cygnet_ soon crept in close enough to use +her guns. The _Condor_ steamed away to the west, and engaged alone and +unsupported the Marabout Fort. The admiral, seeing the disproportion of +force between the Egyptian fort and the little gunboat, signalled the +_Bittern_ and _Beacon_ to join her. The _Decoy_ went of her own accord, +and the other gunboats and the _Cygnet_ also moved off to aid in +pounding the Marabout Fort. + +The roar of the heavy guns of the fleet and batteries was tremendous, +and on both sides cannon of vastly heavier metal than had ever before +been used in war were sending their deadly messengers. The Egyptians +stuck to their guns with the greatest bravery, but their skill was far +from being equal to their courage, and the greatest portion of their +shot flew high over the vessels; this was especially the case with the +heavy guns, the lighter and more manageable pieces were better aimed, +and the round shot continually struck the men-of-war but failed to +penetrate their iron sides. On the other hand, the huge shot and shell +of the ironclads committed terrible devastation on the batteries. These +were for the most part constructed of stone, which crumbled and fell in +great masses under the tremendous blows of the English shot and shell. + +After an hour's continued firing the return from the forts began to +slacken. Many of the guns were dismounted, and rugged gaps appeared in +their walls; but it was not for three hours later that the Egyptian +gunners were driven from their pieces. Even then they continued to fire +steadily from several of their forts. At one o'clock the gunboats had +silenced the fire of the Marabout Fort, and proceeded to aid the +_Invincible, Monarch_, and _Penelope_ in their bombardment on the Mex +batteries; and the _Temeraire_, which had hitherto been engaged with a +fort commanding the Boghaz Channel, joined the _Alexandria, Sultan_, and +_Superb_, and their fire completely silenced the Pharos forts and blew +up the enemy's powder magazine. By four o'clock in the afternoon, the +enemy's fire ceased altogether, but for another hour and a half the +fleet continued to pound the forts. + +The action was decisive; almost every Egyptian gun was dismounted, the +forts were riddled with holes and reduced to ruins, and the slaughter of +the Egyptian artillery was very great, while on the English side the +casualties amounted to only 5 killed and 28 wounded. So tremendous was +the effect produced by the fire of the British guns, that the Egyptian +soldiers entirely lost heart, and although the fleet carried no force +capable of effecting the capture of the town, if staunchly defended, the +Egyptians at once evacuated Alexandria. The European quarter was +plundered and fired by the mob of the town, and an enormous amount of +damage done. + +As soon as the place was found to be evacuated, a strong body of marines +and bluejackets landed and took possession of it, and speedily restored +order, and held the city until the arrival of the troops from England. +Sir Archibald Alison came out and took command of the force on shore, +and, sallying out with 600 men, captured the waterworks at Ramleh--an +important position between the sea and the canal, and facing the camp of +Arabi's army some four miles distant; here, for some time, artillery +duels from time to time went on between the guns of the two armies. + +Captain Fisher of the Royal Navy took possession of a railway train and +made of it a moving battery. Its armament consisted of two heavy guns +and some gatlings; the trucks were protected by sand-bags, and the +battery was manned by sailors. This train did great service, as the +line of railway ran from Alexandria through the rebel camp, and when +reconnaissances were made the movable battery accompanied the troops, +and by its fire greatly facilitated the operation. + +Until the end of July the principal part of the work of defending +Alexandria and checking the army of Arabi fell upon the Naval Brigade, +but by that time so large a number of troops had arrived that the +services of the sailors on shore were no longer required, and, with the +exception of those serving in Captain Fisher's battery, they returned to +their respective ships. The marines, however, remained on shore and +took part in a sharp engagement which took place on the 5th of August. +Sir Archibald Alison was desirous of discovering the exact position and +force of Arabi's advance line of defences, and a reconnaissance, +composed of six companies of the 60th Rifles, four companies of the +38th, and four of the 46th, were told off for the service; and seven +companies of marines under Colonel Tewson were ordered to advance along +the railway embankment in company with the ironclad train. The Rifles +were to march by the canal, and the two parties would join at the point +where the canal and railway approach closely to each other. The ground +between the line taken by the two columns consisted of fields and marshy +swamps. + +No sooner had the advance begun than a movement was visible in the +enemy's lines, and the Egyptians were soon seen extending in skirmishing +order 1000 yards in front of the 60th. They took up their position in a +deep ditch which crossed the British line of advance, and behind which +was a thick jungle, and opened a heavy fire upon the Rifles. The troops +advanced steadily in skirmishing order, opening fire upon their almost +invisible foes, whose heads only could be seen when they raised them to +discharge their muskets. The Egyptians fired high, and although a hail +of bullets swept over the heads of the advancing troops there were but +few casualties. When the Rifles approached the ditch, the supports were +brought up and a rush was made, when the Egyptians at once forsook their +position and fled through the jungle. + +In the meantime, the marines, advancing along the embankment, had been +met by a hot fire from the enemy, whose main position here was a large +house, surrounded by entrenchments on which some guns were mounted. The +forty-pounder on the moving battery kept up a steady fire on this +position; while the marines, pushing forward, were hotly engaged with +the enemy's infantry. The two columns advanced abreast until they +reached a point some 600 yards from the spot where the railway and canal +come together; the embankment was strongly held by the Egyptians, but +the marines charged them with fixed bayonets and drove them before +them--bayoneting and shooting great numbers. + +By this time the enemy were coming up in great strength from their +camps. The marines were now unsupported, for Colonel Thackwell, who +commanded the other column, had received orders to advance to the White +House. There were two white houses on the canal, and he stopped at the +first, whereas the second was the one intended; the marines having +pushed on farther, were therefore entirely without support, and the +enemy, massing in great numbers, threatened them on both flanks. The +order was therefore given to fall back, but in order to check the enemy +while the movement was being carried out, Major Donald with 50 marines +advanced boldly close up to the Egyptian position, and kept up so hot a +fire that the enemy's advance was checked, while the main body of the +marines retired steadily across the fields to the embankment, keeping +perfect order in spite of the tremendous fire which was poured into +them, and bringing off every wounded man as he fell. + +The enemy had now brought up several batteries of artillery, which +opened from a distance, and under this cover pressed hotly upon the +marines; these, however, retired in alternate companies, turning round +and facing their pursuers, and aided by the musketry fire of the sailors +in the train as well as by their machine guns and forty-pounder. + +Darkness was fast coming on, and as the batteries at the waterworks now +opened fire upon the Egyptians, the latter ceased to press the retiring +troops, who withdrew without further molestation to their position at +Ramleh. + +When the main body of troops from England reached Alexandria, with Sir +Garnet Wolseley in supreme command, steps were taken to remove the scene +of war to Ismailia--half-way along the Suez Canal--in order to advance +upon Cairo from that place, and to avoid the necessity for attacking the +formidable works which Arabi had erected facing Alexandria. The plan +was kept a profound secret: the troops were placed on board the +transports, and, escorted by the fleet, steamed away to Port Said at the +mouth of the Suez Canal, and then up the canal to Ismailia. + +In spite of the efforts of the sailors, upon whom the burden of the +operation of disembarkation fell, there was considerable delay before +the troops were in a position to advance, and Arabi was able to collect +a large army at Tel-el-Kebir, on the line by which the army would have +to advance. While the preparations for a forward movement were going +on, a portion of the British troops pushed forward; and a brigade, among +whom was a battalion of the marines, occupied Kassassin, a few miles +distant from the Egyptian position. + +On the 10th of September, Arabi, seeing how small was the force which +had taken up its post near him, determined to attack them, with the +intention of crushing them first, and then advancing and destroying one +by one the small bodies of British troops at the posts on the line down +to Ismailia. He advanced with a powerful force, and so quickly did he +push forward that the British had scarcely time to get under arms when +the Egyptian shell began to fall fast in the camp. The little force +fell in with the greatest coolness, and the marines and 60th Rifles +advanced in skirmishing order to meet the vastly superior numbers of the +Egyptians. So staunchly and steadily did they fight, that they were +able to keep their assailants at bay until the English cavalry came up +from the next post, and, falling upon the Egyptians in flank, completely +routed them. At the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, where Arabi's army was +completely defeated and the rebellion finally crushed, the marines, who +had hitherto borne the brunt of all the fighting which had taken place, +were not in the front line of attack, and bore but little share in the +fighting, which was done almost entirely by the Highland Brigade. + +CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MAHDI--1883-1885. + +After the English had broken up the Egyptian army, and had, for a time +at least, practically assumed the direction of affairs there, they found +themselves face to face with an insurrection under a fanatic who assumed +the title of the Mahdi. The followers of this man had overrun the whole +of the Soudan, shutting up the various Egyptian garrisons in the towns +they occupied. One of the chiefs of the Mahdi, named Osman Digma, was +threatening the port of Suakim, on the Red Sea, and had besieged the +Egyptian garrisons in the towns of Sinkat and Tokar. Admiral Hewett was +ordered to protect Suakim, and with the _Ranger, Sphinx, Euryalus_, and +_Decoy_ took his station off that town. + +Several times Osman Digma's followers came close up to the place, but, +whenever they did so, the bluejackets and marines from the four English +ships were landed, and the men-of-war opened a fire over the town upon +the ground which the rebels must cross to reach it. Thus they succeeded +in defending Suakim from any serious attack until Baker Pasha, who was +in command of a miscellaneous force known as the Egyptian Police, came +down with some thousands of newly-raised troops. These men had received +but little drill, and were scarce worthy the name of soldiers; but, as +the garrisons of Sinkat and Tokar still held out, although sorely +pressed by hunger, Baker Pasha determined to make an effort to relieve +them, although he and his officers were well aware of the wholly +untrustworthy nature of the force at his command. There were plenty of +English troops doing nothing in Egypt, and had but one regiment been +sent down to Baker Pasha it would have been worth all the armed rabble +he had under him; but the English Government could not at the time bring +itself to acknowledge its responsibility for the safety of the Egyptian +garrisons. + +Baker's force was conveyed down the coast to Trinkatat; Admiral Hewett +with some of the ships going down with him. The force was landed and +marched towards Tokar; on the way it was attacked by the tribesmen who +had embraced the cause of Osman Digma. The undisciplined levies of +Baker broke at once when attacked; their English officers fought +gallantly; many were killed, and the greater portion of the Egyptians +massacred almost unresistingly; the rest fled to Trinkatat. The rebels, +fearing to come within range of the guns of the English ships, ceased +from their pursuit, and the survivors of Baker's force were able to get +on board the vessels in safety. + +The result of this defeat was that the garrison of Sinkat, who had held +out heroically, finding themselves without a hope of relief, and their +provisions being wholly exhausted, marched out and tried to cut their +way through the besieged town to the coast. They were, however, +exterminated, not a man making his way through to tell the tale. + +Tokar also fell into the Mahdists' hands, its garrison having accepted +terms of surrender; and thus Osman Digma was left free to attack Suakim +itself, which but for the presence of the fleet must have fallen into +his hands. + +BATTLE OF EL TAB. + +In the meanwhile the British Government, under the leadership of Mr +Gladstone, had come to the conclusion that the advanced posts of the +Egyptian Government in the Soudan could no longer be held, and pressed +upon that Government the necessity of withdrawing the garrisons. The +Egyptians reluctantly accepted the advice of their powerful "ally," but +were unable of themselves to execute its purpose. The British +Government then applied to General Gordon, who had been formerly +governor of the Soudan, and who had more influence over the Arab tribes +than any other European of modern times, to undertake the task of the +evacuation of Khartoum, the civil population of which numbered about +11,000. General Gordon at once responded to the call of his country, +and set out for Khartoum, which he reached with General Stewart as his +sole companion on the 16th of February. + +At first all seemed well, and Gordon was able to send down some widows +and children, 2500 in all, to Korosko, but the events above related at +once destroyed all hope of a peaceful retreat; and it became evident +that help from without would become necessary if the population were to +be saved; but the two British officers never doubted that their country +would aid them in their time of need. + +The sensation caused in England by the events around Suakim now became +so great that Mr Gladstone's Government could no longer evade their +responsibility, and now took the step which, had it been taken six weeks +earlier, would have saved thousands of lives. English troops were set +in motion from Egypt, some regiments were stopped on their way home from +India up the Red Sea, and a force was assembled at Suakim under General +Graham; when these were collected they were taken down to Trinkatat by +sea, and the disembarkation there began on the 23rd of February 1884. + +As usual, all the hard work to be done fell upon the sailors, who worked +incessantly--landing stores through the surf, working up to their necks +in water. On the 26th, having accomplished this work, a Naval Brigade, +consisting of all the marines and sailors who could be spared from the +men-of-war, was landed to take part in the expedition, taking with them +several gatlings and light ship guns; all of which were dragged by them +through the deep sand, no means of transport being available. Two or +three days now elapsed before the advance commenced, as some of the +troops had not yet arrived; but on the 65th Regiment coming into port in +the _Serapis_ transport, orders were given for the advance to commence. +As soon as the 65th landed, they crossed a lagoon, or shallow salt-water +lake, which lay behind Trinkatat, and joined the main body, who had +already taken post on the other side. + +The column consisted roughly of 3000 infantry, 750 cavalry and mounted +infantry, 115 men of the Naval Brigade, and about 200 artillery and +engineers; of these 150 were left at Trinkatat, and 200 men at the +camping ground across the lagoon, which had been entrenched by General +Baker and bore his name. The troops advanced in a hollow square. The +Gordon Highlanders formed the front face, the Irish Fusiliers the right +face, the 65th the left, and the 42nd Highlanders formed the rear of the +square. The Rifles marched inside the square next to the Fusiliers, the +marines next to the Rifles, the sailors, with six gatling guns, were +stationed to the left of the Gordon Highlanders; while the eight +seven-pounder guns belonging to the fleet, which had been transferred to +the camel battery, were in the centre of the square in reserve. Two +squadrons of cavalry were to scout far out on the front and flanks, the +rest of the cavalry were to remain in readiness for action in the rear +of the square. + +Soldiers and sailors were alike in good spirits, and longing to meet the +foe and to avenge the massacre of Baker's troops on the very ground +across which they were about to march; but they knew that the work would +be no child's play, and that the greatest steadiness would be needed to +resist the tremendous rush of the fanatics. The march began in the +morning, and the enemy's scouts were seen falling back as the cavalry +dashed out ahead. Their main position was in the neighbourhood of some +wells. It was marked by a number of banners floating in the light air +on a low ridge which was swarming with men; guns could be seen in +position at various points along the position, which extended about a +mile in length. + +As the column approached the ridge, the natives took up their post +behind it; but, as in a direct advance against it, the column would be +swept by the fire of their guns and musketry, without being able to make +any adequate return against the concealed foes, General Graham +determined to turn it by working round its flank. Accordingly, after a +halt, the column continued its march in an oblique direction across the +face of the position. + +At a few minutes before eleven, the cavalry scouts moved away from the +front of the column and left it face to face with the enemy, who were +now but a few hundred yards away. Their heads could be seen popping up +behind the bushes and earthworks, and every moment it was expected that +they would rise from their hiding-places and charge down upon the column +which was marching past their front at a distance of about 400 yards. + +The assault did not come, but a sudden fire of musketry broke out from +the face of the position, and the Krupp guns, captured from Baker's +force, in their batteries opened fire on the column. The effect was at +once visible, several men in the square fell out from the ranks wounded; +but fortunately the enemy fired high, and the storm of shot and shell, +for the most part, passed harmlessly over the column. Without returning +a shot, the column moved steadily on in the line which would soon place +them across the end of the enemy's position, and enable them to take it +in the rear. + +It was very trying to the nerve of the troops to march on without firing +while pelted with such a storm of missiles. General Baker was badly +wounded in the face by a bullet from a shell, and many men were struck, +but by this time the column had reached the desired position; they had +passed round the enemy's line, and were almost in their rear. They +halted now, and the men lay down, while the sailors opened fire upon the +enemy with the gatlings, and the men of the camel battery with their +seven-pounders,--six guns of the enemy replying. These were well +handled and aimed, for the garrison of Tokar had three days before +surrendered, and were now fighting in the ranks of their captors, whose +guns were all worked by the Egyptian artillerymen. + +By twelve o'clock the English guns had silenced those of the enemy, and +the word was given for an advance against their position; the bagpipes +struck up, the men sprang to their feet cheering, and the column, still +keeping its formation as a square, marched straight at the enemy's +position. The Arabs ceased firing as the British approached, and when +the column was close at hand they leapt to their feet and charged +furiously down. + +The change of the direction of the march had altered the position of the +column, the flank of the square was now its front, and the brunt of the +attack fell on the 42nd, 65th, and the Naval Brigade. Groups of twenty +and thirty Arabs rushed fiercely down upon them, but they were swept +away by the fire of the musketry and the machine guns; but in some +places the Arabs came to close quarters, but were unable to break +through the line of bayonets. + +The column had now reached the position, and with a cheer rushed over +the bank of sand. From every bush around them the Arabs leapt up and +flung themselves upon the troops. Admiral Hewett himself led the +sailors and joined in the hand-to-hand fight. A party of fanatics +nearly succeeded in breaking in between the sailors and the 65th, but +Captain Wilson, of the _Hecla_, threw himself into the gap, and, +fighting desperately, drove back the assailants. + +There was a short halt when the post was captured, to reform the column +before moving forward to the attack of the main position of the enemy, +of which we were now well in rear; and after a short artillery duel the +column again advanced. The whole ground was covered with trenches and +innumerable little rifle-pits, all hidden by the close growing bushes, +and every foot was contested, the Arabs leaping from their defences and +dashing recklessly on the British bayonets. Great numbers of them were +slaughtered; and they fought with a desperate courage which extorted the +admiration of our soldiers. + +At last the column, which was now extended into line, passed across the +whole of the position occupied by the enemy and emerged in front; the +main body of the enemy withdrawing sullenly. Of the Naval Brigade two +men were killed, and Lieutenant Royds and six sailors wounded. + +No more fighting took place; a portion of the column advanced to Tokar, +which the enemy evacuated at their approach, and brought off such of the +townspeople as wished to leave. The force then marched down to +Trinkatat, and, re-embarking, were conveyed in the transports back to +Suakim, and marched out to attack Osman Digma. The Naval Brigade took +part in the advance. + +BATTLE OF TAMANIEB--1884. + +When the column arrived within half a mile of the position occupied by +the main force of Osman Digma, they encamped for the night. At eight in +the evening, Commander Rolfe, RN, performed a most daring action; he +started alone to reconnoitre the camp of the enemy, and made his way +close up to their fires, and was able to bring back the news that the +enemy were quiet and evidently meditated no immediate attack; the men +were therefore able to lie down quietly and sleep for a while. At one +o'clock, however, the enemy gathered round the position and kept up a +fire all night. + +The next day the advance was made, not in squares as before, but in two +brigades. In the first of these, with the 42nd and 65th, were the +marines and Naval Brigade. As the brigade advanced, the enemy swarmed +down to the attack, and the soldiers with their rifles, and the sailors +with their machine guns, opened a tremendous fire upon them; but the +Arabs still came on with desperate bravery. The brigade was in square, +and the 42nd, who were in front, charged the enemy at the double, +cheering loudly; but this movement left a gap between them and the 65th, +who formed the right face of the square, and, before the gap could be +closed up, great hordes of Arabs charged down and burst into the square. + +For a while all was confusion. The 65th fell back on the marines. The +Naval Brigade, surrounded by the broken soldiers, were unable to use +their guns, and, as the confused mass fell back, had to leave these +behind them; but with great coolness they removed portions of the +machinery, so that when the guns fell into the hands of the enemy they +were unable to use them against us. + +Wildly the Arabs pressed down upon the retreating troops, but the second +brigade, under General Buller, came up in splendid order, their volleys +sweeping away the enemy. This gave the retreating troops time to reform +their ranks, and they at once advanced again in line with Buller's +brigade; and the enemy were put to flight, after suffering a loss of +over 5000 men. + +Amongst those who fell in this action were Lieutenant Montresor, RN, +Lieutenant Almack, RN, and Lieutenant Houston, RN, with seven of their +men who were killed at their guns. + +For the subsequent proceedings against the Mahdi, see _Our Soldiers_, +page 338. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +WARS IN SOUTH AFRICA. + +In 1879 Great Britain became involved in war with Cetewayo, chief of a +powerful race of savages on the north-eastern border of the colony of +Natal in South Africa, and two years after in a short conflict with the +Boers, or Dutch farmers, in the Transvaal; and in both of these wars a +Naval Brigade took part. From this time onward, South Africa has held a +position of increasing importance in our colonial history, and is likely +to continue to do so for many years to come; it will be well therefore +before considering the wars referred to, to give a general view of the +position of the British, the Dutch, and the Zulu at the date of their +commencement. + +Cape Colony was originally founded by the Dutch about the middle of the +seventeenth century; it was seized by Great Britain during the wars with +France in 1806, and finally annexed to the British Empire by virtue of +the Treaty of Vienna in 1815. + +A great proportion of the colonists, and especially of the farmers in +the districts farthest from the coast and from civilisation, did not +take kindly to British rule; and in 1835 and succeeding years a great +number crossed the Orange River--at that time the boundary of the colony +on the north--with the intention of setting up independent Dutch +communities. To this movement, known as the Great Trek, the occupation +by the Dutch Boers (i.e. farmers) of the territories, since known as the +Orange Free State and the Transvaal, or South African Republic, is due. + +At that time the limits of the British colony were, on the north, the +Orange River; and, on the east, the Fish River. Beyond this, on the +east, was territory occupied by hostile Kaffir tribes, afterwards called +British Kaffraria, and now annexed to Cape Colony, and still farther to +the east of these lay the fertile land of Natal. + +A large section of the trekking Boers, after passing the Orange and +going north, crossed the mountains, and descended upon Natal. There +were a few English hunters and traders settled upon the coast, but the +country had been depopulated of its original inhabitants by a ferocious +and warlike race of superior physique, whom we call the Zulu. These had +been trained to a high state of military and athletic perfection by a +succession of sanguinary chiefs, and had broken and massacred every +tribe with whom they had come in contact, so that in this district of +Natal alone it is computed that over a million had perished, and but +five or six thousand of the original inhabitants remained lurking in +caverns and amid the dense bush. + +The first leader of the Boers, Retief, and some 70 persons, were +treacherously murdered by Dingaan, the chief or king of the Zulus, at +his kraal, which they had visited at his request in February 1838; and +the chief made a sudden attack with his armies upon the isolated bands +of farmers, and killed a great many of them. After many bloody fights, +in which large numbers of Zulus were killed, the Boers drove Dingaan and +his armies across the Tugela, and occupied the country. + +The British Government, however, declined to recognise the right of its +colonists to leave the colony, wage war upon the native tribes, and set +up as independent republics, and therefore, after overcoming the +resistance of the Boers, occupied Natal, and eventually made it into a +separate colony. After some trial of British rule, the bulk of the +Dutch recrossed the mountains, and joined their fellow-countrymen in the +Orange Free State, or in the land beyond the Vaal. + +At length in 1852 the British Government, having enough to do with +native wars on the Cape frontier, found it expedient to concede +independence to the Transvaal Boers; and two years afterwards abandoned +the territory between the Orange and Vaal Rivers to its inhabitants, the +Dutch farmers, who thus founded the Orange Free State. + +The Dutch of the Free State were of much the same type and education as +the Cape Dutch, and soon settled down and arranged their affairs, and +evolved an almost ideal form of republican government, under which, +after having at great sacrifice and courage overcome the native +difficulties on their borders, they lived a happy and contented +existence, with increasing prosperity, no public enemy, perfect civil +and religious equality, and, except for railways and public works, no +public debt, until in 1899 that wonderful loyalty to race which is so +remarkable a trait in the Dutch African involved them in the ambitions +and the ruin of the South African Republic. + +With the Transvaal Boer it was far otherwise. Amongst the leaders of +the Voor-trekkers, as the original emigrants from Cape Colony are +called, were leaders of whom colonists of any race might be proud, such +as Pretorius, Potgieter, Uys, and Retief, and, no doubt, among their +followers were many like them; but it was the most discontented and the +most uncivilised and turbulent, as a rule, that crossed the Vaal +originally; and there they lived isolated lives, far away from any white +being but those of their own family, without books, without intercourse +with the outer world, surrounded only by their wives and children and +Kaffir servants, or rather slaves; and thus the Transvaal Boer, to whom +alone we ought to apply the name, became more sullen, obstinate, +bigoted, and ignorant than his cousins farther south. + +Very little good could such people, with few exceptions little above the +average of an English farm-labourer, do with independence. Many years +were wasted in quarrelling and even fighting among themselves, every +leader of a district with a few scattered farms claiming independence, +before all were united under one government. There was constant war +with natives on the border, no means of collecting taxes or providing +for public works, and by the year 1877 it seemed as though the State +must collapse and the Transvaal be overrun by its enemies. The Boers +were defeated by Sekukuni, chief of the Bapedi; they had an open dispute +with Cetewayo about territory which they had annexed from his country, +and he was preparing for war; the tribes in the north had driven back +the farmers; the State was bankrupt, and all was confusion. The more +settled members of the community in the towns called for firm +government, but the president had no power at his back to enforce it. + +Such a state of things encouraged a general native rising, and was a +menace to the safety of all the whites in South Africa. The Cape +Government watched the situation with anxiety, and at length the British +Government intervened, and on 12th April 1877 proclaimed the Transvaal +to be annexed to the British dominions. + +At the time it was believed that the majority of the burghers were in +favour of this step, which met with no serious opposition. Subsequent +events, however, proved that this belief was not well founded. It is, +however, tolerably certain that it saved the Transvaal an attack from +the thirty or forty thousand Zulus collected by Cetewayo on its +frontier. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +THE ZULU WAR. + +Cetewayo had for many years been training a large army of warriors, and +had intended, unquestionably, to use them for an attack upon his +neighbours the Boers of the Transvaal, who, indeed, had given him more +than sufficient cause, by constantly violating the frontier, squatting +upon Zulu territory, and committing raids upon Zulu cattle. Upon our +taking over the Transvaal, however, the prospect of great plunder and +acquisition of territory vanished, and the king and his warriors +remained in a state of extreme discontent. So large and threatening was +his army, that Sir Bartle Frere, the Governor of the Cape, considered it +absolutely necessary to bring matters to a crisis. A commission sat +upon the disputed frontier question between the Zulus and the Boers. +They had also to investigate charges of a raid into Natal territory by +some Zulu chiefs. Their decision was in favour of the Zulus against the +Boers; and, in respect of the raids, they ordered that a fine should be +paid and the offenders given up. + +At the time that this decision was announced to the Zulus, Sir Bartle +Frere called upon Cetewayo to disband his army, to abandon the custom of +universal conscription, and of the refusal of marriage to the young men +until they had proved their prowess in battle. To this demand Cetewayo +returned an evasive answer, and an ultimatum was then sent to him. + +Preparations were made to enforce the British demands, and, as the +British force in Natal was not large, the ships of war on the coast were +asked to furnish a contingent. Sailors being always ready for an +expedition afloat or ashore, the demand was gladly complied with, and a +brigade with rockets and gatling guns was at once organised. This +brigade was attached to the column which, under the command of Colonel +Pearson, was to advance by the road nearest to the coast. + +On the 12th of January, no answer having been received to the ultimatum, +the column crossed the Tugela. The sailors had been at work at this +point for some time. They had established a ferry-boat worked by ropes, +and by this they transported across the river the stores and ammunition +needed for the expedition. The column advanced slowly and carefully, +and upon the 23rd they were attacked at the Ebroi River by the enemy. +These had placed themselves upon high ground, and opened a heavy fire. +The sailors at once got the gatlings and rockets to work, and so great +was their effect that the rush of the Zulus was checked, and they were +unable to carry out their favourite tactics of coming to close quarters. +Three hundred of them were killed, and the rest retired. + +The column now marched on to Ekowe, and upon reaching that place a +messenger from the rear brought the news of the terrible disaster which +had befallen Lord Chelmsford's column at Isandhlwana. The British camp +at that place had on the advance of the main body been rushed by a large +Zulu force, and the whole of the British and native troops, numbering +over 1000, were killed, only a few, scarce 50 escaping. It was a +hand-to-hand combat against thousands, and from the Zulus themselves, +for no white man saw the end, come the accounts of how firmly the +soldiers stood. The Zulus, who had a keen appreciation of gallantry, +tell many tales of how our men stood fighting till the last. "How few +they were and how hard they fought," they said; "they fell like stones, +each man in his place." + +There was only one sailor in the camp. He belonged to HMS _Active_, and +throughout the terrible fight displayed the utmost courage. At last, +when all was nearly over, he was seen in a corner of the laager, leaning +against a waggon wheel, keeping the Zulus at bay. One after another +fell as he stabbed them with his cutlass. The savages themselves were +lost in admiration at his stern resistance. At last a Zulu crept round +at the back of the waggon, and stabbed him through the spokes of the +wheel. + +It would have been the height of rashness to have advanced farther, as +the column would now have been exposed to the whole force of the Zulus. +Colonel Pearson determined, therefore, to fortify Ekowe, and to maintain +himself there until reinforcements came up. The cavalry and the native +contingents who had accompanied the column were therefore sent back, the +sailors being retained to assist the regular troops in holding the +place. + +The first step was to erect fortifications, and, as the enemy attempted +no attack, these were made strongly and massively. Here for many weeks +the little garrison held out. The Zulus surrounded the place closely, +but never ventured upon any sustained attack upon it. The garrison, +however, suffered severely from fever, heat, and the effects of bad food +and water. For some time they were cut off entirely from all +communication with Natal; but at length an officer, upon the top of the +church, observed one day, far among the hills to the south, a twinkling +light. From the regularity with which it shone and disappeared, he came +to the conclusion that it was caused by signallers endeavouring to open +communications. The flashes were watched, and were found to be in +accordance with the Morse alphabet; and the joyful news was spread that +their friends were telegraphing to them. + +After some trouble, a mirror was fixed and signals returned, and from +that time, until relief, regular communication was kept up by this +means. There was disappointment at first when it was found that some +time must elapse before a relieving column could advance; but as the +news came of the arrival of ship after ship, laden with troops from +England, confidence was felt that relief would arrive before the +exhaustion of the stock of provisions. The garrison on their part were +enabled to send to their friends accurate information of the state of +their stores, and the time which they would be able to hold out. + +At length, on the 28th of March, the news arrived that the column would +advance upon the following day. The relieving force was attacked at +Gingihlovo, near the river Inyanzi, and there the Zulus were defeated +with great loss. With this relieving column was another Naval Brigade, +consisting of men of the _Shah_ and _Tenedos_. The _Shah_ was on her +way to England when, upon arriving at Saint Helena, the news of the +massacre at Isandhlwana reached her. Captain Bradshaw, who commanded, +at once determined to take upon himself the responsibility of returning +to Natal, where his arrival caused the liveliest satisfaction, as at +that time none of the reinforcements from England had reached the spot, +and strong fears were still felt of the invasion of the colony by the +Zulus. The Naval Brigade bore their part in the fight at Gingihlovo, +and were with the relieving force when it entered Ekowe. The garrison +of this place, small as they were, had been prepared upon the following +day to sally out to effect a diversion in favour of the column, should +it again be attacked in its advance to Ekowe. + +The garrison was now relieved. Few of those who had formed part of it +were fit for further service. Ekowe was abandoned, and the Naval +Brigade returned to Natal. The brigade took part in the further advance +after the arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley; but the defeat of the Zulus at +Ulundi occurring a few days after the start had been made, hostilities +ceased, and the Naval Brigade were not called upon for further +exertions. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +THE BOER WAR--1881. + +Two years after the conclusion of the Zulu war, when the troops who had +been hurried from England to take part in that campaign had for the most +part returned, and the country was almost deserted of troops, the Boers, +saved by our arms from all danger of a native rising, longed again for +independence, and they determined to have it. They had, in fact, never +acquiesced in the act of annexation. At the time, the residents in the +towns had desired it for the sake of law and order, and in the general +helplessness of the State many of the country Boers acquiesced, and to +many it seemed the only way to save the country from the Zulu. But it +was expected and promised that some form of self-government would be +left to the Dutch community. As time went on, the discontent grew, and +it was fomented by the speeches of party leaders in England, where the +Liberal party were violently attacking the colonial policy of Lord +Beaconsfield; and Mr Gladstone, referring to the Boers' country, +actually said, that if the acquisition was as valuable as it was +valueless, nevertheless he would repudiate it. When Mr Gladstone came +into office, the Boers, who did not understand the ethics of election +campaigns, expected him to reverse an act which he repudiated; and when +they found that though he disapproved the act he did not intend to +revoke it, they saw that they must take up arms, thinking that their +cause would have many supporters among the English, who would put +pressure upon the Government to give way,--a view which subsequent +events proved to be correct. + +The burghers have always objected to paying taxes even to their own +republic, and naturally the opposition to our rule presented itself, in +the first place, by a resistance to the payment of taxes. Meetings +assembled, at which rebellious speeches were uttered; and the rising +commenced by an attack upon the English at Potchefstroom, the investment +of the garrisons of Pretoria, Leydenburg, Standerton, and other +positions, and by an attack upon a column of the 94th on their way from +Leydenburg to Pretoria, ending with the slaughter or captivity of the +whole force. The instant the news arrived at Pietermaritzburg, the +capital, Sir George Colley, the governor, commenced preparations for +marching to the frontier, and the ships in harbour were called upon to +furnish a naval contingent. A hundred and fifty bluejackets and marines +were landed and marched rapidly to Newcastle, an English town within a +few miles of the frontier of Natal. + +At the attack upon the Dutch lines at Laing's Nek, the Naval Brigade +were in reserve, and took no active part in the engagement. But on the +26th of February a portion of them accompanied General Colley on his +night march to Majuba Hill. This mountain was situate on the flank of +the Boer position. The Dutch were in the habit of occupying it during +the daytime with their videttes, but these at night fell back, leaving +the place open to the British assault. + +All through the night the troops, who with the bluejackets numbered +between 500 and 600 men, laboured across an extremely difficult country; +but, after encountering immense fatigue and difficulty, they reached the +top of Majuba Hill before sunrise. It was not until two hours later +that the Boer videttes, advancing to occupy their usual look-out, found +the English in position. The Boers at once perceived the danger, as +their position was made untenable by the possession of Majuba Hill by +the English. Had the force left in camp been sufficiently strong to +threaten a direct attack at this moment, the Boers would doubtless have +fled: but the paucity of numbers there prevented any demonstration being +made in favour of the defenders of Majuba Hill, and the Dutch were able +to use their whole force against these. + +Surrounding the hill, and climbing upwards towards the precipitous +summit, they kept up for some hours a heavy fire upon the defenders. +Presently this lulled, and the garrison thought that the attack had +ceased. The Dutch were, however, strongly reinforcing their fighting +line, creeping among the bushes and gathering a strong force on the side +of the hill, unseen by the British. Suddenly these made an attack, and +this in such force that the defenders at the threatened point fell back +in haste before they could be reinforced from the main body, who were +lying in a hollow on the top of the small plateau which formed the +summit of the mountain. + +The first to gain the summit were rapidly reinforced by large numbers of +their countrymen, and these, covering their advance with a tremendous +fire of musketry, rushed upon the British position. The defence was +feeble. Taken by surprise, shot down in numbers by the accurate firing +of the Boers, attacked on all sides at once, the garrison failed to +defend their position, and in a moment the Boers were among them. At +this point a bayonet charge would have turned defeat into a victory, but +there were no officers left to command, all had been picked off by the +accurate shooting of the Boers, and the soldiers were panic-stricken. +All cohesion became lost, and in a few minutes the whole of the +defenders of the position were either shot down or taken prisoners, with +the exception of a few who managed to make their escape down the side of +the hill and to lie concealed among the bushes, making their way back to +camp during the night. Sir George Colley stood still, and was shot down +at close range as the men ran down the hill. + +This was the only affair in which the Naval Brigade were engaged during +the war, as, shortly afterwards, just as they were hoping to retrieve +the disasters which had befallen the force,--the reinforcements from +England having now come up to the spot,--peace was made, the Transvaal +was surrendered to the Boers, and the sacrifices made and the blood +which had been shed were shown to have been spent in vain. The intense +disappointment of the troops at this summary and unexpected termination +of the campaign was fully shared by the bluejackets and marines. + +The defeat at Majuba Hill was a great blow to British prestige, but it +was one that, in the course of the war which all the world expected to +follow, could have been speedily retrieved, but the effect upon the +Dutch must have remained. It seemed, indeed, as if in fighting for +freedom they were truly invincible, and as if they could withstand the +power of Great Britain, and defeat it, just as their fathers, a few +hundred in number, had withstood Dingaan and defeated his thousands of +warriors. This impression was greatly strengthened by the action of the +British Government. + +The Liberal party in England had undertaken the war with very little +fervour, to many the cause of the Boer was the cause of freedom, and the +sight of a small peasant nation, armed as it then was only with rifles, +rising against the power of Great Britain, appealed to the sentiment of +many people, to whom the great popular orator had repeatedly declared +that the act of annexation was an act of tyranny. + +Still the war was the act of their great leader, and had therefore been +supported; moreover, regarded as a military matter only, the defeat was +of no importance; the various British garrisons in the country were +manfully holding their own; Sir Evelyn Wood was gathering sufficient +force to take action; he held, he said, the Boers in the hollow of his +hand,--so the war must go on, and Sir F (now Lord) Roberts was sent out +to take command. + +Mr Gladstone now suddenly changed his mind; further prosecution of the +war, he said, would be "sheer blood-guiltiness." + +He gave the Boers their independence, but they and all the world noted +that he did not discover the blood-guiltiness of the war before the +defeat, and they drew their inferences; and to their dislike of British +rule, added a contempt for British courage, which led their leaders into +a course of action which culminated in an ambition to substitute Dutch +for British throughout South Africa, and thus brought down upon the two +republics the ruin and disasters of the great war of 1899-1901. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +THE BOER WAR IN 1900. + +THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH. + +Early in the year 1899 the differences between Mr Kruger, President of +the South African Republic, and the British Government, upon the +position of the foreign population in his territory, began to assume an +acute phase. A petition to Her Majesty, setting out their grievances +and asking for protection for her subjects in the Transvaal, was very +largely signed, and the British High Commissioner stated his opinion +that the position of the non-burgher population was intolerable, and +that this was an overwhelming case for intervention. For many weeks +negotiations were carried on between London and Pretoria, the British +Government making very little preparation for a war which it hoped to +avoid; while Mr Kruger, on the other land, proceeded to arm his +burghers and make every preparation for a war which, if he made no +concessions, he knew to be inevitable if the British Government did not +retire from the position they had taken. + +At length, everything being ready on his side, on 9th October President +Kruger issued an ultimatum, demanding the withdrawal of Great Britain's +troops within forty-eight hours. This was a declaration of war. War +immediately followed, and armed Boers, previously assembled on the +frontier, poured in thousands into Natal, crossing the frontier both on +the north and on the west on the 12th of October, and gradually overran +the north of the colony, converging upon Ladysmith. The British force +in that part was small, and though in the various actions at Talana +Hill--in which the situation of Majuba Hill may be said to have been +reversed--Elandslaagte, and Rietfontein, portions of the Boer forces had +been met and defeated, it became evident that their numbers and their +mobility had been absurdly underestimated, and that when once +concentrated they far outnumbered the forces at the disposal of Sir +George White, who therefore decided to entrench and await reinforcements +at Ladysmith,--not a strong position, for it was commanded by hills on +all sides, but it had been a great depot of military stores which could +not be removed. + +By 2nd November the railway and telegraph connecting Ladysmith with the +south was cut, and the strict siege began. The Boers brought into +position on the neighbouring hills guns of far greater calibre than any +of those possessed by the garrison and its defences, and kept up a heavy +bombardment out of range of their guns. + +Most fortunately HMS _Powerful_, then at Durban, was armed with 4.7-inch +guns of as great range as any of the "Long Toms" of the assailants. A +land carriage for these had been designed by Captain Percy Scott, and +rapidly constructed by the ship's engineers, and the guns sent up by +rail just before the line was cut, together with a Naval Brigade of +bluejackets from the ship under the command of Captain Hon. H. +Lambton. These guns, the two 4.7-inch and four 12-pounders, were of the +greatest value to the defence, for they were the only guns capable of +equalling the big guns of the Boers, and the firing was so accurate that +during the whole of the siege they succeeded in keeping the enemy's +siege guns at a distance, with so little waste of ammunition, the supply +of which was of course limited, that when the siege was raised on 20th +February 1900 it was not yet exhausted. + +On the 30th of October Lieutenant Egerton, RN, of the _Powerful_, was +struck by a shell and died of his wounds a few days after; he had been +at once promoted to commander for his services, and received +intelligence of this before his death. + +The most serious fight during the siege took place on 6th January, when +the enemy made a most determined and as it proved final attempt to carry +Ladysmith by storm. Every part of the position was attacked, but the +chief assault was upon Cassar's Camp and Wagon Hill. On the former was +a detachment of the Naval Brigade with a 12-pounder gun and some Natal +Naval Volunteers, as well as the 1st Battalion Manchesters and 42 +Battery, RA; and on Wagon Hill, in addition to its usual garrison, a +12-pounder gun and a 4.7-inch had arrived the day before. The fighting +was very severe and at close quarters, and the Boers were only finally +driven off after 15 hours' battle, our losses being 14 officers and 135 +men killed, 31 officers and 244 wounded. The Boers lost much more +heavily, and made no further attempt. + +The sufferings of the garrison and inhabitants during this memorable +siege were very severe, and the losses by disease amounted to 12 +officers and 529 men. + +In addition to those engaged in the defence of Ladysmith, naval brigades +with guns from various ships of war on the South African station +accompanied the various columns engaged in the movement through the +Orange Free State and the Transvaal, which republics have since become +the Orange River Colony and the Transvaal Colony. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +FIGHTING IN CHINA--1900. + +The early part of 1900 saw an outbreak of religious and anti-foreign +fanaticism in China which rapidly assumed alarming proportions. A sect +or society known as the Boxers, founded in 1899 originally as a +patriotic and ultra-conservative body, rapidly developed into a +reactionary and anti-foreign, and especially anti-Christian +organisation. Outrages were committed all over the country, and the +perpetrators shielded by the authorities, who, while professing peace, +encouraged the movement. Thousands of native Christians were massacred, +and the protests of the ministers of Christian powers disregarded or +answered by lies and denials, and at length Pekin itself became no +longer safe to Europeans. + +FIRST ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE THE LEGATIONS AT PEKIN. + +On the 30th of May Sir E.H. Seymour, the British admiral on the China +station, received a telegram from Sir Claude Macdonald, the British +minister at Pekin, stating that the situation there had become very +grave, the China soldiers mutinous, the people very excited, and that +European life and property were in danger. Guards were immediately +despatched by train to Pekin, and these, numbering 337 of all nations, +among them 79 men and 3 officers of the British Marines, arrived +unopposed on the 31st. The position of the legations, however, soon +became extremely difficult, and on the 9th of June another telegram was +received by the admiral, stating that if relief did not reach the +Europeans in Pekin very soon, it would be too late. + +The admiral at once put in motion all his available men, and the foreign +naval officers commanding on the station co-operated with him. By the +11th, four trains had reached Lofa station, some distance out of +Tientsin, containing over 2000 men, namely, 915 British (62 officers, +640 bluejackets, and 213 marines), 25 Austrians, 40 Italian, 100 French, +450 German, 54 Japanese, 112 Russians, and 112 Americans, all under the +command of the British admiral. + +From this time onward there was continuous fighting. About six p.m., +three miles outside Langfang, Boxers attacked Number 1 train, but were +repulsed. The next day, after repairing the line, the force advanced to +Langfang, but beyond this the line was found to be cut up and bridges +destroyed; and, as the necessary repairs would occupy some time, +Lieutenant Smith, RN, of HMS _Aurora_, was sent forward with 3 officers +and 44 men to prevent further damage if possible. He occupied a village +on the line next morning, and was at once attacked by Boxers. After +being driven off three times, they made a final and determined attack, +and about 450 charged in line with great bravery, but were again +repulsed with heavy loss; this fighting, however, had so reduced the +ammunition of his party that Lieutenant Smith was compelled to return to +the main body. + +The next day, 14th June, the outposts came running in, closely followed +by Boxers, who made a determined attack upon the first train, with so +much courage that some of them, notwithstanding a tremendous fire, +actually reached the train before they were killed. An unfortunate +picket of five Italians on outpost duty were cut off and killed by this +party. + +Meantime the Boxers were also gathering in the rear and damaging the +line from Tientsin, and attacked the guard left to protect the line at +Lofa. These succeeded in beating them off, and on the arrival of +reinforcements, sent back to their assistance, cut them up as they +retreated. All was of no avail, for while the force remained at +Langfang repairing the road forward, the enemy was busy in the rear +breaking up the line, and so cutting off communication with Tientsin, +and it now became clear that the attempt to reach Pekin must fail, as +provisions and ammunition were running short and it became necessary to +protect the rear. + +The expedition was, in fact, now in a very critical position. All +attempts to send couriers back to Tientsin had failed, and it was cut +off from all communication with the outer world, the lines were broken +up in front and rear, the whole country was overawed by Boxers, and no +supplies could be obtained from the inhabitants. + +It was therefore decided to desert the trains and march by the left bank +of the river to Tientsin, putting the wounded on board of some junks +which had been captured by the Germans. The latter had been +unexpectedly attacked on the 18th at Langfang by some 5000 of the enemy, +some of whom were undoubtedly imperial troops acting with the Boxers, +thus exploding the idea that the Chinese Government would assist the +Europeans against the latter. The Chinese on this occasion, though +armed with the latest type of magazine rifle, were driven off with a +loss of 400 killed, the allies losing only 6 killed and 48 wounded. + +The retreat commenced on the afternoon of the 19th June, and it was +necessarily slow, as the junks could not be got along very fast, our men +not being accustomed to the craft, and the river shoals making the +passage in places difficult. The Chinese harassed and obstructed the +advance of the column on shore as much as possible, and villages _en +route_ had to be taken by the bayonet, and so persistent was the +resistance that on the 21st the column did not advance more than six +miles, and was brought to a dead stop at a place called Peitang, where +the enemy were in such a strong position that by the evening they had +not been dislodged from it. + +It now appeared to be becoming doubtful whether the column, embarrassed +with the wounded, and with no reserves of ammunition, would succeed in +getting through to Tientsin; it was therefore determined, after a rest, +to make a night march, and, wearied with a continuous day's battle, the +column started again at one a.m. on the 22nd. + +After it had gone about one and a half miles, the column was heavily +attacked from a village, but the bayonets of the marines soon cleared +this, not, however, without a serious loss. The junk which carried the +field-guns was sunk by a shot, and all but the Maxim guns lost. + +This disaster was, however, destined to be retrieved in a very +unexpected manner. At four a.m. the force found itself opposite the +Imperial Chinese Armoury, near Hsiku; the allies were not at war with +the Imperial Government, by whom officially the Boxers were called +rebels, nevertheless the guns from the armoury opened fire upon them. +Major Johnstone, Royal Marines, with a party of bluejackets and marines, +crossed the river at a point where they were under cover of a village, +then, appearing suddenly with a cheer and with the sheen of glittering +bayonets, put the Chinese to flight, and captured two Krupp guns. At +the same time the Germans crossed over lower down, with similar results, +and the Armoury was taken. The Chinese, recovering from their panic, +made a determined attempt to retake the position by assault, under cover +of artillery fire, but were driven off with loss; but at the same time +the allies suffered severely also. + +The force now settled down in the Armoury, which could easily be +defended and was well supplied with guns and ammunition, and the sick +and wounded were now in quarters which, compared with the holds of the +junks, must have seemed luxurious; and, but for the question of rations, +the force was now safe, but of these latter only enough for three days +and that at half allowances remained. Anxiety on this last account was +happily set at rest the next day, 23rd June, when, besides immense +stores of ammunition, which included war material of the newest pattern, +15 tons of rice were discovered. + +All danger was now past. Several efforts had been made to communicate +with Tientsin, only five miles distant, but none of the native runners +had got through, till the 24th, when a force at once set out under the +Russian Colonel Shrinsky, who led a force of 1000 Russians; 600 British, +under Captain Bayly, and 300 of other nationalities then arrived at +daylight on the 25th. The arsenal, said to contain three million pounds +worth of military stores, was set on fire, and the united forces +returned to Tientsin the next day without further incident. + +So ended the first expedition to relieve the legations in Pekin. The +failure was owing to the destruction of the railway and the fact that +the Imperial Chinese army, so far from assisting or even standing +neutral, took the side of the Boxers and opposed the expedition. That +it was not a disaster was owing to the wonderful manner in which +officers of no less than eight nationalities worked together, and the +courage and endurance of their men. The thought of the Chinese habit of +torturing their captives must have added to the natural anxiety of +depression on board the junks and to the terrible strain upon the +commander. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE TAKU FORTS. + +Soon after the admiral's departure it became clear to the commanders of +the ships off Taku that the Chinese Government were preparing to bring +down an army upon Tongku, the terminus of the railway, and that the +communication with Tientsin was threatened, and that the Taku forts were +being provisioned and manned. It was therefore decided to occupy the +forts, and notice was given to the Chinese of the intention to do so at +two a.m. of 17th June. + +Taku is situate at the mouth of the Peiho river, which was until the +railway was built, and, if this were interrupted, would become again the +principal approach from the sea to Pekin, about 80 miles by river, and +to Tientsin 44 miles. The entrance, which runs east and west, is +strongly guarded by a series of forts on the north and south sides, the +principal fort being the north, which is very strong and mounts some 50 +guns of all sizes, and connected with this by a covered way is another +on the same side but farther up the river with 30 guns. On the south +side there is a series of strong forts and batteries for about a mile +along the shore, mounting about 120 guns of various patterns, the +greater part being quite modern. Some distance inland is another fort +and the magazines. These forts, designed to protect the sea-front, are +therefore very formidable, and well manned with competent gunners would +constitute a real danger to any ships entering the river. The bar of +the river is 5 miles off, and is so shoaly that vessels drawing 20 feet +have to lie 5 miles off that, that is 10 miles from the forts, and it +was at this point that the fleet of the various nations was at this time +lying at anchor, the British being _Centurion_, flagship, _Barfleur, +Orlando, Endymion, Aurora_. + +The only vessels that could therefore enter the river and bombard the +forts were gunboats and destroyers; of these the Russians had three, +_Bobr, Koreelah_, and _Gilyak_; the French, the _Lion_; the British, the +_Algerine_, steel despatch boat with six 4-inch guns, and two +destroyers, the _Whiting_ and _Fame_. These two last captured four +perfectly equipped modern destroyers, whose crews bolted; properly +handled, they might have destroyed all the attacking ships, who without +them found sufficient work to do in keeping down the fire of the forts. + +The plan arranged by the others was that, after an effective +bombardment, a landing party should attack the north-west and north +forts and the other forts in succession. + +The Chinese, however, had no intention of letting the Westerns have it +all their own way, but at a quarter to one a.m. on the morning of the +17th opened the ball by firing upon the _Algerine_, who promptly +replied, and the battle became general. A terrific bombardment on both +sides roared through the night, the gunboats in addition to the fire of +their big guns keeping up a continuous hail from their quick-firing guns +in their tops. The Chinese were equally determined, and stuck to their +guns through it all, but they were very poor gunners, and their shells +did not burst, and so for six hours the gunboats' targets for two miles +of forts and some 200 or more guns escaped serious injury. + +As daylight came, however, the Chinese made better practice, and the +position became more serious for the allies, and it seemed as though the +attack was going to fail. The Russian ship _Gilyak_ was hit by a shell, +and lost several men. She could not leave her moorings in consequence, +and suffered severely from rifle fire from the shore, her losses during +the action being the heaviest in the fleet, 2 officers and 10 men killed +and 47 wounded. + +The tide now rising, the ships boldly steamed amid a storm of shot and +shell close under the forts. The German _Itlis_ was seen constantly in +the post of danger, and the gallantry with which she was fought evoked +the admiration of all. + +HMS _Algerine_, commander R.H. Stewart, greatly contributed to the +final success, which at one time was so doubtful. She was always in the +thick of the fight, but escaped with only slight damage to cowls and +rigging, and received no shot in her hull, largely owing to the fact +that her commander put her so close into the forts that they could not +be brought to bear on her, and the shot passed over. She had only 1 +officer wounded and 3 men killed. + +Still the battle continued, and the Chinese kept doggedly at it, and +succeeded in bursting their shells. Fortunately about seven a.m. an +awful explosion occurred, the chief magazine blew up, and the Chinese +lost heart, and soon after all firing ceased. Meantime the +storming-parties had seized the north-west fort. + +The landing party consisted of British, 23 officers and 298 men, from +the _Alacrity, Barfleur_, and _Endymion_; German, 3 officers and 130 +men; Japanese, 4 officers and 240 men; Russian, 2 officers and 157 men; +Italian, 1 officer and 24 men; Austrian, 2 officers and 20 men,--total, +904 officers and men. The command was confided to Commander Craddock, +RN. These landed under heavy shell fire in the dark by 2:30 a.m. with +no loss, and at 4:30, when the ships' guns had silenced those of the +forts, advanced upon the north-west fort. In the firing line were men +from the _Alacrity_ and _Endymion_ on the right, Russians on the left, +and Italians on the right flank; the _Barfleur's_ men supported the +charge, and the rest of the force were in support. The Japanese, +however, were not to be restrained, and as soon as the charge sounded, +raced with the British for the west gate, and both nations climbed the +parapet together. Their commander was first in, and the English +commander a good second, the former unfortunately being killed. The +remaining forts were easily taken, and with small loss to the allies. +The Chinese garrison was estimated at 3000, of whom one-third was +killed. + +THE CAPTURE OF TIENTSIN CITY. + +During the absence of the admiral and his force, the Chinese had kept +our force defending the foreign settlement at Tientsin sufficiently +busy, and did everything in their power to prevent trains with +reinforcements going forward even before the 14th June, when the rails +were torn up. Captain Bayly, RN, of HMS _Aurora_, had been left in +charge of the British forces, and was joined on the 11th June by +Commander Beattie, of HMS _Barfleur_, with 150 bluejackets and marines, +and later by between 1600 and 1800 Russians, with cavalry and artillery. +The Boxers made their first attack upon the settlement upon 16th June, +and from that time, until the capture of the Chinese city, there was +almost continual fighting, in the course of which the Naval Brigade lost +several officers and men. + +The native city began to bombard the settlement on the 17th, and on the +25th a 12-pounder gun from the _Terrible_, one of those mounted on +Captain Percy Scott's system, which had done such service in South +Africa, arrived and shelled the forts. + +The _Terrible_ had also brought to Tongku a military force consisting of +Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 7 officers and 328 men, some engineers, and other +details, under Major Morris; these with a naval force of about 150, +under Captain Craddock, RN, of the _Alacrity_, together with 1500 +Russians with 4 guns and 100 American marines, made on the 23rd June an +attack upon the military school, a strong position commanding the +settlements. A great deal of bayonet-fighting took place in clearing +the villages on the way, but the position itself was easily taken and +the settlement relieved. The approximate total of the forces of all +nations at Tientsin after this reinforcement was 4500, of whom about +1400 were British. + +On 27th June a force of British seamen under Commander Craddock, and +marines under Major Johnstone, the whole about 600 strong, under the +command of Captain Burke, joined with the Russians in an attack upon the +Chinese arsenal. The Russians took the centre and right face, our men +being ordered to advance parallel to the left face. At 200 yards they +were met with a heavy fire, and had to advance for some space over a +flat piece of ground until they could turn and face the arsenal, and +when they advanced received the fire of a field-gun at the left corner. +However, fixing bayonets, the bluejackets charged with a cheer, the +enemy quickly bolted, and were met with the fire of the marines, who had +been left outside for that purpose. The Russians also drove out the +enemy at their end, and destroyed the arsenal. Our losses were 7 killed +and 21 wounded. + +On 28th June and the following day messages came in from Pekin, dated +24th June, "Our case is desperate; come at once." Terrible news indeed +for the allies; it was but two days since the expedition which had set +out for Pekin had returned, and now the Tientsin settlement itself was +in danger, besieged and bombarded daily by the Chinese forts. No +attempt even at relief was at this time possible, and there was an awful +anxiety both here and in Europe as to what the fate of the embassies +might be. + +On the 4th of July the Chinese made an attack upon the railway station, +and were repulsed; and on the same day two additional 12-pounder guns +from the _Terrible_ arrived, and also two Krupp guns taken from the Taku +forts, a most important access of strength to the Naval Brigade, for up +to this time the only guns had been the 12-pounder of the _Terrible_, +two 9-pounder marine field-guns, and three 6 pounder Hotchkiss. + +The next two days the forts in the native city were heavily bombarded by +the _Terrible's_ guns, assisted by French and Japanese field-guns. +Several of the Chinese guns were silenced, but others, difficult to +locate owing to the use of smokeless powder, replied with spirit and +made good practice. A gallant attempt was made on the afternoon of the +6th by Major Bruce of the 1st Chinese Regiment to silence a 9-pounder +which had been pushed up to within short range, and appeared to be +aiming at the waterworks. The admiral lent him a 9-pounder gun, and +Commander Beattie, of the _Barfleur_, with 70 men. No cover could be +found, and the 9-pounder could not be brought into action owing to the +heavy rifle fire, and the attempt had to be abandoned. The force lost 2 +killed and 5 wounded, among the latter being Major Bruce and Mr F. +Esdaile, midshipman of the _Barfleur_, the latter mortally. + +The Chinese for some days had gradually been pushing their lines round +to the west and south of the native city, with a view to cutting the +communication by river and also placing the battery of the British naval +guns under a fire from the rear as well as front. Moreover, the Chinese +gunners were improving daily in their practice, and evidently had +knowledge from spies of the exact position and ranges of the barracks. +It became therefore necessary to clear the enemy out of their position. + +It was accordingly arranged that a combined movement should be made at +daybreak on 9th July to drive the enemy out of their position, and by a +wide flanking movement to converge upon and capture the west arsenal. +The command was entrusted to the Japanese General Fukushima, whose force +consisted of about 1000 infantry and 150 cavalry, with 150 American 9th +Infantry Regiment. The British sent 1000 men, namely, two companies 2nd +Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, half company Hong-Kong Regiment, two +companies Chinese Regiment, and 400 bluejackets and marines under +General Dorward as supports; and the Russians a reserve of 400. + +The force moved off before daylight on the 9th. The bulk of the +fighting fell upon the Japanese, but there was very little of that, for +though the Chinese artillery replied briskly for some time, when once +the guns were silenced and the infantry through the line of fire, the +Chinese fled precipitately. The Japanese cavalry charged and dispersed +a body of Boxers, killing about 200, and the infantry advancing captured +four Krupp guns. The arsenal was taken with a rush by the Japanese, and +found to be deserted, but being commanded by rifle fire was found to be +untenable. The place was therefore set on fire, and the forces +returned, having most thoroughly effected their purpose. The naval +casualties among the British were 1 killed and 3 wounded. + +This reverse, severe though it was, did not weaken the determination of +the Boxers, for early in the morning of the 11th they made a most +determined attack upon the railway station, an important position for +them, from which they could bombard the settlement as well as destroy +the rolling stock. The fight lasted three hours, and was stubbornly +contested. The Chinese got to close quarters and even crossed bayonets +with the allies. They were at length driven out with very heavy loss. +The allies also lost heavily, 150 killed and wounded, principally +Japanese and French. The British loss was very slight. + +At this time the number of the enemy attacking was estimated at 20,000, +while of the allies the total force was 12,170, namely, 50 Austrians, +2160 French, 1420 British, 400 Germans, 40 Italians, 3090 Japanese, 4450 +Russians, and 560 Americans. The bombardment of the settlement by the +Chinese was inflicting daily losses. Hitherto their artillery had been +superior to ours, but by the arrival of two 4-inch guns, one from HMS +_Algerine_, and another from HMS _Phoenix_, the position was altered and +it was at length decided to make a general attack upon the enemy on the +18th, with a view to capturing the native city and finally relieving the +foreign settlement. In this action the British naval guns were assigned +a prominent part, and to their very accurate shooting the success was +mainly due. The plan arranged was that under cover of the naval guns on +the east the Russians and Germans should take the Chinese batteries to +the north-east of the city, while the Japanese and British should at the +same time deliver their attack upon the city to facilitate the capture +of the batteries by the Russians. The Japanese were under their own +general, the rest of the allies under General Donvard. The forces +consisted of 1500 Japanese, under General Fukushima; 800 British, of +whom 300 were naval; 900 Americans, 30 Austrians, 900 French, and about +3000 Russians and 400 German marines. + +After about an hour's bombardment the main attack was delivered, the +French on the right, the British on the left, and the Japanese in the +centre, which was the point of greatest danger, for they were to advance +upon the south gate and blow it up to effect an entrance. The Americans +were ordered to support the left of the Japanese, and to their left were +the Welsh Fusiliers. The Americans unfortunately soon became involved +in a very exposed position, whence they could neither retreat nor +advance, their colonel was killed and they lost very heavily, and 100 +men of the Naval Brigade under Lieutenant Phillimore were sent to their +aid. + +Meantime the naval guns were keeping up a constant and accurate fire, +keeping down the fire from the city walls. Still, however, the day wore +on; the Japanese were unable to reach the gate, and the city, which it +was expected to enter by noon, was not yet taken, and the Japanese +general decided to hold his position through the night and to resume the +attack in the morning. + +Under fire of the naval guns the Fusiliers and American marines were +withdrawn with very slight loss, and then the unfortunate 9th Regiment +with the company of the Naval Brigade. This was a very delicate +business, for they were in danger of being themselves hit by the guns, +but so accurate was the fire that it was performed without accident. +Splendid work had meantime been done by our men in getting in the +American wounded, nearly all of whom they brought in under fire. + +The Russians, of whom nothing had been heard during the day, had been +thoroughly successful, although their attack had been delayed. In the +end they completely routed the Chinese and captured 11 guns, but not +without heavy fighting, in which they lost 120 in killed and wounded. + +The next morning the Japanese, who in the night had made a bridge across +the canal, crossed over at three a.m., blew in the gate, and in less +than an hour the city was taken. The British seized a number of junks +and a steamer and 8 guns, which had kept up such a fire on the preceding +day. The total loss of the allies concerned in the attack on the south +gate was--British, naval, 6 men killed, among whom was Captain Lloyd of +the marines, and 38 wounded; military, 12 killed, 38 wounded; Americans, +9 killed, 119 wounded; French, no killed and wounded; Japanese, 400. + +The effect of the naval guns was remarkable, and is thus reported by +General Dorward: + +"The success of the operations was largely due to the manner in which +the naval guns were worked by Lieutenant Drummond, RN, the accuracy of +their fire alone rendering steady fire on the part of the troops +possible against the strong Chinese position, and largely reducing the +number of casualties. + +"The delicate operation of withdrawing troops from advanced positions at +nightfall to strengthen other parts of the line, and the bringing back +of the wounded, could not have been effected without the aid of the +well-directed fire of the guns. + +"I desire to place on record my appreciation of the gallantry and fine +spirit of the men, and to join in their regret for the heavy loss in +killed and wounded, and particularly with the Royal Marines in regret +for the death of Captain Lloyd. + +"The Naval Brigade had their full share in the fighting at the centre +and right of the position, and had the honour of being among the first +troops to enter Tientsin. The succour they brought under a heavy fire +to the hard-pressed American troops on the right was highly appreciated +by the 9th Regiment United States Infantry, who found themselves +unexpectedly under the heaviest fire of the day, and were much heartened +by the arrival of Lieutenant Phillimore, RN, and his men." + +A YOUNG V.C. + +During the fighting on 13th July a midshipman, Basil John Douglas Guy, +displayed great coolness and bravery in stopping with and attending to a +wounded seaman, under an excessively hot fire, eventually assisting to +carry him across a fire-swept force. When it is remembered what kind of +treatment the Chinese dealt out to all who fell into their hands, and +the brutalities of which they were guilty, the heroism of the above act +stands out all the more sharply and unmistakably. For the action thus +described in the _Gazette_ Mr Guy was awarded a Victoria Cross. + +THE SIEGE OF PEKIN. + +The foreign guard that arrived in Pekin on the evening of 31st May and +following days numbered only 18 officers and 389 men, far too few for +the defence, and ridiculously inadequately supplied with guns and +ammunition. The British brought one old type Nordenfeldt; the +Austrians, one quick-firing gun; while the Russians brought a supply of +12-pound shell, but left their gun behind. It seemed as if the powers +only contemplated a demonstration, whereas this little force was +destined to sustain a siege that will rank amongst the most memorable in +history, and to hold--against Krupp guns and hordes of Chinese, firing +at close quarters modern magazine rifles--gardens and buildings +occupying some ten acres of ground, surrounded by a high wall, but in +other respects before the commencement of the siege utterly unprotected. + +The superior number of the enemy and the daily bombardment was not the +greatest danger they had to meet. One compound was crowded with women +and children and native refugees; famine and failure of ammunition daily +approached; the only hope of relief from these was the arrival of a +relieving force. The thought of the horrors that must follow if this +failed, and the awful fate at the hands of the fanatic and cruel Chinese +soldiery which must befall the women and children, was ever before each +member of the force, as day by day, for over nine weeks, day and night +he guarded his post, cut off from the world outside and with hardly a +hope of rescue. + +The British party consisted of 75 non-commissioned officers and men of +the Royal Marines, under Captains Strouts, Halliday, and Wray. There +were also present of other nations--American, 3 officers and 52 men; +Austrians, 5 officers and 30 men; French, 2 officers and 45 men; German, +1 officer and 51 men; Italian, 1 officer and 28 men; Japanese, 1 officer +and 24 men; Russian, 2 officers and 79 men. The British brought an +old-fashioned five-barrel Nordenfeldt, the Italians one small gun and +120 rounds, the Americans a machine gun with good supply of ammunition; +but the supply of small arm ammunition was very scanty, ranging from 300 +to 100 rounds per man. + +In addition to these trained men the embassies supplied of students and +others 85 men, of whom 31 were Japanese armed with any rifle or weapon +that they could find; and these men shared in all the fatigues of the +siege, and added greatly to the strength of the garrison. + +At this time fearful and indescribable horrors were occurring in the +Chinese city, thousands of Chinese Christians were cruelly tortured and +killed. Reports came in daily of the murder of missionaries, of railway +stations destroyed, and the gradual isolation of Pekin. Missionaries +and their families and native Christians took refuge in the legations, +and rescue parties were sent out to bring in others, and these reported +the most terrible scenes of massacre and indescribable cruelty. + +The Paitang, the great Roman Catholic cathedral, saved some thousands of +Christians. These with the priests and sisters, assisted by 30 French +marines, were enabled to keep the attacking forces at bay till the city +was taken by the allies. The guard lost 10 killed, and some 200 of the +people died also, but the rest must have soon perished of starvation +when the supplies collected with wonderful prudence by Bishop Favier, +who foresaw what was coming, had been exhausted. + +All this time Pekin was in the hands of the Boxers, with the Imperial +soldiers looking on, assisting, but the Chinese Government officially +professing great solicitude for the safety of the legations. This did +not prevent the Boxers firing, and upon the 17th June Imperial soldiers +were observed doing the same. Upon 19th June the storm burst; the +Government had heard of the attack upon the Taku forts, and gave the +ambassadors notice to leave Pekin within twenty-four hours. To have +done so would have been to leave all the thousands of Chinese Christians +to their fate, and to have ensured a massacre; nevertheless some of the +embassies at once prepared to move, and began to pack up. The British +decided to remain and hold the legation at all hazards, and the course +of events next day decided for the others. + +The German minister, Baron von Ketteler, went unattended with his +secretary to the Yamen. On the way he was murdered and his secretary +wounded by Imperial troops. + +The same day the Yamen withdrew the ultimatum, and requested the +ministers to remain in Pekin, as the country was so disturbed. + +This expression of anxious care for the welfare of the Europeans was a +blind, for at four o'clock, the hour fixed in the ultimatum, fire was +opened upon the legations, and the siege began. + +All the women and children were brought in to the legation compound, and +it was decided to hold the British Embassy as the last line of defence, +the supreme command being assigned to Sir Claude Macdonald, the +commanding officer of each guard being in command of their several +legations. + +Three sides of the legation compound were surrounded by Chinese +buildings, and these constituted a very grave danger, as attempts were +made, by setting them on fire, to burn out the legation buildings; and +on the 22nd June one of these attempts nearly succeeded, the fire was +got under, and the building destroyed under a hail of bullets. + +Just outside the legation and only a few feet away was the Hanlin +Academy. This was the most venerated and ancient building in Pekin, and +contained a priceless collection of books and ancient Chinese +manuscripts, which could never be replaced. These buildings were a +source of great danger if fired; the Europeans hesitated to destroy such +a building; not so the Chinese, and on the 23rd it was found to be in +flames, with a strong wind blowing towards the legation buildings. +Fortunately, the wind changed, or these could not have been saved. + +On the discovery that the building was on fire, a party of British and +American marines and volunteers rushed in and drove out the Chinese, +killing a good many; but it was too late to save the library, and only a +few of its manuscripts were rescued. Thus the Chinese in their fury +against the foreigner had destroyed a collection which for many +centuries had been the pride of their literati. + +The buildings had to be demolished on all sides as they were +successively set on fire, and at length the legation buildings were safe +from this source of danger, but the work was carried out under a +continuous rattle of rifle fire, and there were numerous casualties. + +On 24th June Captain Halliday with 30 marines was sent to clear out a +party of the enemy who had set fire to the State buildings of the +British legation, and were taking cover in the buildings. A hole being +made in the legation wall, Captain Halliday followed by his men crept +through, and at once came upon the enemy, and before he was able to use +his revolver received a serious wound from a rifle at point-blank range, +the bullet breaking his shoulder and entering the lung; notwithstanding, +he shot three of the enemy and walked back unaided to the hospital. For +this gallant action Captain Halliday was awarded the V.C. Captain +Strouts then took charge, and driving back the enemy captured some +rifles, and, what was most valuable, a large quantity of ammunition. + +Danger from incendiarism was now removed, but a new peril appeared. The +enemy on the 26th opened fire at 1000 yards with a Krupp 2.7-inch gun; +this was silenced by rifle fire, and the next day, when a sortie was +made to take it, it had been withdrawn. As, however, it was known that +there were ten more in Pekin, all hands turned to making bomb-proof +shelters, and on the 28th the enemy mounted another gun at 300 yards, +but soon withdrew it when a sortie was made to take it. + +It was at length found possible to make some reply, for an old +smooth-bore gun was found, and the projectiles the Russians had brought +were made use of, and a 1-pounder gun, which the enemy had posted but +100 yards off, was silenced after the ninth round. What a curious +instance of our Western ways this incident affords; the Chinese firing +upon our own people with the latest artillery made by ourselves, while +they are left to improvise a gun from a relic found in an old iron +store! + +The enemy now began to give up their attempt to get into the British +legation, and to devote their attention to the Italians, Japanese, +French, and Germans, who protected most of the Chinese converts, against +whom they were increasingly savage; consequently the British marines had +to reinforce all the posts outside the legation. + +On 16th July, Captain Strouts was killed--a very great loss to the +defence--and Captain Halliday being wounded, Captain Wray took command +of the marines and Sir Claude Macdonald of the legation. + +On the 17th the Chinese Imperial authorities were getting frightened, no +doubt affected by the fall of Tientsin, and till the 4th of August, +except for occasional sniping practice, suspended hostilities, and again +made suggestions that the embassies should retire under escort to +Tientsin, and leave the native Christians to the Government, who +promised them protection; but, nevertheless, the firing continued after +4th August, especially at night, and there were many casualties, but +beyond this there was no serious fighting. + +On 14th August the sound of guns was heard, and shells were seen +bursting against the gates of the Tartar city, and the besieged knew +that relief was at hand, and so it proved. At three p.m. the British +native troops, followed by General Gaselee and staff, entered the +legation, and the siege was at an end. + +The relief and thankfulness felt in Great Britain and throughout the +empire at the conclusion of this memorable siege could not be better +expressed than in the words telegraphed by Queen Victoria to the officer +commanding the marine guard: + +"I thank God that you and those under your command are rescued from your +perilous situation. With my people I have waited with the deepest +anxiety for the good news of your safety and a happy termination of your +heroic and prolonged defence. I grieve for the losses and sufferings +experienced by the besieged." + +The casualties among the British garrison amounted to 6 killed and 21 +wounded, among the latter being Dr Morrison, the _Times_ Chinese +correspondent, the total amongst all the defenders being 65 killed and +160 wounded, although 4000 shells fell in the legation during the siege. +The relief arrived only just in time, as there were but three days' +rations left, and the Chinese were attacking with increasing rigour +towards the end. + +THE RELIEF OF PEKIN. + +In Europe and in America, cut off from all reliable sources of +information about what was happening at the embassies, the suspense was +very great. In July rumours came of the fall of the legation, and the +massacre of all the Europeans. Even in official circles the news was +accepted as true; obituary notices of the members of the legation +appeared in the daily press, and arrangements were made for a public +funeral service at Saint Paul's Cathedral. + +It was some time after the arrival of this report in Europe that the +allies found themselves able to start from Tientsin, being equally +uncertain as to what they would find to be the state of the embassies, +if they themselves should arrive there; happily, though late, it proved +not too late. + +On 3rd August the allied generals arrived at a resolution to commence +the advance the next day with, approximately, 20,000 men, namely, 10,000 +Japanese, with 24 guns; 4000 Russians, with 16 guns; 3000 British, with +12 guns; 2000 Americans, with 6 guns; 800 French, with 12 guns; and 300 +Germans, Austrians, and Italians. + +Among the British contingent the navy was well represented, the Naval +Brigade, under the command of Captain Gallaghan of the _Endymion_, +consisted of 125 bluejackets with four 12-pounders from the _Barfleur, +Terrible, Endymion, Phoenix_, and _Algerine_, and 278 marines under +Major Luke; there were also two more naval 12-pounders manned by +Hong-Kong artillery under Major Saint John; there started on the same +day the junks which had been captured from the enemy. + +The principal Chinese position was at Peitsang, where they were strongly +entrenched on both sides of the river. This position was attacked and +stormed by the Japanese, supported by the British, on the morning of the +5th, the brunt of the action being borne by the Japanese, who lost 200 +in killed and wounded, the British only 25, of whom 21 were Indian. The +force pressed on day after day, driving the enemy before them, the +Japanese bearing the brunt of the fighting all the way up. Pekin was +reached on the 14th, and about 2:45 General Gaselee had the good fortune +to enter the legation first of all the generals. In these actions very +little fighting fell to the Naval Brigade, but the marines under Major +Luke co-operated in the relief of the cathedral the next day. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Sailors, by W.H.G. 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