Every Man Will Do His Duty (5 page)

Lord Howe was the favourite of that day. He had been allowed, not only to select the ships to be placed under his command, but also the officers commanding them. There were a great many 64’s in our Navy, but his Lordship, as if aware of the general inferiority of our line of battle ships to those of the French, would not have any of that description with him, so that the 74 was the smallest ship in his fleet.

On the 14th, we recaptured and sent into port the brig
Argo,
under charge of one of our mids and seven seamen. Several more of our merchant vessels were recaptured daily. From these we learned that an enemy’s squadron had taken the
Castor,
⁵
32 guns, and her convoy from Guernsey and Jersey bound for Newfoundland. On the 18th we chased a strange squadron of ships of war, which proved to be Rear-Admiral McBride. Shortly afterwards, the fleet returned to the Island of Ushant, not far from Brest. Two sail of the line, with two frigates, were sent in-shore to reconnoitre that port. On the evening of that day, the 20th, when they rejoined us, they brought intelligence of the enemy’s fleet being at sea. This news caused the greatest excitement on board our ships, and nothing was heard but bringing the French to action. A course was now shaped to meet the enemy, and the signal was made to prepare for battle. Many more merchant ships fell in with us that had been taken by the enemy, but Lord Howe could not spare any more seamen from his fleet. Consequently they were burned. The ship that we were ordered to set
on fire proved to be the
Demourisque,
belonging to Guernsey, a very fine vessel indeed of her class, taken by the French frigate
la Seine.
It made my heart ache when I saw the flames spreading over her; in fact hurling her to destruction. From these vessels we took out the Frenchmen, who did not fail to boast famously of the powers of their fleet.

One of our first duties whilst in quest of the enemy was to fill an ample quantity of powder for the use of our guns. This service is generally performed at night, when all the fires and lights are out. On that occasion, when the gunner’s crew were at work in the magazine, I could not rest, having, while asleep in my hammock, had three different dreams that the ship would be blown up. I therefore turned out, and requested the officer of the watch to allow me to go and take charge of the lightroom.
⁶
This was readily granted. I hastened to the place, and relieved the mid stationed there. He was very glad at my appearance, cordially thanking me for taking his place. When he was gone, I called out to the gunner through the horn of the lantern to inquire if all was going on right with the powder. He assured me that all was in good order, and no danger. However, my anxiety on this account was so intense that I could not help repeating my question so often that the old gunner would not make any further reply. At last he told me to mind my own business, and that I was sent there to mind the candles. “Mind,” said he, “that you snuff them properly, or I will report you for neglect of duty.” By 6 o’clock in the morning the magazine duties were over, and my mind relieved from an oppression that I could not control, the recollection of which is still fresh in my memory to this day.

In our pursuit of the enemy strange vessels were seen daily. One of the number, a French line of battle ship, took our fleet for hers; but, being a superior sailer, she escaped from being captured. It was a touch and go affair with her. However, two of the enemy’s sloops of war stood close into the rear of our fleet one evening, and by daylight they were in our centre. They had not made any signals, or taken the usual precautions on such occasions. Consequently, when they found out their mistake, they attempted to make off: in vain, as they were instantly captured.

Some of the officers from these vessels were sent to the
Defence.
They became my messmates. One of them, a gentleman of fortune, had been ruined by the Revolution, and taken to the naval service of his country as his last resource. He related to me many of the horrors of that unfortunate period. He spoke in very high terms of the discipline of the French fleet, making quite sure that we should be beaten when we brought them to
action. Nevertheless he could not help expressing his astonishment at the cleanliness and good order of the
Defence,
which led him at times to let slip some remarks indicating apprehensions and doubts of the final success of his countrymen on the day of trial. He watched all the motions of our fleet with extreme anxiety, and the maneuver which seemed to attract his attention most was the rapidity with which our ships were tacked; often within five minutes, whereas the French ships, he told us, were always a ¼ of an hour under that evolution.

Meeting so many vessels led us to believe that we were not far from the enemy, and it became evident that reinforcements were on their way to him. I may mention here the critical state of France at that period. From the failure of the harvest, that country was on the brink of a famine, and the National Convention had contracted with America for ample supplies of corn and flour. They had sent some ships of war to convoy them home from the States.
⁷
Another squadron
⁸
was ordered to look out for those ships—upwards of 300 sail of them—and assist in escorting them into the French ports. We on our side had detached a squadron to intercept and capture such a valuable convoy.
⁹

On the morning of May 28, having strong breezes and hazy weather, the fleet being on the starboard tack, about 8 o’clock the signal was made from the flying squadron that a strange fleet was in sight, some distance to windward, which proved to be the enemy we had been so anxiously looking for. His ships were not, by appearance, in any regular order of sailing. Lord Howe made the signal to prepare for battle, and for the flying squadron to chace and engage the enemy. So soon as those signals were displayed to our ships, a state of excitement was manifested totally beyond my powers of description. No one thought of anything else than to exert himself to his utmost ability in overcoming the enemy. It was also very satisfactory to observe the change of disposition in the ship’s company of the
Defence.
All animation and alacrity pervaded these men: no more sulky looks. The enemy was near, and all hands were determined to support their captain. The ships when near each other were cheered by their crews in succession. Death or Victory was evidently the prevailing feeling.

The enemy’s fleet did not alter its course upon seeing us: therefore it neared. But unluckily the wind, increasing to a gale, obliged us to reef the topsails, and our progress was in consequence much delayed. Our Captain exerted himself in a wonderful manner, determined to set a noble example to all under his command. Whilst we were in chace, a splinter netting was
fitted over the quarter deck to receive the blocks that might be shot away aloft, and a cask of water was hoisted into the main top, to be prepared for fire. The enemy, having closed us to about eight miles, hauled to the wind (in the western quarter). The whole of our fleet being in chace, the order of sailing was no longer an object. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon the wind moderated a little. Just at this time we noticed one of the advanced squadron, under Rear Admiral Pasley,
¹⁰
firing upon the enemy’s rear. Some of our sails were split, but luckily held on. At 7 o’clock our ships were closing, and brought the French to action about 8 o’clock. The engagement was followed up with great spirit, but moderated, and finally ceased, as night came on. The wind had lulled, and as total darkness prevailed, all further operations were at an end. Every ship in the British fleet carried distinguishing lights, to prevent mistakes with the enemy’s, and the night was passed in watching each other’s motions, as well as it could be done.

At daylight on the 29th, the two fleets were on opposite tacks, and the leading ship of our van, the
Caesar
of 80 guns, exchanged shots with the rear of the French. But our opponents had contrived to keep the weather gage. We soon tacked, to place ourselves upon a line with our adversaries. We now missed the
Audacious,
74. It was evident she had parted from us during the night. Her absence reduced our number to 25 sail of the line. In counting the enemy’s fleet, we made out 26 of the line. It was afterwards ascertained that the
Audacious
had parted company in attempting to take possession of the
Revolutionnaire,
¹¹
a French three decker that had been disabled by the fire of our ships on the previous evening; but, failing to do so, fell in the next morning with a squadron of enemy, and was obliged to run off to prevent being captured: and, finally, instead of trying to rejoin our fleet, put into Plymouth.

We had a commanding breeze this day, but as our opponents kept well to windward, we could not close with them. However, about 10 o’clock, the enemy’s van gradually edged down towards ours, and they began a distant engagement before 11 o’clock. Lord Howe then made the signal for the
Caesar,
the leading ship, to tack and cut through the French rear. But this signal not being obeyed disconcerted his Lordship, who was completely at a loss in not having his plan of attack carried into effect. Meanwhile the firing on both sides was kept up with determined spirit. The signal mentioned was repeated several times, but the
Caesar
kept on her course. At length Lord Howe tacked, in the
Queen Charlotte,
and those ships near followed the example. When he thought that he should succeed in the desired object, he made the signal for a general chace. That signal left every captain
at liberty to follow his own plan in bringing his ship into action, and the line of battle was no longer in force. Consequently every ship was trying to attack the enemy in the best way that offered. However, this signal was entirely annulled by the sudden visitation of a violent squall of wind, accompanied by a thick mist with rain, during which no object could be distinguished at 100 yards’ distance. Such an unexpected event brought the English fleet into a state of disorder. When the mist cleared away, scarcely any two ships were on the same tack, and many were near running on board each other. Nothing but confusion was visible in our fleet, whilst the enemy’s line was in perfect order. Had the enemy availed himself of the opportunity thus offered, not intentionally, of attacking our broken line, who knows what might have been the result?

Every British officer was aware of our critical position: therefore no time was lost in forming the line as well as it could be done. Lord Howe had cut through the enemy’s line at the 5th ship from his rear. Many ships had followed, and, at last, it came to our turn. At the opening that had been made in the enemy’s line lay a large French 80-gun ship,
l’Indomptable.
All her topmasts had been shot away, and she was motionless. But she kept up a most spirited fire as we passed her. The
Orion,
74, had taken a position on her lee quarter, and we concluded that she would be taken. However, whilst all these operations were going on, the French admiral noticed the dangerous situation of the ship mentioned, as well as of another,
le Tyrannicide,
also disabled. He wore his fleet, and by that means rescued them.

So soon as we had passed through the French rear, we attempted to tack, but failed; then were obliged to wear. In performing that evolution we nearly ran on board of another ship, as several of ours were rather crowded, and too close together to admit of forming the line without risk. Nevertheless, with care and good management we extricated ourselves from all these difficulties; and, having finally brought to the wind on the starboard tack, we became exposed to the attack of a large French three decker. The shot from him flew about us like hailstones. As yet we had not any man hurt, but our sails and rigging were much injured. At this critical moment the
Defence
lay over so much that our quarter deck was open to the enemy’s fire, our opponents pelting away without intermission. Presently one of his shot struck the upper part of the quarter deck bulwark, on the larboard side, killed one man and wounded nine. One or two shots passed so close to the captain that I thought he was hit. He clapped both hands upon his thighs with some emotion: then, recovering himself, he took out of his pocket a piece of biscuit and began eating it as if nothing had happened. He had evidently been shook by the wind of the shot. He had on a cocked hat, and kept walking the deck, cheering up the seamen with the greatest coolness.

I had never seen a man killed before. It was a most trying scene. A splinter struck him in the crown of the head, and when he fell the blood and brains came out, flowing over the deck. The captain went over, and, taking the poor fellow by the hand, pronounced him dead. The others, who were wounded, were taken below to the Surgeon. Just at that moment, a volley of shot assailed the poop, cut away the main brace, and made sad havoc there. Some of the men could not help showing symptoms of alarm: which the captain noticing, he instantly went up, and, calling the seamen together, led them to set the brace to rights. At this instant
[Lieut.]
Twysden made his appearance, and explained to the captain that our guns from the main deck had no effect upon the three decker. To prove this, he waited till the smoke had cleared away, then went down and, giving one of the guns the utmost elevation, fired it. The shot only reached halfway to the Frenchman. Consequently our firing was useless. Under these circumstances our guns were kept quiet. We were in a most trying situation, receiving the enemy’s fire without being able to return the compliment. But, luckily, one of our three deckers, the
Glory,
noticing the danger to which we were exposed, closed upon us and, directing his broadsides upon our adversary, drew off his attention. This act of the
Glory
’s gave us a little breathing time, by which we were enabled to set the ship to rights.

I was quartered on the lower deck under Lieut. Beecher. He had the command of the seven foremost guns, and three of them in the bow were under mine. As we could not use the guns below, I availed myself of that circumstance to attend on the quarter deck, to witness all that was passing. Never having been before present in an action of the kind, my curiosity and anxiety were beyond all bounds. The danger to which I exposed myself had not the slightest influence over me. Owing to that desire I saw more than most of the mids, who kept to their stations, and I can now relate what I really did see. The result of this action, which had fallen sharply upon a few of our ships, was the obtaining of the weather gage: an advantage of considerable importance, as it enabled the British admiral to direct his attack upon the enemy when it suited his convenience.
¹²
The two ships that suffered most in our fleet were the
Royal George,
100 guns, Admiral Sir Alexander Hood,
¹³
and the
Queen,
98, Sir Alan Gardner.
¹⁴
The sails of both those ships were literally torn into shreds. There they lay, perfectly
motionless, the eyes of the whole fleet turned upon them, whilst their crews were occupied in unbending and replacing their useless sails.
L’Indomptable
and
le Tyrannicide,
two deckers, bore the brunt of the action on the side of France, as those ships lay exactly in that part of their line where ours cut through. In due time both fleets were formed in the order of battle, and, about 5 o’clock, all again in as complete a condition as circumstances would permit. The French ships appeared to have suffered more than ours, as several had lost topmasts and yards, whereas on our side nothing of the kind was discernible.