Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume I Part 14

MY DEAR RICHARD,

You will be happy to receive an account from me of the important victory obtained by our squadron over the Spanish fleet, consisting of nearly double our force. The Admiral having received previous information of their sailing from Carthagena, and of their cruising off the entrance of the Straits, gave us timely notice of the intelligence by the signal to prepare for battle.

Early on Tuesday morning, the weather being hazy, with light winds, the frigates on the look-out made the signal for discovering the enemy, and soon after we discerned several s.h.i.+ps to leeward, and the body of the fleet to windward. We were then on the starboard tack, standing to the southward. The signal was made to different s.h.i.+ps to chase; and, shortly after, for the fleet to form in line of battle as most convenient. The enemy at this time were bearing down to join their s.h.i.+ps to leeward; but we came upon them so fast, that, before they could effect the junction, the headmost s.h.i.+ps, which were the Culloden, Prince George, Orion, Blenheim, and Colossus, with the Victory and the rest coming up, it was effectually prevented. They then hauled their wind on the larboard tack, and our Admiral made the signal for the fleet to tack. Our sternmost s.h.i.+ps then became the headmost.

Commodore Nelson, who had joined from Elba the day before, s.h.i.+fted his pendant to the Captain, the leading s.h.i.+p, and distinguished himself most eminently. The Culloden, Blenheim, Prince George, and Orion, were the next that came up, and were warmly engaged for nearly three hours with the body of the enemy's fleet, who had not had the time, or address, to form into any order. But it is only doing them justice to say, they defended themselves very bravely.

We were, for above an hour, opposed to a three-decker, the Salvador del Mundo, which finally struck to this s.h.i.+p; we lowered the boat from the stern, and gave orders to Mr. Luce, the first lieutenant, to take possession of her; still making sail for the other s.h.i.+ps, and following Admiral Parker in the Prince George. The Excellent, which had pa.s.sed us to windward, had made a line-of-battle s.h.i.+p, the San Domingo, strike some time before this.

Several s.h.i.+ps of the enemy were extremely shattered in their masts and sails; but, keeping up a warm fire on their s.h.i.+ps, the Captain laid one of them, the San Nicolas, an eighty-four, on board, and hauled down her colours. A three-decker, the San Josef, wis.h.i.+ng, I believe, to rescue the s.h.i.+p, got on board of her, and gave Commodore Nelson an opportunity of also hauling down her colours. His bravery on this occasion is above all praise.

The Namur and other s.h.i.+ps had by this time joined the van, and engaged as they came up. I stood for a three-decker, which, after engaging some time, struck her colours: she first had showed a white flag, which, though I concluded to indicate a truce, was not satisfactory to myself, and we continued firing till they hoisted an English flag over the Spanish, on which we ceased firing.

The enemy's s.h.i.+ps, many of which had not been in action, at this time came up and were forming to windward. The Admiral made the signal to wear and come to the wind on the starboard tack; wis.h.i.+ng, I believe, to keep his squadron collected near the prizes, as well as the Captain, that was much disabled, besides the Colossus, which s.h.i.+p very unfortunately lost her fore-yard very early in the action. This ill-timed, but doubtless necessary manoeuvre, lost us the additional triumph of having the Purissima Concepcion, to grace the s.h.i.+ps already in our possession, and I experienced the regret of again seeing her resume the Spanish colours.

I have here related to you facts as they really occurred, and I believe all my officers will vouch for the authenticity of this account. I am happy to acquaint you that we have providentially lost no man in the action; eight only wounded, all doing well; amongst which number is Mr. Mansell, from a contusion in his right shoulder by splinter. Our main and mizen-top-masts are alone disabled, and the hull has not suffered materially. All the officers, and every man individually, behaved as n.o.bly as I have ever witnessed; and you know it is not the first action in which I have seen courage excited.

This is copied from the letter I write to my brother. My amanuensis is a gentleman who acted as my aide-de-camp, and I beg you will acquaint his good father that he acquitted himself highly to my satisfaction, and showed himself deserving the stock from which he sprung. I truly hope in due time to have the opportunity of advancing a young man of his merit.

In case I have not time to write to my brother, as the above has been copied only from the sc.r.a.ps of the letter I intended writing, send him this letter, stating my great hurry and the pressure of service at this crisis.

Adieu! nothing can equal my impatience to hear from you, and to receive good accounts of my sister.

I am truly, most affectionately yours, JAS. SAUMAREZ.

Lagos Bay, 17th February 1797.

The princ.i.p.al cause of my present haste is my anxiety attending the care of the San Josef, which we have in tow, and which has delayed us more than I can express, these twenty-four hours.

N.B. I since have found it was the Santissima Trinidada, and not the Concepcion, that struck, but afterwards got off. And the St.

Ysidro, 74 guns, and not the Santa Domingo, that is captured.

The Santissima Trinidada is reported to be off here by one of our frigates.

The enemy, however, pa.s.sed Lagos Bay, leaving the prizes unmolested.

As the further details, and Spanish account of this action, will be found in the Appendix, we shall proceed by giving the copies of the following letters.

Victory, Lagos Bay, 16th February 1797.

SIR,

No language I am possessed of can convey the high sense I entertain of the exemplary conduct of the flag-officers, captains, officers, seamen, marines, and soldiers embarked on board every s.h.i.+p of the squadron I have the honour to command, present at the vigorous and successful attack made upon the fleet of Spain on the 14th instant. The signal advantage obtained by his Majesty's arms on that day is entirely owing to their determined valour and discipline; and I request you will accept yourself, and give my thanks and approbation to those composing the crew of the s.h.i.+p under your command.

I am, sir, Your most humble servant, J. JERVIS.

To Captain Sir James Saumarez, Orion.

In consequence of this glorious victory, obtained, under Providence, by the valour and discipline of the crews of his Majesty's s.h.i.+ps on the 14th February 1797, the commander-in-chief was pleased to grant a free pardon to James Maloney, seaman, then under sentence of death for repeated desertion from H.M.S. Speedy, which was communicated in the most impressive manner to the fleet.

We cannot but remark that, in the various accounts of this action, justice has been but barely done to the commander of the Orion, who is only mentioned as one of the six captains who prevented the junction of the enemy's separated squadron. If any act of heroism displayed on that occasion was designed to be particularly recorded in the public despatches, surely the fact that the Orion was the last s.h.i.+p that engaged and took possession of the Salvador del Mundo, and then made the Santissima Trinidada strike her colours and hoist the English flag over the Spanish, deserves a place. For these achievements we have the undoubted testimonies, not only of the gallant commander and the officers of the s.h.i.+p, viz. Sir John Savage, Captains Tanc.o.c.k and Mansell, but also that of one of the officers of the Spanish s.h.i.+p who was on board at the time, and who added, that "we did not surrender until all further defence was hopeless." The Orion could not send a boat to her, because she had already taken possession of the Salvador, on board which s.h.i.+p she had sent her first lieutenant and as many men as she could spare, and also because she had no boat that could swim: but this, it appeared, raised some doubts on the subject; and on a subsequent occasion, when the captains met on board the Victory, Commodore Nelson said, "It _was true_, Saumarez, that the Santissima struck to you; the Spanish officers have acknowledged it." Sir James, supposing from the manner in which this was spoken that Nelson had doubted the truth of his report, answered rather sharply, "Who ever doubted it, sir? I hope there is no need for such evidence to establish the truth of the report of a British officer."

Lieutenant Luce's description of the state he found the Salvador in was appalling in the extreme.--There were more than fifty lying on the decks with wounds requiring amputation. In many instances the Spanish surgeon, after having separated the limb, omitted to tie up the arteries; consequently, on removing the tourniquet, the victim in a few minutes bled to death: and the English sailors, who at length stopped his merciless hand, were with difficulty prevented from throwing him overboard with those he had butchered.

Lieutenant Luce was one of the officers promoted, in consequence of this battle, to the rank of master and commander.

The fleet now returned to Lisbon, where the conquerors were received with every demonstration of joy and grat.i.tude. The English factory presented a congratulatory address; and at this place the thanks of both houses of parliament were communicated to them; and a third time to Sir James, as one of the most distinguished captains. At the same time he received from Earl Spencer and Lord Hugh Seymour the following handsome letters of congratulation:

DEAR SIR,

I congratulate you most sincerely on your having been present at the most brilliant action which our naval history records, and on having had so distinguished a share in it.

I am, dear sir, with great truth, Your very obedient, humble servant, Admiralty, 8th March 1797.

SPENCER.

Sir James Saumarez.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,

I congratulate you most heartily on your having had another opportunity of displaying your merit, and on the share which you bore in the most brilliant action that ever was achieved.

I hope that I need not a.s.sure you how much I have shared with your friends the satisfaction your conduct has given them; the reward for which, I hope, you will long enjoy in the approbation of the whole world, which is now bestowed upon you.

I am, my dear Sir James, Most truly and faithfully yours, H. SEYMOUR.

Admiralty, March 10th, 1797.

Early in March the Orion was again ready for active service; and the following letter gives an account of the departure of Sir James Saumarez with Commodore Nelson on a cruize.

Orion, off the Tagus, 6th March 1797.

MY DEAR RICHARD,

I had the pleasure of your letter by packet, and I have to tell you we are now actually under sail, with Commodore Nelson, in the Irresistible, the Leander, and some frigates, going to intercept several Spanish s.h.i.+ps expected from Vera Cruz with rich cargoes. Be not surprised if, with our _desperate_ commodore, you hear of our taking the whole Spanish fleet, should we fall in with them. Our cruise is expected to last only three weeks.

I hope on our return to receive letters from my friends, in reply to those I sent by the Lively. I shall thank you, when you see our friends in Walbrook, if you will mention to them that all my brother officers are extremely incensed at the opinion given by Sir William Scott on the case of the Kingston; and we hope he will have found reason to alter it. It is the circ.u.mstance, and not the value of the salvage, that has displeased us so much.

We are just going over the Bar, so I must conclude with my sincere and best wishes for health and every happiness to attend you, my dear sister and family,

I am ever, my dear Richard, Affectionately yours, JAS. SAUMAREZ.

This short cruize was, however, an unsuccessful one; and the commodore had not yet an opportunity of displaying his valour. They returned to Lisbon, and found that their commander-in-chief had become Earl St.

Vincent, and that Nelson had received the grand cross of the Bath; while Saumarez was among those on whom was bestowed a gold medal for their gallant conduct on Valentine's Day.

A reinforcement had now arrived from England; and the whole fleet, consisting of twenty-one sail of the line, resumed the blockade of Cadiz, where they arrived on the 2nd of April, and found there the whole Spanish fleet of twenty-six sail of the line. Sir Horatio Nelson, who at first commanded the advanced squadron, was ordered up to Elba; and Sir James, in the Orion, succeeded in his room; during which time the two Spanish frigates Nimfa and Elena were captured by the Irresistible, Captain Martin, who chased them by signal from the Orion. Sir James on this occasion sent a flag of truce, and entered into correspondence with the Spanish admiral Mazarredo; which, we need only add, completely succeeded, and met with the high approbation of the commander-in-chief, as will appear from the following extracts of letters from Earl St. Vincent to Saumarez.

Ville de Paris, 11th May 1797.

You approve yourself so able in the diplomatique, that you need no a.s.sistance from me: in truth, a better despatch could not have been penn'd than yours of yesterday to Don Joseph De Mazarredo.