Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume I Part 30

Governor O'Hara writes that he is without intelligence from Egypt since the repulse of the French, the 21st March.

His Excellency J.H. Frere, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Lisbon.

It now becomes our duty to give a particular account of the defensive means of the French Admiral. The road of Algeziras, six miles distant from Gibraltar, is open to the eastward. It is shallow, with sunken rocks in several parts. The town is nearly in the centre, at the bottom of the Bay; about a third of a mile from which there is a tower standing on a point, and off this point is Isla Verda, whereon is a battery of seven long 24-pounders. About a mile to the southward of this battery is Fort Santa Garcia. The English s.h.i.+ps had to pa.s.s these fortifications before they could reach the French line. The northward of the town was no less protected, having at the distance of about two-thirds of a mile the fort of San Jago, mounting five long 18-pounders, besides the tower Almirante. By referring to the diagrams, it will be manifest that the road is admirably protected by these fortifications, while those at a greater distance to the northward would be of some service in throwing sh.e.l.ls, and in preventing the s.h.i.+ps from working up to the attack. There were also fourteen large gun-boats, whose positions, as shown, were such as to form a serious opposition to an approaching enemy in light and variable winds.

Before we proceed to a description of the attack on the enemy's well-protected squadron, we must intreat the reader to pause, while we call his attention to the circ.u.mstance of the British s.h.i.+ps, led by the gallant Hood, slowly and silently approaching the batteries of an enemy, strongly reinforced, perfectly prepared to receive them, and knowing well that they could not suffer any injury from the s.h.i.+ps, while every shot from their cannon must tell. Silence, undoubtedly derives importance from the circ.u.mstances under which it is observed, and we cannot well refer to an instance where silence could have had a more solemn and impressive character than that which must have been observed on this occasion, until broken by the roar of the enemy's destructive engines.

Captain (now Admiral Sir Jahleel) Brenton, who was flag-captain of the Caesar, has kindly transmitted the following particular and authentic account of all that took place on that eventful day, which afforded the enemy a short-lived triumph. We shall make no apology for giving it in his own words:

On Sunday, the 5th July 1801, a despatch-boat was seen in the S.E., and at two P.M. came alongside the Caesar, with intelligence of a French squadron having anch.o.r.ed in Algeziras Bay, consisting of three sail of the line and a frigate.[30] The Admiral immediately decided on attacking them; and ordered the Thames frigate to proceed off St. Lucar to recall the Superb, and make sail with the Pompee, Hannibal, Spencer, Audacious, and Venerable, for the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar; making the signal to prepare for action, and for anchoring by the stern.

[30] Le Formidable, 84. Dessaix, 84. Indomptable, 74: and Meuron, 38.

The day was beautiful, with a light air from the westward. At eleven o'clock the s.h.i.+p's company was, as usual, a.s.sembled for the purpose of Divine service. The appearance of this congregation, under the peculiar circ.u.mstances in which they were placed,--proceeding, as they all knew they were, to engage in battle with the enemy, with the probability that many had but a few remaining hours to live,--was solemn and deeply impressive. The crew were all dressed in white, as is customary in warm climates; and being arranged according to their respective divisions on the quarter-deck, with the band and the marines on the p.o.o.p, and the Admiral and the officers under the p.o.o.p awning, an effect was produced highly animating, solemn, and appropriate; while the meek, devotional countenance of the well-tried Admiral indicated that he derived his confidence and support from its only true source.

Our chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Holliday, gave an excellent discourse, appropriate to the occasion; and it cannot be doubted but the impressions it made on that eventful day were deep and affecting, however temporary.

I had of course much communication with the Admiral during the course of this day and the ensuing night. He was, as usual, calm, cheerful, and collected; foreseeing, and endeavouring to provide for, whatever might be required during the struggle which we were antic.i.p.ating. He was quite aware of the difficulties we had to encounter, and fully determined to overcome them if possible.[31]

[31] The following memorandum was communicated to the squadron before bearing up for Gibraltar Bay:

Memorandum

Caesar, 5th July 1801.

If the Rear-admiral finds the enemy's s.h.i.+ps in a situation to be attacked, the following is the order in which it is to be executed:

The Venerable to lead into the bay, and pa.s.s the enemy's s.h.i.+ps without anchoring;

The Pompee to anchor abreast of the inner s.h.i.+p of the enemy's line;

The Audacious, } " Caesar, } to anchor abreast of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps " Spencer, } and batteries; " Hannibal, }

{ to keep under sail, and annoy the enemy's " Superb, { batteries and gun-boats during the attack " Thames, { a.s.sisted by the Plymouth lugger.

The boats of the different s.h.i.+ps to be lowered down and armed, in readiness to act where required.

Given on board the Caesar, off Tariffa, 5th July 1801.

JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To the respective Captains.

At daylight we were off Tariffa, with light airs from the westward, which at seven freshened to a strong breeze, and enabled the Venerable to open the Bay of Algeziras, in which the French squadron were discovered at anchor. On the Venerable making the signal that she could weather the enemy, the Admiral made another to take stations for mutual support. The Pompee, Venerable, and Audacious were soon at an anchor, and at thirty-five minutes after eight began the action with the enemy.

The Caesar at nine o'clock opened her fire, and at fifteen minutes past nine came to an anchor ahead of the Venerable. The Spencer and Hannibal pa.s.sed under our lee, nearly becalmed, and anch.o.r.ed without the Caesar, firing, as the smoke subsided, through the openings between our s.h.i.+ps at the enemy.

About ten o'clock the fire of the French s.h.i.+ps appeared to slacken so much that I ventured to suggest to the Admiral that a flag of truce might be sent in, with a notice to the Spaniards that if the British squadron were permitted to take away the French s.h.i.+ps without any further molestation from the batteries, the town would be respected, and no further injury done to it.

The Admiral expressed his readiness to do this; but considered the advantage we had gained, as yet, not sufficiently decisive to justify such a measure. And his judgment was but too correct.

The decrease of the fire from the French s.h.i.+ps arose from their being occupied in warping close in-sh.o.r.e; and, shortly after this period, the Pompee having broken her sheer, lost her commanding position relative to the French Admiral, whom she had been raking with great effect, and now became raked in her turn.

At twenty minutes after ten, the boats of the squadron were sent to her a.s.sistance, and, having cut her cables, she was towed out of her exposed situation.

At thirty-five minutes after ten, the Admiral, observing how much the enemy had increased their distance from us by warping in-sh.o.r.e, ordered our cables to be cut, and sail to be made upon the s.h.i.+ps, in the hope of being able to close with them. He also sent me on board the Spencer, with orders to Captain Darby to weigh, and work up to the enemy. The Hannibal, having already received these orders, was in the act of obeying them, and soon after opened her fire upon the French Admiral; but in the gallant endeavour to get between the Formidable and the sh.o.r.e, and not being aware of the French Admiral's change of position by warping in, Captain Ferris unfortunately ran his s.h.i.+p aground, abreast of the battery of St. Jago, and under the raking fire of the Formidable. In this helpless state he continued to engage the enemy until, to use the French Admiral's words, his decks were _jonche de morts_. He had seventy-three killed and sixty-four wounded,--a very unusual proportion, as, in general, the wounded trebles the number of the killed; but this may be accounted for by the Hannibal being so near that the enemy's shot pa.s.sed through her sides without making any splinters, to which the greater number of wounds are attributable.

From the time the Caesar cut her cable, she and the Audacious were constantly engaged with the Indomptable, Meuron, and island batteries, and occasionally with the Dessaix, as they could bring their guns-to bear; but the perpetual flaws of wind rendered this very difficult, and exposed them frequently to a severe and raking fire from the enemy. The Admiral made the signal for the marines to be prepared to land on the island; but, as the boats were all employed in a.s.sisting the Pompee and Hannibal, this was rendered impracticable. At length, finding every effort fruitless to close with the enemy, the Admiral was under the necessity of withdrawing his s.h.i.+ps from this unequal contest with winds and batteries; but it was not until all hope had vanished of saving the Hannibal that he left her in possession of the enemy.

The accompanying diagram shows first, the position of the hostile squadrons at the moment the Spencer, and Venerable, and Caesar, had anch.o.r.ed; secondly, their position when the action ceased, and when the Hannibal was in possession of the enemy.

The action of Algeziras was certainly obstinately fought, and gallantly contested on both sides. It is true that the French had little to do but to attend to their guns, being either at an anchor in their strong position, or warping towards the sh.o.r.e.

In this operation the Spaniards had the hardest duty, being employed in their boats in carrying out hawsers, and even in heaving them in. Success seemed certain to the British squadron till the Pompee broke her sheer; after that, it was one continued but unavailing struggle to recover the ground we had lost by this misfortune: and we retreated to Gibraltar when all hope was at an end, the Admiral justly considering the importance of repairing the damages already sustained, and of preserving the lives of his gallant crew, which would be uselessly sacrificed by a continuance of a hopeless contest.

Never did I contemplate more real greatness of mind than was displayed on this occasion by our heroic chief. The calmness and cheerfulness with which he met and sustained the sad reverses of this most trying day, were objects worthy of remark and admiration. Whilst going into the Bay of Algeziras, he desired me to look over my signal-book, and to mark such signals as might be likely to be called for. He had already done the same, and when, during the heat of the action, any of the flags were destroyed, or the halliards shot away, I was astonished at the readiness with which he ordered one signal to be subst.i.tuted for another, according as the signification might answer the purpose, without any reference to the book.

On reaching our anchorage off the Mole of Gibraltar, after giving the necessary orders for the disposal and refitting of his squadron, he returned to his cabin with a deep sense of the responsibility he had incurred; but supported by the unqualified conviction that every exertion had been made to obtain success, and that the disappointment resulted from circ.u.mstances over which he had no control.

The action terminated, as appears by the log, at thirty-five minutes after one; and the squadron proceeded to Gibraltar. As soon as the s.h.i.+p was secured, the Admiral sent me on sh.o.r.e to the governor, to relate to him the events of the two preceding days. I found him sitting in his balcony, which commanded a view of the Bay and Algeziras, evidently deeply affected by the unlooked-for termination of an attack upon the French squadron, and anxiously reflecting on the probable results.

On my return on board, the Admiral had retired to his cot; and I had no means of communicating with him until next morning. I could then, however, perceive that under all the severity of disappointment he experienced from our failure, and the loss of the Hannibal, he felt that no honour had been lost; that every effort had been made to obtain success; and that he derived comfort from the sanguine hopes he entertained that an opportunity might present itself in which he should be able to retrieve the loss.

He ordered me to take a flag of truce and wait upon the French Admiral, and propose an exchange of prisoners; which M. Linois refused, alleging that it was not in his power to establish a cartel for the purpose until he obtained the sanction of the Minister of the Marine at Paris, to whom he had sent off an express as soon as the firing had ceased on the preceding day; but he consented to send over the officers on parole. The object of the French Admiral was very obvious. He concluded we wanted the men to replace those that had been killed and wounded; but he thought, justly, that sending over officers on parole would be a harmless act of courtesy, from which we could reap no immediate benefit. It will be seen that, subsequently to the second action, (only six days after the first,) when his despatches from Algeziras had scarcely reached Paris, he did not wait for an answer from the Minister of the Marine: but circ.u.mstances had altered. We had taken a line-of-battle s.h.i.+p, and burned two first-rates; and he now wished to get as many of the crew back as possible.

We shall now transcribe the Rear-admiral's official account of the battle: this affords additional particulars, and proves that every step had been taken to insure success; which, but from circ.u.mstances that often blight the fairest prospects, would have had a very different result. We shall venture to add, that, had the gallant Admiral hesitated to make the attempt, he would have rendered himself obnoxious to animadversions, not only from all the squadron under his command, but from every one on the Rock of Gibraltar who witnessed the enemy's squadron of inferior force setting, as it were, that of Sir James at defiance; while it would have afforded the French and Spaniards a just, or, at least a plausible subject of exultation. But Sir James, with that decision of character and coolness, when in the presence of an enemy, for which he was always remarkable, did not hesitate one moment on the attack, which was made with consummate skill, and maintained with a perseverance never surpa.s.sed.

Caesar, Gibraltar, 6th July 1801.

SIR,

I have to request you will be pleased to inform my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that, conformable to my letter of yesterday's date, I stood through the Straits, with his Majesty's squadron under my orders, with the intention of attacking three French line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps and a frigate that I was informed were at anchor off Algeziras. On opening Cabrita Point, I found the s.h.i.+ps lay at a considerable distance from the enemy's batteries; and having a leading wind up to them, every reasonable hope of success in the attack was afforded.

I had previously directed Captain Hood in the Venerable, from his experience and knowledge of the anchorage, to lead the squadron, which he executed with his accustomed gallantry; and, although it was not intended he should anchor, he found himself under the necessity of so doing, from the wind failing,--a circ.u.mstance so much to be apprehended in this country, and to which I have to attribute the want of success in this well-intended enterprise. Captain Stirling anch.o.r.ed, conformably to the enclosed order of attack, opposite to the inner s.h.i.+p of the enemy, and brought the Pompee to action in the most spirited and gallant manner; an example which was followed by the commanders of every s.h.i.+p in the squadron.

Captains Darby and Ferris, owing to light winds, were prevented for a considerable time from coming into action. At length, the Hannibal getting a breeze, Captain Ferris had the most favourable prospect of being alongside one of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps, when the Hannibal unfortunately took the ground; and I am extremely concerned to acquaint their lords.h.i.+ps that, after having made every possible effort with this s.h.i.+p and the Audacious to rescue her from the enemy, I was under the necessity to make sail, being at the time only three cables'

length from one of the enemy's batteries.

My thanks are particularly due to all the captains and men under my orders; and, although their endeavours have not been crowned with success, I trust the thousands of spectators from his Majesty's garrison, and also the surrounding coast, will do justice to their valour and intrepidity, which were not to be checked by the fire from the numerous batteries (however formidable) that surrounded Algeziras.

I feel it inc.u.mbent upon me to state to their lords.h.i.+ps the great merits of Captain Brenton of the Caesar, whose cool judgment and intrepid conduct, I will venture to p.r.o.nounce, were never surpa.s.sed. I also beg leave to recommend to their lords.h.i.+ps' notice my flag-lieutenant, Mr. Philip Dumaresq, who has served with me from the commencement of this war, and is a most deserving officer. Mr. Lamborn and the other lieutenants are also ent.i.tled to great praise; as well as Captain Maxwell of the Marines, and the other officers of his corps serving on board the Caesar.

The enemy's s.h.i.+ps consisted of two of eighty-four guns and one of seventy-four, with a large frigate: two of the former are aground, and the whole are rendered totally unserviceable.

His Majesty's s.h.i.+ps have suffered considerably in their masts and rigging; but I hope will soon be refitted, and in readiness to proceed on service.

Inclosed is the return of the killed and wounded from the different s.h.i.+ps of the squadron. Amongst other valuable men I have most sincerely to lament the loss of Mr. William Grave, master of the Caesar. I cannot close this letter without rendering the most ample justice to the great bravery of Captain Ferris: the loss in his s.h.i.+p must have been very considerable both in officers and men; but I have the satisfaction to be informed that his Majesty has not lost so valuable an officer.

The Honourable Captain Dundas, of his Majesty's sloop the Calpe, made his vessel as useful as possible, and kept up a spirited fire on one of the enemy's batteries. I have also to express my approbation of Lieutenant Janvrin, commander of the gun-boats; who, having joined me with intelligence, served as volunteer on board the Caesar.

I am, Your most obedient servant, JAS. SAUMAREZ.

To Evan Nepean, Esq. &c. &c. &c.