With Porter in the Essex

by Amanda M. Douglas

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE BATTLE.

  We were not kept long watching the weather, nor did we play the ruseexactly in the same manner which had been determined upon, as will beseen shortly.

  It seems, as I afterward learned, that when the eavesdropping marinesannounced to us of the gun-deck that the scheme had been decided upon,our officers were as yet only discussing it.

  To be precise, as one should be while setting down facts which go to themaking up of history, it was not until the afternoon of March 27 whenCaptain Porter came to the conclusion that, under the circumstances,there was nothing better to be done than give the _Essex Junior_ anopportunity to slip out of the harbor while we were leading theBritishers a long chase seaward.

  In case the _Junior_ got safely off, we would not soon again be troubledwith Oliver Benson; for, as Master Hackett declared, there was everyreason now why he should remain where he was, and, if all went rightwith us Americans, he would soon find himself in a prison from which hecould not depart at will.

  I will set down at this point, lest it be forgotten in that whirl ofexcitement which always comes over me when I ponder upon the thrillingdeeds of bravery I witnessed within a few hours after Captain Porter haddecided to give the _Junior_ a chance for her life--I will set it downthat from that 27th day of March I ceased to know aught concerningOliver Benson. He was in irons on the evening before the gallant frigatewas overtaken by misfortune, and there his history ends so far as I amconcerned. Neither Phil nor I heard of the villain again, although inafter years we made many inquiries concerning him.

  And now I am come to that portion of my poor yarn where the _Essex_ losther "luck," and the losing of it cost the life of many a brave man, eachof whom stood facing death with a cheer and a smile until the grimmessenger gained the victory.

  No time in my life stands out in memory so vividly as does the eveningof March 27, 1814, and yet nothing of particular interest to a strangeroccurred at that time. That portion of the crew not on duty had gatheredwell forward on the gun-deck, discussing the chances that the _Junior_would take in trying to weather the Horn when we knew that theBritishers had many ships between that point and a home port.

  The majority of our men believed she would pull through all right, forMr. Downes was a skilful and at the same time careful seaman, who wouldnot run unnecessary risks. Besides this fact, our people still relied onthe "luck of the _Essex_," for they were as yet ignorant of the factthat it had at last deserted the old frigate whose career had been soglorious.

  There was much jawing and arguing on that evening, but in a friendlyway. Never a man lost his temper, and, to the best of my knowledge, nota harsh word was spoken during that time of tongue wagging. All handswere in the best of spirits, thinking that soon we would show theBritishers a trick worth half a dozen of their clumsy ones, andbelieving we might yet prove the _Essex_ to be a match for both theships in the offing. It was the most enjoyable time I ever spent aboardthe frigate, for on the eve of that terrible disaster we had forgottenentirely the dangers which threatened.

  And now let me describe the entrance of Valparaiso harbor, for thebetter understanding of that which follows:--

  It opens to the northward, being formed by a headland on its westernside, and a cove that makes to the southward within it; the main coastsweeping round to the north and east again, affording the necessaryprotection.

  When Phil and I turned in on this 27th day of March it was nearly a deadcalm, with no indication landward that a stiff breeze was concealed bythe fleecy clouds which had been lighted to a crimson glory by thesetting sun.

  Next morning on turning out we found the wind blowing half a gale fromthe southward, and the frigate leaping and plunging to the anchors as ifbent on getting under way on her own account.

  My first thought was that the moment had come when we might play ourtrick on the Britishers, and I went directly to Master Hackett to learnif there was any show of leaving port that day.

  "I reckon we'll hold to the ground, lad," the old man said as he gazedaround after the general fashion of sailormen before replying to aquestion regarding the weather. "That 'ere Britisher is so careful ofhimself that he mightn't think it safe to chase us very far at such atime, so it stands to reason we'll stay where we are till things lookmore promisin'."

  Having satisfied myself on this score, I went with Phil for ourpannikins of tea and whatever the cooks might be pleased to dish out inthe shape of breakfast; but before we had succeeded in our purpose, andwhile yet standing in line, with a dozen men ahead of us, the ship gavea mighty plunge; we heard a noise like the muffled report of a24-pounder, and the frigate swung around with a lurch that brought us upall standing against the starboard rail.

  For the instant I was at a loss to understand what had happened, andthen came the cry:--

  "The port cable has carried away!"

  The heavy chain had snapped under the enormous strain put upon it as thefrigate made a wilder plunge than usual, and in an instant we were beingdriven stern foremost directly toward the entrance of the harbor, wherecould be seen, less than a mile in the offing, the two Britishers witheverything snugged down to the gale.

  In a twinkling there was a scene of apparent confusion on board thefrigate, although as a matter of fact the seamen were working with awell-defined purpose, each intent on his portion of the task.

  There was nothing to be done but crowd on all sail, and, whether we wereready or no, begin that trick which we believed would result in givingthe _Junior_ an opportunity of running the blockade.

  Our men worked like beavers, and even Phil and I took a hand in pullingand hauling until the good frigate was well under way, staggering towardthat jutting land known as the Point of Angels, a dangerous bluff todouble in the best of weather, because of the sudden and violent squallswhich are frequent there. As a rule all ships reef down while goingaround, and here was the _Essex_ under full sail.

  We expected the order which came a moment later, and the topmen werealready standing by the rail to execute it.

  In with the gallant-sails! We were going to haul close by the wind,counting on holding our weatherly position, and surely it seemed as ifall would go as was desired; but the "luck" of the _Essex_ had left her!

  The Britishers were at such a distance that we might easily, by huggingthe land, give them the slip, and then the chase would begin.

  There was no time for tongue wagging. Every man stood at his post readyfor the next command which might be given, and Phil and I, sheltered bythe starboard rail and the forecastle-deck, were breathlessly watchingthe old ship's gallant fight against both the elements and the enemy.

  On the maintop four men stood ready to loose the canvas after we passedthe danger point, and it was to me as if we had already doubled thebluff when there was a great crash, a swaying of the ship as if she hadreceived a deadly wound, and we saw the maintopmast with its raffle ofcordage trailing in the water alongside, pounding and threshing againstthe side as if bent on staving in the planks.

  The four brave seamen went with the spar; but no effort could be made tosave them. It was a case of holding on hard and running for dear life,otherwise the _Essex_ would soon have been piled up on the rocks withall hands battling to keep off death a few seconds longer.

  Phil gripped my arm till it was as if an iron band encircled it, and Ibelieve of a verity that I ceased to breathe for a full minute.

  To run before the wind with our top hamper dragging astern would havebeen to throw ourselves into the arms of the enemy, and while oneportion of the crew were trying to cut away the wreckage, the remainderdid their best to put the frigate about.

  Even green lads like Phil and me understood that we could not beat up toour old anchorage, even though the frigate had not been wounded, and wegazed anxiously aft to learn what might be the course whereby we shouldslip past the Britishers and the yet more dangerous headlands.

  That question was speedily answered when the _Essex_ was headed directlyacross the h
arbor entrance to its northeastern side, and the anchorswere let go within a pistol shot of the shore, just under a bluff onwhich was the Chilian battery.

  I drew a long breath of relief. The ship was no more than three milesfrom the town; she lay hard by the land, and equally as much, if notmore so, within a neutral port as before.

  "That was a tight squeeze!" I said, bawling in Phil's ear, because theroar of the wind rendered ordinary conversation difficult; and hereplied by saying:--

  "At one time I counted it as a certainty that we must run on such acourse as would allow the Britishers to rake us!"

  At the same instant I noted the fact that while our crew should havebeen snugging down the canvas, they were moving here and there as ifgoing to quarters, and, pouncing on Master Hackett who chanced to passnear at hand, I asked him for an explanation.

  "Look yonder, lad," he cried. "Are you blind that you can't see boththe Britishers comin' down upon us with motto flags and jacks set? Thebrave Captain Hillyar whom our commander spared when we might have senthim to the bottom, is countin' on tacklin' us while we're wrecked aloft,an' in no position to manoeuvre."

  "But we're still in the port!" I cried, almost beside myself withastonishment and fear.

  "He doesn't give a fig for the port, now we're the same as disabled.It's what the coward has been waitin' for, an' he'd take advantage of usif we were lyin' just off the town! A gallant Britisher he, who wouldn'tgive fair battle, but hangs off an' on till he finds us in a tightplace! Show me a Yankee who'd play so contemptible a game, an' I'll helpkeel-haul him!"

  The first boat's crew was called away to get a spring on our cable, andthe _Phoebe_ was bearing down upon us with her men at quarters, thusshowing, if we had had any doubt before, that it was her intention toopen the action when we were well-nigh helpless.

  Our commander was not one to show the white feather, however great thedanger. At every point where we could reeve a halliard, flags werehoisted, and orders were given to go to quarters, although if thespring was not got on the cable we might never be able to give them abroadside.

  None but a bully and a braggart like Captain Hillyar would have attackedan enemy while in such a condition.

  The _Phoebe_ rounded to when nearly astern of us, and while our men wereworking at the spring she opened fire at long range. The _Cherub_ hauledoff our starboard bow and blazed away at the same time.

  The engagement was on, and I hardly realized that I was taking part inas cruel a sea-fight as was ever waged. Phil and I served the ammunitionfor Nos. 1 and 2 guns, and so rapidly did our people deliver their firethat we were kept on the jump every minute.

  I saw the men throwing sand on the decks, and forgot to be frightened. Ieven understood how necessary it was, how greatly it might be to myadvantage in the work, for a 24-pound shot had come through one of themidship ports, killing three men and wounding as many more, and the redblood with its odor of salt flowing across the planks where no sand hadbeen strewn, caused me to slip and slide as if on greased timbers.

  My shirt was covered with blood; my throat smarted with the fumes ofburning powder, and my eyes were half blinded by the smoke. Here andthere lay the body of a shipmate who would never again answer to thecall of his superior; a wounded man had crawled against the forwardbulkhead and was trying to stanch the flow of life fluid, and amid itall I had no consciousness of fear. The fever of battle was upon me likea consuming fire, and my only thought, outside of the duties I shouldperform, was that we might be mowing down as many of their men as theywere of ours.

  Now and then I saw Phil dimly through the smoke as he passed me going toand from the magazine. His shirt had been torn away, or flung off, andthus, half-clad, begrimed with powder until one might have mistaken himfor an African, he cheered whenever we succeeded in firing a broadside,or waved his arms now and then in response to some command from thegunners.

  Now I heard a shout from the hatchway that a spring had been got on thecable, and as we sent a broadside toward the _Phoebe_ or the _Cherub_,as the case might be, I added my voice to the others, exulting in thethought that we had sent death aboard the cowardly Britishers.

  Again I heard the cry that our springs had been cut away by a shot, andwas sensible of the fact that the gallant old frigate was being swungaround by the wind until the after gunners were forced to cease workbecause they could not bring their pieces to bear.

  Three several times did our brave fellows, working under the enemy'sheavy fire, succeed in getting the springs on the cable, and as oftenwere the hawsers shot away.

  "The _Phoebe_ is punishing us terribly," so I heard Midshipman Farragutsay; but through an open port I saw the _Cherub_ running down to leewardto take a position near her consort. Surely, we had given that shipenough, although not succeeding in doing the frigate any great injury.

  The _Phoebe_ was so far away that we had hardly a gun which could touchher, while because of her station and long pieces, she sent nearly everyshot aboard us.

  Then came a lull in the fighting, and I heard the word passed from oneto the other that we were to get three long twelves out aft, and side byside with Phil I aided to the best of my ability in the work.

  The Britishers poured in a heavy fire while we were thus engaged, andhere, there, and everywhere on our decks were dead or wounded men beforewe got the new pieces in position.

  Then our most skilful gunners were sent to the long twelves, and we ladsbrought ammunition till we were ready to drop from mingled excitementand fatigue, yet were hardly conscious of our condition, for now wereour guns beginning to tell, and we could see that the Britishers weresuffering as they had made us suffer.

  Then, suddenly, a deafening cheer went up from our men, and running toone of the ports I squeezed my body out past the gun till I could seethe _Phoebe_ and _Cherub_ hauling off like crippled ducks.

  I believed the battle was at an end, and began to cheer like a crazylad, when Master Hackett caught me by the shoulder with a jerk thatbrought me up all standing.

  "I reckon the fumes of powder an' blood have gone to your head, lad.Quiet down a bit, or you'll need to be sent into the cockpit."

  "We've whipped the Britishers!" I shouted, trying vainly to squirm outof the old sailor's grasp. "They thought to cut us up because we werewell-nigh helpless, and it's themselves who've got the worst of it."

  "Hold your jaw, you young monkey! This is no time for such crowin' asyou're doin'. We've beat 'em off for a time, an' it's allowable we kickup a bit of a shindy over it; but the battle isn't ended by a longshot."

  "Not ended?" I cried, coming to my senses in a measure. "Then why havethe Britishers crawled away?"

  "They've only hauled off for repairs, an' it stands you in hand to helpmake ready for what's yet to come. Stow your jaw, an' bear a hand withthe rest of us!"

  I was to "bear a hand" in moving the dead to one side where they wouldnot hamper our movements, and aid in carrying the wounded below, as Isoon saw, and straightway it was as if all strength had departed.

  Now that the heat and excitement of the action was past for the timebeing, my stomach revolted at the horrible sights everywhere around,and, leaning out one of the ports, I yielded to the sickness which besetme even as it had when first we put to sea.

  That I could have gloried in the terrible carnage; that I had passed thedead bodies of those who that morning had greeted me with a friendlyword, and not felt my heart quiver, seemed incredible, and I shedbitter tears because of my hard-heartedness.

  It was cruel as it was wicked, and I must have been possessed by a demonto have found a savage pleasure in such sickening work!

  Almost without being aware of the fact I listened to a conversationamong the men as to the injury we had received.

  Eleven men had been killed outright, twenty-one were wounded, and twodied after being carried into the cockpit. Our topsail sheets, topsailhalliards, jib and foretopmast staysail halliards had been cut away, andalmost the only canvas that could have been spread was the flying jib.How ma
ny shot had hulled us it was impossible to say; but, looking overthe rail, one could see the big splinters sticking up here and thereuntil it seemed that we must have been wounded in every square yard ofhull on the stern and starboard side from the water line upward.

  It seemed impossible that we could continue the action another moment,and yet our men were cheerily making preparations to renew the fight.

  I believe it was the knowledge that we would soon be under fire againwhich aided me in so far pulling myself together that I could obeyorders; and even when I was in the thick of the terrible work the sightof a pool of blood would cause an upheaval of my stomach, although whenthe wounds were received and I might have said a soothing word to thedying, all this carnage was as nothing.

  It is beyond my poor skill with a pen to set down the second portion ofthis wicked fight into which we had been so cowardly forced, and alsobecause I know very little of it from my own knowledge. When theBritishers came down upon us again the fever of battle took hold of meonce more, and I was little less than crazy.

  Here is the remainder of the story, at which Britishers should blush, astold by one who quietly pieced together the accounts given him by thesurvivors:--

  "The enemy was not long in making his repairs, and both ships next tooka position on the starboard quarter of the _Essex_, where it was not inthe power of the latter vessel to bring a single gun to bear upon him,as he was too distant to be reached by carronades. His fire was verygalling, and it left no alternative to Captain Porter between submissionand running down to assail him. He gallantly decided on the latter. Butby this time the _Essex_ had received many serious injuries in additionto the loss of her topmast. The only sail that could be got upon theship to make her head pay off was the flying jib, which was hoisted whenthe cable was cut, and the vessel edged away with the intention oflaying the _Phoebe_ aboard.

  "The foretopsail and the foresail were not let fall, though for want oftacks and sheets they were nearly useless. Still the _Essex_ drove downon her assailants, closing near enough to open with her carronades. Fora few minutes the firing on both sides was tremendous, the people of the_Essex_ proving their discipline and gallantry at that trying moment ina way to justify all the high expectations that had been formed of them,though their decks were already strewn with killed, and the cockpit wascrowded with the wounded. This work proved too hot for the _Cherub_,which hauled off a second time, nor did she come near enough to use hercarronades again, during the remainder of the action keeping up adistant fire with her long guns.

  "The _Phoebe_ discovered no disposition to throw away the immenseadvantage she possessed in her long eighteens; and when she found the_Essex's_ fire becoming warm she kept edging off, throwing her shot atthe same time with fatal effect, cutting down the people of herantagonist almost with impunity to herself. By this time many of theguns of the American ship were disabled, and the crews of several hadbeen swept away. One particular gun was a scene of carnage that isseldom witnessed in a naval combat, nearly three entire crews falling atit in the course of the action. Its captain alone escaped with a slightwound.

  "This scene of almost unresisting carnage had now lasted nearly twohours, and finding it impossible to close with his adversary, who chosehis distance at pleasure, Captain Porter felt the necessity of takingsome prompt measure if he would prevent the enemy from gettingpossession of his ship. The wind had hauled to the westward, and he sawa hope of running her ashore at a spot where he might land his peopleand set her on fire. For a few minutes everything appeared to favor thisdesign, and the _Essex_ had drifted within musket-shot of the beach whenthe wind suddenly shifted from the land, paying the ship's head off in away to leave her exposed to a dreadful raking fire. Still, as she wasagain closing with the _Phoebe_, Captain Porter indulged a hope offinally laying that ship aboard.

  "At this moment Lieutenant Commandant Downes came alongside the _Essex_in order to receive the orders of his commanding officer, having pulledthrough all the fire in order to effect this object. He could be of nouse, for the enemy again put his helm up and kept away, when Mr. Downes,after remaining in the _Essex_ ten minutes, was directed to return tohis own ship and make preparations to defend, or, at need, to destroyher. On going away he carried off several of the _Essex's_ wounded,leaving three of his own men behind him in order to make room in theboat.

  "The slaughter in the _Essex_ having got to be too horrible, the enemyfiring with deliberation and hulling her at almost every shot, CaptainPorter, as a last resort, ordered a hawser to be bent to the sheetanchor, and the latter let go in order to bring the head of the shiparound. This effected the object, and once more the Americans got theirbroadside to bear, remaining stationary themselves, while their enemy, agood deal crippled, was drifting slowly to leeward. Even in thesedesperate circumstances a ray of hope gleamed through this littleadvantage, and Captain Porter was beginning to believe that the _Phoebe_would drift out of gun-shot before she discovered his expedient, whenthe hawser parted with the strain.

  "There was no longer any chance of saving the ship. To add to hisdistress she was on fire, the flames coming up both the main and forwardhatchways; and for a few moments it was thought she would thus bedestroyed. An explosion of powder also occurred below, to add to thehorrors of the scene, and Captain Porter told his people that, inpreference to being blown up, all who chose to incur the risk mightattempt to reach the shore by swimming. Many availed themselves of thispermission, and some succeeded in effecting their escape. Othersperished, while a few, after drifting about on bits of spars, werepicked up by the boats of the enemy. Much the greater part of the crew,however, remained in the ship, and they set about an attempt toextinguish the flames, although the shot of the enemy was committing itshavoc the whole time. Fortunately, the fire was got under, when the fewbrave men who were left went again to the long guns.

  "The moment had now arrived when Captain Porter was to decide betweensubmission or the destruction of the remainder of his people. In themidst of this scene of slaughter he had himself been untouched, and itwould seem that he felt himself called upon to resist as long as his ownstrength allowed. But his remaining people entreated him to rememberhis wounded, and he at last consented to summon his officers. Only one,Lieutenant McKnight, could join him on the quarter-deck! The firstlieutenant, Mr. Wilmer, had been knocked overboard by a splinter anddrowned, while getting the sheet anchor from the bows; LieutenantCowell, the next in rank, was mortally wounded; Lieutenant Odenheimerhad just been knocked overboard from the quarter, and did not regain thevessel for several moments. The reports of the state of the ship werefearful. A large portion of the guns were disabled, even had there beenmen left to fight them. The berth-deck, steerage, wardroom, and cockpitwere full of wounded, and the latter were even killed by shot whileunder the surgeon's hands. The carpenter was sent for, and he statedthat of his crew, he alone could perform any duty. He had been over theside to stop shot-holes, when his slings were cut away and he narrowlyescaped drowning. In short, seventy-five men, officers included, wereall that remained for duty, and the enemy, in perfectly smooth water,was firing his long eighteens at a nearly unresisting ship, with as muchprecision as he could have discharged them at a target. It became animperative duty to strike, and the colors were accordingly hauled downafter one of the most remarkable combats to be found in the history ofnaval warfare.

  "In this bloody contest the _Essex_ had fifty-eight men killed,including those who soon died of their hurts, and sixty-six wounded,making a total of one hundred and twenty-four, or nearly half of all whowere on board at the commencement of the action. Of the missing therewere thirty-one, most of whom were probably drowned, either inattempting to swim ashore when the ship was on fire, or by being knockedoverboard by splinters or pieces of rigging. Including the missing, theentire loss was one hundred and fifty-two out of two hundred andfifty-five.

  "The _Essex_, with a very trifling exception while closing, fought thisbattle with her six long twelves, opposed by fifteen long eighteens i
nbroadside, the long guns of the _Cherub_, and, a good deal of the time,while they lay on her quarter, by the carronades of both the enemy'sships. Captain Hillyar's published official letter makes the loss of the_Phoebe_ four killed and seven wounded; that of the _Cherub_ one killedand three wounded. Captain Tucker of the _Cherub_ was wounded, and thefirst lieutenant of the _Phoebe_ was killed.

  "The English ships were cut up more than could have been expected underthe circumstances, the latter having received no less than eighteen12-pound shots below the water line. It would seem that the smoothnessof the water rendered the fire very certain on both sides, and it isonly to be regretted that the _Essex_ could not have engaged under herthree topsails from the commencement.

  "The engagement lasted nearly two hours and a half, the long guns of the_Essex_, it is said, having been fired no less than seventy-five times,each, in broadside. The enemy must have thrown, agreeably to thestatements made at the time, not less than seven hundred 18-pound shotat the _Essex_."