Every Man Will Do His Duty

by Dean King

  On the 24th, in the morning, the surgeon had dressed my wounded limbs, it being about eight in the morning. He retired, and I set to with my razors. In the course of five minutes he returned. “What has brought you back again, Doctor?” I demanded. “I merely called to inquire whether you had received your letters from London,” said he. “Not yet,” was my answer. He kept pacing the room behind my chair, which made me look round, and I noticed an expression on his countenance that gave rise to an opinion of something having happened. “Will you have the goodness, Capt. Dillon,” said he, “to lay your razor down?” I did so. He instantly caught hold of my right hand with considerable energy, saying,

  “I wish you joy, sir. You are a post captain!”

  Captain Sir William Henry Dillon (1779–1857) went on to serve at Walcheren, off Spain, and in the East Indies. He was knighted in 1835. In 1846, some thirty-eight years after he fought the Lügum, he became Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and, in 1853, Rear-Admiral of the Red. The miserable brig Childers, which had been built in 1778, was finally broken up in 1811.

  Now we move forward to action in the Bay of Biscay, where Dillon’s benefactor, Admiral Lord Gambier, commanded the Channel fleet blockading France. With the intention of uniting his Brest squadron with a squadron at Rochefort and then sailing for the West Indies, French Rear-Admiral Willaumez took advantage of a westerly gale that blew Gambier off his station to slip out of Brest with eight ships of the line. In late February, 1809, Willaumez dodged Stopford’s squadron to enter the Basque Roads, and was subsequently bottled up there. Willaumez was superceded by Admiral Allemand, setting the stage for the Battle in the Aix Roads.

  William Richardson’s personal account picks up in October of 1808, as his ship is about to join the Channel fleet.

  1 John Wesley Wright of the brig-sloop Vincejo was captured May 8, 1804, and imprisoned in the Temple at Verdun where he committed suicide on October 28, 1805.

  2 One of four midshipmen who were fellows of Dillon’s at Verdun, Temple broke parole and left behind a debt of £4,000.

  3 Sir Rupert George, Bart., Capt. 29/11/81.One of the few officers on the “Superannuated and Retired” List.

  4 Explanation of original editor.

  5 This is W.H.D.’s first meeting with the man who was destined to be, perhaps, the worst enemy he ever made.

  6 The great agriculturalist, whose writings raised agriculture to the status of a science: appointed, 1793, Secretary of the new Board of Agriculture.

  7 William Mervyn Dillon.

  8 Laytown, near Drogheda.

  9 Capt. James Bowen.

  10 A possible, and more charitable, explanation is that they were still regarding him, officially, as being in a category all by himself—an “illegally detained” person, and not a prisoner of war at all.

  11 During my sojourn at Lady Hamilton’s, I could not help noticing her affectionate attentions shown to Horatia, then about seven years old. She had been adopted by Lord Nelson, her maiden name supposed to be Thompson. Her real mother, I was told, would never be known. “That may be,” was my reply “But as far as I can judge from what I have witnessed, her real mother is Lady Hamilton. Her whole proceedings towards the child are those of a mother, and no mistake.” My judgment in the end proved correct.12

  12 The ink in which this last sentence is written is that used, throughout, in the latest corrections. The rest of the note is in the same ink as the ordinary text of the Narrative.

  13(Sir) Robert Moorsom, Capt. 22/11/90; R-Ad.31/7/1810; V-Ad.4/6/14; Ad. 22/7/30. C.-in-C. Chatham, 1824–27. Died, April 1835.

  14 Thomas Innes, Cdr. 26/12/99; Capt. 21/10/1810.

  15 Thomas Edmonds, Lt. 28/4/1807; Ret. Cdr. 17/1/1843.

  16 John Baker, Cdr. 29/4/1802; Capt. 21/10/10. Died, March 1845.

  17 The Kangaroo, 18.

  18 Henry Evelyn Pitfield Sturt, commanding the Skylark, 16. Cdr. 29/4/1802; Capt. 21/10/10.

  19 Charles Parker, Lt. 17/9/1816.

  20 M’Nicholl.

  21 James Vashon, Capt. 12/4/82; R-Ad.23/4/1804; V-Ad.28/4/08; Ad. 4/6/14.

  22 George Andrews, Cdr. 29/4/1802; Capt. 22/9/09; commanding the Ringdove, 18.

  23 Thomas Folliott Baugh, Cdr. 29/4/1802; Capt. 21/10/10; R-Ad. (Ret.) 1/10/46; commanding the Clio, 18.

  24 George Sanders. Now commanding the Bellette,18.

  25(Sir) George Johnstone Hope, Cdr. 22/11/90; Capt. 13/9/93; R-Ad. 1/8/1811. Died, 1818.

  26 Thomas Ladd Peake, Lt. 8/5/1805; Cdr. 8/5/12; Capt. 1/3/22.

  27 James Giles Vashon, Capt. 28/5/1802.

  28 William Wilson (Acting).Confirmed, 3/7/1813.

  29 A. W. H. Le Neve, 1st Warrant, 29/4/07.

  30 W.H.D. mentions their names—Drummond and Gordon—in his dispatch and praises their conduct!

  31 It was the 20-gun brig Lügum, hailing from the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway.

  32 Mason (Acting).

  33 Killed, Mr. Joseph Roberts, captain’s clerk; Wm. James, boatswain’s mate. Wounded, W. H. Dillon, Esq., commander, severely in both legs and left arm; boatswain, slightly; Mr. Batterst, midshipman; Mr, Parker, Volunteer; Allender, corporal of marines; J. Halding, seaman; D. Burke, ditto; J. Constable, Marine; J. Marshall, boy,

  34 Henry Allen, 1st Warrant, 1807.

  William Richardson

  With Stopford in the Basque Roads

  1808–1809

  THIS PASSAGE CONTINUES THE story of William Richardson, who was impressed into the Royal Navy while in Calcutta in 1793. In the ensuing years, Richardson has become a most useful naval hand. In 1805 he was appointed gunner of the Caesar, soon to be commanded by the fighting Admiral Sir Richard “Mad Dick” Strachan, under whom Richardson had plenty of opportunities to exercise his guns. Strachan left the ship, however, just before this passage picks up. Here Richardson details the events leading up to the action at Basque Roads, one of the Royal Navy’s more colorful and dramatic actions. At this point, although Richardson doesn’t comment on it, Admiral Gambler, commander in chief of the Channel fleet, is unpopular with his men for being a “blue lights” admiral, much given to preachiness and less so to drawing French blood.

  ON OCTOBER 30, 1808, the Caesar got under way, and we joined the Channel fleet off Ushant, now under the command of Lord Gambier, consisting of: Caledonia (Lord Gambier, Capt. William Bedford), 120 guns; Royal George, 100; St. George, 98; Dreadnought, 98; Temeraire, 98; Caesar (Capt. Charles Richardson), 80; Achilles (Sir Richard King), 74; Triumph, 74; Dragon, 74.

  NOVEMBER 15TH.—A strong gale of wind came on from the westward, which caused us all to bear up for Torbay, and while lying there our crew got afflicted with ophthalmia; it began at the right eye and went out at the left, and continued near a week and then left us.

  27TH.—The wind having come to the north-east we got under way with fleet and got off Ushant again, but next day shifted to the westward, blew a storm, and drove us back to Torbay again.

  DECEMBER 8.—The wind got to the north-east again; got under way and got off Ushant, but the wind increasing and continuing for several days drove the fleet a long way to the westward.

  On the 22nd our signal was made to proceed to Rochefort and relieve the Gibraltar. It blew so hard that we bore away and scudded under our foresail. Next day, in setting the close-reefed maintopsail, it still blowing hard, rain and hail, it blew to pieces; sounded frequently in eighty fathoms. A grampus has been following the ship these last twenty-four hours.

  DECEMBER 25.—Saw Sables d’Olonne lighthouse on the French coast, and, in working up along the shore towards Rochefort, the next day at noon we saw eight sail of the enemy’s merchant vessels coming down along the shore before the wind, and we put our ships about to cut them off; and now followed a specimen of our captain’s abilities.

  As we stood in, with the weather moderate, we fired a great many shot, which caused six of them to bring to; but the other two ran on shore among the breakers and soon went to pieces. We now lowered down the quarter and stern boats to ta
ke possession of the remaining six, but in the hurry and confusion the captain hurried them away without any arms or ammunition to defend themselves. As the ship was near the land, we wore her round with her head to the offing and maintopsail aback; as she increased her distance gradually, which a ship will do although her maintopsail be aback, the enemy perceived it, and one of them being armed with about fifty soldiers on board took her station so as to prevent our boats from boarding the others. What was to be done? Our people had no arms or ammunition, so they adopted the wisest plan, and that was to return to the ship for some. The enemy, seeing this, bore away before the wind, and off they ran, and before our boats had reached the ship they had run so far to leeward that any idea of following them was given up, and they made their escape like birds getting free from the fowler.

  I never in all my life saw such confusion as was in our ship at the time: the captain was driving the people about from one place to another; one of my crew, named Andrew Gilman, in firing one of the guns, was so flurried that he did not observe a samson post1 up behind him; the gun recoiled and killed him against it.

  During the time of wearing the ship a boat had been hoisted up off the booms to be got out, but was left hanging in the stay tackles and cut a fine caper during the time, swinging about from one side to the other, until some of the people lowered her down of their own accord: had Sir Richard Strachan been in the ship at the time he certainly would have gone mad. And thus ended as lubberly a piece of business as ever was heard of, and to have six merchantmen almost under the muzzle of our guns and then let them all escape, beats everything!

  Next day we ran into Basque Roads, but our ships were not there; saw the French squadron lying at the Ile d’Aix; as usual they fired a great many guns, but whether they were exercising their crews, or for some victory by land, we could not tell. So we sailed out again, and met the Aigle frigate, who informed us that our squadron was cruising forty miles to the northwest of this place.

  On the first day of this important year [1809] we joined them, consisting of the Defiance (Captain Hotham senior officer), with the Donegal and Gibraltar, and soon after ran into Basque Roads and there came to anchor; the Gibraltar shared out her provisions among us and then sailed for England. The French ships continue to fire many guns, and we suppose they are exercising their people to fire well.

  JANUARY 7.—This morning we saw a square-rigged vessel at sea and coming in before the wind right toward us. The Donegal lay inside, the Defiance in the centre, and ours the outside ship, and we made sure of taking a prize. Our captain (I suppose to make up for his late bad conduct) ordered me to get three of the main-deck guns shotted and pointed as far ahead as possible, and then go into the magazine and be ready to supply him with powder, all which was readily done, as if something extraordinary was to be performed; but he soon made as great a blunder as before, for before the vessel got within gunshot he began to fire, and the captain of the vessel, judging from this that we were enemies, altered his course and ran her on shore near the town of St. Marie’s.

  The boats of the squadron, manned and armed, immediately went after her; but by the time they got near, the beach was covered with troops and they had to return without performing anything. Thus we lost another prize; and she must have been of some value, as we heard afterwards that she was a West-Indiaman. Well might the Defiance’s people ask ours, when alongside in a boat soon afterwards, if we were friends to the French!

  19TH.—Foggy weather. Observed a chasse-maree near to us; hoisted French colours and decoyed her alongside, to the utter surprise of the poor Frenchmen. Thus we got a prize at last, though of little value. In the evening saw a brig coming in, and the boats of our squadron went in pursuit of her. She ran on shore, and our people boarded, but could not get her off. Several shot were fired at them from the shore, but no harm done.

  22ND.—Strong wind at south, and rain. Saw another French brig coming in, who, on discovering us, made off. In the afternoon another came in, and in passing fired three shot at her, and brought her to. She hoisted cartel colours, and proved to be the Elizabeth of London, with a hundred and forty of Junot’s soldiers on board from Lisbon. Let her go to proceed to Rochefort, according to the Articles of Capitulation. They reported to us that the English had obtained a great victory in Spain.2

  27TH.—Got under way with the squadron, stood out to sea, then rounded Baleines Lighthouse and came to anchor in the Breton Passage in 16½fathoms. Next morning got under way and stood out to sea, where we met the Indefatigable frigate with dispatches, and were informed that Rear-Admiral Stopford was coming out to take the command, and would hoist his flag on board the Caesar. This news pleased us much, as we wanted a commander of such gallant abilities and knowledge.

  29TH AND 30TH.—Met a convoy of victuallers, but the weather was so stormy these two days that we could get nothing out of them.

  FEBRUARY 2.—Ran into Basque Roads, and there came to anchor. Five of the victuallers came in, and we got two of them alongside and cleared them of 119 tons of water. Then arrived more victuallers, and next day the Naiad frigate drove a brig on shore near St. Marie’s laden with brandy; but the surf soon destroyed her, and our boats chased a sloop on shore laden with prunes near the Breton batteries.

  The enemy’s squadron fired a great many guns to-day, and had their shops dressed with colours—the English ensign undermost, and the Union downwards. What daring fellows!

  15TH.—This morning we saw two men hung at the yardarm of two of the enemy’s line-of-battle ships.

  The Calcutta, formerly a British 50-gun ship, had the English ensign hung Union downwards under her bowsprit, we supposed to insult us; yet they durst not venture to meet us, although they were superior in force. However, we paid them well for their audaciousness soon after. In the evening Rear-Admiral Stopford arrived in the Amethyst frigate.

  Next morning the rear-admiral came on board and hoisted his flag on board the Caesar, bringing with him two lieutenants, a captain of marines, a chaplain, a secretary and his clerk, two master’s mates, nine midshipmen, his coxswain and a band, and two live bullocks, which were very acceptable, as we have not tasted fresh beef this long time.

  19TH.—Being Sabbath day, a church was rigged out and divine service performed on board the Caesar for the first time since I had belonged to her. The Rev. Mr. Jones, the chaplain, preached an excellent sermon. The ship’s crew were very devout and attentive. The rear-admiral was on his knees at prayer time; but it was funny enough to see our captain, how fidgety he was: he neither sat nor stood, and was as unsteady as a weathercock. Some of our nobs thought that a man could not be a good seaman without swearing, but the admiral let them know the contrary. In the afternoon we saw some chasse-marées stealing along shore, and sent the boats of the squadron after them; they captured two, one laden with rye and the other with Sardinian, a fish like dried herrings. The whole was shared out to the squadron and the vessels broken up for firewood, as their condemnation in England would have cost more than they were worth.

  21ST.—The wind having come from the east, we got under way, and anchored outside of Baleines Lighthouse for fear the Brest fleet should slip out and come this way, and which they actually did, as will be seen presently. Among some prisoners taken a young man named Bordo (son of our French pilot of that name) was brought on board, and great was their joy in meeting each other again; but it did not last long, for in the evening they got drunk and fighting with each other, and the cause was that the father had married an Englishwoman. We had two more French pilots on board (both of them emigrants), one named Le Cam and the other Cameron, and although they had emigrated together they could never agree, and had separate messes. Cameron messed with me at first, but finding him a two-faced fellow I turned him off.

  23RD.—Arrived the Emerald frigate from England with five live bullocks for the squadron, and exercised great guns and small arms at ten in the evening. Observed the Amazon, which was looking out in the north-west direction, letting of
f rockets, so we got the squadron under way to get near her; on meeting they told us they had seen nine sail of large ships coming along shore from the eastward, and steering for Basque Roads; we ordered her astern to inform the Defiance and Donegal of it, and to tell them to join us with all speed, and then prepared our ship for battle.

  We had previously heard of a French squadron of frigates full of stores and ready to slip out of L’Orient for the West Indies, but they were blockaded by four sail of the line under Commodore Beresford; however, we thought they might have stolen out, and were coming this way to join the Rochefort squadron—we therefore crowded all sail to cut them off, and at midnight got sight of them.

  It then fortunately for us fell a calm, which made us uneasy lest they should escape; but at dawn a breeze sprang up, and we steered right for them. But judge of our surprise as the daylight appeared to find they were the Brest fleet, eight sail of the line, and one of them a three-decker of 120 guns, and two of them flagships, with two frigates accompanying them! They were going to Basque Roads thinking to catch us there, but thanks to Heaven they were too late, as we were on different tacks. We continued our course and fetched into their wake, then put about and followed them; if they had begun to chase us we must have been obliged to run, for what could our three sail of the line do against such a force? But strange to say they never seemed to interrupt us; perhaps they thought we were not the ships that had been in Basque Roads this winter and were hastening along to catch them.