Manifest Destiny: HEGEMONY

by Brian Boyington

  Following the inauguration, Admiral Treat, General Grissom, and a military escort returned to Cartegena. There they boarded USS Puritan, and the fleet steamed to Samana Bay. After debarking General Grissom and the Buffalo Soldiers, Admiral Treat saw to the re-provisioning of his warships. He then took a carriage to his quarters at the Base Commanders Residence. There his wife, Abigail Adams Treat provided him with a sailors welcome home.

  Abigail was the great-granddaughter of Samuel Adams. Roberts mother Annabelle Treat, true to her promise held a garden party at Treat House to celebrate Roberts return to Chelsea following the conquest of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Eighteen-year-old Abigail, with blond hair and pale blue eyes, captivated Robert. Annabelle was delighted when the normally glib Robert stumbled over his words when talking to Abigail.

  Abigail listened intently, smiled often and laughed when Robert poked fun at himself. Their attraction to each other was instantaneous. Following a three-month courtship, Robert asked her father for permission to propose. On June 1, 1869, Robert and Abigail celebrated their marriage, followed by a honeymoon in Paris.

  For the next three years, Robert and Abigail lived in Annapolis due to Roberts appointment as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Robert received another sea command to fight in the Spanish and American War following the Arapiles Incident. Robert received his second Admirals Star following his naval victories in the Battle of San Juan Puerto Rico and Havana, Cuba.

  Robert then became the commandant of the new Samana Bay Naval Base. Abigail joined him, and they celebrated the birth of Robert Jr. in 1875, and William Samuel in 1877. As commandant, Admiral Treat served for six years, expanding the base and patrolling the Caribbean.

  The next day Admiral Treat received a telegraph message, reporting that his father collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack. Treat sent telegraphs to the Navy Department requesting leave, and to the Charlestown Navy yard informing the duty officer that he and his family would return to Chelsea. The next day after appointing General Grissom as temporary base commander, with Captain Decatur as adjutant, the Admiral and his family boarded USS Dispatch for the three-day trip to the Charleston Navy Yard.

  Arriving at the Navy Yard, Admiral Treat and his family were immediately placed on a carriage to Treat House in Chelsea. As the carriage pulled up, servants rushed down the stairs to gather up the luggage. Admiral Treat and Abigail walked up the stairs with Robert and William following behind.

  His mother Annabelle and his grandmother Abigail met them in the front hall and ushered them into the parlor where the embalmed William Treat laid in his casket. Robert placed his hand on his father's shoulder who looked serene, almost as if he was sleeping. Abigail placed her comforting hand on her husband's shoulder; then they picked up young Robert and William. Both boys began to sob as Robert solemnly closed the casket.

  The pallbearers slid rods into the bottom of the casket, picked it up, and carried it down the stairs to the horse-drawn hearse, for the short distance to the Methodist Church. The Treat Family walked behind. Grandmother Abigail, aged 90 who refused to ride in a carriage and walked with the family. The church was full of friends including Vice Admiral William Richardson, the Commandant of the Charlestown Navy yard. Following the service, William Treat was laid to rest in the family plot alongside the church.

  On the walk back to Treat House, Admiral William Richardson asked Robert to visit him in his office the following week. Robert agreed, and they established an appointment.

  For the next days, the family reminisced about their father’s rich life. Robert’s older brother, William who assumed control of the shipping business, regaled them all with tales of their fathers privateering voyages. They all laughed when William recounted his father's joy when, after the war, Admiral Dalghren sold back the de-commissioned USS Rambler and USS Winnisimmet for one-hundred dollars each.

  The following week, Robert put on his Admiral’s uniform and with Abigail rode in one of the family carriages to the Navy Yard. There they enjoyed lunch with Admiral Richardson and his wife, Molly. Following the meal, the two admirals adjourned to Richardson’s office.

  There, after smoking cigars, Richardson revealed that he was retiring on July 4th. Richardson stated: “Robert, you have been at sea for almost ten years. Your courage and exploits in war are the stuff of legends. I wish I had one-half of your initiative. My job is open. A word from me and it is yours. Talk it over with Abigail and let me know by Friday.”

  With that, the Admirals rejoined their wives in the parlor. Abigail looked over at Robert. He smiled, and her smile became radiant. He asked: “You heard”? She nodded. Robert looked at Admiral Richardson and said” “Well Bill that is your answer.” Abigail hugged her husband and said: “Finally, we can establish a home of our own.”

  Following several telegrams to the Navy Department, Admiral Treat received the authorizations he needed. He boarded USS Dispatch for his final voyage to Samana Bay. There he promoted Captain Stephen Decatur to Commodore and appointed him as Base Commander. General Grissom received his second star an became the Army Force Commander in the Caribbean. Following a commissioning ceremony, Commodore Stephen Decatur assumed command of the Naval Base in Samana Bay. During the past five years of Admiral Treats tenure, the base expanded into an active shipbuilding center. Commodore Decatur promised to expand base activities.

  Following the ceremony, Admiral Treat ordered the packing of his and Abigail’s personal effects, then boarded USS Dispatch for meetings at the Department of the Navy in Washington DC. There, he was surprised to see Abigail. At a ceremony, he received his third star. From there they boarded a train to Boston.

  Chapter 6

  April 4, 1861

  Chimbote, Bay

  Kincaid met with his Captains. He began: “The flagship will lead the attack on Chimbote Bay. Accompanying will be USS Winslow, USS Atlas, USS Sword, and USS Spector. USS Atlas will engage Huascar. USS Kearsarge and USS Winslow will engage Almiralte Cochrane. USS Sword and USS Spector will engage the Chilean Corvettes.”

  Then addressing Captain John Dalton, commander of USS Satyr, Kincaid stated: “John, I appoint you as brevet Commodore of the off-shore squadron. USS Satyr and USS Mercury will protect the troop ships. USS Atlas and USS Pegasus will perform picket duty and be on the lookout for Blanco Encalada. If sighted, the pickets are not to engage. Their mission is to draw her back to USS Satyr and USS Mercury. Once that is accomplished USS Satyr, and USS Mercury will engage Blanco Encalada while the sloops protect the troop ships from any escorts accompanying Blanco Encalada.

  Chilean Navy Fleet

  Sister ships Almiralte Cochrane and Blanco Encalada were British built iron battery battleships. Both had three masts and bark-rigged for added propulsion while at sea. Battery battleships were a compromise between the broadside ironclads and a turret ship. The Royal Navy Admiralty was late to the idea of giving up sail power. Typical of compromises, it took from both the broadside and turret ships but satisfied neither.

  Her hull was riveted iron four and one-half inches thick. An additional armor belt protected from below the waterline to the main deck. This belt consisted of ten-inches of Teak wood, covered with another 4 and one-half inches of riveted iron. The Teakwood provided a cushioning layer between the iron hull and armor plate.

  Six inches of armor plate protected the external box style batteries located amidships on both sides the hull. The batteries contained three, nine-inch Armstrong rifled muzzle loaded guns, a 20-pound cannon, a nine-pound cannon and a machine gun. When firing from the broadside, these warships were formidable.

  The main guns were on tracks which allowed them to fire eleven degrees towards the bow and the stern. However their elevation was limited by the interior gun ports, and their effective range was five miles. An armor-piercing (AP) shell, striking on the broadside, could penetrate up to ten inches of armor. An experienced crew averaged between two and one-half to four-minutes to reload the guns. The guns were p
ointed down using hydraulics, sponged out twice to remove all hot embers, then the powder and shells were rammed in separately. The hydraulics raised the gun barrel to the firing position, where the gun crew aimed and fired.

  This design contrasted with the turreted Puritan Class Monitors. The twin twelve-inch gun turrets mounted bow and stern provided a 240-degree angle of fire, and when elevated at forty-five degrees had a range of twelve miles. Plunging rounds could penetrate up to ten inches of armor plate. At an elevation of fifteen degrees, and at a range of five miles, an (AP) shell could penetrate fifteen inches of armor. The breach loaded guns could be fired twice per minute.

  Blanco Encalada was the flagship of Commodore Oscar Viel-Toro. She and three twenty-gun corvettes were in a hidden anchorage ten miles south of Chimbote Bay. This anchorage was almost invisible from the sea, looking like a river. The opening was a volcanic canal created when the roof of a lava tunnel from an extinct volcano collapsed. The crater had also collapsed creating a deep water sheltered anchorage. The influx and egress of the tide had eroded the porous lava rock, allowing for safe passage of ships. Foliage, growing in the rich lava soil created natural camouflage obstructing the view of the anchorage. Originally, it was a pirate base, with the Corsairs preying on commercial shipping. The anchorage had been abandoned and forgotten for decades until accidentally discovered by the Chilean Navy.

  Riders from Chimbote Bay alerted Commodore Viel of Admiral Kincaid’s demand; and of the expected attack. The four ships were made ready to sortie out of the hidden anchorage to attack the United States Navy troop ships, while the Chilean Navy and land-based artillery defended Chimbote Bay.

  At 6 am with a setting full moon, Commodore Oscar Viel-Toro ordered Blanco Encalada and the three Corvettes to sortie out of the hidden anchorage to attack the United States Navy transports and their escorts. He was confident that the trap was sprung. His task was to close the door.

  Chapter 7.

  March 30, 1881.

  At 9 am, the sun burned off the morning mist. Battle stations sounded throughout the fleet. Watertight doors were secured as the crews manned their battle stations. USS Kearsarge led the assault into Chimbote Bay with Admiral Kincaid’s flag flying briskly from the yardarm. Following in the line of battle were USS Winslow, USS Atlas, USS Sword, and USS Spector.

  When all the warships entered the bay, the Chilean shore batteries started firing from both the north and south banks. Waterspouts erupted around the fleet. Cannon shells struck USS Kearsarge twice, and USS Atlas once, but the shells ricocheted off the sloped armor. Admiral Lee signaled that the forward turrets of USS Kearsarge, Winslow, and Atlas fire at the north bank, and the rear turrets fire on the south. The Parrot rifles on USS Sword to fire on the north bank, and USS Spector on the south. Puffs of smoke from the batteries gave away their positions. The combined cannonade quickly suppressed the shore batteries on both banks.

  Three previously unsighted steam-powered torpedo boats, each armed with two torpedos sortied from behind the Chilean corvettes and charged at the United States warships. The six-inch-long guns on USS Kearsarge, USS Winslow, and USS Atlas combined to lay down an intensive barrage at the torpedo boats. The frigates USS Spector and USS Sword added the weight of their fifteen gun broadsides of thirty-two-pound cannons. The Chilean torpedo boats, in a line abreast formation, charged bravely into this maelstrom of exploding shells. Suddenly, two shells struck the middle boat which exploded in a ball of flame. The other two boats fired their torpedoes and turned to flee. A near miss exploded below one of the torpedo boats, lifting it out of the water. The torpedo boat slammed into the water bow first and broke in half. The third boat escaped as Admiral Kincaid's fleet were frantically attempting to avoid the torpedos.

  After the Chilean boats had launched their torpedoes, the lookout cried, ”torpedos in the water.” The Captains ordered the Helmsmen to turn the bows parallel to the torpedos paths. USS Atlas turned too late, and a torpedo struck at an oblique angle port side, forward of the Bridge then exploded.

  Captain O’Bannon was on the flying bridge and was struck by shrapnel, which knocked him down. He crawled to the speaking tube, instructed damage control to the area, and ordered half-speed. The watertight doors held and limited the flooding to two compartments. The other three torpedoes missed. Admiral Kincaid ordered Captain Mahan to assist USS Atlas, and the other warships to form the line of battle.

  Captain Charles Condell de LaHaza seized the confusion to order Almiralte Cochrane. Huascar and the two corvettes to attack. The damage to USS Atlas had evened the battleship odds to an even fight. With USS Sword aiding the stricken USS Atlas, USS Spectre would have to fight the two corvettes.

  Admiral Kincaid signaled USS Winslow to target Huascar, USS Spectre to fire on the Corvettes at the opportunity, and ordered Captain Powell to target Almiralte Cochrane. Kincaid’s fleet was approaching at an oblique angle. He ordered a turn to port to cross the Chilean “T.” The twelve-inch turrets turned, aimed and fired. The range was three miles, and waterspouts straddled the Chilean battleships, which turned to starboard to bring Almiralte Cochrane’s battery into play. The next US Navy salvo scored hits, two on Almiralte Cochrane and one on Huascar. Almiralte Cochrane's armor absorbed the hits. The twelve-inch shell penetrated Huascar’s thinner armor then exploded, showering wood and metal splinters killing or wounding crew in that area. The Chilean warship guns were at their extreme range, and their salvos fell short. Captain LaHaza ordered his warships to turn to close the distance as his guns reloaded.

  Captain Dewey fired his six Parrot Rifles at the lead Corvette and altered course to maintain the distance, as the Parrot Rifles outranged the Chilean guns. He ordered the thirty-two-pound guns run out and loaded on both broadsides. The third salvo scored two hits on the targeted corvette causing significant damage. Dewey ordered the Parrot Rifles to switch target to the second corvette, then turned to close on the first to bring his thirty-two-pound broadside into action. The Parrot Rifles turned on their tracks aimed and fired at the second warship.

  Captain Mahon boarded USS Atlas to ascertain her condition. He learned that Captain O’Bannon was dead, and the executive officer Lt. Commander Connors was in command. After surveying the torpedo damage, Mahon determined that USS Atlas was not in danger of sinking and could defend itself. He re-boarded USS Sword and rejoined the fight.

  The third Chilean torpedo boat re-armed and began an attack run, focusing on USS Atlas. USS Sword moved to intercept as the six-inch guns of USS Atlas began to fire. The Parrot Rifles on USS Sword fired as well as the thirty-two-pound broadside. The torpedo boat had to maintain a straight course to fire its torpedoes. The predictable course allowed for focused fire, with near misses and exploding shells churning up the water making aiming difficult. At extreme range, the Chilean Captain fired his two torpedos. Seconds later several shells hit the torpedo boat which disintegrated in a ball of flame.

  Lookouts on USS Atlas shouted “torpedos in the water.” The helmsman turned the wheel sharply to port, but at five knots, the battleship responded slowly. The three Gatling guns fired at the torpedos, churning up the water in front of them. At one-hundred yards out the forward torpedo exploded. The shock wave caused the second torpedo to broach, diverting its course to the left. USS Atlas was turning hard to port. The torpedo missed less than three feet to starboard.

  As USS Spectre closed on the Chilean corvette, Captain Dewey ordered the gun captains to “fire as you bear.” One by one the port side15 thirty-two-pounders blasted their adversary at close range. At the completion of the broadside, the corvette was a wreck. One mast was down, and dozens of crew members were dead or wounded. Dewey then ordered the helmsman to steer USS Spectre across the stern of the corvette and ordered another broadside into the unprotected stern. When the second broadside finished, the corvette was a de-masted hulk, listing to starboard. Satisfied that she was no longer a threat, Dewey ordered USS Spectre to close on the second corvette. The gun captains ran out the loaded
fifteen starboard side thirty-two-pounders, and the gun crews stood at the ready.

  The Chilean Captain tried to cross USS Spectre’s stern. Dewey, anticipating the maneuver ordered the helmsman to turn hard to starboard, which countered the Chilean maneuver. The warships began to circle each other looking for an opportunity. During these maneuvers, USS Spectre’s Parrot rifles pounded the corvette. An explosive shot hit the corvette at the base of the Quarter Deck, with shrapnel killing the helmsman, allowing the wheel to spin out of control and knocking the Captain to the deck. Moments later the corvette turned against the wind which caused the sails to go slack. Dewey seized the opportunity, and USS Spectre came alongside the corvette and fired a broadside, which wreaked havoc from stem to stern. The foremast fell over the side, acting as an anchor. Realizing his battle was over, the Chilian Captain hauled down his flag.

  USS Kearsarge targeted Almiralte Cochrane, and USS Winslow targeted Huascar with their twelve-inch guns, scoring additional hits on the charging Chilean warships. At two miles separation, the Chilean warships turned to bring all their guns into play. Almiralte Cochrane’s three nine-inch battery fired with two near misses and one hit, which ricocheted off the sloping armor. USS Kearsarge replied with a salvo including the four twelve-inch guns and the three six-inch secondary weapons, scoring three hits. While the Chilean gun crews were re-loading their muzzle loaded cannons, Kearsarge fired three more salvos, scoring four more hits.