Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume I Part 15

13th May.

I very much admire your last letter to Mazarredo, as I have done all the former.

27th May.

I like your letter so much better than mine, of which I enclose a copy, that I desire you will send it on immediately.

Ville de Paris, 30th May 1797.

It is impossible for any man to have acquitted himself with greater ability than you have done during the time you commanded the blockade; for which I return you my best thanks. Your last letter to Mazarredo is a masterpiece; and you will perceive, by the enclosed copy of my letter to him, in answer to his comment on our suspicion about the seamen from Trinidad, that I profited by your hint relative to the prisoners landed at Lagos. Your lash on the destruction of the Spanish s.h.i.+ps he bears with Spanish stoicism: _nous verrons_.

The following communication from Sir James Saumarez to the commander-in-chief will elucidate the foregoing extracts:

(Secret.) Orion, 27th May, 1797.

Seeing the cutter on her way to the advanced squadron this morning, I waited to send the flag of truce till she joined. I had prepared the enclosed for Don Mazarredo, but was happy to find you had been pleased to take up the business. I therefore confined my letter solely to the certificates for the seven men taken in the two Spanish barks.--In a former letter, you were pleased to advert to a proposed descent when the troops joined from Gibraltar. I hope you will excuse the zeal that urges me to observe, that if possession was taken of Fort St. Mary, it would in a great degree leave us masters of the entrance of Cadiz, and enable us to drive all the outward s.h.i.+ps up the harbour, and possibly destroy some of them. I am extremely obliged to you for permitting the Flora to remain with the advanced squadron, where she is of the greatest service.

I am with great respect, &c.

JAMES SAUMAREZ.

The high opinion entertained by Nelson of the great talent and zeal of Saumarez, is evidenced in the following short, but characteristic epistle:

Theseus, June 9th 1797.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,

Send, I beg, whatever you think fit towards San Lucar: all you do is right, and can hardly want my sanction. I hope your boats will be rewarded for their trouble; they take all the prizes for our squadron.

Believe me, ever yours most faithfully, To Sir James Saumarez.

HORATIO NELSON.

The following letter to his brother in London gives an interesting account of the proceedings of Sir James Saumarez.

Orion, off Cadiz, 26th May, 1797.

MY DEAR RICHARD,

I had the happiness to receive your kind letter of the 2nd yesterday, with several of nearly the same date, from Bath, and from our friends in the island. Having been near two months without hearing from you, and knowing you had been ill, you will readily suppose I was anxious for your letter. You will have heard from me by various opportunities since we sailed from the Tagus; my last acquainting you that I was entrusted with the command of the advanced squadron for effecting the blockade of Cadiz. We find, from different accounts, that the inhabitants feel great distress from the interruption of their trade, and begin to be in great want of provisions and other articles. We have detained a few neutrals laden with Spanish property, and two or three Spanish vessels; but as the whole fleet partake of them, they will not be very productive.

Sir Horatio, now Rear-admiral Nelson, joined the fleet yesterday, having left the troops he brought from Elba at Gibraltar. I know not whether he is to resume the command of the advanced squadron. All the fleet are anch.o.r.ed about five miles from us, and we lie between them and the entrance of Cadiz.

All private accounts from England agree with you in the prospect of peace; and they are corroborated by those we occasionally receive from Cadiz. It is certain that the Spaniards are extremely tired with the war; and they are apprehensive of insurrection amongst themselves. Mazarredo, who commands their fleet, went off for Madrid a fortnight ago, and, it is said, to represent the state of the fleet, and its insufficiency to cope with ours.

We understand Lord H. Seymour is off Cape St. Vincent, and that Admiral Frederick is on his way with five sail of the line. It looks as if ministers meant to back the negociation with all their force.

The Admiralty order respecting the increase of wages, &c. has been read to the different s.h.i.+ps' companies; and I am happy to observe that in my s.h.i.+p no part of their conduct has. .h.i.therto shown the least appearance of discontent. It is much to be lamented that the disturbance which prevailed in the Channel fleet was not timely prevented, as the same spirit of disaffection may hereafter show itself when it may not be so easily suppressed.

We begin to want the luxuries, yet abound in the essentials of life,--having plenty of beef, mutton, fowls, &c. Seriously, I have not had above twelve men in the sicklist since I left Lisbon, and most of them slight complaints.

I want to hear that my sister has _dreamt_ of another action,--or, what is still better, of galleons! It must be soon, or the approaching peace will oblige us to restore what we may capture. I am happy to hear from my brother Thomas that things go on prosperously at Guernsey, and that he does not fear the French, though the two regiments are taken from him.

Adieu, my dear Richard!

Affectionately yours, JAS. SAUMAREZ.

No part of the career of Sir James Saumarez is more deserving of admiration than his conduct on the unfortunate disaffection which took place in His Majesty's fleet; a calamity gently alluded to in the above letter. This circ.u.mstance, which must ever redound to his honour, was entirely owing to the high state of discipline of the crew in his own s.h.i.+p, and to their unalterable attachment to their commander, under whom the greatest part had served since the commencement of the war. It was from a perfect knowledge of that loyalty of spirit in which he justly confided, that he consented to receive from the Prince George one of the worst of the mutineers in that s.h.i.+p, who was to have been tried for his life. The seasonable admonition which this man received from Sir James, and the attention paid to his situation and feelings, had the desired effect of working a complete change in his conduct, and from being one of the most hardened of the mutineers, he soon became one of the most loyal, as he was one of the bravest of English sailors. It was only three days after he came on board that the signal was made for a boat from each s.h.i.+p to attend the execution of three of the mutineers on board the Prince George; which Earl St. Vincent, by a well-timed decision, had ordered to take place very soon after the sentence, and while the in-sh.o.r.e squadron were actually engaged with the enemy. He directed, moreover, that this duty should be performed entirely by their own s.h.i.+p's crew.

Sir James availed himself of this trying occasion to work out the man's full conversion. Instead of sending him, as it is customary to send culprits, in the boats to witness the execution of his s.h.i.+pmates, he ordered him into his cabin, and having represented in the mildest and most feeling terms the heinousness of the crime which he was known to have committed, he a.s.sured him that it was his intention to spare him the anguish he must endure of beholding his late companions suffering the last penalty of the law for the very crime of which he had been guilty.

This well-timed exhortation had the desired effect. The penitent man fell on his knees, and with tears in his eyes acknowledged the heinousness of his offence, and expressed the strongest protestations of future loyalty, and of grat.i.tude as well as attachment to his humane commander. What followed was most creditable to both. The man not only kept his word, but highly distinguished himself: at the battle of the Nile he was captain of a gun, and, after the action, was very instrumental, from his exertions and ability as carpenter's mate, in saving the Peuple Souverain, which struck to the Orion. Being one of those who took possession of the former s.h.i.+p, he was slung over the side, and successfully employed in stopping the shot-holes under water as the vessel rolled in the opposite direction;--a dangerous service, which requires much intrepidity and address.

It is, indeed, by no means surprising that the spirit of mutiny never appeared in the Orion, or in any s.h.i.+p Sir James commanded. The proper degree of discipline which was always maintained--the attention that was invariably paid to the wants and the comforts of the crew,--the excellent regulations of his s.h.i.+p, which were subversive of every kind of vice and immorality,--his own unaffected piety, and, lastly, the example he himself set before his officers and men,--established in his s.h.i.+p a feeling of respect for, and warm attachment to, the captain which could not be shaken by any artifice of the wicked; for every officer and man looked up habitually to their commander as their _best_ friend and adviser. There may, indeed, have been some s.h.i.+ps, wherein the crews were made up from the metropolitan and other prisons, that no treatment would have brought under proper discipline; but we may confidently a.s.sert, that had all the s.h.i.+ps in His Majesty's fleets been commanded by such officers as Saumarez, the disgraceful spirit of insubordination would never have been so seriously and generally diffused. The Orion's crew treated all attempts to seduce them with just indignation!

Earl St. Vincent being well aware of the confidence that could be placed in the Orion at this critical time, kept her, for the safety of his fleet, constantly at the post of honour in the advance; and it was during this period of active and arduous service that a circ.u.mstance occurred which does honour to all concerned, while it particularly displays the humane character of Captain Saumarez, who was not one of those that desired or permitted his officers and men to risk their lives on any dangerous or desperate enterprise without a mature and compa.s.sionate consideration of the consequences.

Near the fortifications of Cadiz, as if to guard the entrance of the harbour, about twenty gun-vessels had been placed, which it appeared to Earl St. Vincent might be cut out by the boats of the advanced squadron; and accordingly an order was sent by the commander-in-chief to Captain Saumarez, directing him to proceed in _person_ with the boats of each s.h.i.+p to make the attempt. It was sufficiently evident to Captain Saumarez, who, from the position of the Orion, had a better view of the gun-vessels, that they were moored there on purpose to provoke an attack for which the enemy were well prepared; but, having received the order to command in _person_, he could not make known his opinions without appearing averse to risk his own life on an enterprise which the commander-in-chief thought advisable. Having thus in his own mind no doubt that the affair would be both desperate and b.l.o.o.d.y, he selected those officers and men who were unmarried for the service, a list of whom he sent to the first lieutenant, with the necessary orders to prepare the boats.

This list being exhibited in the ward-room, Captain (now Lieutenant-general Sir John) Savage, of the Marines, had the mortification to see that his name was omitted, while those of the two subalterns of that distinguished corps were inserted. This gallant officer, who had been a sharer with his heroic chief in several actions, felt hurt that he was not chosen on this glorious occasion; and, having ventured respectfully to express his feelings, was sent for to the cabin, when he was addressed by his commander in the following terms:

"Captain Savage, do not imagine that your name is left out in the list because I have not a high opinion of your zeal and intrepidity. I well know that you would be foremost in the a.s.sault; but I am also well aware that this is a desperate enterprise: many will fall; and if _you_ should be one, who is to support your wife and family? The case is different with me: I am ordered, and my duty is to obey. Perhaps if Lord St. Vincent knew what I do, he would not send us; but it does not become me _now_ to make any observation. However, aware as I am of the consequences, I cannot conscientiously order you to accompany me, under the conviction that your valuable life would thereby be sacrificed."

The entreaties of Captain Savage were in vain. He beheld with mixed feelings of disappointment, grat.i.tude, and admiration, his humane and heroic commander leave his s.h.i.+p at the head of the perilous enterprise with that smile on his manly countenance which denoted a full determination to face every danger. The boats had not proceeded far before a storm arose directly off the land, against which no boats could make way, and it was with some difficulty they regained the s.h.i.+ps. It was afterwards fully ascertained from various sources that these gun-vessels had been moored in that position with rivetted chains, having no person on board them, in order to tempt an attack; and that the plan was, to let the boats take possession, and then open a destructive fire from the batteries, which were kept several nights lined with troops for the purpose. Had not a merciful interposition of Providence prevented the advance of the boats, there can be no doubt that many, if not all the lives of the a.s.sailants, would have been sacrificed!

We shall leave the feelings of Earl St. Vincent, when the truth came out, as well as those of Captain Savage and all concerned, to the imagination of the reader.

CHAPTER X.

1797--1798.

Sir Horatio Nelson resumes the command of the advanced squadron.--Bombardment of Cadiz.--Nelson sails for Teneriffe.--Saumarez resumes the command.--Escorts a convoy to Gibraltar.--Refits at Lisbon, and returns.--Conducts the negotiation for exchange of prisoners.--Sir W. Parker relieves Sir James.--He arrives at Gibraltar.--Is attached to Nelson's squadron.--Proceeds off Toulon.--A storm.--Vanguard dismasted.--Great exertions of the Orion and Alexander in refitting the Vanguard at St. Pierre.--Sailing of the Toulon fleet.--Nelson reinforced by ten sail of the line.--Pursues the enemy unsuccessfully.--Proceedings of the fleet in a journal addressed by Sir James to his family.--French fleet discovered in Aboukir Bay.--Battle of the Nile.--Diagram of ditto.--Conduct of the Orion.--Saumarez wounded.--Writes to Nelson.--Goes on board the Vanguard.--Occurrences there.--Remarks on the name of the second in command being left out in Nelson's despatches.--On the mode of attack.--Various letters and orders.--Sir James's account of the battle, in a letter to Lady Saumarez.

REAR-ADMIRAL Sir Horatio Nelson having resumed the command of the advanced squadron, Earl St. Vincent determined to bombard the city of Cadiz, for the double purpose of inducing the Spanish admiral Mazarredo, who had now twenty-eight sail of the line, to put to sea: the Earl wished moreover to employ the minds of the seamen, which had become unsettled by the baneful example of those in England.

Accordingly the Thunder bomb, covered by the boats of the squadron, made the first attempt; but her mortar was discovered to have been injured in retreating: she was a.s.sailed by the Spaniards, when after a desperate struggle she was rescued, and the Spanish commanding-officer, Don Miguel Tyrason, was eventually made prisoner by Nelson, who also captured a number of men and two mortar-boats.

On the 5th July, another bombardment took place by the Thunder, Terror, and Strombolo, which being judiciously placed, their fire produced a considerable effect on both the town and s.h.i.+pping, and obliged the Spanish admirals to remove their fleet out of sh.e.l.l-range.

This attack, like the first, ended in an encounter between the gun-boats. The third attempt, which was to have taken place on the 8th, was rendered abortive by a strong gale blowing off the sh.o.r.e.

On the 15th, Nelson having been detached with a squadron of three sail of the line, a fifty, and three frigates, on the unfortunate expedition to Teneriffe, the command of the advanced squadron again devolved on Sir James Saumarez. Nothing could surpa.s.s the zeal and intrepidity with which he performed this arduous duty. On the 18th August he escorted a convoy to Gibraltar, and having refreshed his crew and refitted his s.h.i.+p, he resumed his duty off Cadiz, sometimes at anchor off the harbour, and under sail when obliged by the weather.

On the 15th November he was relieved, in order to refit at Lisbon, and entered the Tagus on the 25th, returning about the same day in the next month to the blockade of Cadiz, which was almost entirely intrusted to him. Such indeed were his vigilance and activity, that nothing escaped during that period. He displayed, moreover, great tact and address in several communications with the Spanish admiral on the subject of the exchange of prisoners, to the entire satisfaction of Earl St. Vincent, the commander-in-chief, who had always reposed the most implicit confidence in his judgment.

On the 7th of February 1798, the Spanish fleet were seen coming out of Cadiz, and, in hopes of decoying them into the open sea, the English fleet retired to Cape St. Vincent; but it was soon found that on the 14th the enemy had returned into port, being unwilling again to try the fortune of war with such an opponent. The advanced squadron was at that time commanded by Sir William Parker, who remained there.