MtaA'wwiMKagaiiwwgyBHiaat
Medals
OF THE
R.IT1SH Navy
HOW THEY WER.E WON
pOLD JMedal given bv Pap^liament to Captain W. j^addock
AS A JIeWARD for his pALLANTRY IN THE JVIeMOI^ABLE /iCTlOU WITH THE PuTCH fLEET IN 1653.
\/[ F 1^ A 1 S
i V 1 '[ 1 S H . N ri V i
MEDALS
OF THE
BRITISH NAVY
AND
HOW THEY WERE WON.
WITH A LIST OF THOSE OFFICERS WHO FOR THEIR
GALLANT CONDUCT WERE GRANTED HONORARY
SWORDS AND PLATE BY THE COMMITTEE
OF THE PATRIOTIC FUND.
By W. H. long.
Editor of " Memoirs of Lady Hamilton," '• Medals of the British Army and How they ■w"ere Won," &c.
. " I'll fight at sea,"
We'll to our ship,"
" Clap on more sails ; pursue ! , up -with your fights !
Give fire, she is my prize."
— Hhakespeare.
LONDON : NORIE & WILSON, 156 MINORIES.
PORTSMOUTH : W. H. LONG, 120 HIGH STREET. 1895
To Admiral of the Fleet
THE HOXOURABLE
SIR HENRY KEPPEL, G.C.B.,
ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD SCHOOL OF BRITISH SEAMEN,
THIS WORK, WITH HIS PERMISSION, IS DEDICATED,
AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF RESPECT AND ESTEEM,
BY THE AUTHOR.
M 8827
PREFACE
nnO the bravery and skill of th.e Navy, England owes her commanding position among the nations, and almost her existence ; and never more than at the present time did her chief and most effective safeguard consist in the strength and efficiency of her fleets. The following pages aim at giving a simple and concise, but comprehensive record, of the deeds of heroism and bravery performed by British seamen, for which honours and rewards were bestowed by their rulers and countrymen. The coloured plates and woodcuts illustra- ting the work have been executed from the Medals themselves, and the narratives of how they were won, have been gathered from sources too numerous to be enumerated, many of the anecdotes of individual gallantry being taken from publica- tions now almost forgotten, and related as far as possible in the words of the actors themselves. The notices of the earlier Medals, and of some of those to whom they were given, it is believed will be found more full and accurate than in any previous work ; and a list of aU Officers who received Honor- ary Swords and Plate from the Committee of the Patriotic Fund, with brief accounts of the deeds for which they were granted, has been included.
W. H. L. November, 1895.
CONTENTS
Naval Sledals of Queen Elizabeth
James I.
Charles I.
the Commonwealth
Charles II.
Williami and Mary
Queen Anne
George I. and II.
George III.
Lord Howe's Victory off Ushant, June 1st, 1794
Battle of St. Vincent, February 14th, 1797
Battle of Camperdown, October 11th, 1797
Battle of the Nile, August 1st, 179S
Eecapture of the " Hermione ". .
Battle of Trafalgar, October 21st, 1805
Action off Ferrol, 1805
Battle of St. Domingo, 1806
Capture of Curacoa, 1807
" Sea Horse " and " Badere Zaffer "
" Amethyst " and " Thetis "
" Bonne Citoyenne " and " Furieuse "
Capture of Banda Neira
Action off Lissa
•' Victorious " and " Rivoli "
" Shannon " and " Chesapeake "
" Hebrus " and " L'Etoile "
" Endymion " and " President "
Earl St. Vincent's Medal
The Wooldridge Gold Medal
Begur and Palamos Medal
Turkish Medal for Acre
Naval General Service Medal, 1793-1840
List of the Ships and Actions for which Medals have
" Nymphe " and " Cleopatra " . .
" Crescent " and " Reunion "
" Zebra " at Martinique
been awarded
PAGE.
. 6 . 7
9
15 21 24 27 32 33 37 39 40 42 43 45 46 47 48 50 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 59 59 60 60 65 67 67 68 69
CQNTENTS.
" Carysfort " and " Castor " . .
" Romney " and " Sybille " . .
•' Blanche " and " Pique "
*' Lively " and " Tourterelle "
Vice-Admiral Hotlmm's Action with the French Fleet
♦' Astrsea " and " Gloire "
*' Thetis " and " Hussar "
" Mosquito " and a Privateer ..
Retreat of Vice-Admiral Cornwallis
Lord Bridport's Action with the French Fleet
*' Dido " and " Lowestoffe " . .
" Spider " and Two Brigs
" Diamond " at Port Spergin
" Indefatigable " and " Virginie "
*' Unicorn " and " Santa Margaritta " with Two French Frigates
" Southampton " and " Utile " . .
*' Dryad " and " Proserpine " . .
•' Terpsichore " and " Mahonesa "
" Lapwing," " Decius," and " Vaillante " . .
" Minerve " and " Blanche," with Spanish Frigates
" Indefatigable " and " Amazon," with " Droits de I'Homme "
" San Fiorenza " and " Nymphe," with Two French Frigates
" Phoebe " and " Nereide "
*' Mars " and " L'Hercule "
Defence of Marcouf . .
" Lion " and Four Spanish Frigates
" Espoir " and " Liguria "
Sir J. B. Warren's Action with French Squadron
" Fisguard " and " L'Immortalite "
" Sybille " and " La Forte " . .
" Telegraph " and " L'Hirondelle "
Sir Sydney Smith's Defence of Acre
" Pylades " and " Espiegle " at Schiermonikoog
" Arrow " and " Wolverine " . .
" Speedy " and Spanish Gunboats
" Courier " and " Guerrier "
" Viper " and " Furet "
" Fairy," " Harpy," and " Pallas "
" Peterel " and " La Ligurienne "
" Penelope," " Vinciego," and " Guillaume Tell "
" Dart " with " Desiree " and others
PAGE.
70 70 71 73 73 75 75
CONTENTS.
IX.
<' Seine " and " Vengeance " . .
" Phoebe " and " Africaine " . .
Operations on the Coast of Egypt
Battle of Copenhagen
" Speed)' " and " Gamo "
Sir J. Saumarez's Action with French and Spanish
" Sylph " and " Artemise "
" Pasley " and " Rosario "
" Scorpion," " Beaver," and " Atalante " . .
" Centurion " with " Marengo " and Frigates
" Arrow " and " Acheron" with French Frigates
" San Piorenza " and " Psyche "
•' Phoenix " and " Didon "
" London " and " Amazon," with " Marengo " and
" Pique " with " Phseton " and " Voltigeur "
" Sirius " with French Flotilla . .
" Blanche " and " Guerriere " . .
" Arethusa," " Anson," and " Pomona "
" Pickle " and " La Favourite "
" Hydra " at Begur ..
" Comus " and " Frederickscoarn "
" Louisa " and Privateer
" Carrier " and " L'Actif "
" Anne " with Spanish Gunboats
" Sappho " and " Admiral Yawl "
" San Fiorenza " and " Piedmontaise "
'• Emerald " at Vivero
'• Childers " and " Lougen "
" Stately," " Nassau," and " Christian Frederick"
" Alceste," " Mercury," and " Grasshopper," with
" Grasshopper " and " Rapid " . .
" Redwing " and Spanish Gunboats
" Virginie " and " Guelderland "
" Redwing " at Tarifa
" Comet " and " Sylphe "
" Centaur," " Implacable," and " Sewolod "
" Cruiser " with a Flotilla
"Circe," " Amaranthe," and others, off the Pearl
" Onyx " and " Manly "
" Confiance " and Capture of Cayenne
Capture of Martinique
Squadrons
rock
PAGE.
.. 109 .. 110 .. Ill .. 114 .. 117 .. 119 .. 121 .. 122 .. 123 .. 124 .. 125 .. 126 .. 127 3lle Poule " 128 .. 129 .. 130 .. 131 132 133 133 134 135 135 136 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 142 143 144 144 145 147 147 149 149 150
Gunboats
CONTENTS.
Seine
Squadron
" Horatio," " Superieure," and " Junon " . .
" Amethyst " and " Niemen " . .
Basque Roads, 1809 . .
" Pompee," " Castor," " Recruit," and " Hautpoult "
" Cyane " and " Espoir," with " Ceres " and Gunboats
" Diana " and " Zephyr "
" Sceptre," " Blonde " and others, with " Loire " and
" Cherokee " and " L'Amiable Nelly "
" Scorpion " and " L'Oreste "
Capture of Guadaloupe
" Thistle " and " Havik "
" Surly," " Firm," and " Alcide "
" Sylvia " and " Echo "
•' Spartan " with " Ceres " and " Sparvi^re "
" Royalist " and Six French Vessels
" Thames," " Pilot," and " Weazle," at Amanthea
" Boadicea," " Otter," and " Staunch," with French
" Briseis " and " Sans-Souci " . .
Defence of Anholt . .
" Arrow " with Chasse-Marees . .
" Astrsea," " Phoebe," " Galatea," and " Racehorse,"
Frigates " Ha wke " and " Heron " Capture of Java
" Skylark " and " Locust " with Flotilla . . " Alceste," " Active," and " Unitie," with French Fri " Rosario " and " Grifion," with Flotilla " Northumberland " and " Growler," with French Frigates " Hyacinth," " Goshawk," and " Resolute," at Malaga "Dictator," " Podargus," &c., off Mardoe ., " Sealark " and " Ville de Caen " " Royalist " and " La Ruse " . . " Weazle " with Gunboats " Pelican " and " Argus " Siege of St. Sebastian " Thunder " and " Neptune " . . Capture of Gluckstadt
"Venerable," "Cyane," and French Frigates " Eurotas " and " Clorinde " " Phcebe," " Cherub," and " Essex " Operations in the Potomac
with French
gates
PAGE. . 151
. 153 . 154 . 162 . 164
. ie;6
. 166
. 16S
. 169
. 169
170
171
172
172
174
174
175
176
177
178
CONTENTS.
XI.
" Malta " and " Berwick " at Gaeta Battle of Algiers, 1816 Battle of Navarino, 1827
BOAT ACTIONS.
Willemstadt
Martinique
Cutting out the " Mutine "
" Belle Aurora "
Re-capture of the " Lady Nelson " Capture of the " Cerbere " Cutting out the " Guepe "
. " San Josef " . .
" Chevrette "
" Venteux "
Capture of a Schooner
— the " Curieux "
" Confiance " . .
Cutting out the " Caesar " Capture of a Privateer
the "Lynx"
the " Galliard "
a Gunboat off the Tagus
an Armed Ship at Port d'Anzo . .
. the " Pama " and a Cutter at Nyborg
Boats of the " Heureux " at Mahaut
Destruction of Gunboats and Convoy at Hango
Storming Battery at Carri
Capture of Cutter and Schooner by Boats of the " Fawn '
Russian Gunboats . .
a Battery at Bremerle
Six Gunboats at Duin
Boats of the " Amphion" at Cortelazzo Destruction of Convoy at Rosas Cutting out of the "Nisus " at Guadaloupe Attack on French Gunboats in Basque Roads Capture of Fort at Jacotel
Twenty-Five Vessels at Grao . .
Storming Batteries in Basque Roads
Capture of the " Csesar "
Attack on Shipping at Port St. Mary
PAGE.
.. 204 .. 204 .. 209
.. 215
.. 216
.. 217
.. 217
.. 218
.. 219
.. 220
.. 221
.. 221
.. 225
.. 225
.. 226
.. 227
.. 229
.. 231
,. 231
.. 233
.. 233
.. 284
.. 235
.. 236
.. 236
.. 238
.. 238
.. 238
.. 239
.. 240
.. 240
.. 241
.. 243
.. 244
.. 244
.. 246
.. 247
.. 248
.. 249
CONTENTS.
Destruction of the Frigate " L'Elize "
a Brig at Parenza
Capture of Port Marrack, Java . .
Three Danish Gunboats
Two Danish Vessels.,
the " Languedocienne "
the Xebec " Martinet "
Gunboats off Istria . .
Gunboats at Maestro
Attack on Mittau
Capture of Five Gun brigs near Otranto
Two Danish Gunboats
the " Whampoa "
Destruction of Fort, Foundry, &c., at French Town Capture of Battery and Vessels at Morgion Destruction of Vessels in the Connecticut River Capture of " L'Aigle "
the " Tigress " and " Scorpion "
Five Gunvessels and a Sloop in Lake Borgne
The China Medals . . First War with China, 1840-42 . . Second War with China, 1856-60 Action in Fatshan Creek Capture of Canton . .
the Taku Forts, 1858
Taku Forts and Pekin, 1860 The Burmese Medals First War with Burmah, 1824-6.. Second War with Burmah, 1852-3 Third War with Burmah, 1885-7 Perak Expedition, 1875 ■ The New Zealand Medal First New Zealand War, 1845-47 Second New Zealand War, 1860-66 The Cape, or South Africa Medal The Kaffir War, 1850-53
Campaign against the Galekas and Gaikas, 1377-78 The Zulu War, 1879 . . The Crimean Medal . . The War in the Crimea, 1854-56 Bombardment of Sebastopol
PAGE.
.. 249 .. 250 .. 251 .. 254 .. 255 ".. 256 .. 256 .. 257 .. 257 .. 258 .. 259 .. 260 .. 261 .. 261 .. 262 .. 263 .. 264 .. 264 .. 265 .. 267 .. 268 .. 277 .. 279 .. 282 .. 283 .. 285 .. 286 .. 287 .. 292 ... 295 .. 296 .. 298 .. 298 .. 308 .. 307 .. 308 .. 309 .. 311 .. 314 .. 314 .. 316
CONTENTS.
XIII.
Operations in the Sea of Azoff . .
The Baltic Medal
The Indian Mutiny Medal
The " Shannon " and " Pearl " Brigades in India
The Abyssinian Medal
The Abyssinian Expedition, 1867-8
The Ashantee Medal. .
The Ashantee War, 1873-4
The Egyptian and Soudan Medals
The Bombardment of Alexandria, 1882
Operations in Egypt and Battle of Tel-el-Kebir
War in the Soudan, Battle of El-Teb
Tamaai
Suakin, 1884
The Nile, 1884-5
Abu Klea
Suakin, 1885
Tofrek, 1885
Gemaizah, 1888
The Medal for Long
The Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry
The Victoria Cross
Distinguished Service Order
Miscellaneous Naval Medals
The Naval Engineers' Medal
The Arctic Medals . .
The Albert Medal
The Turkish Medal for Egypt
The French Military Medal
The Sardinian IMedal
The Turkish Medal ...
Honorary Rewards granted by the Patriotic Fund
Honorary Swords
Honorary Plate
Service and Good Conduct
Alphabetical Index
PAGE.
.. 319
.. 321 .. 332 .. 332 .. 337 .. 337 .. 342 .. 343 .. 354 .. 357 .. 360 .. 364 .. 366 .. 368 .. 370 .. 371 .. 379 .. 881 .. 385 .. 386 .. 386 .. 388 .. 394 .. 394 .. 394 .. 395 .. 396 .. 397 .. 397 .. 398 .. 398 ,. 399 .. 400 .. 428
At End
COLOURED PLATES.
Haddock's Gold Medal
The Trafalgar Gold Medal
Davison's Nile Medal
Boulton's Trafalgar Medal
The Naval General Service Medal
The Turkish Medal for Egypt, 1801
IMedal for First Chinese War . .
Medal for Second Burmese War
The New Zealand Medal
The Cape Medal
The Crimea Medal . .
The Baltic Medal . .
The Indian Mutiny Medal
The Abyssinia Medal
The Ashantee Medal
The Egyptian Medal
The Khedive's Star. .
The Victoria Cross . .
The French Crimea Medal
The Sardinian Medal
The Turkish Crimea Medal
Frontispiece To face page 36 41 45 66 112 268 286 298 307 314 322 832 357 342 354 856 888 397 398 899
WOODCUTS
A Dutch Armada Medal
The " Ark in Flood " Medal
The " Sovereign of the Seas " Medal
The " Miruisti " Medal
The " Triumph " Medal
The " Duke of York " Medal
The " Nos Penes Imperium " IMedal
The " Pro Talibus Ausis " Medal
The Turkish Medal for Acre
The South African Medal
The Arctic Medal
FAGB 6
7
8
10
14
17
18
20
64
807
895
NAVAL MEDALS.
THE British Seamen from the days of King Alfred to the time of Queen Victoria can boast of a roll of deeds of daring, and \dctories gained on the ocean in the service of their countiy, unparalleled in the history' of the world.
The sea every Briton regards as his peculiar province, and the British Navy can show a succession of heroes, whose dauntless valour not only secured their native land against invasion, but who also bore its flag triumphant on the seas of every quarter of the globe.
Although the Navy existed for centuries before a standing Army was established, or thought necessary in England, none of its achievements were rewarded by the presentation of medals till the reign of Queen Elizabeth, thus preceding the grant of medals to the Armj^ — by Charles I. — little more than fift}- years.
Oval medals bearing the effigies of Henry VIII., Queen Elizabeth, and James I., are in existence, which were at- tached to chains or ribbons, and undoubtedly worn as marks of royal favour, but on whom the}' were conferred, scarcely anything can be stated with certainty. After the defeat of the Spanish Ai-mada, in 1588, medals, in gold and silver, were struck by the English* and Dutch to commemorate the event ; and some of them, now in the British Museum, which
* One of these has on one side the head of the Queen, and on the other a fleet thrown into confusion by fireships, with the inscription " Dux foemina facti " ; and on the reverse of another is a representation of a flying fleet, with the legend " Venit, vidit, fugit." Another Dutch medal, has on the obverse a scattered fleet, with the legend " Flavit et dissipati, 1588," and on the reverse a church on a rock surrounded by the waves, encircled by the words " AUidor non Laedor."
S
b NAVAL MEDALS.
bave nags and chains attached to them, were unquestion- ably worn as decorations, but by whom, no information is forthcoming. These medals were evidently intended to be worn from the neck, but they were sometimes worn in the hat, or fastened with a scarf round the left arm. Whether
A Dutch Akmada Medal.
they were given specially for services against the Armada, or generally as a reward to distinguished officers, or as honorary badges to favourite courtiers, is imcertain ; but as many of them have rings and loops for suspension, they were evidently worn by the recipients.
The medals of Elizabeth in the British Museum have on the obverse the bust of the Queen, crowned, in a ruff, with the legend " Ditior in toto non alter circulus Orbe," and on the reverse a bay tree on an island, with the inscription "Non Ipsa pericula tangunt," with the letters " E.E." in the centre.
Another medal, known as the "Ark in Flood" medal, was issued by the Queen, in gold and silver, and according to Pinkerton, given to notable marine commanders, as a token of royal approbation ; but nothing positively can be stated of them, excejjt, as they have a loop for suspension, they were worn, or were intended to be worn, as a personal decoration. This medal which is in shape oval, has on the obverse the bust of the Queen, surrounded by the legend "Elizabeth D.G.
NAVAL MEDALS.
Anglie, F. et H. Eeg." and on the reverse, the Ark upon tlie Mood, under Divine protection, surrounded hy the words "Per undas sevas tranquilla."
A very similar medal to this was struck by King James I., in gold and silver, apparently as a reward for Naval Services. In shape it is oval, and has a ring for suspension as a decora- tion, but to whom it was given, nothing reliable is known. It is a fine specimen of the medallic art, having on the obverse the bust of the King in a broad-brimmed hat, with a jewel and feather, and the words "Jacobus D.Gr. Mag. Brita. Fr. et Hi. Rex." On the reverse is the Ark, under the symbol of Divine protection, with the legend " Stet salvus in imdis."*
* Another type of this medal has on the obverse the bust of the King in armour, with a ruff, bareheaded, with his usual titles, and words " Fidei Defensor " around his head, reverse the same.
In 1607, the King issued a warrant to the Chamberlains of the Exchequer for the payment of £1183 5s. Id., a large portion of which sum was to defray the cost of gold chains and medals, presented as New Year's gifts to the Earl of Essex, the Venetian Ambassador, Antonio de Gomme, Andrew Sinclair, Sir H. Carey Master of the Jewels, the Duke of Lorraine, Peter Monk Admiral of Denmark, the Marquis of St. Germains, Monsieur Le Bas, the Marquis Gulderstein, Dr. Bull, the Duke of York, our second son, and others.
8 NAVAi, MEDALS.
Charles I. increased the wages of the seamen in the Royal Navy, and was mindful of the supremac}^ of England on the sea. Having fitted out a formidable fleet by the ship money extorted from his unwilling subjects, and built at Woolwich, in 1637, the " Eoyal Sovereign of the Seas," the first three -decked ship in the Boyal Navy, he struck a large medal, or rather a medallion, in commemoration of the event. On the obverse is the bust of the King in armour, with his usual titles, and on the reverse a representation of the "Sovereign of the Seas" under sail, surrounded by the legend " Nee nieta mihi cj[ui terminus orbi," referring to the
dominion of the sea claimed by England. There are two varieties of this medal, which, from its size, was never in- tended to be worn as a decoration. On the obverse of one the King is represented in a ruff, and in the other wearing a plain falling band, with long curling hair. A much smaller medal was struck about the same time, with the bust of the King and his titles on the obverse, and on the reverse a ship under sail, surrounded by the same legend as in the large
XAV.4L MEDALS. 9
mecIaUion, but with the date 1639 in the exergue. The obverse and reverse of this medal, which may have been intended for distribution as a reward for naval services, is quite different to the design of the large medallion.
NAVAL MEDALS OF THE COMMONAVEALTH.
DuEixG the Commonwealth the Nav}- again rose to the first place in the defence of the country, and nobly asserted its dominion on the sea ; and at no period in our history was it maintained in a higher state of efficiency, and the officers and men better treated and encouraged, than under the ride of the Long Parliament and Oliver Cromwell. In 1648-49 it was actively engaged against the royalist ships imder Prince Rupert, which sailing from Holland and Jersey, captured scores of English merchantmen, and threat- ened to blockade the Thames, till they were driven from the narrow seas by Admiral Blake.
The Parliament took special care that its sailors were well cared for and rewarded. On June 29th, 1649 the Admiralty Committee issued a warrant to the Collectors for prize goods to put aside the tenths of all prizes that came into their hands, till they amounted to £1000, which sum was to be disjjosed of in medals or otherwise, by way of reward to captains, commanders, and seamen, who had done good service at sea."^"
Soon afterwards, Lieutenant Hose, in the " Happy En- trance," fell in with and destroyed the "Antelope," one of the best of Rupert's fleet ; and on October 29th, 1649, the Council of State ordered that Lieutenant Stephen Rose, commander of the "Happy Entrance," was to be given a gratuity of £50, of which 40s. was to be in a gold medal, as a reward. James Parker, a volunteer, and Thomas Tulley,
' State Papers, Dom. Vol. 2. 1649.
10
NAVAL MEDALS.
corporal of the same ship, were ordered to have £10 each, and a gold medal of the value of 20s., and nine seamen £5 each, payable out of the tenths by the collectors for i)rize goods, who were ordered to pa}' the mone}^ and provide the medals.* The celebrated Thomas Simon was employed to design the medals, and on November 15th, 1649, specimens were sub- mitted to the Council of State and approved of.f They were first given for services done against the royalist fleet in the summer of 1649,:|: and the distribution of medals by the Parliament was far more liberal than has been generally suj)- posed. The medal was struck in gold and silver, oval in shape,
and has on one side a cable and anchor, with two shields sus- pended from the stock, bearing the arms of England and Ireland, with the word " Miruisti." On the obverse is a representation of the House of Commons during a sitting. On the stock of the anchor are the initials of the engraver,
• State Papers, Dom. Vol. ;-3. 1649.
t " Die Jovis, ]5 Nov., 1649. — Ordered, that ye formes of ye Medalls which are now brought in to be given to ye several mariners who have done good service this last summer bee approved of. Viz., the Armas of ye Commonwealth on one side, with "Meruisti" written above it, and ye picture of ye house of Commons on the other." -Order Book of the Council of State, No. 31.
I On April 13th, 1650, the Admiralty Committee in consideration of the good services done by Captain Richard Stayner and Lieutenant Thomas Axtell, in the preceding year, recommended that Captain Stayner should be given £20, and £5 for a gold medal, and Lieutenant Axtell £10, and 40s. for a medal, as rewards and encouragement, to be provided by the collectors for prize goods. — State Papers, Dom. Vol. 9. 1650.
NAVAL MEDALS. 11
" T. S. " who afterwards xised the same die representing the House of Commons, to make a reverse for the small Dunbar Medal, struck in gold, to celebrate Cromwell's victory of Sept. 3rd, 1650.
The press in the Tower of London was lent to Simon to strike the medals, with the proviso that he was not to use it for any other purpose, and to give security for the due per- formance of his engagement'*
On the night of Jvily 31st, 1650, Captain Robert Wyard, commander of the "Adventure," a ship of 22 guns, hired by the Commonwealth, in charge of a small convoy from Hull, was attacked by six Royalist frigates from Jersey, who in firing on him shouted : " For King Charles the Second, you round- headed dogs." The fight was maintained till the following day, when Wj'ard, having beaten off his assailants, got into Yarmouth. While this unequal contest was proceeding, two other captains of hired ships, Butler and Jones, " lay within ken," but came not to the gallant Wyard' s assistance, for which conduct they were afterwards summoned before a Council of War. As a reward for this action, after conferring with Colonel Deane (slain in action with the Dutch, 1653), the Admiralty Committee ordered that Captain Wyard should be given a gold medal of the value of £50, with his service against the ships engraved on one side, and the Arms of the Commonwealth on the other, also £100 for the repair of his ship. The master was rewarded with a medal of the value of £5, the boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, with medals valued at £3, and the inferior officers received medals of the value of 10s. each. Each of the crew was given a medal valued at 5s. and all the medals bore the same Arms and Inscription.!
* " Die Meicurie, 21 Nov., 1649. — (Ordered) that Mr. Symmons doe put in security with one surety in £5U0 that he shall make no unlawful use of the presse which he is to have from ye Tower, for ye making of certain Medalls appointed for the seamen who have deserved well of the State." — Order Book of the Council of State, .No. 31. State Papers Dom. Vol. 9. 1650.
t State Papers, Dom. Vol. 9. 1650.
12 XAYAL MEDALS.
This medal, struck in gold and silver, is oval in shape ; on one side is a cable and anchor, with two shields suspended from the stock, one charged with St. George's Cross, and the other with the Irish Harp, with the word " Meruisti " above. Upon the reverse is a representation of the fight, with the inscription : ' ' Service done against six ships, July ye XXXI. and August ye I, 1650." Tliis shows conclusively that the victory of Cromwell at Dunbar was not the first action for which medals were given generally to officers and men alike. Among the officers of the Parliament who were rewarded with gold medals for services at sea performed about this time, of which no other record now remains, were Captain Young and Major Bourne, * who served with distinction in the Dutch War of 1652-53. Disputes arising between the Commonwealth and the Dutch, concerning the right of search, and the sovereignty of the narrow seas, war was formally declared against the Holland July 8th, 1652 ; but on May 19th j)reced- ing, Blake had defeated Van Tromp in the Straits of Dover. On September 28th, Blake defeated De Euyter in the Downs, sinking three of his ships, and blowing uj) another, but on November 29th following, he was attacked by Van Tromp with overwhelming numbers, and driven into the Thames, leaving the Dutch in command of the Channel.
Next year, on February 28th, Blake, Deane, and Monk, encountered the Dutch fleet under Van Tromj) and De Ruyter, off Portland, and after three days' fight, f defeated them with the loss of eleven ships of war and thirty merchantmen, the English losing but one ship, but their loss in killed and wounded was almost equal to that of the enemy.
*0n Nov. 15, 1651, the Council of State ordered a chain and medal not exceeding the value ol £50, to be given to Captain Young, in token of their appreciation of his good service. On the 22nd of the same month, the Council, on a report from the Admiralty Committee, recom- mending that a gratuity of £50 be given to Major Bourne for his services, ordered instead a gold medal of the value of £G0 to be bestow- ed on him, the Admiralty Committee to provide the same. — State Papers, Dom. Vol. 16. 1651.
t In this action, a body of soldiers for the first time served on board the fleet as marines.
NAVAL MEDALS. 13
On June 2nd and 3rd in the same year, Monk, Deane, and Penn, again defeated the two Dutch Admirals, with the loss of six ships sunk, two blown up, and eleven taken. On the side of the English not a ship was lost, but Greneral Deane was killed in the action.*
The decisive battle of the war was fought off the coast of Holland on July 31 st, 1 6.53. The English fleet was commanded by Monk, Penn, and Lawson, Admiral Blake being on shore sick from the effects of a wound. The Dutch fleet of one hundred and twenty-five sail was under Van Tromp. Early in the action, the fire-ships of the Dutch being very skilfully managed, almost decided the fate of the day. Many of the English ships were in imminent danger of destruction, and the "Triumph," Blake's old flagship, was set on fire. Many of her crew jumped into the sea, but the fire was extinguished, and the ship saved by the extraordinary exertions of the brave fellows who remained on board. At length Van Tromp was killed by a musket-ball, and his shattered fleet took refuge in the Texel. The loss of the Dutch was twenty-six ships, and six thousand men in killed, woimded, and prisoners. The English lost but two ships, but had thirteen hundred men killed and wounded.
On August 8th, the Parliament resolved — '• On Mr. Moyer's report from the Council of State, that two gold chains to the value of £300 apiece, may be made and given to General Blake and General Monk, as a mark of favour from the Parliament, and a token of their good acceptance of the eminent services performed by them against the Dutch ; and that a chain to the value of £100, may be made and given to Vice-Admiral Penn, and one of the same value to Eear-Admiral Lawson, upon the same consideration. That the four flag officers have chains given them of £40 ajDiece ; and that the former sum of £960 be made up to £2000, to be given in medals amongst the officers of the fieet, as a mark of the Parliament's favour
*The fleet of the Commonwealth at this period consisted of about 200 ships of various sizes, manned by 35,000 seamen.
14
XAVAL MEDALS.
and good acceptance of their service, in such manner as the Commissioners of the Admiralty, by advice with the Generals of the fleet, shaU think fit."
Of this medal four varieties were struck, the larger size being splendid specimens of medallic art. Of these, four were issued for the Admirals.* On the obverse is a cable and anchor, with the shields suspended from the stock bearing the Arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as used by the Commonwealth, and on the reverse a representation of the battle. On both sides is a wide and elaborate border of naval troj)hies, guns, etc. The medal given to the flag officers was the same, but rather smaller, with a border of laurel leaves, instead of naval trophies. (See j^late of the medal presented to Captain William Haddock ; still in the possession of his descendants). Gold medals of the same design, but without any border, were given to the officers of the fleet. The
officers and crew of the "Triumph," for their gallantry in saving the ship, were rewarded with the same medal, without any border, but with this inscription on the reverse : "For eminent service in saving ye Triumpli fiered in flght w** y
* Blake's medal was purchased by King William IV. for 150 guineas, and is now in the British Museum. Another of these medals was sold in the Hamilton sale to the Duke of Buccleugh, for £350. In the fine portrait of Monk, by Loggan, he is represented in armour, wearing the chain and medal round his neck.
NAYAL MEDALS. 16
Duch, in July 1653." All these medals were designed by T. Simon,*" and have loops for suspension.
During this arduous and bloody contest, the welfare of the ordinary seamen was not forgotten by the Parliament. On December 20th, 1652, the Admiralt}' Committee ordered that the tenths of all prizes should be set aside to defray the charges of the sick and wounded, and for the relief of the widows, children, and impotent parents of the slain in the service at sea ; and to provide medals and rewards for officers and seamen who shall do any singular service. f On the 2nd. of December, 1653, the Council of State ordered : " That war- rants be issued to the Commissioners for prize goods, for payment of £1000 to the Commissioners at Little Britain for relief of the sick and wounded men."|
The splendour of the achievements of the Navy during the reign of Greorge III. has somewhat eclipsed the lustre of the gallant actions of Blake, Penn, Deane, and Monk ; but no medals were more bravely won, nor more worthily bestowed, than those conferred on the officers and seamen of the Com- monwealth.
MEDALS OF CHAELES 11.
Several medals were struck to commemorate the naval victories over the Dutch in the reign of Charles II. England and Holland having been at war for some months on the coasts of Africa and America, war was formally declared against the Dutch, February 22nd, 1665. Previous to this, on October 28th, 1664, the King issued a proclamation order- ing that all seamen, whether serving on board the King's
* The Council of State ordered, on December 2nd., 1653, the sum of £1500 to be paid to Mr. Thomas Simons, in part of the £2000 ordered by Parliament, for chains and medals to be given to the General and Officers of the iieet.— Entry Book, No. 100.
t State Papers, Dom. Vol. 26. 1652.
t State Papers, Dom. Vol. 30.
16
NAVAL MEDALS.
ships or in merchantmen, should receive 10s. j^er ton on all prizes taken by them from the Dutch ; £6 13s. 4d. for each piece of ordnance taken hy them ; and £10 per gun for every ship of war sunk or destroyed. They were also to have the pillage of all goods and merchandise upon, or above, the gun-deck. The sick, wounded, and widows were to be pro- vided for, and medals to he gken for any eminent serriee.^
On June 3rd, 1665, the English fleet, under the Duke of York, Prince Eupert, and Admirals Penn and Lawson, en- gaged the Dutch fleet, commanded by Opdam and Evertzen, off Lowestoft at three o'clock in the morning. About one o'clock p.m., the Earl of Sandwich, commanding the Blue Squadron, broke through the enemy's line, and brought them to close action. Soon after, Opdani's ship blew up, and he, with five hundred men perished, only five of the crew escaping. Two other Dutch Admirals were killed, and their fleet gave way in confusion, with the loss of more than twenty ships taken, burnt, and sunk. The English lost but one ship, but among their slain were the Earls of Marl- borough and Portland, and Vice-Admirals Lawson and Sansome. The Earl of Falmouth, Lord Muskerry, and Mr. Boyle, second son of the Earl of Burlington, who were serving in the fleet as volunteers, were also killed, the three last by one shot, on board the Royal Charles, the Duke of York's flagship. f
* Entry Book q/ the. Council of State, No. 100.
t Had the retreating and dispirited enemy been vigorously followed up, the whole of the Dutch fleet, by their own admission, could hardly have escaped capture or destruction ; but night coming on, the Duke of York retired to his cabin, leaving Admiral Penn in command. Penn, who was sufiering from the gout, soon followed the example of the Duke, and went to bed. Sometime afterwards, Mr. Brouncker, a gentleman of the Duke's bedchamber, came to Captain (afterwards Admiral Sir John) Harman, who was in charge of the ship ; and ordered him — " as if from the Duke " — to shorten sail. Harman, though surprised, obeyed the command, and next morning when the Duke came on deck, the Dutch, to his apparent astonishment and indignation, were beyond pursuit. The matter was afterwards the subject of an inquiry in the House of Commons.
NAVAL MEDALS.
17
Medals were struck to commemorate the victory, in gold and silver. One, on the obverse, has the bust of the King, superscribed with his usual titles, and on the reverse, a repre- sentation of the island of Great Britain, with the legend
18
NAVAL MEDALS.
" Quatuor Maria Yindico." Another, of small size, with a similar obverse, bears on the reverse, the King in a triumphal chariot drawn by sea-horses, with the inscription: "Et Pontiis serviet." Another large medal — or medallion — has on the obverse the bust of the Duke of York, surrounded by the inscription : " Jacobus Dux Ebor, et Alban. Dom. Magn. Admirallus Angli^e " ; and on the reverse a repre- sentation of a naval engagement, the Admiral's ship in front, with the royal standard at the main, above, are the words : "Nee Minor in Terris," and the date, " 3 Jiinii 1665," below. These medals were not intended to be worn as decorations, but a beautiful oval medal, designed by Eoettier, issued at the same time, was undoubtedly given to seamen who had distinguished themselves, as a reward, and worn. This medal has on the obverse the bust of Charles II., crowned with a laurel wreath, with the legend : " Carolus II. D.G.M. Br. Er, et H. Hex." On the obverse is a ship of war, with a flag at the main bearing the initials " C. E,.," above being the ■words : " Nos penes Imperium."
Next year Prince Eupert and the Duke of Albemarle (Monk) had a bloody fight with the Dutch in the Downs, lasting four days, June 1st. — 4th., 1666. The loss was about equal, and the victory doubtful.
NAVAL MEDALS. 19
The ships of De Euyter and Van Tromp were so shattered, that they were obliged to shift their flags. Sir W. Berkeley who led the English van in the " Swiftsure," was surrounded by the enemy, himself killed, and his ship taken. Sir John Harman in the " Henry," being assailed on all sides by the Zealand squadron, was summoned to surrender by Admiral Evertzen who commanded it, and offered quarter. Harman replied "No sir, it is not come to that yet," and with his next broadside killed the Dutch Admiral, and disengaged his ship. Three fire ships were then sent against the " Henry " ; the first grappled her on her quarter, but Lieutenant Lamming sprang on board the fire ship, cast off the grappling irons, and regained his own vessel ; scarcely was this done, when another fire ship boarded the "Henry" on the starboard, and set her sails and rigging on fire. Some of her crew jumped overboard, but Hai-man, drawing his sword, and threatening to kill any man attempt- ing to quit the ship, by great exertions the flames were extinguished, and the third fire ship sunk by a well directed broadside. The gallant Harman with a broken leg, then carried his shattered vessel into Harwich, where she was repaired in time to take part in the concluding engagement of the 4th of June.
On July 25th, another obstinate battle was fought off the North Eoreland, in which the Dutch, under De Euyter, were defeated and chased into their harbours with the loss of twenty ships. In the following year, 1667, peace was concluded.
"War was again declared against the Dutch in March, 1672, and, on May 28th, a severe but indecisive battle was fought between the English fleet, under the Duke of York, and the Dutch, under De Euyter, on the coast of Suffolk.
In this engagement the Dutch Admiral Van Ghent was killed, and the " Eoyal James," 100 guns, commanded by the Earl of Sandwich, was burned by the fire ships of the enemy.
20 NAVAL MEDALS.
and the Earl drowned. The Dutch h)st three of their largest ships, one sunk, one burnt, and one captured.
Three desperate actions were fought in the following year between Prince Rupert and De Euyter, on May 28th, June 4th, and August 11th. In the first two encounters the advantage was on the side of the English ; in the last battle both sides claimed the victory. Peace was signed with Holland, February 9th, 1674.*
Another large medallion was struck by Charles II. in gold and silver, designed by Ecettier, but, from its size and weight, it could not have been intended to be worn as a decoration. Being without a date, it is uncertain whether it was issued to commemorate the victories of the first or second Dutch war. There are two types of this medal, one being rather smaller than the other, and the designs of the obverse and reverse of each are somewhat different. On the obverse is the head of the King, wearing a laurel wreath, with the inscrijition : "Carolus Secundus, D. Gr. Mag. Bri. Fran, et Hib. Eex." On the reverse, the King is represented as a Roman general standing on the shore, with a baton in his hand ; in the distance is a fleet, after an engagement, with a wreck in the foreground, and the words: "Pro talibus ausis," in the exergue. During this reign a large medal was struck in honour of James, Duke of York, and his naval services. On the obverse is the bust of the Duke, surrovmded by the inscription " Jacobus Dux Ebor, et Alban. Frater Augustiss. Caroli II. Regis." Reverse, d trophy of arms and flags over a globe ; above are the words " Grenus Antiquum." A somewhat similar medal was struck by James after his accession to the crown, having on the obverse the bust of
• In 1672, both England and France were at war with Holland, and a French fleet, under Count d'Estrees, was combined with the English in the naval engagements which occurred, but, by order of Louis XIV., took but little active part in any of them. The Dutch said, in jest, that the French had hired the English to fight for them, and that the only reason they were present was to see that the English earned their wages.
[To FACE Page 20. j
NAVAL JIEDALS. 21
the King with long flowing hair, and the inscription " Jacobus II. Dei Gra. Ang. Scot. Fran, et Hib. Eex" ; reverse, the same. Both the medals are bv Roettier.
AVILLIAM AND MAEY.
DuRixG this reign the Navy again took its position as the first line of defence, and medals were granted to desei-v- ing seamen by a special Act of the Legislature. In 1692 an Act of Parliament was passed : "for the encouragement of privateers, etc." which also provided that, "in all cases where the prize shall not be taken by any private man-of- war, one tenth part thereof, after such sale and deduction of their Majesties' customs as aforesaid (and before any division of the proceeds thereof shall be made) shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Navy for the time being, which said tenth part shall be separated and kept apart by the said Treasurer of the Navy, and shall be disposed of from time to time by Warrant of the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral for the time being, for medals and other rewards for officers, marines, and seamen, in their Majesties' service at sea who shall be found to have done any signal or extraordinary service."
England and France being at war, on May 19th, 1692, the EngHsh and Dutch fleets, commanded by Admiral Russell, fell in with the French fleet, under De Tourville, near Cape La Hogue. The combined fleets were superior in force, but De Tourville having the weather gage, bore down and engaged them. His flag-ship the " Soleil Royal" was soon so much damaged that she was towed out of the action, and a thick fog coming on, Russell was obliged to anchor, while the French took the opportunity to bear awiiy for Gonquet Road, with the loss of four ships. The two next days were dark and foggy, but the French were followed so closely that De Tourville' s flag-ship, with three others, were driven on shore, and after-
3
22 XAVAL MEDALS.
wards destroyed by the English fire-ships. Sixteen of their ships sought refuge at La Hogiie, and on May 23rd, Russell, finding the water too shallow for his ships to enter, sent in his boats, under the command of Sir George Eooke, to attack them. In the face of a heavy fire from the land batteries, the whole of the ships were captured and burnt, with a loss to the assailants of ten men.
Several medals of large size, in gold, silver, and bronze were struck to commemorate this victory, which firmly seated William and Mary on the throne of England and frustrated the hope entertained by James II. of regaining his lost crown. One variety has on the obverse the heads of the King and Queen, with their titles, and on the reverse a representation of a naval battle, with wrecks in the fore- ground ; above are the words, " Asserta Maris Imperii Gloria," and in the exergue " Gallorum elasse deleta, D. XIX. -XXIX. Maji, MDCxcii." Others have on the obverse a different representation of the battle, with the words, "Britannia et Belgica Virtus" above, and the date 19-29 May, in the exergue. Another type, a fine example of medallic art, has on the obverse the King attired as a Roman Emperor with a rudder in his hand, crowned with a wreath by Victory. On each side of him is a female figure, one with a harp representing Ireland, and the other with a Lion, the United Provinces ; in the exergue is the word "Concordant." On the obverse is part of the Zodiac, the French sun being in the sign of Gemini, below is a naval battle, and above the legend, " Solis Iter." In the exergue is the inscription, "Vict. Nav. de Gallis. Max. Die 29 Maii, 1792." Round the edge is a Latin chronogram expressing the date.
The medal conferred on Admiral Russell and his officers,*
* "Queen Mary was no sooner informed of this victory, than she sent a gratuity of £30,000 down to Portsmouth, to be distributed among the seamen and soldiers, and ordered medals to be struck for tokens of honour to the officers." — Lediard. Vol. II., p. 667. In the
NAVAL MEDALS. 2 3
was struck in gold and silver ; on the obverse are the busts of King William and Queen Mary, with the inscrip- tion—" Gul. et Mar. D.G., M.B.F. et H. Eex et Eegina." On the reverse is a representation of the engagement, above are the words — "Nox nulla secuta est" ; and in the exergue— " Piign. Nav. int. Ang. et Fr. 21 Maii, 1692." The medal with a massive gold chain was also given to John Tupper, Esq., of Guernsey, as a reward for informing Admiral Russell at Spithead, of the French fleet being at sea.* During this reign, medals were not granted as rewards for meritorious actions to officers and men of the Eoyal Navy exclusively, but were also conferred on seamen in the merchant service and fishermen, in recognition of distinguished acts of gallantry.
On May 30th, 1695, "William Thompson, master of a fishing smack, of Poole, with one man and a boy, was attacked by a French privateer near the Isle of Purbeck, with two guns, grenadoes, and sixteen men. Thompson had two small guns and a few muskets, which he used so well, that he disabled the captain, lieutenant, and six of the crew of the privateer, and compelled him to bear away. He then pursued, and after an action of two hours, the French called for quarter, surrendered, and were taken into Poole harbour. For this gallant exploit, the Admiralty gave Thompson a gold chain and medal, of the value of £50, and allowed him to keep the vessel he had taken.
Similar rewards were given about the same time by the Admiralty to British seamen, among others, to Captain Peter Joliffe, of the hoy, " Sea Adventure" ; who seeing a French privateer capture a fishing boat belonging to Weymouth, boldly attacked him, though three times his strength, and
]\Iemoirs of Admiral Sir John Leake, who took part in the action, it is stated, that medals were presented to the officers.
* A silver medal was struck to commemorate the bombardment of Havre, and other towns on the French coast, in July, 1694.
24 JTAVAT. MEDALS.
di'ove him ashore uear Lulworth, where the privateer was taken, and the crew made prisoners. '^•'
QUEEN ANNE.
AVak being- declared against Prance, shortly after the Queen's accession, an English and Dutch fleet, u.nder Admiral Sir George Eooke, with a strong body of troops on board com- manded by the Duke of Ormond, sailed in June, 1702, from Spithead, with the intention of capturing and occupying Cadiz. The attempt miscarried ; but being informed that the Spanish treasure galleons from the West Indies, under convoy of a French squadron, had arrived at Yigo, the Admiral resolved to attack them.
The passage into the harbour at Yigo is not more than three quarters of a mile wide, and was defended by for- midable batteries and forts on both sides ; a strong boom made of spars, cables, and chains was stretched across the entrance, flanked at each end by a " seventy-four," and within the boom were moored five ships, of sixty and seventy guns each, their broadsides commanding the passage. The water being too shallow for the first-rate ships, the Admirals shifted their fiags into smaller vessels, and the attack was made by fiiteen English and ten Dutch ships, with the frigates, and fireships, led by Vice-Admiral Hopson, in the "Torbay." The troops being landed on the south side of the harbour, attacked and carried by storm a fort at the entrance, mounting forty pieces of cannon, and made the whole of the garrison prisoners. Then Vice-Admiral Hopson,
* " In 1695, the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty ordered a gold chain and medal of the value of £50 to be given to William Thompson, the master of a small hoy, of Poole, for having with only one other man, and a boj-, captured a French privateer of verj- superior force ; and similar rewards, were about the same time, bestowed upon William Williams, master of a fishing boat, of Whit- sand bay, for having re-captured several coasting vessels ; and to Peter Joliffe, the master of a hoy, of Weymouth, for having attacked and driven a French privateer on the Island of Purbeck." — Sir H. Nicolas' History of Orders of Knighthood, d'c. Vol. I., p. 13.
XAVAL MEDAXS. 25
setting all sail, rau straight at the boom, broke it, ami entered the harbour under a tremendous fire, where he was soon followed by the remainder of the squadron. A fireship of the enemy grappled the " Torbay" and set her on fire, but by the uncommon exertions of her crew, she was saved from destruction.'* One hundred and fifteen of her men were killed or drowned, and the ship was so shattered that the Vice- Admiral f quitted her, and hoisted his flag on board the " Monmouth." The forts of the enemy were taken by the soldiers, or silenced by the fleet ; seventeen French ships were destro^-ed or captured, and six galleons were sunk, and eleven taken, by the English and Dutch. The loss of the victors in seamen and soldiers, with the exception of the crew of the " Toi'bay," was inconsiderable, being less than forty of both services. ;[:
Medals Avere sti-uck in gold and silver and distriluited among the oflicers of the fleet as rewards for this brilliant
"* The master, boatswain, and gunner of the "Torbay," distinguished themselves greatlj- by their exertions in saving the ship from utter destruction, when laid along side by the fireship, and sixty of the crew had jumped overboard. They were each rewarded by a gold medal and chain, as appears by the following letter, dated " Admiralty Office, ]\Iarch 13th, 1703," desiring that a bill might be signed on the Treasurer of the Navy " for paj-ing £240 to Isaac Newton, Esq., Master of the Mint, for enabling him to provide two medals and two chains, one for Henry Gilbert, the Master, and the other for Elisha iJann, the boatswain of the " Torbay," in like manner as he had been directed to do for Benjamin Bryer, the gunner of the said ship ; as a reward to them for their good service in extinguishing the fire on board the " Torbay " at Vigo, when her captain was blown overboard ; the said bill to be paid out of money received by the Treasurer of the Navy, for the tenths of prizes appointed by the late Act of Parliament for medals and other rewards for Ofificers, Marines, and Seamen in Her Majesty's service."
t On his arrival in England, Vice-Admiral Hopson received the honoirr of knighthood, and the Queen afterwards granted him a pension of £500 per annum, with a reversion of £300 a year to his wife, if she survived him."
I The cargoes of the galleons consisted of twenty millions of pieces of eight, and merchandise of nearly equal value. Of this, two millions in silver, and goods valued at more than double that sum, were captured and taken away by the English and Dutch. Crowns, half- crowns, shillings, and sixpences were coined from the silver captured, with the word " Vigo " under the bust of the Queen, in commemoration of the victory.
26 NAVAL iStEDALS.
victory. On the obverse is the bust of the Queen with her usual titles, and on the reverse, a view of the engagement, mth the date " 12th October, 1702," in the exergue. Other medals were struck in commemoration of this success besides that given to the seamen. The}^ all differ more or less from each other, but most of them have on the reverse a represen- tation of the engagement with the date.
On July 22nd, 1703, Rear- Admiral Dilkes sailed from Spit- head with a small squadron, in search of a fleet of French merchant ships with a convoy. On the 25th, being off Jersey, he sent one of his Captains on shore to gain information from the governor. He returned with Captain James Lam- priere and Captain Thomas Piper, men well acquainted with the coast, and the news that a fleet of about forty French ships were lying near Granville. The next morning Dilkes came in sight of the enemy, consisting of forty-three merchant- men and three men-of-war, who on his ap^iroach got under weigh and stood for the shore. He followed them as far as his pilots would venture, or the depth of water permit, and then manning his boats, sent them to attack the enemy. By noon he had taken fiiteen sail, burnt six, and sunk three, the rest escaping into shallow water.
On the 27th, he again attacked the French with his boats and fireships, with the result that two of the men-of-war were burnt and one captured. Seventeen more of the mer- chantmen were burnt or sunk, so that of the whole fleet only four ships escaped.
According to Campbell ("Naval History." Vol. III., p. 391), "The Queen to testify her kind acceptance of so cheerful and so effectual a service, ordered gold medals to be struck on this occasion, and delivered to the Rear- Admiral and all his officers." One of them was presented to Captain James Lam- priere. On the obverse is the bust of the Queen, crowned, -with the superscription : "Anna Dei Gratia. Mag. Britan. Fra. et Hib. Regina." On the reverse the inscription, "Her Majet" reward to Caj)t. James Lampriere for his zeal to her
NAVAL MEDALS. 27
service and liis successful conducting ye squadron commanded by Rear- Admiral Dilkes, who destroyed a considerable number of ye enemy's merchant ships, under convoy of three men-of- war, on their own coast." Below is a shield bearing the arms of the recipient, and on a scroll, the motto, "True to my trust." Medals were also struck in this reign to celebrate the capture of Gribraltar by Sir G. Rooke in 1704. One of these has on the obverse the head of Queen A nne uncrowned, with her usual titles, and on the reverse Neptune in his chariot presenting naval and mural crowns to Britannia standing on the shore ; above are the words " Victorise Navales," and in the exergue, " Calpe Expug. et GraU. Vict.
MDCCIV."
GEOEGE I. AND II.
During the reign of George I., there were several naval expeditions, and one important naval action fought, but it does not appear that medals were granted as rewards for any of them. George II. revived the practice of bestowing medals as rewards for distinguished naval services, whether perfoi-med by men of the Royal Navy, or merchant sea-
* A silver medal was struck in honour of the victory of Sir George Byng over the Spanish fleet, off Cape Passaro, in the Mediterranean, July 31st., 1718, and medals were issued in silver and bronze, to com- memorate the taking of Portobello by Admiral Vernon, with six ships, in 1739. There are several varieties and sizes of the Vernon medals, but whether they were distributed as rewards is not certain, probably they were not. On the obverse of one of the Portobello medals, is the full length figure of Admiral Vernon, with a sword in each hand, and on the reverse, a view of the action ; another variety, bears the heads of Vernon, and Commodore Brown, his second in command. On most of them is the inscription " He took Porto Bello with six ships only." A gold medal was presented to Commodore Anson, on his return from his voyage round the world in June, 1744 : and another in gold and silver, designed by T. Pingo, was struck in 1747, to com- memorate his victory over De la Jonquiere, off Cape Finisterre, on May 3rd, when six French ships of war, and the greater part of a valuable convoy were captured. On the obverse of this medal is the bust of Anson, and on the reverse, the names of his principal officers, within wreaths of laurel — "Saunders," "Brett," "Dennis," "Camp- bell," "Keppel," " Saumarez." A silver medal was issued to cele- brate the defeat of De Conflans, by Admiral Sir E. Hawke, off Belleisle, Nov. 20th, 1759, but not worn as a decoration.
28 NAVAL MEDALS.
In July, 1742, five royal Spanish galleys, laden with anmiiinition and provisions for the Spanish Army, were jiursiied and blockaded in the port of St. Tropes, a town belonging to France, by a small English squadron under Captain Norris. The galleys having disregarded the neutra- lity of the j)ort by firing on the blockading ships. Captain Callis with the " Duke" fireship, was ordered to go in and burn them. This service Captain Callis performed so thoroughly, that the King ordered him to be promoted to post rank, and presented him with a gold chain and medal. On the obverse of this medal is the figure of Gfeorge II., as a Roman Emperor, with a baton in his left hand, and the medal and chain in his right, before him is the recipient, kneeling, above are the words — "Pro talibus Ausis." On the reverse is a representation of the action, and in the exergue the inscription — "Ob. v. Tirem. Hispan. A. S. Callis combust. V. Julii, MDCCXLii." By an order of council, dated Dec. 16th., 1742, Lieutenant Green of the " Duke" fireship was granted £50, and a reward was instituted for lieutenants who should perform similar actions in future.
On June 1st., 1744, Captain Eichard Hornby, master of the ship "Wrightson and Isabella," of Sunderland, sailed for the Hague, with three small vessels under his charge. Next day as they were nearing their port, they were attacked by a Erench privateer, who singled out the "Isabella," the other ships escaping. The "Isabella" had four small guns and two swivels, with a crew of five men and three boys besides the captain, while the privateer, the "Marquis de Brancas " commanded by Captain Andre, carried ten guns and eight swivels, with a complement of seventy-five men. The French- man in abusive terms commanded Hornby to strike, who hoisted the British colours, and returned an answer M-ith his two swivels. The privateer then poured such showers of shot into the "Isabella," from guns and small arms, that the captain ordered his crew into close quarters, and by dexterous management of his helm, frustrated two attempts of the
XAVAL MEDALS. 29
enemy to board him. After the action had lasted ahout an hour, the privateer ran her bowsprit into the main shrouds of the English ship and lashed himself fast to her, the French captain bawling — " You English dog, strike ! " Hornby replied by challenging him to come on board and strike his colours if he dared. A number of Frenchmen immediately boarded the "Isabella" and began hacking and hewing at the close quarters, but a murderous discharge of blunder- busses forced them to retreat. The enemy having disengaged their ship, made another attemjit to board on the starboard, and lashing the ships together, made another fierce attack on the close quarters with hatchets and poleaxes, and nearly cut their way through in three places ; but the hot fire kept up by Hornby and his men, compelled the assailants a second time to retire, hauling their dead after them with boat hooks. The ships being still lashed together, the enemy fired repeated volleys with small arms into the close C[uarters of the "Isabella" and Hornby seeing them crowding together behind their main-mast for shelter, fired a blunderbuss at them, which being by mistake doubly loaded with twenty-four balls, burst when discharged, and knocked him down, to the consternation of his crew, who thought he was killed. Though much bruised, in an instant he sprang up again, and the contents of the blunderbuss having made great havoc among the French, they cut tljemselves clear of the English ship, and sheered off, leaving their grapplings, poleaxes, and a quantity of arms behind them. Hornby then fired his starboard guns into the stern of the retreating enemy. The privateer immediately returned, and renewed the combat, which was continued yard arm to yard arm, for two hours, with great inry. The "Isabella" was shot through and through several times, her sails and rigging torn to pieces, and her ensign shot away, but the "Brancas" being struck by a shot between wind and water, was obliged to bear off and careen. As the enemy retired, the gallant Hornby and his crew rushed from their close quarters, gave three cheers, and re-hoisted their
30 NAVAL MEDALS.
shattered ensign. The privateer having stopped her leak, again returned, and fired repeated broadsides into the "Isabella" by one of which Hornby was wounded, but not dangerously. The vessels had now drifted so near the English shore, that crowds had assembled on the cliffs as spectators of the action. The English ship being now almost unmanageable, Hornby was once more summoned to strike his colours, who turning to his crew, and pointing to the shore said — " You see yonder, my lads, the witnesses of your valour." They all assured him of their resolution to stand by him to the last, so he once more returned his defiance to the enemy. Andre, one of the bravest of men himself, ran alongside and lashed his ship to the starboard of the "Isabella," but his dispirited crew refused to board, so that he perforce cut the lashings, and for the last time sheered off. Hornby resolved to give his antag- onist a parting salute, and this shot fired into the stern of the " Brancas," happening to reach the magazine, it blew up, and the ship instantly went to the bottom. The English could give no assistance to their iU-fated enemies, as the "Isabella" was unmanageable, and every boat beaten to pieces. Out of the seventy five men on board the privateer, thirty-six were killed or wounded in the action ; and all the others, with the wounded, were drowned, with the exception of three, who were picked up by some Dutch fishing boats. Eor this heroic action, unsurpassed by any in the naval records of England, Captain Hornby by order of the King, was pre- sented with a gold chain and medal of the value of £100,*
• " His Majesty having been pleased in Council to sign an order, desiring and directing us to sign a bill on you for paying unto Sir Andrew Fountain, Knight, Warden of his Majesty's mint, the sum of £100 for enabling him to provide a medal and chain of that value for Eichard Hornby, master of the ship " Wrightson and Isabella," as a reward to him for his good service, in not only defending the said ship, whose crew consisted of but five men and three boys, from a French privateer, whereby she blew up, and all her crew perished ; but as an encouragement to others under the like circumstances to exert them- selves in the defence of their ships, and the destruction of their enemy ; and you are likewise to pay a bounty of £5 to each oF the five men, and dOs. to each of the three boys belonging to the said ship." — Order in Council to the Commissioners of the Navy. Sept. 18th., 1744.
NAVAL MEDALS. 31
each of liis men heing given £5, and each boy £2, as an encouragement to others.
The "Alexander" privateer, of Bristol, mounting twenty- two six-pounders, with a crew of one hundred and fifty men, commanded by Captain Phillips, being on a cruise, in April, 1746, saw a large ship anchored imder a small fort in St. Martin's Eoad, in the Isle of Rhe. PhiUips stood in after her, boarded her with fifty men, cut her cables, and brought her off, with the loss of three men only. The French crew of two hundred and thirty men, upon being boarded with such determination, and fifteen of them killed, were panic- stricken and fled below. The prize proved to be H.M.S. " Solebay " of twenty-two guns, which had been captured by the enemy two years before. The king was so pleased with this gallant action, that as a reward, he ordered Captain Phillips to be given five hundred guineas and a gold medal valued at two hundred guineas more.
Great Britain being at war with France in 1 758, an ex- pedition, under the joint command of Admiral Boscawen and General Amherst, was sent against Louisbourg, in Cape Breton Island. This being a jilace of importance, command- ing the entrance to the river St. Lawrence, had been strongly fortified and garrisoned by the French. The troops landed in the face of a heavy fire, drove the enemy fi'om their outworks, and besieged them in the town. A fieet Avas lying in the harbour, which was blockaded by the British ; the French sank four of their ships to obstruct the entrance, and during the siege another of sevent3'-foiu- guns took fire and was burnt with two others, two ships only being left.
On the night of Jidy 25th, 1758, Admiral Boscawen sent in the boats of his fieet to attack and cut out these two ships — "La Prudente " of seventy -four guns, and the "Bienfaisant," a sixty-four. The boats were commanded by Captains Laforey and Balfour, who successfidly carried out this dangerous enterprise. Both ships were boarded and theii' cables cut under the hea^y fire of the batteries, but
32 XAVAL MEDALS.
" La Prudente " grounded, and was set on fire hy her cap- tors and destroyed. The " Bienfaisant " was towed out hy the hoats, and joined the British Fleet. The next day Louisbourg surrendered.
Medals were struck to commemorate this success, one variety of which was given as a reward to officers who had dis- tinguished themselves. This medal, designed hy T. Pingo, was issued in gold, silver and hronze. On the ohverse is the figure of France lying prostrate under a globe, inscribed "Canada, America," supported by a soldier and a sailor; above being a figure of Victory blowing a trumpet, with a wreath in her left hand, and the British fiag, with a scroll inscribed — " Pariter in Bello " ; reverse, a representation of the cutting out of the two ships, the British fleet in the offing, with the word — " Louisbourg taken, itDCCLViii."
GEOEGE III.
Ox his accession to the crown in October, 1760, George III. found the nation engaged in an arduous but most suc- cessful contest with Prance, in which the enemy had been vanquished in every cj[uarter of the world. War raged ahnost constantly during the whole of his long reign, but no medals were granted for any naval service, till Lord Howe defeated the French fleet off Ushant, on "the glor- ious 1st of June," 1794.-^
Lord Howe's Victory off Ushant, JuxE 1st, 1794.
Admiral Lord Howe having received intelKgence that the French fleet had sailed from Brest, put to sea in search of
* A silver medal was struck to commemorate the desperate but in- decisive action fought between Sir Hyde Parker and the Dutch Admiral Zoutman, off the Dogger Bank, on August 5th, 1781 ; and another to celebrate the masterly retreat of Admiral Cornwallis, in die face of a much superior French fleet, in June, 1795, but neither of these medals were bestowed as rewards for meritorious conduct.
NAVAL MEDAXS. 33
them, and on the morning of May 28th, the enemy were discovered by his frigates. The British fleet comjirised twenty-six sail of the line, eight fi'igates, two sloops, and two cutters ; the JFrench fleet numbered twenty-six line of battle ships, twelve frigates, and four corvettes. The signal for a general chase being made, the leading British ships came up with the enemy's rear and a smart action took place, in which the " Bellerophon " and "Audacious" closely engaged the " Eevoluticmnaire," 110 guns, and totally dismasted her. Next day another partial action was fought, but a thick fog coming on, which did not clear up till the 31st, put an end to all active operations on both sides. On the morning of June 1st, both fleets were drawn uji in order of battle. Lord Howe made the signal to bear up, pass through the enemy's line, and engage them to leeward. A desperate engagement followed, but the French line being broken in several places, and their Admiral furiously attacked by Lord Howe in the " Queen Charlotte," he made sail away in confusion, followed by most of his uninjured ships. On the smoke clearing up, ten or twelve of the French ships were seen to be dismasted or crippled, and six of them were taken possession of by the victors. Another ship of the enemy, the " Yengeur," was so riddled with shot that she went down with 200 of her crew. Many of the British ships were much damaged, the " Queen Charlotte " lost her fore and main topmasts, and the "Marl- borough" and "Defence" were entirely dismasted*. The six prizes were taken to Portsmouth, and most of them added to the British navy. The 2nd Foot (with the exception of the Staff), 29th, and detachments of the 25th and 69th Foot,
* The " Brunswick," which during most part of the action was engaged in a close and desperate contest with the " Vengeur," was also greath' shattered. Her mizen-mast was shot away, her other masts and her bowsprit badly injured, and her yards and rigging cut to pieces. Twenty-three of her guns were dismounted, and her best bower anchor with the starboard cathead, was towing under her bottom. Her gallant Captain, Harvey, who, when severely wounded ni the height of the action exclaimed to his crew, " The colours of the " Brunswick " shall never be struck," died of his wounds at Ports- mouth, June 30th following.
34 NAVAL MEDALS.
served on board the ships as marines. The party of the 29th in the " Brunswick," lost twelve officers and men killed, and twenty wounded.
Lord Howe's fleet consisted of the " Queen Charlotte,' Earl Howe, 1st Captain, Sir R. Curtis, 2nd Captain, Sir A Douglas; -'Royal Sovereign," Admiral Graves, Captain H Nicols ; "Royal George," Vice- Admiral Sir Alex. Hood Capt. Domett, ; "Barfleur," Rear- Admiral Bowyer, Capt. C CoUingwood ; "Impregnable," Rear- Admiral Caldwell, Capt Westcott ; " Bellerophou," Rear- Admiral Pasley, Capt. W Hope ; " Queen," Rear- Admiral Gardner, Captain Hutt " CiBsar," A. J. Molloy ; " CuUoden," I. Schomberg "Defence," J. Gambler ; "Gibraltar," T. Mackenzie " Glor}^," J. Elphinstone ; '-Invincible," T. Packenham " Leviathan," Lord Hugh Seymour ; " Majestic," C. Cotton "Marlborough,"* Hon. G. Berkeley ; "Montague," J Montagu ; " Orion," J. Duckworth ; "Ramilies," H. Harvey "Russell," J. W. Payne ; " Tremendous," J. Pigott ; " Thun- derer," A. Bertie ; "Valiant," T. Priugle ; "Alfred," J. Bazeley ; "Audacious," W. Parker; " Brunswick," J. Har- vey. Frigates — "Lat(ma," E. Thornborough ; "Phteton," W. Bentinck ; " Southampton," Hon. R. Porbes ; " Ac^uilon," Hon. R. Stopford ; "Venus," W. Brown ; " Niger," Hon. A. Legge ; "Pegasus," R. Barlow ; "Charon," G. Countess. The "Comet," W. Bradley, and "Incendiary," J. Cooke, Sloops, and the "Rattler," J. Wynne, and "Ranger," C. Cotgrave, cutters.
A subscription was opened for the relief of the wounded seamen and marines, and for the widows and children of
* The "Marlborough" being dismasted and her colours shot away, in the confusion was fired on more than once by other English shigs, which took her for an enemy. To prevent such fatal mistakes, and to show the ship had not struck her flag to the French, a seaman called Appleford stripped of! the red coat from the dead body of a marine, and exclaiming " the English colours shall never be dowsed where I am," stuck it on a boarding pike and displayed it, lashed to the stump of the mizen mast. His messmates cheered, and swore that when all the red coats were gone they would hoist their blue jackets.
NAVAL MEDALS. 35
those wlio had fallen in the service of the King and coun- try, and the King ordered the following proportion of prize money to be paid at once. To each warrant officer £25 ; to each petty officer £10 10s. ; to each seaman, marine, or soldier £2 2s.
On June 13th. Lord Howe arrived at Spithead with his jirizes, and on the 26th. of the same month, George III. and his Queen arrived at Portsmouth, and held a levee on board the '-Queen Charlotte," the Admiral's flag-ship. The King presented Lord Howe with a diamond-hilted sword, valued at three thousand guineas, and a massive gold chain, to which afterwards was attached a medal. Grold chains were also presented to Vice-Admirals Graves and Hood, Eear- Admirals Bowyer, Pasley, and Gardiner, and to the Captain of the Fleet, Sir Roger Curtis. At the same time his majesty intimated his intention to give gold medals to each of the above officers, and to the captains of the several ships, as soon as they were ready for distribution. The medals were de- livered to the different officers on November 9th., 1796, with the following letter : —
" Sir, — The King having been pleased to order a certain number of gold medals to be struck, in commemoration of the victory obtained by His Majesty's Fleet, under the command of Earl Howe, over that of the enemy, in the actions of the 29th. of May and 1st. of June, 1794 ; I am commanded by His Majesty to present to you one of the medals above mentioned, and signify His Majesty's pleasure that you should wear it when in your uniform, in the manner described by the direction, which (together with the medal and ribband belonging to it) I have the honour to transmit to 3'ou. I am also commanded by His Majesty to acquaint you that had it been possible for all the officers on whom His Majesty is pleased to confer this mark of approbation to attend jier- sonally in Loudon, His Majesty would have presented the medals to each of them in person ; but that being from various causes at this time impossible, in order to obviate all further
36 NAVAL MEDALS.
delay, has therefore been pleased to direct them to he for- warded in this manner, etc." " Spencer."
The medals have on the obverse a fig-ure of Victory, stand- ing on the prow of an ancient galley, crowning Britannia with a wreath of laurel, who stands in the galley, at her side an oval shield bearing the crosses of the Union banner, her right foot resting' on an helmet, and in her left hand a spear. On the reverse, within a wreath of oak and laurel, is the name and rank of the recipient, the event for which the medal was given, and the date. (See plate of the Trafalgar medal). '^^
The medals given to the captains were smaller in size than those of the admirals, but exactly the same in design, ex- cepting the laurel wreath on the reverse, which was omitted. The admirals wore their medals attached to the gold chains presented to them by the I^ing, but all other flag-officers, who subsequently received the medal, wore it suspended from the neck by a white ribbon with dark blue edges. The cai)tains wore the medal with a smaller I'ibbon, and a gold buckle and swivel, between the third and fourth buttonholes of their uniform coats.
The medal was afterwards granted as a reward for all great naval victories, and to captains connuanding frigates, for distinguished actions, till the peace of 1814. It was never given to an officer below the rank of post-captain but three times — to Lieutenant J. Pilfold, of the "Ajax," and Lieutenant Stockham of the " Thundei-er, " who commanded these ships at the battle of Trafalgar, in the absence of their captains ; and to Captain Mounsey, commander of the "Bonne Citoyenne," who, on July 6th, 1809, captured "La Furieuse," a large French frigate of superior force. All these
* The medal given to Lord Howe was inscribed : "Richard Earl Howe, Admiral and Commander-in-Chief, on the 1st of June, 1794, the French fleet defeated." Lord Howe's fleet consisted of twenty-five ships of the line, besides frigates, but only fourteen captains received the gold medal.
Jrafalgar Gold \TrDAr,.
NAVAL MEDALS. 37
officers too liad attained post rank before they received the medal.
The medal was withheld from such lieutenants as succeeded to the command of ships of the line in consequence of the death or wounds of the captain ; from all captains of frigates who were in the Battles of Ushant, St. Vincent, Camperdown, the Nile, and Trafalgar ; and from the captains of frigates who captured ships of equal or superior force, previously to the year 1808. The actions for which this medal was granted were : — Battle off Ushant (1st of June) ; Battle of St. Vincent ; Battle of Camperdown ; Battle of the Nile ; to Captain Hamil- ton, of the " Surprise," for the re-capture of the " Hermione"; Battle of Trafalgar ; Sir E. Strachan's action off Ferrol ; Battle of St. Domingo ; Capture of the Island of Curacoa ; to Sir M. Seymour, of the " Amethyst," for the capture of the "Thetis"; to Ca^Dtain Stewart, of the " Seahorse," for the capture of the " Badere ZafEer " ; to Captain Mounsey, of the "Bonne Citoyenne," for the capture of the " Furieuse " ; to Captain Cole, of the " Caroline," for the capture of the Island of Banda Neira ; Captain Hoste's action off Lissa ; to Captain Talbot, of the " Victorious," for the capture of " Le Eivoli " ; to Captain Broke, of the " Shannon," for the capture of the "Chesapeake"; to Captain Palmer, of the " Hebrus," for the capture of " L'Etoile" ; and to Captain Hope, of the " End}Tiiion," for the capture of the " President."
In all there were given eight large medals with chains, fifteen large medals without chains, and one hundred and seventeen small medals.
Battle off Ushant, 1st June (see ante). Page 32.
Battle of St. Vixcext, Fkbruaey 14th, 1797.
British ships, " Victory," Admiral Sir J. Jei-vis, Captains Calder and Grey; "Britannia," Vice- Admiral Thomson, Captain Foley; "Bai-fleur," Vice-Admiral Hon. W. "Walde- grave. Captain Dacres ; " Prince George," Rear- Admiral W
4
38 NAVAL MEDALS.
Parker, Captain Irwin ; " Blenheim," T. L. Erederick ; " Namur," J. H. Whitshed ; " Captain," Commodore H. Nelson, Captain Miller ; "Goliath," Sir C. Knowles ; "Ex- cellent," C. Colling-wood ; " Orion," Sir J. Saumarez ; " Colossus," G-. Murray ; " Egmont," J. Sutton ; "Culloden," T. Troubridge ; "Irresistible," G. Martin; "Diadem," G. H. Towry. Frigates, "Dido," D. Preston; "Lively," Lord GarHes ; "Niger," J. Poote ; "Minerva," G. Cockburn ; " Southampton " J. Macnamara. Sloops, " Bonne Citoyenne," C. Lindsay; "Eaven," W. Prowse ; "Fox," cutter, J. Gibson. The Spanish fleet consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line and eight frigates, in two divisions. Sir J. Jervis passed between these divisions and so cut off nine of the Spanish ships from the main body.'"' An attempt of the Spaniards to break the British Line, and to effect a junction of their divisions was defeated, and two Spanish seventy-fours struck their colours. At the close of the action four Spanish ships were in possession of the British; two of them, the "San Nicolas "(eighty guns), and the "San Joseph" (one hundred and twelve guns), being taken by Commodore Nelson.f
* The morning of the 14th of February broke thick and foggy, but as the mist cleared, the numbers of the Spanish fleet were announced to Sir J. Jervis on the quarter-deck of the "Victory" by the Captain of the Fleet, R. Calder. " There are eight sail of the line, Sir John." — " Very well, sir." — "There are twenty sail of the line. Sir John." — "Very well, sir." — "There are twenty-five sail of the line, Sir John." — " Very well, sir." — " There are twenty-seven sail, Sir John." - " Enough, sir, no more of that ; if there are fifty sail I will go through them." This conclusive answer, given in a determined manner, so delighted Captain B. Hallowell (then a passenger on board the " Victory ") who was walking by the side of the Admiral, that in the excitement of the moment, patting his superior on the back, he exclaimed : — " That's right. Sir John, that's right ; by G — d we shall give them a d d good licking."
t For this victory Sir J. Jervis was created Earl of St. Vincent, with a pension of £3000 a year. Vice-Admiral Thomson, and Rear-Admiral Parker were made baronets, and Commodore Nelson received the Order of the Bath. Don Josef de Cordova, the Spanish Admiral, was dismissed the service, and several of the chief officers of the fleet were publicly disgraced.
naval medals. 39
Battle of Camperdown, October 11th, 1797.
British ships, "Venerable," Admiral Duncan, Captain Fair- fax ; "Monarcli," Vice-Admiral Onslow, Captain O'Brien; "EusseU," H. B. TroUope ; "Montague," H. Knight; " Bedford," Sir T. Byard ; " Powerful," 0. B. Drury ; "Triumph," W.Errington; "Lancaster," J.Wells; "Brackel," J. Mosse ; " Belliqueux," J. Inglis ; "Agincourt," J. Williamson ; " Ai'dent," R. Burgess ; "Veteran," Gr. Gregory • "Director," W. Bligh ; "Monmouth," J. Walker; " Isis," W.Mitchell; "Adamant," W. Hotham. Frigates, "Beaulieu," F. Fayerman; "Circe," P. Halkett ; "Martin," Hon. C. Paget. Cutters, "Active," J. Hamilton; "King George," Rains; "Rose," Brodie ; " Diligent," Randall ; and " Spec- ulator," lugger.
At half-past eleven in the morning. Admiral Duncan signalled to his ships to bear up, break the enemy's line, and engage them to leeward, thus getting between the Dutch fleet and the land. About half-past twelve, Vice-Admiral Onslow broke through the enemy's line and engaged their Vice-Admiral. After a hard fought action of nearly three hours, the Dutch Admiral, De Winter, being totally dis- masted, struck to the "Venerable,"* and about the same time their Vice-Admiral surrendered to Vice-Admiral Onslow. Seven ships of the line, two ships of fifty guns and two fi'igates, were taken, but some ships which had struck, took advantage of the night coming on, and escajied into the Texel. In this bloody conflict, Captain Burgess of the "Ardent" was killed, and the loss in killed and wounded
* In the height of the battle, Duncan's signal for close action was shot away, and a seaman named Jack Crawford, volunteered to nail the flag to the main top-gallant masthead of the " Venerable." He performed this hazardous service and regained the deck unhurt, amid the cheers of his messmates. Crawford was a native of Sunderland, and on his return home the Corporation of that Town presented him with a large silver medal, bearing on one side the inscription, " The Town of Sunderland, to John Crawford for gallant services on the 11th of October, 1797." Crawford died in 1831, and in 1889 a Monument to his memory was erected in the Mowbray Park at Sunderland.
40 XAVAL MEDALS.
of nine ships only of the British fleet, was upwards of seven hundred men. The Dutch loss was still heavier, each of the ships which bore their Admirals' flags, having not less than two hundred and fifty men killed and wounded.*
Battle of the Nile, August 1st, 1798.
British ships, ' 'Vanguard, ' ' Rear- Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, Captain Berry ; "Orion," Sir J. Saumarez ; " CuUoden," T. Troubridge; "Bellerophon," D. Darby; "Defiance," J. Peyton; "Minotaur," T.Louis; "Alexander," A. Ball; "Zealous," S. Hood; "Audacious," D. Gould; "Goliath," T. Foley; "Majestic," Gr. Westcott ; " Swiftsure," B. Hallowell ; "Theseus," E. W. Miller; " Leander," J. B. Thompson; " Mutine," sloop, T. Hardy. This battle. Nelson's greatest victory, was gained with twelve seventy -four gun ships, and one of 50 guns (" Leander,") the " CuUoden" running aground on a shoal, just before the action began, at about hali-past six in the evening. The enemy's fleet, thirteen line of battle ships, and four frigates, was moored in a compact line near the shore, flanked by gun boats, and a battery of guns and mortars on the island of Aboukir, in their van. Led by the "Goliath," that ship with the "Zealous," "Orion," "Theseus,"
* A letter from an officer on board the " Ardent " gives some inter- esting details of this engagement — " At ten o'clock we descried the Dutch fleet drawn up in two lines, three Admirals' flags flying, and all of them lying with their topsails to their masts, waiting for us to come up with them, as they vainly thought they could gam a complete victory over us. At twelve o'clock our fleet was closely engaged with the enemy. The roaring of cannon lasted for two hours and a quarter, when several of the enemy's ships struck, and the remainder made off as fast as they could. We were then within six miles of the shore, the wind blowing fresh right on the land. Our loss is very great, having 148 killed and wounded on board of us. Among the former was our brave captain, who was killed at the ninth shot. One of the men's wives assisted in firing the gun where her husband was quartered, though frequently requested to go below, but she would not be prevailed upon to do so, till a shot carried away one of her legs and wounded the other. All our masts were so badly wounded that we could not set a sail, and were towed into port by the " Bedford." It is indeed a wonder from the number of shot holes in her sides, that we had not many more men killed."
Pavison's JMile JMedal
NAVAL MEDALS. 41
and " Audacious," anchored on the inside of the French ships, the " Vanguard " being the first British ship to take her station on the outside of the enemy's line. The French Admiral Brueys, fell early in the action, and about ten p.m. his ship "L'Orient," one hundred and twenty guns, blew up, but the action continued in an intermittent manner throughout the night. Next morning, two French ships of the line, and two fi'igates, cut their cables and escaped, the remainder of their fleet being destroyed, or in the possession of the victors. Mr. Alex. Davison, an old friend of Lord Nelson, after the battle of the Nile, was appointed sole prize agent. He resolved to present every officer and man engaged in the battle with a medal, and carried out his intention at a cost of nearly £2,000. Captains of ships received the medal in gold, lieutenants, and warrant officers in silver, petty officers in bronze gilt, and seamen and marines in bronze. This is the first instance of a medal given by a private individual being accepted and worn in the service. The medal, Avhich is of large size, has on the obverse, a figure of Peace on a rock, with an olive branch in her right hand, and supporting with her left, a shield bearing a bust of Lord Nelson, with the words — "England's hope, and Britain's glory " ; behind the figure is an anchor, and the sea in the background, above being the inscription — "Eear- Admiral Lord Nelson of the Nile." The reverse has a rep- resentation of the battle, the setting sun in the distance, above is the legend — " Almighty Grod has blessed his Majesty's Arms," and in the exergue — " Victory of the Nile, August 1st., 1798." Upon the edge of the medal is indented — " From Alexander Davison, Esq., St. James's Square, a tribute of regard." The medals were issued without names, but many of the recipients had their names, and the names of their ships engraved on them, at their own expense. To show how prized were these medals, many men had them carefidly glazed, and mounted in gold or silver frames, and wore them round the neck with a blue ribbon.
42 naval medals.
Ee-capture of the " Hermione " Frigate. October 25th, 1799.
The " Hermione " (thirty-two), commanded b}^ Captain Hugh Pigot, in 1797, was cruising in the West Indies, near Porto Eico. By reason of the unbearable oppression and cruelty of the captain, on the night of September 22nd, the crew rose in mutiny, killed, or threw overboard their tyrant, and all his officers but three, and taking the ship into La Guayra, surrendered her to the Spaniards. Her new jdos- sessors re-fitted her, and sent her on a cruise against the British. In October, 1799, she was about to sail from Porto Cavallo, and the " Surprise " (twenty-eight), Captain E. Hamilton was despatched from Port Eoyal, by Sir H. Parker, to interce]3t her. On the 21st of October, the "Surprise" arrived off Porto Cavallo, and found the " Hermione " in the port, moored between two batteries, mounting nearly two hundred pieces of cannon. Captain Hamilton resolved to cut her out, and on the night of the 24th, with a hundred officers and men in his boats, started on his desperate expedition. After beating off the launch of the " Hemiione," anxied with a twenty-four pounder, and receiving a broadside from the frigate, he boarded her, and " a dreadful carnage took place." Driven from the forcastle and quarter deck, the Spaniards retreated between decks, and sustained the conflict, till both cables were cut, sail made on the ship, and the boats towing her raj^idly out of the harbour ; nor did they cry for quarter before all their ammunition was expended. The batteries opened on the ship without much effect, and after a bloody conflict of about an hour and a half, by two on the morning of October 25th, the " Hermione " was out of gunshot, and in the possession of her captors. She was ready for sea, mount- ing forty -four guns, with a crew of about three hundred and ninety men, one hundred and nineteen of whom were killed, and ninety-seven wounded in the action. The loss of the victors was one man kiUed, and twelve wounded, one of the
NAVAL MEDALS. 43
most severely hurt being the gallant Captain Hamilton. For this exploit, one of the most daring and successful ever under- taken by British seamen, Captain Hamilton, besides receiving the gold medal, was created a Knight by letters patent, a K.C.B., and ultimately made a Baronet.
Battle of Trafalgar. October 21st, 1805.
British ships, " Victory," Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, Capt. T. Hardy ; " Eoyal Sovereign," Vice-Admiral Collingwood, Capt. Eotherham ; "Britannia," Eear- Admiral Lord Northesk, Captain C. Bullen ;* "Temeraire," E. Harvey ; "Neptune," T. F. Fremantle ; "Leviathan," H. Bayntun ; " Conqueror," I. PeUew ; "Agamemnon," E. Berry ; "Africa," H. Digby; " Ajax," Lieutenant Pilfold ; " Orion," E. Codrington ; " Minotaur," C. J. Mansfield ; " Spartiate," Sir F. Laforey ; "Belleisle," W. Hargood ; "Mars," G. Duff; " BeUero- phon,\ J. Cooke; "Colossus," J. Morris; " Achille," E. King; "Dreadnought," J. Conn; "Polyphemus," E. Eed- mill ; " Eevenge," E. Moorsom ; " Swiftsure," Q. Euther- ford ; " Defiance," P. H. Durham ; " Thunderer," Lieutenant Stockham ; " Defence," O. Hope ; " Tonnant," C. Tyler "Prince," E. OrindaU. Frigates, "Phoebe," B. Capel "Sirius," W. Prowse ; " Euryalus," Hon. H. Blackwood "Naiad," T. Dundas. The " Entreprenante," cutter, L. Puiver ; and "Pickle" schooner, J. Lapenotiere. The com-
* The Trafalgar gold medal of Capfc. Bullen of the " Britannia " ; his Lieutenant's medal for the 1st of June, 1794, with Nelson's sailing orders for the " Victory," in his autograph, were sold in the Greg sale, May, 1887, for £70.
A sailor on board the " Britannia," in the battle had one of his legs shot away below the knee. To an officer, who ordered him to be carried to the cockpit, he observed : " 'Tis but a shilling touch ; had it been an inch or two higher I should have got eighteen pence a day for it," alluding to the scale of pensions allowed for wounds in propor- tion to their severity. As he was conveyed from the deck, he called to one of his messmates, "Bob, take a look for my leg and give me the silver buckle out of the shoe ; I'll do as much for you another time, please God."
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bined fleet numbered thirty-three ships of the line, eighteen French under Villeneuve, and fifteen Spanish under Gravina, besides five French frigates and two brigs. The British fleet attacked in two columns, Vice-Admiral CoUingwood leading the lee, and Lord Nelson the weather division.* The action com- menced about noon and ended at five p.m. : eighteen of the combined fieet being taken, and one burnt. Lord Nelson was wounded about a quarter past one, and died shortly after four p.m. Owing to the heavy gales which came on after the battle, but four of the prizes were carried into Gibraltar, the others being wrecked or destroyed. The junior officers, seamen and marines of the fleet which won this memor- able battle, Nelson's last victory, received no medal, nor' reward of any kind from the Government for their services, but Mr Boulton, of the Soho Works, near Birmingham, asked, and was granted, permission to present a medal at his own expense, to every seaman who had served on board the British fleet on the 21st of October. This medal was struck in silver for the captains, and in pewter for the junior officers and men.f Many of the latter
* The late General Sir R. B. Ellis, who was a lieutenant of marines onboard the "Ajax," thus describes the scene between decks while bearing down to attack the enemy. " As we neared the French fleet I w'as sent below with orders, and was much struck with the prepara- tions made by the blue-jackets, the majority of whom were stripped to the waist, a handkerchief was bound tightly round their heads and over their ears to deaden the noise of the cannon, many men being deaf for days after an action. All seemed deeply anxious to come to close quarters with the enemy." Just at this time Nelson's famous signal, " England expects every man will do his duty," was made, but it was not received according to popular accounts " with acclamation by the whole fleet." Lieut. Ellis was directed to acquaint the men on the main deck with the Admiral's signal. "When the men were mustered I delivered, with becoming dignity, the sentence, rather anticipating that the effect on the men would be to awe them by its grandeur. Jack, however, did not appreciate it, for there were murmurs from some, while others in an audible whisper muttered : ' Do our duty ! of course we'll do our duty. I've always done mine, haven't you ? Let's come alongside of 'em and we'll soon show whether we'll do our duty.' Still the men cheered vociferously, more, I believe, from love and admiration of their Admiral and leaders, than from a full appreciation of this well known signal."
t Some specimens were struck in bronze as proofs.
jBoulton's Jrafalgar JVIedal.
XAVAL MEDALS. 45
on receiving the medal in pewter, returned it immediately, or threw it overboard in disgust. On the obverse is the bust of Lord Nelson, surrounded by the words — " Horatio Yiscount Nelson, K.B., Duke of Bronte." On the reverse is a repre- sentation of the battle, with the legend — "England expects every man will do his duty," and in the exergue — " Trafalgar, October 21st, 1805." On the edge is inscribed — "To the Heroes of Trafalgar, from M. Boulton." Another medal was given to the seamen of the " Victory," Lord Nelson's flag- ship, also of pewter, or white metal. Obverse, bust of Lord Nelson within a laurel wreath, below, a shield of arms, with a garter inscribed — " Tria juncta in uno," and upon a scroll the motto — "Pal mam qui meruit ferat," with a double legend — "Admiral Lord Nelson, D. of Bronte, natus Sept. 29th, 1758. Hoste devicto requievit, Oct. 21st, 1805." " England expects every man will do his duty." Eeverse, a man-of-war, with fm-led sails. Above — " The Lord is a man of war. Exodus, c. 15, v. 3." Below — " Victory off Trafalgar,* over the combined fleets of France and Spain, Oct. 21st, 1805." Both these medals are sometimes found with a gold, silver, or gilt rim, with a loop for suspension, and sometimes glazed ; they were worn with a blue ribbon.
Sir E. Ste achat's Action off Eereol. November 4th, 1805.
Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, who had escaped from the battle of Trafalgar, with his own ship, the " Formidable" (eighty), the "Scipion," "Mont Blanc," and " Duguay Trouin," " seventy -fours," made sail for Eochefort. Commodore Sir R. Strachan was cruising near Cape Finisterre, with a
* This Medal is said to have been given to the crew of the " Victory" only, by Mr. A. Davison, Nelson's old friend, who gave the Medals for the Battle of the Nile, but no positive proof of the fact can be at present adduced.
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squadron of five sail of the line and two frigates, *• when Captain Baker in the "Phoenix" (thirty-six), who had been chased by the enemy, informed him of the proximity of the French. Sir Richard's ships were widely scattered, and he lay-to for a time to allow them to come up. Both his frigates were with him, and being joined by the "Phoenix" and " Revolutionnaire" (thirty-eight), Captain Hotham, he chased the enemy during the day and night of November 3rd. At daybreak on the 4th the frigates opened fire on the rearmost of the Prench ships, and compelled Dumanoir to form his ships in line of battle. About midday the British line, led by the "Csesar," engaged the enemy, and after a sharp action the whole of the French ships were captured. Sir Richard carried his four prizes into Plymouth, and they were added to the British Navy. The ' ' Formidable ' ' was re-named the ' ' Brave, ' ' and the " Duguay Trouin," the "Implacable," the two others retained their names, but of the four, two only ever went to sea again. For this success, Sir R. Strachan received the Order of the Bath, and a vase valued at 300 guineas from the Patriotic Fund. The Fund also presented the Captains of the seven ships engaged with swords of the value of 100 guineas each.
Battle of St. Domingo, February Sth, 1 806.
In February, 1806, Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth, with the "Superb," Captain Keats; "Northumberland," Rear- Admiral A. Cochrane, Captain Morrison ; "Spencer," Hon. R. Stopf ord ; "Donegal," Captain Malcolm ; "Atlas," Captain
* Sir Richard's squadron consisted of the " Caesar," eighty, flagship ; " Hero," seventy-four, Captain Hon. A. Gardner ; " Namur," seventy- four, Captain Halsted ; " Courageux," seventy-four, Captain R. Lee ; " Bellona," seventy-four, Captain D. Pater. Frigates, " Santa Mar- garitta," thirty-six. Captain Rathbone ; " CEolus," thirty-two, Captain Lord W. Fitzroy ; the " Phoenix " and Revolutionnaire " joined just before the action commenced, bat the " Bellona " had no share in it, having parted company with the rest of the squadron, and not rejoining for some time afterwards.
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P}Tn ; "Agamemnon," Captain E. Berry; "Canopus," Rear- Admiral Louis, Captain Austen ; the fi-igates "Acasta" and " Magicienne," and the sloops " Epervier " and " Kingfisher " were re-fitting in the West Indies, after a cruise, and prepar- ing to return to Europe ; when he received intelligence that a French squadron was Ij^ng at St. Domingo. On the morning of February 6th he arrived off the place, and found at anchor in the roadstead, a French squadron commanded by Eear- Admiral Leissegues, comprising " L'Impei'ial," one hundred and thirty guns, flagship ; two ships of eighty-four guns, two of seventy-four guns, two frigates, and a corvette. On the ajiproach of the British, they slipped their cables, and en- deavoured to escape. All the British ships were seventj^-fours, except the " Canopus," eighty, and the "Agamemnon," sixty- four guns. Duckworth at once made the signal for attack, and with a portrait of Nelson suspended from the mizen stay of the "Superb," the band playing "God save the King," and "Nelson of the Nile," bore down on the leading French ship " L' Alexandre " (eighty-four), and engaged her at close quarters. After a severe action of two hours, the flagship of the enemy, and an eighty -four, were driven ashore and burnt, three others were captured, and none escaped but the frigates and the corvette, which fled at the beginning of the engage- ment. The loss of the British was seventy-four men killed, and two hundred and sixty-four wounded. The killed and wounded of the French amounted to nearly fifteen hundred.
Capture of Curacao, January 1st., 1807.
Captain C. Brisbane in the "Arethusa," forty -four, with three other frigates — the "Anson," Captain C. Lydiard ; "Latona," Captain J.Wood; and the "Fisgard," Captain W. Bolton, ; on New Year's Daj, 1807, captured the strongly forti- fied Dutch settlement of Curacao, in the West Indies. The harbour of St. Anne, which was the point attacked, was defended by powerful batteries with two tiers of guns, and at the entrance
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— not sixty fathoms in width — was fort Amsterdam, mounting sixty-six heavy guns. A thirty-six gun frigate, a corvette of twenty-two guns, and two schooners, were moored athwart the mouth of the harbour ; on the heights behind were more Tsatteries, and Fort Republic, a reguLar fortification of great strength, on a steep hill, commanded the town, and enfiladed the harbour. During the night of the last day of the year, Captain Brisbane arrived off the place, and at daybreak ran in close order into the harbour, and anchored ; with the jib- boom of the " Arethusa " projecting over the walls of the fort in which the Dutch governor and many of his men lay sleep- ing off the potations they had swallowed in drinking the old year out and the new year in, the night preceding. The governor was summoned to surrender ; five minutes being allowed him for deliberation. At the expiration of this period no answer being returned, the Dutch ships were boarded and carried, and immediately afterwards Port Amsterdam, and the forts near the water, were stormed by a body of seamen and marines, led by Captain Brisbane in person, and Captain Lydiard. By seven in the morning the whole of the defences, except Fort Republic, were in the hands of the British, and the governor being taken prisoner, capitulated. Three hours later the British flag w^as flying over Fort Repubhc, and the whole island in the possession of the captors, with a loss of but three men killed and fourteen wounded. For this achievement Caj)t. Brisbane was Knighted, and presented with a Vase of the value of 200 guineas by the Committee of the Patriotic Fund. A sword of 100 guineas value was given to Captain Bolton, and Vases of the same value to Captains Lydiard and Wood.
The "Seahorse" axd " Badere Zaffeb," July the 6th, 1808.
England being at war with Turkey, the "Seahorse," thirty-eight. Captain J. Stewart, cruising in the Archipelago,
NAVAL MEDALS. 49
ou the evening of July 5th., fell in with two Turkish fi"igates, the "Badere Zaffer," fifty-two guns, and another of twenty-six guns. The crew of the "Badere Zaifer " alone was nearly double that of the "Seahorse," and her arma- ment was heavier, but Stewart engaged both ships, and after an action of about half an hour, the smaller Turkish frigate, much damaged, made sail away. Her consort fought in the most determined manner, and made several unsuccessful attempts to board the " Seahorse," who poured broadside after boardside into her opponent with most destructive effect. For more than three hours the contest raged, from nine p.m. till past midnight, when the ships separated, the Turk with all her topmasts shot away, and her fire silenced. At dawn, the "Seahorse," bore down to renew the engagement, and the Turkish captain, though ready to fight again, was compelled by his crew to surrender ; his ship being so shattered that she was with difiiculty kept afloat.*' The British loss was five men killed and ten wounded ; the loss of the enemy, one hundred and seventy killed and about two hundred wounded,
* What followed after the " Badere Zaffer" had struck her colours will be best told inthe words of an officer present. " The little Arab whocom- marided the Turkish ship, on being brought aboard and asked for his sw^ord, had no idea of surrendering it ; indeed ho had, immediately after his colours were struck, dressed himself entirely in white, meant perhaps as a kind of flag of truce. Having obtained permission to return to his ship, and being in the confusion of the moment un- guarded, he got one of the fighting lanterns, which were still alight, and had reached the magazine passage then not secured, and over ankle deep in gunpowder, when just as he was in the act of taking the candle from the lantern the schoolmaster, who had come aboard the prize from curiosity, and happened to be providentially on the lower deck, immediately on seeing the danger knocked down the Arab, dowsed his glim, and saved us from the inevitable destruction of one, if not of both, frigates. He was removed on board the " Seahorse," and as he spoke Italian fluently, Capt. Stewart rebuked him severely in that language for his breach of the laws of honour and war, to which he listened with unmoved patience. When the speaker ceased, the little tiger bent forward his head, and pointing to his neck, said, * Take it, it is yours, don't hesitate, for had the fortune of war been mine I would have had your head off two hours ago. I only did my duty in attempting to blow up my ship, and I curse my own stupidity for not succeeding.' His officers declared that during the action he had put 17 of his own men to death with his own hand in attempting. to keep them at their quarters."
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many mortally, showing the difference in the handling and gunnery of the two ships. Captain Stewart took his shattered prize into Malta, and being unsuitable for the British Navy, she was sold to some merchants.
The "Amethyst" and "Thetis," November 10th., 1808.
This action was fought near L' Orient, between the Amethyst," thirty- eight, Captain M. Seymour, andtheErench frigate " La Thetis," of about equal force, but superior in the number of her crew, and having besides a body of one hundred soldiers on board. The engagement began about nine at night, and soon after eleven the "Thetis" made a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to board the "Amethyst." After great slaughter, the Prench frigate was boarded and taken, being much shattered and entirely dismasted. The captain of the "Thetis," and one hundred and thirty-four of her men were killed, and one hundred and two wounded, including all her officers except three. The "Amethyst" suffered severely, Lieutenant Kendal, of the Marines, and eighteen men being killed, and fifty-one wounded. Her mizen mast was shot away, her other masts much injured, and she had three and a half feet water in her hold. Just as the action ended, the "Triumph," seventy-four. Captain T. M. Hardy, and the "Shannon," Captain Broke, came up, and the latter ship, taking the prize in tow, brought her into Plymouth. For this action Captain Seymour received the honour of knighthood, and a sword valued at one hundred guineas from the Patriotic Fund. In the following year he was created a Baronet.
The "Bonne Citoyenne " and "Furieuse." July 6th, 1809.
Captain W. Mounsey, commanding the "Bonne Cito- yenne," eighteen gun corvette, sailed from Spithead for Quebec, with the "Inflexible," sixty -four, in charge of a
NAVAL IViEDALS. 51
convoy, from which, he parted company in a chase. On August 5th, he feR in with a large Fi'ench frigate boarding an English merchant ship, which on the approach of the " Bonne Citoyenne," made off with a press of sail. After a chase of eighteen hours, at half-past nine the next morning. Captain Mounsey came up with the enemy, and engaged her within pistol shot. The action lasted till past four p.m., when, having nearly expended all his powder, Captain Mounsey determined to board his opponent with all hands, but at the instant of laying her aboard, the enemy called out that they surrendered, and struck their colours. The prize was called " La Furieuse," pierced for forty-eight gims, but having only twenty mounted, twelve of them being forty-two pounder carronades. Her top-masts and nearly all her yards were shot away, and she had five feet of water in her hold when taken. The "Bonne Citoyenne " had also lost all her topmasts, and her rigging and sails were cut to pieces, but only one of her crew was killed, and five wounded. On board " La Furieuse " thirty-five men were killed, and thirty- six wounded, among the latter being her captain and two Keutenants. The " Bonne Citoyenne " took her prize in tow and proceeded to Halifax. For this service. Captain Mounsey, besides receiving the gold medal, was promoted to the rank of Post Cajitain.
Capture of the Island of Banda Neira. August 9th, 1810.
Captain C. Cole, with the " Caroline," thirty-six, "Pied- montaise," thirty-eight. Captain Foote and the " Barracouta," eighteen. Captain Kenah, having on board about one hundred men of the Madras European Regiment, in May, 1810, sailed from Madras with supplies for Amboyna, recently captured by the British. On his arrival at Penang, Captain Cole determined to attempt the reduction of the
52 NAVAL MEDALS.
Btrongly fortified island of Banda Neira, the seat of the Dutch Grovernment in the Moluccas, and considered to be impregnable. After an intricate and dangerous navigation of almost unknown seas, on the 8th of August he brought to in sight of the Island, and was fired upon by a battery on an outlying islet, which destroyed all hope of taking the place by surjDrise. About eleven at night, nearly four hundred officers and men under the command of Captain Cole, pushed off in the boats for Banda, but owing to the darkness of the night and violent squalls of wind and rain, at two in the morning he found himself at the appointed landing place with less than two hundred men. The violence of the storm covered his landing within a hundred yards of a battery of ten guns, which was entered from the rear and carried by Capt. Kenah, without firing a shot. Leaving a small guard at the captured battery, Cole pushed on towards Fort Belgica, the citadel, which commanded almost the whole of the island, placed his ladders against the outer walls, carried them, and hauling up the ladders, placed them against the inner wall, but found they were too short. The enemy opened fire from the ram- parts, but the gate being then opened to admit the Dutch Commandant, a rush was made for the gateway ; the Command- ant who refused quarter, fell, with several of his men, and the British colours were hoisted over the place. At day -break Capt. Kenah was sent to the governor with a flag of truce, demanding the immediate surrender of the island. The British frigates were entering the harbour, and on a second summons, with a threat of reducing the town to ashes, and a shot fired from Belgica into the sea batteries, the island and its dependencies were unconditionally surrendered, and fifteen hundred regular troops and militia laid down their arms. In this brilliant and most successful exploit the victors did not lose a single man, and but few were wounded. The island of Banda is about two and a haK miles long, and half a mile in breadth. Besides the forts of Belgica and Nassau, it was defended by ten batteries, mounting altogether one hundred
NAVAX MEDALS. 5S
and tMrty-eiglit guns.* The Dutch looked on the place as- impregnable, and by its capture a large amount of treasure feU into the hands of the British.
Action off Lissa, March 13th, 1811.
In 1811, Captain W. Hoste in the " Amphion," thirty-two,, having under his command the "Active," thirty-eight, Capt. J. A. Gordon ; " Cerberus," thirty-two, Captain H. Whitby; and the " Volage," twenty -two, Caj)t. P. Hornby, was cruis- ing in the Adriatic. On March 13, off the Island of Lissa, he met with a French squadron of four French and Venetian frigates of forty guns each, two of thirty -two guns, a corvette of sixteen guns, and four smaller vessels, more than double his force. Hoste formed his line of battle, and with the signal, "Remember Nelson," at his masthead, awaited the attack of the enemy, who bore down in two divisions and attempted to break his line. They were received by so well directed a fire that their leading ship " La Favourite " became unmanageable, and in endeavouring to wear, ran on the rocks. Part of the French squadron then engaged the British to leeward, while their other ships continued the action to wind- ward, thus placing Hoste between two fires, a French frigate taking her station on the lee quarter, and a Venetian frigate
• As a token of the high estimation in which the gallant Captain Cole was held by his brethren in arms, a few days after the capture of Banda, Captains Poote and Kenah requested his acceptance of a silver cup ; the officers of the three ships under his command presented him with a sword of the value of 100 guineas, and the officers of the Madras European Regiment with another sword of the same value. Two years afterwards, when the " Caroline " was paid off and all connection between the seamen and their late commander had ceased, Captain Cole was gratified by the receipt of the following epistle from his old crew, which was certainly a compliment of the highest and most gratifying description. — " We, the crew of H. M. S. " Caroline," wish to give you our most gracious thanks for the care and favour you have shown to this ship's company, by making you a present of a sword amounting to 100 guineas for your noble and brave conduct when you led us to the storm of Banda, and likewise the zealous bravery in landing our troops at Batavia ; and by excepting of this present you will gratify the wishes of your most obedient ship's company. — The ' Carolines.' "
6
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•on the weather quarter of the " Amphion." After a severe contest both were compelled to strike. The remainder of the enemy then bore off, the "Amphion" was too crij^pled to pursue, but the " Active " and " Cerberus " chased and captured the Venetian frigate "Corona" of forty-four guns. Another French frigate, which had struck her colours and surrendered, taking advantage of the disabled state of the "Amphion" stole off, and with the smaller vessels escaped. The French Commodore Dubourdieu was slain in the action, and his ship being on the rocks was set on fire by her crew and destroyed. The loss of the British was fifty men killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. The loss of the French was much greater.
The "Victorious" and "Eivoli." February 22nd, 1812.
Admiral Sir E. Pellew, commanding the British fleet in the Mediterranean, being informed that the "Rivoli," a French seventy-four gun ship had sailed from Venice, desjiatched the "Victorious," seventy four, Captain J. Talbot, with the eighteen-gun brig "AVeasel," Commander Andrew, in search of her. On the afternoon of February 21st Captain Talbot discovered the "Rivoli" with three or four smaller vessels, and at once made chase. Before daybreak the next morning the "Weasel" came up with some French brigs and en- gaged two of them. After a sharp action, one of them, " Le Mercure," eighteen, blew up, and her comrades fled. In the meanwhile the "Victorious," about 4-30 a.m., had brought the "Rivoli" to action within half pistol-shot, and the conflict lasted till about nine a.m., when the French ship much shattered, her mizen mast shot away, and four hundred of her crew being killed and wounded, struck her colours. The loss of the "Victorious" was twenty-seven killed and ninety-nine wounded, including her Captain. The "Weasel" Jiad not a man hurt, though at the close of the engagement
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she took a positiou across the bows of the "Rivoli" and raked her with two or three broadsides. For this action Caj>tain Talbot was made a Knight of the Bath, and Commander Andrew post caj)tain. The " Rivoli," under the same name, was added to the British Navy.
The "Shannon" and "Chesapeake." June 1st, 1813.
In the year 1813, the "Shannon" thirty-eight, Captain P. V. Broke, had for some time been watching the American frigate " Chesapeake," of the same force in guns, but superior in the number of her crew, Ij^ng ready for sea, in Boston Harbour. The British Captain had sent a challenge to Captain Lawrence of the " Chesapeake " to come out and try the fortune of war, ship to ship ; and about 1 p.m. on the 1 st of June, the American frigate weighed anchor, and stood out of Boston Roads to meet the "Shannon." At fifty minutes past four the action commenced, the ships being not more than a stone's throw asunder, Boston Kghthouse bearing west at about six leagues distance. After the exchange of a few broadsides, by which the " Chesapeake " suffered considerably her tiller ropes being shot away, and her wheel broken, she fell aboard the " Shannon," whose anchor became hooked in the mizen chains of her opponent. A sharp fire of musketry followed, when Captain Broke observing the enemy to flinch from their guns, at the head of his boarders, sprang on the quarter-deck of the "Chesapeake," exclaiming "Follow me who can," and with slight resistance drove most of her crew below. The Americans kept up a heavy fire from their tops, till the men stationed in them were killed or driven on deck ; and made a determined but fruitless attempt to rally, but in about fifteen minutes from the beginning of the action, all hostilities ceased, and the " Chesapeake " was the prize of the "Shannon." The loss of the victors was First Lieutenant Watt, two other Officers, and twenty-three men killed, and
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Captain Broke, and fifty-eight men wounded, out of a crew of three hundred and thirty men. The " Chesapeake " out of a crew of at least three hundred and eighty-six men, had her Captain, First and Fourth Lieutenants, Master, Lieut- enant of Marines, three Midshipmen, and fifty-three men killed or mortally wounded, and nearly ninety Ofiicers (including her second and third Lieutenants) and men wounded. Captain Broke being severely wounded ; Lieut. Provo W. Wallis*, assumed the commanrl, and with the two frigates sailed for Halifax, arriving there June 6th. The gallant Captain Lawrence had died two days before, on board the " Chesapeake," and was buried by his opponent at Halifax with aU the honours of war f. Shortly afterwards on his return to England, Captain Broke was created a baronet, and by the Corporation of London was voted the freedom of the city, and presented with a sword of the value of 100 guineas.
The "Hebrus" and "L'Etoile," March 27th, 1814.
In January, 1814, the French frigates "L'Etoile" and "La Sultane " being on a cruise near the Cape Verde Islands, met with the British frigates ' Astrtea " and "Creole," with which they fought a severe but drawn action. The French made sail away, and their ojojjonents were too much dis- abled in their rigging to follow. On March 26th as they were nearing their own shores, they fell in with the British ships "Hannibal," seventy-four, Captain Sir M. Seymour; " Hebrus," thirty-eight. Captain E. Palmer ; and the " Sparrow," sixteen-gun brig, Captain Lock. The British
* Afterwards Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo W. P. Wallis, G.C.B., who died February 13th, 1892, in the 101st year of his age, the last survivor of the engagement between the " Shannon " and " Chesapeake."
t At the request of the American Government, the body of Captain Lawrence was exhumed shortly afterwards and taken to Boston, where it was re-interred with great solemnity.
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immediately chased, and tlie "Hannibal" coming up with the "La Sultane" she surrendered. After a chase of one hundred and twenty miles on the morning of the 27th, the "Hebrus" brought " L'Etoile " to action near Cape La Hogue, and to prevent her escape passed betAveen her and the shore, within musket shot of the land. The engage- ment lasted two hours and a quarter, when "L'Etoile," her mizen mast shot away, her hull much shattered, and four feet of water in her hold, struck her colours. Of her crew of three hundred and twenty men, forty were killed and over seventy wounded, many of whom died the next day. The "Hebrus" lost her fore topmast and fore yard, and all her masts were shot through, but her killed and wounded together were less than forty. The action was fought within range of a battery on shore, which, on the surrender of "L'Etoile" opened a heavy fire on her and her conqueror. Captain Palmer brought his prize into Plymouth Sound on March 29th, and declined the honoui of knighthood which was offered him as a reward for his services.
The "Endymion" and "President," January 15th, 1815.
The "Endymion," frigate, rated at forty guns, but carry- ing forty-eight. Captain H. Hope, at the beginning of the year 1815, formed part of a squadron which was watching the port of New York, where an American squadron was lying ready for sea. On January 14th, the American fifty gun frigate " President," Commodore Decatur, taking- advantage of a storm which blew the blockading ships off the coast, came out and set sail for the West Indies. The next morning he was observed by the British, who gave chase, and the " Endymion," being the fastest sailer of the squadron, after a pursuit of twelve hours brought the "President" to action. An engagement lasting two hours
58 NAV^VL MEDALS.
and a half followed, when the "Endymion," much damaged in her sails and rigging, dropj^ed astern to repair damages, and the American with her hull pierced and shattered, continued her flight. Just as the "Endymion," who had bent new sails and repaired her rigging, had come up again, and was about to renew the action, the "Pomona" frigate, Captain Lumley, arrived within gunshot, and firing a broadside or two at the "President" she at once surren- dered. Her masts and rigging were much injured, several of her guns disabled, and she had six feet of water in her hold when Captain Hope took possession of her. Nearly one hundred of her crew were killed and wounded ; the loss of the "Endymion" was eleven killed and fourteen wounded.*
This ends the account of naval actions for which gold medals were granted. At the end of the war with France in 1815, it was decided that the issue of gold medals to officers of the Navy should cease, and that such officers should in the future be rewarded for their services by the Order of the Bath.
* The following curious details are given by the late General Sir S. B. Ellis, then lieutenant of the marines of the "Pomona" which boarded the prize — " The sight on the deck of the American frigate was strange indeed, guns were there named by familiar titles ; there was the Nelson, and the JSlile, the Trafalgar, and others, just as if English- men were her crew. On the " President " surrendering, fifty English- men threw themselves overboard, seeking death to avoid a more ignominious one, which the violated laws and feelings of England would justly have inflicted." It is now satisfactory to relate, that owing to the speedy conclusion of peace, these deserters escaped without punishment. Owing to the tyranny practised by some officers on shipboard, the drafting of men on their arrival home after years of foreign service into other ships, and sending them back again to a coast which perhaps they had just left, not permitting them to land on their native shore for an hour, (men having been known to have served ten years without once going on shore) ; the seamen were disgusted with the Naval service of their country, deserted in hun- dreds, and induced by better wages and treatment, enrolled them- selves under the flag of America. When the British frigate "Macedonian" was captured in 1812 by the American frigate "United States," Commodore Decatur asserted that he had scarcely a seaman in his ship who had not served from five to twelve years in the British Navy. Two of his guns were named " Nelson " and " Victory," and were served by seamen who had sailed with the British Admiral.
naval medals. 59
Earl St. Vikcext's Medal, 1800.
Admibal Earl St. Vincent in the year 1 800, presented the petty officers, seamen, and marines of his flag ship the ' ' Ville de Paris," with a silver medal as a reward for their loyalty and good conduct. On the obverse is the hust of the Earl in uniform, surrounded by a laurel wreath, and the words r ^^ JEarl St. Vincent's testimony of approbation, 1800.'' On the- reverse, a sailor and marine shaking hands, in the back ground are the crosses of the Union Jack, the whole encircled by a wreath, with the legend : " Loyal and True'' surmounted by a crown. This medal is often found in a rim or frame, with a loop for suspension.
The Wooldeidge Gold Medal, 1809.
A French fleet of eleven sail, being blockaded by a British fleet under Lord Gambler, in Aix Roads, an attempt was made to destroy the enemy's fleet by fire ships, under the direction of Captain Lord Cochrane. The fire ships were manned by volunteers from the fleet. On the night of April 11th, 1809, Commander Woold- ridge in the "Mediator," led the attack, and broke the boom placed in front of the French ships, but through his eagerness to execute his desperate undertaking in the most thorough manner, was blown out of his ship and terribly scorched. At daylight, seven of the French fleet were seen to be on shore, and of these, four were set on fire and destroyed. For this eminent service Commander Wooldridge was made a Post Captain, and presented with a special gold medal and chain from the King. The Patriotic Fund gave him a sword valued at 100 guineas, and to his Lieutenant, Clements, a sword of the value of 50 guineas. On the obverse of this medal is represented a fire ship breaking a boom, behind which are ships. Underneath is the date, "Uth April, MDCCCIX." On the reverse is
<30 NAVAL MEDALS.
i ascribed : " Captain James Wooldridge led the British fire ships when four French sail of the line tvere burnt wider their ■own latteries in Aix Roads." The medal is surrounded by a cable border.
The Bagtjr and Palamos Medal, 1810.
This medal was given by the Spanish Grovernment to the Officers, seamen, and marines of H. M. Ship "Kent," seventy-four. Captain Eogers ; " Ajax," seventy-four ; Captain E. W. Otway, and "Cambrian," forty. Captain F. W. Fane, as a reward for the assistance they rend- ered the Spaniards in their attempt to expel the French from Catalonia, in September, 1810. At Bagur, the Spaniards with the help of the British Marines, defeated a French detachment and destroyed a battery, and in the attack on Palamos, by the co-operation of the ships, ihe French were again defeated and the place taken. Eight of the medals were struck in gold for the superior Officers' the others in silver. On the obverse are two shields, bearing the arms of Grreat Britain and Spain, surrounded by their National flags, below are the words : " Alianza Eterna," the whole surrounded by a laurel wreath. On the reverse is the inscription : "Bagur, 10 de Setiembre, Palamos, 14 de Setiembre, 1810," surrounded by the words : " Grratitud de Espana a la Intrepidez Britanica." Worn by a red ribbon with yellow edges.
The Turkish Medal for Acre, 1840.
Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, in 1839, was engaged in a war with his titular sovereign, the Sultan of Turkey, with the object of rendering himself entirely independent of his authority. He had defeated the Turkish armies sent against him, and obtained possession of Syria ; refusing offers of peace which made the Viceroyalty of
NAVAL MEDALS. 61
Egypt hereditary in his famity, and secured the govern- ment of the greater part of Syria to him for life. To prevent the complete overthrow of the Sultan, England, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, in July, 1840, concluded a treaty with Turkey, to compel Mehemet Ali to accept the terms ot peace he had rejected in the preceding year. Orders were sent to Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, commander in the the Mediterranean to despatch a squadron to Beyrout, for the protection of the inhabitants of the surrounding district who had rebelled against Mehemet Ali. Commodore Charles Napier, with the "Powerful," "Granges," and "Thunderer," of eighty -four guns each, "Edinburgh," sevent}^ - two, "Castor," thirty-six, and a steam vessel, arrived before the place in August, and gave notice to the 'EgYpt'mn Generals that the district was under his protection, and that on the expiration of twenty days Syria was to be restored to the government of the Sultan. These representations producing no effect, a squadron of British ships blockaded the Egyptian fleet in the harbour of Alexandria, and the remainder of the fleet under Sir P. Stopford presently bombarded Beyrout, and drove the Egyptians out of the place. In the meantime, Commodore Napier, who had gained considerable military knowledge in the wars in Portugal, during the illness of Sir C. Smith, the British officer intended to command the land forces, went on shore, assumed the direction of a body of British Artillery and Marines, Austrians and Turks, amount- ing to about seven thousand men, and established a fortified camp at D'Jounie, in the mountains of Lebanon. Ibrahim Pasha, son of Mehemet Ali, the commander-in-chief, and best general of the Egyptians, lay not far off with twenty thou- sand men, and Napier daily expected to be attacked, but the enemy occupied themselves in fortifying their own position. During the month of September the fleet with little loss had taken possession of most of the towns on the coast of Syria, in the name of the Sultan, and on the 24th bombarded and captured Tyre. On the 27th of the same month. Commodore
62 NAVAL MEDALS.
Napier, who three days before with his Turks, a battalion of Marines, and an Austrian rocket brigade, had routed a much superior Egyptian force, attacked the imj^ortant town of Sidon by land and sea. The place was strongly fortified by two castles, gan-isoned by about three thousand men. The Governor refusing to surrender, early in the morning the " Thunderer," eighty-four, the ten-gun sloop "Wasp," with four steamers, the "Cyclops," "Grorgon," " Stromboli," and " Hydra," the Austrian frigate " Guerriera," and the Turkish corvette " Gulsefide," opened fire on the place, and sjDeedily drove the enemy from their guns. A mixed force of British Marines, Turks and Austrians was then landed, commanded by Commodore Napier, Captains Mansel and Austen, who carried the castles by storm, capturing over two thousand prisoners, and a vast quantity of warlike stores of every kind. Napier remained on shore in command of the Turkish troops and some British Marines, and on October 10th, again encountered and completely defeated the Egyptian army under Ibrahim himself, on the heights of Boharsef, near Beyrout, taking from him several hundred pi-isoners, and a great part of his materiel. The Eg3rptian8 then withdrew from the north of Syria, and concentrated their forces at Acre, a fortress which they thought to be impregnable, it having taken Ibrahim at the head of forty thousand men, a siege of ten months to reduce it, a few years before ; and in the meanwhile the fortifications had been considerably streng- thened. On the evening of November 2nd, the fleet, con- sisting of seven line-of -battle ships, the "Princess Charlotte," ' ' Powerful, " " Benbow, " " Eevenge, " " Thunderer, " " Bel- lerophon," and "Edinburgh"; the "Castor," "Pique," "Carysfort," and "Talbot" frigates; the "Vesuvius," "Gorgon," "Stromboli," and "Phoenix" steamers, and two sloops, with the flag-ship of Captain Walker, commander- in-chief of the Sultan's navy, and the two Austrian frigates, "Meda" and "Guerriera," apjjeared before the place, and found the defences armed with two hundred
NAVAL MEDALS. 63
guns, manned with, upwards of five thousand men. During the night, the shoals in the south and west of Acre were surveyed and buoyed by Captains Codrington and Boxer, and the next morning the ships having taken their appointed stations, at about two p.m. the engagement began. For nearly two hours the Egyptians replied vigorously, but about four o'clock, a shell from one of the steamers exploded their principal powder magazine, which demolished a large portion of the town, and destroyed most of two regiments under arms to repel any attempt made to storm the walls.. This explosion and its effects quite disheartened the enemy, their fire gradually slackened, and just before nightfall ceased altogether. At daybreak the next morning, some deserters came off to the ships, with the news that the garrison was evacuating the town, which was shortly after- wards taken possession of by the victors, in the Sultan's- name. The defences were not materially injured, but the loss of the garrison had been heavy, and three thousand prisoners and a vast quantity of military stores were captured. The damage sustained by the ships was principally in their rigging, and the number of killed and wounded in the combined fleet did not exceed sixty. The moral effect of the fall of Acre on the Egyptians was enormous, and it virtually ended the war.* Some fighting took place between
* The ships employed in the operations on the coast of Syria in 1840 — 41, were the "Princess Charlotte," one hundred and four, Admiral Hon. Sir R. Stopford, Captain A. Fanshawe ; " Powerful,"' eighty-four, Commodore, 0. Napier ; " Bellerophon," eighty-four, C. J. Austin ; " Revenge," seventy-four, Hon. W. Waldegrave ; " Ganges," eighty-four, B. Reynolds ; " Thunderer," eighty-four, T. Berkeley ;. " Edinburgh," seventy-six, W. Henderson : Hastings," seventy-four, J. Lawrence ; " Benbow," seventy-four, H. Steward ; " Rodney," eighty-four, R. Maunsell. "Asia," eighty-four, W. Fisher ; " Vanguard," seventy-four, Sir R. Dunn ; " Implacable," seventy-four, E. Hervey ; " Cambridge," E. Barnard ; " Castor," E. Collier ; " Pique," E. Boxer ; "Carysfort," H. Martin; "Dido," L. Davies : "Talbot," H. J. Codrington ; " Daphne," J. DalUng ; " Magicienne," F. Mitchell ; " Gorgon," W. Henderson ; " Cyclops," H. T. Austin ; " Wasp,"; G. Mansell ; " Vesuvius," T. Henderson ; " Stromboli," W. J. Williams- "Hydra," R. Robinson; "Phoenix," R. Stopford ; " Hazard," Hon. G. Elliott; "Zebra," J. Stopford; "Hecate," J. Ward; "Medea," T. Warden.
64
NAVAL MEDALS.
the Egyptian and Tui-kisli armies, but after much, diplomacy on the part of Turkey and the Allied powers, Syria was restored to the Sultan, the Government of Egypt made hereditary in the family of Mehemet Ali, and peace restored in February, 1841. As a reward to the British Officers and
men engaged in the war in Syria, the Sultan of Turkey (Abdul-Mejid) issued a small medal about the size of a florin, in gold to those ranking with Field Officers, in silver to Quarter-deck and Warrant Officers, and in copper to Petty Officers, seamen, and marines. On the obverse is a fortress, with the Turkish flag fljing, above are six stars, and below, an Arabic inscription, signifying: "The country of Syria and the fortress of Acre, 1256." On the reverse is the Sultan's cypher, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Eibbon red with white edges.
naval medals. 66
The Naval Genkral Service Medal, 1793-1840.
The long and brilliant services of the British Navy from 179S to 1815, remained unrecognised by the issue of any general decoration till the year 1847, by which time, a large propor- tion of the gallant veterans who had fought and bled for their country, had disappeared undecorated from the scene of their former exploits. In a debate in the House of Lords on July 21st,' 1845, on a petition from the survivors of the army which had served during the War in the Peninsula, for some decora- tion in recognition of their services ; the Duke of Wellington speaking on the claims of the army for a medal, said — ' ' When you recollect these services, (of the army) I beg of you also not to forget the fleet. Did anyone ever hear of a general Medal given to every individual in the fleet. Yet, my lords, we have had great Naval victories. We are well acquainted with such — as the battle of the First of June, the Battle of Cape St. Yincent, and the Battle of the Nile. But did anyone ever hear of a general medal worn by every individual engaged in those services ? Surely, if the Army of the Peninsula is to have this decoration or an address voted by your lordships, it will be impossible that you should not notice also these other services." The petition was ordered to lie on the table, but the outcome of the debate was the grant of the Military and Naval General Service Medals in 1847. The following General Order was issued by the Admiralty, June 1st, 1847.
" Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to command that a Medal should be struck to record the services of her Fleets and Ai-mies during the Wars commencing in 1793 and ending in 1815, and that one should be conferred on every Officer, non-commisioned officer, petty officer, soldier, and seaman, who was present in any action, naval or military, to commemorate which Medals have been struck by command of Her Majesty's Eoyal Predecessors, and dis-
C6 NATAL MEDALS.
tributed to superior Officers according to tlie rules of the service at that time in force.
All officers, petty officers and seamen who consider that •they are entitled to receive this mark of their Sovereign's gracious recollection of their services, and of her desire to record the same, are to send in writing the statement of their claims, addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, Whitehall, London, specifying for what action, and for what period of time the claim is preferred ; and the names of the persons or the titles of the documents by which it can be established.
The names of all those who may apply for the Naval Medal will be classed alphabetically, and to each name will T)e appended the actions at which the claimant may have Tjeen present, proof of which must be given to the entire satisfaction of the Board.
By command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty."
The medal was ready for distribution in January, 1849, and the books were finally closed on the 30th of April, the same year. The distribution of the medal, however, was afterwards extended for naval services to the year 1840. The medal has on the obverse, the head of the Queen, crowned, with the legend " Victoria Eegina," and the date 1848, below. On the reverse, Britannia seated on a sea- horse, a trident in her right hand, and an olive branch in the left. Eibbon white, Avith dark blue edges. The recipient's name is indented on the edge of the medal.
More than two hundred clasps were issued with this medal, six being the greatest number worn with any specimen. The clasps bear the names of the actions, places, or ships, in which the recipients were engaged. Clasps were issued for boat actions, and bear the words "Boat Service" and the date.*
* The proved claims for this medal amouated to 20,900.
Naval Genf.r^ai. Sciivics )\1e.dal.
NAVAL MEDALS. 67
LIST OF THE SHIPS AND ACTIONS FOE WHICH MEDALS HAVE BEEN AWAEDED
To THE Officers, Seamen, and Marines, (and Soldiers
WHO SERVED AS MaRINES) SURVIVING AT THE DATE OF
THE Gazette Notice of June 1st, 1847.
The "Nymphe" and "Cleopatra." June 18th, 1793.
On June 17th, 1793, the "Nymphe," thirty-six guns, Capt. E. Pellew, sailed from. Falmouth on a cruise. At daybreak next morning, off the Start Point, a French frigate was discovered, to which the "Nymphe" gave chase. At six o'clock the ships were so near together that the captains mutually hailed. The crew of the "Nymphe" shouted "Long live King Greorge " and gave three hearty cheers, to which the enemy replied by shouting "Vive la Eepublique," and nailing the red cap of liberty to their main topmast head. At a quarter past six the action commenced, the two frigates' running before the wind. About seven o'clock the mizen- mast of the French frigate fell, and directly afterwards her wheel was shot away, and she fell aboard the "Nymphe." Pellew at once gave orders to board, part of his men rushed on the forecastle of the enemy, and another division boarding through the main deck ports, fought their way along the gangways to the quarter deck. Though much suj^erior in number, the I'epublicans could not resist the attack. At ten minutes past seven they were all driven below, or had submitted, and their colours were hauled down. The prize was the "Cleopatra," forty guns and three hundred and twenty men, of whom sixty-three, including her Captain, were killed or wounded in the action. The loss of the victors out of a crew of two hundred and forty men and boys, was twenty three killed and twenty seven wounded. On June 21st the "Nymphe" arrived with her prize at Portmouth, where the body of the gallant Captain Mullon,
68 NAVAL MEDALS.
of the " Cleopatra," was buried with military honours, his surviving officers attending him to the grave. For his dis- tinguished conduct. Captain E. Pellew received the honour of Knighthood, and his brother Commander Israel Pellew, who served as a volunteer on board the " Nymphe," was pro- moted to the rank of post-captain. The "Cleopatra," being a fine frigate was purchased by the British Government, and named the " Oiseau," there being already a " Cleopatra" in the Navy.
The "Crescent" and "Reunioj^." October 20th, 1793.
During the month of October, 1793, two French frigates stationed at Cherbourg committed serious havoc among British merchant ships in the Channel. One of these ships usually left Cherbourg in the evening, stood across the Channel in the night, and returned the next morning with any prizes she had been able to pick up. To put an end to these depredations, the "Crescent," thirty-six. Captain J. Saumarez, sailed from Spithead, and at daybreak on the morning of Ocrober 20th, fell in with the French frigate " Reunion," thirty-six, off Cape Barfleur. A close action followed, in which the " Crescent " lost her foretop-sail-yard, and soon after her fore-topmast, but the " Reunion " had her fore-yard and mizzen-topmast shot away, and thus disabled was severely raked by her opponent. After a brave resistance of more than two hours, the French frigate being almost defenceless,) and another British frigate, the "Circe," twenty-eight, Captain J. Yorke, fast ajiproaching the scene of action,) struck her colours and surrendered. The " Reunion," out of a crew of three hundred men, had over eighty kiUed and wounded; the "Crescent" did not lose a man. As a reward for his services Captain Saumarez received the honour of knighthood, and by the merchants of London was presented with a handsome piece of plate. The "Reunion" was purchased by the Government, and added to the British navy under the same name.
naval medals. 69
The "Zebra" at Martinique, March 17tli, 1794.
In the month of February, 1794, a combined Naval and Military expedition, under Vice-Admiral Sir J. Jervis, and Lieut. -Greneral Sir Charles Grey, sailed from Bridgetown, Barbadoes, to reduce the island of Martinique, then in possession of the French. The troops were landed at three different points, and by a series of combined operations, on the 16th March, the whole island with the exception of the strong forts of Bourbon and Fort Eoyal, was in the possession of the British. An attack by land and sea on Fort Royal "was planned, the "Asia" sixty -four, and the "Zebra" sloop, sixteen. Captain E. Faulknor, being ordered to stand in and open fii'e on the fort, to cover the advance of the flat boats and pinnaces, carrjdng one thousand two hundi'ed men to storm the place. Through the treachery or incapacity of the French pilot, the "Asia" was unable to reach her allotted station, but Captain Faulknor disregarding the showers of grape shot that were poui-ed into him, ran the "Zebra" close under the wall of the fort, and leaping overboard at the head of his crew, joined the men in the boats in carrying the place by storm. Having gained the outer wall, the assailants found themselves on the covered way between the outer and inner gates, and a terrible discharge of musketry from a whole French regiment, thinned their ranks. Faulknor instantly charged the enemy, and forcing his way through the gates, gained the top of the citadel, struck the French colours and hoisted the English. The French laid down their arms, and the fort and a French frigate in the roadstead being taken possession of, Captain Faulknor returned to his ship, taking with him as prisoners between one and two hundred of the regiment that surrendered at his assault. The frigate was at once taken into the service, and on the quarter deck of the flagship. Sir John Jervis presented Captain Faulknor with his commission as Post-Captain to command her, at the
6
70 NAVAL MEDALS.
same time clianging lier name from the " Bienvenue " to tlie " Undaunted," in compliment to tlie victor.*
"Carysfort" and Castor,"
May 29th, 1794.
On May 29th, 1794, the "Carysfort," twenty-eight. Captain Francis Laforey, being on a cruise in the North Atlantic, met with the French (late British) frigate " Castor," thirty-two, which had been captured by a French squadron under M. Nielly, little more than a week previously. The " Castor" had in tow a Dutch Merchant brig, which on the approach of the "Carysfort" she cast off. After an action of an hour and a quarter, the "Castor" having her main topgallant mast shot away, struck her colours, with a loss of sixteen officers and men killed, and nine wounded. The "Carysfort" was but slightly damaged in either hull or rigging, and had one man kiUed, and four wounded. On board the prize was found, a master, mate, and nineteen seamen of her original crew, the remainder, with her Captain (T. Troubridge) having been removed into a French ship. The "Castor" was restored to her former place in the British Navy.
Lord Howe's Victory, June Ist, 1794. fSee page 32. J
The "Romney" and "Sybille," June 17th, 1794.
The "Eomney," fifty, Captain Hon. W. Paget, having under his charge a convoy bound from Naples to Smyrna, was passing between the islands of Tino and Miconi, in the Archipelago, on June 1 7th, when a French frigate with three
* Twenty-three survivors claimed the medal for this service, in 1849.
XAVAL MEDALS. 71
mercliantmeii was discovered at anchor near the shore. The British frigates "Inconstant," "Leda," and "Tartar," being in sight. Captain Paget directed the convoy to join them, and brought the "Eomney " to anchor in Miconi road, little more than a cable length from the French forty gun frigate " Sybille," commanded by Commodore Eondeau. To a summons to surrender. Rondeau replied that he knew very well the force of the "Eomney," that he was fully provided with men and ammunition, and had sworn never to strike his colours. At one o'clock, the " Romney " being abreast of her opponent commenced the action, which lasted an hour and ten minutes, when the "Sybille" hauled down her colours, and with the merchant ships surrendered. The "Eomney" was seventy-four men short of her compliment, her crew being two hundi-ed and sixty-six men and boys, (of which the Commander of the "Sybille" seemed to be aware) and lost in the engagement eight men killed, and thirty men (two mortally) wounded. The "Sybille," with a crew of three hundred and eighty, had fifty-five Officers and men killed, and over a hundred wounded. Being a fine new frigate, the " Sybille " was added to the British Navy.
The "Blanche" & "Pique," January 4th, 1795.
At the beginning of the year 1795, the "Blanche" thirty- two gun fi-igate, Captain E. Faulknor, (who as commander of the " Zebra " displayed such gallant conduct at the capture of Martinique on the preceding year), was criiising off Guade- loupe. On January 4th the "Blanche" found the French frigate "Pique" thirty-eight, at anchor outside the harbour of Pointe-a-Pitre, which in the afternoon weighed and stood out after the "Blanche." Captain Faulknor immediately shortened sail for the enemy to come up, but the Frenchman tacked and stood away. The "Blanche" made all sail in chase, and coming up with her opponent soon after midnight.
72 NAVAL MEDALS.
commenced a close engagement broadside to broadside. About half -past two, in luffing up to rake the "Pique," the main and mizzen masts of the "Blanche " fell over her side, and the "Pique" running on board on her larboard quarter, made several unsuccessful attempts to board. While lashing the bowsprit of the " Pique " to the capstan of his own ship, the intrepid Captain Paulknor* fell shot through the heart, but Lieutenant Watkins took the command, and having firmly lashed the bowsprit of the "Pique" to the stump of the mainmast of the "Blanche " towed his antagonist before the wind, in spite of a heavy fire of musketry from her fore- castle and tops. The "Blanche" having blown out part of her stern frame, brought two of her guns to bear on her enemy, which almost cleared her deck, and totally dismasted her. In this defenceless condition the Prench sustained the raking fire of the "Blanche" till past five a.m. when they called for quarter and surrendered. Every boat in each ship having been destroyed in the action. Lieutenant Milne with ten seamen swam on board the " Pique " and took her in posses- sion. Out of her crew of one hundred and ninety-eight, the "Blanche" had her Captain, one midshipman and six men killed, and twenty-one men wounded ; her opponent with a complement of about two hundred and eighty men, had seventy-six officers and men killed and one hundred and ten wounded, an almost imparalleled proportion. Soon after the close of this long and bloody conflict, the "Veteran" sixty-four, Captain W. H. Kelly, came up, assisted in removing the prisoners and took the "Pique " in tow. She was after- wards added to the British Navy.
* Captain Faulknor was the first Scholar admitted to the Eoyal Naval Academy at Portsmouth, and his progress there, elicited the frequent praise of his masters. When a Lieutenant in the " Princess Royal " ninety-eight, Sir Peter Parker, in a letter to his mother, said " that her son more than answered the good opinion he had formed of him." By order of the House of Commons, a monument was erected to his memory in St. Paul's Cathedral.
naval medals. 73
The "Lively" axd "Tourterelle," March 13th, 1795.
On March 13th, 1795, the -'Lively" thirty-two, Captain Or. Burlton, in the absence of Lord Grarlies lying sick on shore, while cruising in the Channel, off Ushant, discovered three strange sail making for the French coast. The •'Lively" chased, and soon after the largest of the three strangers tacked, and stood towards the British frigate. About half-past ten a.m. the action commenced, and continued to half -past one, when the French ship having lost aU her top- masts and her hull much shattered, struck her colours. She was the twenty-eight gun corvette or frigate "Tourterelle," Captain Gr. S. Montalan, and out of a crew of two hundred and thirty men, had sixteen officers and men killed and twenty-five wounded. The rigging and sails of the " Lively" were greatly damaged by red hot shot fired fi-om her opponent, who had on her lower deck a furnace for heating them, which was thrown overboard just before she sur- rendered. The "Lively" had but three officers and one seaman wounded.
Yice-Admiral W. Hotham's Action with the French Fleet. — March 14th, 1795.
YiCE-Admiral Hotham, with the British fleet composed of the "Britannia," Yice-Admiral Hotham, Captain J. Hollo- way; " Princess Eoyal," Yice-Admiral Goodall, Captain J. C. Purvis ; "St. Greorge," Yice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Caj)tain T.Foley; " Windsor Castle," Rear- Admiral Linzee, Captain J. Gore, " Captain" S. Reeve ; " Bedford," D. Gould ; " Forti- tude," W. Young ; " niustrious," T. L. Frederick "Terrible," G. Campbell; "Courageux," A. Montgomery "Agamemnon," Horatio Nelson; "Diadem," C. Tyler " Egmont," J. Sutton ; Frigates : "Inconstant," G. Fremantle "Romulus," G. Hope ; " Lowestoffe," B. HaUoweU "Meleager," G. Cockburn ; " Poulette," "Tarlton," and
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"Moselle," sloops, and the -Tox," cutter, was lying in Leghorn roads, when he received intelligence that the French fleet of fifteen sail of the line and six frigates, had sailed from Toulon for Corsica. On March 9th the British fleet ■neighed and put to sea, and on the 11th and 12th came in sight of the French, who showed no disposition to engage. On the morning of March 1 3th, Admiral Hotham made the signal for a general chase, and the weather being squally, at eight a.m. the French ship " Ca Ira " eighty, ran foul of the " Victoire " eighty, and carried away her own fore and main topmasts. While in this condition, the "Inconstant" frigate came up and fired a broadside or two at her, but receiving a shot between wind and water from one of the lower deck guns of the " Ca Ira," the frigate was compelled to bear up, and a French frigate took the disabled ship in tow. Shortly after- wards, the "Agamemnon," Captain H. Nelson, came up on the quarter of the " Ca Ira," and raked and harassed her for several hours, shooting away her mizzen topmast, and greatly damaging her hull, and inflicting on her a loss of over one hundred men in killed and wounded. Soon after two p.m., some of the French ships bearing down to the rescue of their distressed companion, and the Admiral making the signal for the van ships to join him, the "Agamemnon" bore up, and the action for that day ceased. At daybreak on the following morning, March 14th, the " Ca Ira," towed by the "Censeur" seventy-four, was seen to be far to lee- ward and separated from the rest of the French fleet, and at half-past six a.m., the "Captain" and "Bedford," by signal attempted to cut them off and closely engaged the two French ships. After a sharp engagement of an hour and a half, the "Illustrious" and " Courageux " with other ships, came to the support of the two overmatched British seventy-fours, and a partial action followed, which lasted till about two p.m., when the enemj' abandoned the "Ca Ira" and "Censeur," and stood away to the westward under all sail. The British van ships had
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suffered so much in their rigging; the "Illustrious" and " Courageux" having both lost their main and mizzen masts, that Admiral Hotham did not pursue the enemy, and the two fleets steering in opposite directions, soon lost sight of each other.*
The "AsTRiEA" axd "Gtloire," April 10th, 1795.
A British squadron of five ships of the line and three fi'igates under Rear Admiral Colpoys, being on a cruise to the westward, on April 10th fell in with three French frigates, and immediately chased. The enemy took different courses, one of them, the "Gloire" thirty-six, being pursued by the "Astrsea" thirty-two, Captain Lord H. Paulet, followed at a great distance by one or two of the other ships. At six p.m. the " Astraea " got within gunshot, and a running fight was kept up till half -past ten, when a close action commenced ; and after a spirited contest of about an hour the " Grloire " hauled down her colours. The " Astrsea " did not have a man killed and but eight men (one mortally) wounded, the loss of the " Grloii'e " was forty killed and wounded altogether. The first Lieutenant of the "Astrsea," J. Talbot, was put in charge of the prize, and took her into Portsmouth harbour.
The " Thetis " a^d " Hussar," May 17th, 1795.
The " Thetis " thirty-six gun fi-igate, Captain Hon. A. J. Cochrane, and the " Hussar " twenty eight. Captain J. P.
• Having in addition to their crews, a quantity of troops on board, the united loss of the two French ships captured was about four hundred men ; the loss of the British fleet was seventy-three men killed, and two hundred and eighty wounded. More than one-third of the casualties were sustained by the "Courageux" and "Illustrious." The "Agamemnon" was also warmly engaged on the I4th, her crew being " obliged to fight on both sides the ship." When the " Ca Ira " and " Censeur " struck, Nelson sent Lieutenant George Andrews to board them, who hoisted the English colours, and took their Captains by order of Admiral Hotham on board the " Princess Koyal." Nelson proposed the vigorous pursuit of the enemy, but Hotham replied : " We must be contented, we have done very well."
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Beresford, in May, 1795, were stationed off Chesapeake Bay, U. S. America, watching three French store ships lying in Hampton Roads. At daybreak on the 17th, about twenty leagues from Cape Henry, they discovered five sail standing to the north west, and gave chase. The strange ships formed in line, and awaited the approach of the British frigates. About half past ten a.m. the " Hussar" being abreast of the van ships the strangers hoisted French colours, and the " Thetis " placing herself alongside the centre ship, which was the largest, the enemy opened their fire which was at once returned. After an action of about half an hour, the two leading ships of the enemy left the line, and made sail to the south east, while the "Hussar" joined the "Thetis" in attacking the centre ship and the two ships in her rear. At a quarter to twelve all three struck their colours and surren- dered, the centre ship being the " Prevoyante " pierced for thirty-six, but actually carrying twenty-four guns. Her hull was much damaged, and her fore and mainmasts went over the side in half an hour after her capture. Notwithstanding their surrender, the two ships in the rear endeavoured to make ofp, one of them, the "Eaison" eighteen guns, was brought to by the " Hussar," the other effected her escape. The " Thetis " had eight men killed, and nine wounded, the " Hussar," three men wounded. Both the prizes were pur- chased by the government and added to the British Navy.
The " Mosquito " and a Privateer, June 9th, 1795.
On June 9th, 1795, the "Mosquito" five, gim vessel, Lieutenant Macarthy, after a smart action captured a French privateer in the Channel.
In the same year the "Mosquito" with her commander and all hands was lost on the coast of France, near Jersey.
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The Retreat of Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, June 17th, 1795.
Vice-Admiral the Hon. W. Cornwallis, with the "Eoyal Sovereign," one hundred, flagship, Captain J. Whitby ; " Mars," Sir C. Cotton ; " Triumph," Sir E. Gower ; " Bruns- wick," Lord Charles Fitzgerald ; " Bellerophon," Lord Cranston, all seventy-fours ; the frigates "Phseton," Hon. R. Stopford ; " Pallas," Hon. H. Curzon ; and the " Kingfisher," sloop, at the end of May, 1795, sailed from Spithead on a cruise off Ushant. On June 16th, near Belle-Isle, he dis- covered a French fleet of twelve sail of the line, fourteen frigates and corvettes, and four smaller vessels, and finding it so superior in force hauled to the wind, and stood to the northward under all sail. Some of the British ships being heavy sailers, on the morning of June 17th, the enemy's fleet formed in three divisions, came up very fast, and at about nine a.m. their van ships opened fire on the "Mars," the rearmost ship in the British squadron. The cannonade soon became general, each of the British ships firing her stern or quarter guns as she coiild bring them to bear. The leading French ships kept up a harassing fire for three or four hours, when Admiral Cornwallis, seeing that the "Mars," much crippled in her rigging, had fallen to leeward, and was in danger of being overpowered, bore up to her relief followed by the "Triumph." On the approach of the " Eoyal Sovereign," the van ships of the enemy haiiled to the wind, but a partial firing was kept up till after six in the evening. About seven o'clock the French gave up the pursuit, tacked and stood away to the eastward, and at sunset were nearly hull down. What induced the French Admiral to retire when his ships had almost surrounded the British squadron, was a success- ful manoeuvre practised on him by Admiral Cornwallis. Early on the morning of the 17th, he sent the "Phaiton" far ahead of his squadron, in order, as he said, "to humbug the fellows astern." Having got some miles off, the " Phse-
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ton made the signal of strange sails in the west north west, followed by the signal for a fleet. At three p.m., being very far ahead, the frigate made the private signal to the supposed fleet, and then signalling to Admiral Cornwallis that the fleet were ships of the line and friends, wore to rejoin the squadron. The enemy were well acquainted with the British signals, and knew that a fleet under Lord Bridport was at sea, and several small sail appearing at the same time in the extreme distance, they deemed them to be his ships, and gave up the chase.
With the exception of the "Mars" and "Triumph," the British ships received but little damage, but their sterns were much shaken from the continued firing of the guns ; not a man was killed, and but twelve men wounded on board the "Mars."
Lord Bridport' s Action with the French Fleet, June 23rd, 1795.
On June 12th, Admiral Lord Bridport sailed from St. Helens with the Channel Fleet, consisting of the "Eoyal George" (flagship) Captain W. Domett ; "Queen," Vice-Admiral Sir A. Gardner, Captain W. Bedford; " London," Vice-Admiral Colpoys, Captain E. Griffith ; " Prince of Wales," Eear- Admiral H. Hervey, Captain J. Bazeley ; "Sans Pareil," Eear-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour, Captain W. Browell ; "Queen Charlotte," Sir A. Douglas ; "Prince," C. P. Hamilton ; " Barfleur," J. E. Dacres ; " Prince George," W. Edge ; "Valiant," C.Parker; " Eobust," E. Thornborough ; "Orion," Sir J. Saumarez ; "Thunderer," A. Bertie; "Irresistible,"
E. Grindall ; "Eussell," T. Larcom ; " Colossus," J. Monckton; "Standard," J. EUison. Frigates : "Eevolutionnaire,"
F. Cole; "ThaHa," Lord H. Paulet; "Nymph," G. Murray ; " Aquilon," E. Barlow ; "Astraea," E. Lane ; the " Babet " sloop, two Fire ships ; the "Argus" and "Dolly" Cutters, and the lugger " Galatea. Eight of the British ships were
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throe deckers. At daybreak on June 22nd, the French fleet of twelve sail of the line, including one ship of one hundred and twenty, and five of eighty guns ; two ships of fifty-six guns, eleven frigates, and two corvettes, was discovered by the "Nymph" and "Astrjea," about fourteen leagues from Belle-Isle. The enemy showing no disposition to engage, Lord Bridport signalled his best sailing .ships to chase, and shortly afterwards signalled his whole fleet to do the same. The pursuit was continued the whole of the day and the following night, with very little wind. On the morning of 23rd, the "Queen Charlotte," "Irresistible," "Orion," "Colossus," " Sans Pareil," and "EusseU," came up with the rear of the enemy, who were running for L'Orient, just before six a.m. the action commenced, and continued till noon, when three of the French ships struck. The rest of their fleet escaped, and anchored under the protection of the batteries ofE Port L'Orient. The loss of the British ships were thirty-one men killed, and one hundred and thirteen wounded. The three captured ships had over six hundred and fifty of their crew killed and wounded. One of them, the "Alexander" seventy-four, had been taken fi-om the British, in November of the preceding year. Another, the "Formidable," a fine sevent3'-four, was added to the British Navy and well known afterwards as the "Belleisle," as well as the third prize, the "Tigre," a similar ship, which retained her name.
The " Droo " and " Lowestoffe," Juna24th, 1795.
Admiral Hotham having dispatched the " Dido," twent}"^- eight, Captain Gr. H. Towry, with the "Lowestofle," thirty- two, Captain R. Gr. Middleton, to reconnoitre the harbour of Toulon ; these fi-igates on the morning of June 24th, discovered nearly ahead, the French frigates "Minerve," forty, and the " Artemise," thirty-six ; which at first made sail away, but on observing the inferior force of the British
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ships, wore, and stood on under easy sail to meet them. At about half -past eight the " Minerve " opened fire on the " Dido," and being almost double the size of the British frigate, suddenly bore up, and attempted to finish the contest at once by running her down. By a skilful movement the " Dido " received the shock obliquely, the " Minerve " carried away her jib-boom, and her bowsprit became locked in the mizzen rigging of the " Dido." Under a heavy fire of musketry the Frenchmen made an unsuccessful attempt to board, till their bowsprit broke in two, and carried with it overboard eight or ten of their boarders, and the "Dido's" mizzen-mast. The ships then were disentangled, and the "Lowestoffe " coming up, by her well-directed fire shot away the " Minerve' 8 " foremast, and her main and mizzen top- masts. The " Minerve " being thus disabled, Captain Towry sent the "Lowestoffe" in chase of the " Artemise," and the two ships exchanged a shot or two, but the French frigate, increased her distance so fast from her pursuer, that Captain Towry made the signal of recall. At half-past eleven the "Lowestoffe" opened a raking fire on the "Minerve," and the " Dido " which had gone ahead to repair damages, again bearing down to take part in the contest, the French frigate her mizzen-mast with her colours having gone by the board, surrendered.* The "Dido" out of her complement of one hundred and ninety-three men, had her boatswain and five men killed, and fifteen wounded, the " Lowestoffe " but three
* " The little "Dido" with eight and twenty nine-pounders was the Commodore, and led on first. The French Commodore ran aboard of her, in consequence of which the "Dido's" mizzen mast was carried away, and in this close intercourse the chief part of her loss was sustained. Up comes " Lowestoffe," and raked her — " Dido " at her on the lee bow. Away goes " Minerve's " foremast, bowsprit, maintopmast, and mizzenmast. The other fellow, a most abominable coward, after fighting a little, sheered ofi, and the " Lowestofie " made after him. Owing to superior sailing he unfortunately got away and fled. In the meanwhile, "Dido" hauled off to repair damages, she made a signal for us to return, so " Lowestoffe " tacked and stood towards " Minerve," when we favoured her so plentifully with our shot as caused the national flag to be struck. What three hearty cheers we gave." Letter from an Officer of the " Lowestoffe."
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men wounded. The loss of the "Minerve," with a crew of three hundred and eighteen men, was about thirty killed, wounded, and drowned. The weight of the broadside of the "Minerve" alone, was more than that of the two British frigates together, and the " Artemise " was superior in men and armament to the "Lowestoffe." The "Minerve" was added to the British navy as a thirty-eight gun frigate.
The " Spider," with Two Brigs, August 25th, 1795.
On August 25th, 1795, the "Spider," Cutter, Lieutenant Oswald, attached to a squadron under Admiral Duncan, in the North Sea, fought an action with two French brigs, and captured one of them.
The " Diamond " at Port Spergui, March 17th, 1796.
Captain Sir W. Sidney Smith with the " Diamond " thirty eight, the brig "Liberty " fourteen, Lieutenant G. McKinley, and the "Aristocrat," lugger. Lieutenant A. Gossett, on March 17th resolved to attack a French corvette and six smaller vessels, lying in the Port of Spergui, near Cape Frehel, on the coast of Brittany. The entrance to the port which is narrow and intricate, was defended by two batteries, one on a rocky height, which opened fire on the British ships as they stood in. A detachment of seamen and marines being landed, scaled the precipice and spiked the guns, with the loss of one officer mortally wounded, and the squadron in spite of the fire fi-om the ships, and a body of troops on the beach and rocks, set on fire and destroyed the " Etourdie " corvette of sixteen guns, four brigs, two sloops, and a lugger. At ten p.m. the British weighed and stood of the place with a loss of two men killed and six wounded.
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Thk " Indefatigable " and " Virginie," April 20th, 1796.
On April 20th, 1 796, Sir E. Pellew with the ' ' Indefatigable " forty -four, "Amazon" thirty-six, R. 0. Eeynolds, and " Concorde " thirty-six, A. Hurst, fell in, off the Lizard, with a French frigate, to whom he gave chase. The ' 'Indefatigable" being the fastest ship of the squadron, after a chase of fifteen hours, overhauled the stranger soon after midnight on April 20tli, and a close action commenced, both ships carrying a crowd of sail. Before two p.m. the mizzen mast and maintop- mast of the Trench fi-igate were shot away besides other damage, and the " Indefatigable " with the loss of her mizzen topmast, and the leech ropes of her main topsail gone, shot ahead, and while repairing her rigging had some difficulty in escaping being raked by her opponent. By this time the " Concorde " had come up, and ranged herself under the stern of the enemy, and the " Amazon " also was fast approaching. Convinced of the futility of further resistance, the French ship, her hull riddled, and with four feet of water in her hold, lowered her light as a signal of submission. The prize was the forty-gun frigate "Virginie," with a crew of three hundred and thirty -nine men and boys, of which four- teen were killed and twenty-seven wounded in the engage- ment. The "Indefatigable" did not lose a man. The " Virginie " was added to the British Navy as a thirty-eight gun frigate.
The " Unicorn " and " Santa Margaritta," with two French Frigates, June 8th, 1796.
At daybreak on the morning of June 8th the " Unicorn " thirty-two. Captain T.B.Williams, and the "Santa Margaritta" Captain T. B. Martin, about seventeen leagues fi'om Scilly, met with and chased two French frigates and a corvette. At one p.m. the frigates hoisted their colours and opened fire on the " Margaritta " which ran alongside her oj)ponent, and in
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twenty minutes compelled her to strike. The prize was the thirty-two gun frigate " Tamise," formerly the British frigate " Thames," captured in 1793. Her loss was thirty-two killed, and nineteen wounded, the casualties of the "Santa Margaritta" were two seamen killed, and three wounded. The other frigate seeing the fate of her consort, made sail away, hut was chased by the " Unicorn," and after a running fight of ten hours, and a close engagement of half an hour, the French ship having lost her fore and main masts, and mizzen topmast, hauled down her colours. She jjroved to be the " Tribune," forty -four guns, and three hundred and thirty- seven men, of which thirty-seven were killed and fifteen wounded in the action. Not a nian was killed or wounded on board the "Unicorn." The " Tiibune " wa,s added to the British Navy, and on his return to England, Captain Williams received the honour of knighthood.
The "Southampton" and "Utlle," June 9th, 1796.
As the British fleet was ci-uising before Toulon, a French corvette was discovered in the road of Hyeres, and by the order of Sir J. Jervis, the " Southampton," a thirty -two gun frigate, Captain J. Macnamara, stood in to capture her. At half-past eight in the evening the British frigate got alongside the French Corvette "Utile" twenty-four guns, who fired her broadside at the "Southampton," in reply to a summons to surrender. The fire was returned, and the " Southampton " hauling athwart the bow of the corvette, lashed her bowsprit to her own main rigging, and carried her by boarding in ten minutes. Both ships were within range of Fort Briganqon, which opened fire on the " Southampton " and her prize, but the lashings being cut, the frigate with the corvette in tow, made sail, and re-joined the British fleet, with no more damage than a shot through her mizzen mast. In this spirited action, the " Southampton " had but one man killed, but the " Utile "
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lost her Captain and seven other officers and men, with seventeen wounded. The prize was added to the British Navy, and Lieutenant Chas. Lydiard, who led the hoarders of the "Southampton," was promoted to her command.
The "Dryad" and "Proserpine," June 13th, 1796.
On June 13th, the "Dryad" thirty-six, Captain Lord A. Beauclerk, about twelve leagues from Cape Clear, sighted the French frigate " Proserj)ine " of forty guns, which on nearing the " Dryad " tacked, and made sail away. The "Dryad" immediately chased, and about nine p.m., coming up on her opponent's lee quarter, brought her to close action, with such effect, that in three quarters of an hour the "Proserpine" hauled down her colours, with a loss of thirty killed, and forty-five wounded. The casualties of the "Dryad" were two men killed, and seven wounded. The rigging of both ships was much cut, but neither of them lost a spar. The prize was taken into the British Nav}^ under the name of "Amelia."
The "Terpsichore" and "Mahonesa," October 13th, 1796.
Spain having declared war against England ; on Oct. 13th, 1796, the "Terpsichore " thirty-two, Captain E. Bowen, while cruising off Carthagena, observed a strange sail standing to- wards her. The " Terpsichore " had left thirty of her crew in hospital at Gibraltar, and had more than that number on the sick list on board, none of whom were able to appear at quarters, so she stood on her course, followed by the stranger. At about half -past nine in the morning the pursuing vessel, a Spanish frigate, arrived within hail of the " Terpsichore," who fired a gun at her opponent, which was instantly returned by a broadside. A close action lasting an hour and a half
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followed, when the Spaniard made sail away, leaving the '' Terpsichore " with her masts and bowsprit shot through, and her rigging much damaged. In about twenty minutes the British frigate had repaired damages and again got along- side her antagonist, whose hull being much shattered, and several of her guns disabled, gave up the contest and struck her colours. She was the Spanish frigate " Mahonesa," thirty- four guns, commanded by Captain Don Tomas Ayaldi, and of her crew of two hundred and seventy-five, had thirty men killed, and as many wounded, some mortally. The "Terpsichore," out of her crew of one hundred and eighty- two, lost none in killed, and had but four men wounded. Captain Bowen took his prize into Gibraltar. She was the first Sj)anish ship captured after the declaration of war, but was so much damaged in the action, that she was not considered worth the cost of a thorough repair.
The "Lapwing," " Decius " and " Vaillante." December 3rd, 1796.
At the end of November, intelligence having reached St. Kitts in the "West Indies, that two French ships were attack- ing the Island of Anguilla, the frigate "Lapwing" twenty- eight, Cajitain E,. Barton, lying at St. Kitts, weighed and sailed for the place. On the approach of the British frigate, two French ships, the "Decius" twenty-six guns, and the brig " Yaillante " six guns, were seen standing out of the Bay of Anguilla, and were immediately chased. At about ten p.m. the "Lapwing" closely engaged both of them, and after an hour's contest the brig bore away, and the " Decius" making- a fruitless attempt to escape, surrendered. As soon as Captain Barton had secured his prize, he made for the brig, which had run on shore, and destroyed her. The "Lapwing" whose principal damage was in her rigging, had one man killed and six wounded. The "Decius," who had a body of troops on
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board, was computed to have lost in killed and wounded, about one hundred men. The loss of the brig could not be ascertained. On the following day, the "Lapwing" with her prize in tow, was chased by two French frigates, and to escape from his pursuers, Captain Barton, after removing his prisoners, set the " Decius " on fire, and reached 8t. Kjtts in safety.
The "Mineuve" a^^d "Blanche," with two Spanish Frigates, December 19th, 1796.
Commodore Nelson in the " Minerve " thirty-eight. Captain G. Coekburn, with the "Blanche" thirty-two, Captain D. Preston, on his way from Gibraltar to Porto Ferrajo, on December 19th, fell in with two Spanish frigates off Cartha- gena. Directing Captain Preston to attack the frigate to leeward, the Commodore hauled up and engaged the larger of the two frigates, at about ten-forty p.m. After a close action of about three hours, the Spanish frigate "Sabina" forty. Captain Don Jacobo Stuart"', with the loss of her mizzen mast, and one hundred and sixty men killed and wounded, struck her colours. The "Minerve" had a mid- shipman and six men killed, and thirty-four men wounded. Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, with forty men were placed on board the prize, which was taken in tow ; but at four a.m. another Spanish frigate the " Matilda," coming up, she was cast off, and stood away. At four-thirt}', the "Minerve" was closely engaged with the thirty-four gun frigate "Matilda" which after an action of half an hour, hauled off, but three other Spanish ships, one of them of one hundred and twelve guns, coming in sight, she escaped capture. The "Minerve," her masts and sails much damaged, and ten more of her men wounded, was
* Don Jacobo Stuart, one of the best officers in the Spanish service, was a descendant of the Duke of Berwick, son of James II. King of England. He was sent to Carthagena and exchanged against Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, taken in the " Sabina."
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chased by the Spanish squadron during next day, and only by the greatest exertions got clear of her pursuers at nightfall. In a few minutes after the " Minerve" had engaged the "Sabina," the "Blanche" had opened fire on the other Spanish frigate, and after a few broadsides the "Ceres" forty, called for quarter, and surrendered. But at this time two more of the frigates of the enemy came within gun shot, followed by a three decker, and Captain Preston was compelled to abandon his prize, and make sail after the "Minerve." The "Blanche" sustained no loss. In the meanwhile, the "Sabina," with the British colours flying over the Spanish, had been re-taken, but Lieutenent Culverhouse did not surrender his prize, till her remaining masts were shot away, and she lay a mere wreck on the water. Had not the " Sabina " occupied most of the Spanish ships in chasing and re-capturing her, the "Minerve" in all probabiKty would have been taken.
The "Indefatigable" and "Amazon," with the "Droits DE l' Homme." January 13th, 1797.
The " Indefatigable " forty-four, Captain Sir E. Pellew, and the "Amazon" thirty -two, Captain R. C. Reynolds, on December 13th, about fifty leagues south west of Ushant, discovered a large ship steering towards the coast of France. This was the " Droits de I'Homme " seventy-four, Commodore J. La Crosse, which had formed one of the French fleet in the expedition to Ireland, and after the failure at Bantry Bay, was now returning home, with about seven hundred troops on board. The weather was thick and hazy, and the wind blew hard from the westward. Soon after the French ship had been sighted and found to be an enemy, a squall carried away her fore and main top-masts, and the sea ran so high that she was unable to open her lower deck ports. Shortly before six p.m. the " Indefatigable " brought the " Droits de I'Homme " to action, and in about an hour after, the " Amazon" came
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up and took part in the engagement ; the enemy making several ineffectual attempts to board, and keeping up an active fire of cannon and musketry. In a little time the British fi-igates shot ahead, the " Amazon " to reduce her sail, and the " Indefatigable " to repair the damage to her rigging. About half -past eight, the frigates renewed the action, attack- ing their opponent first on the bow, and then on the quarter, often within pistol shot. The contest lasted till twenty minutes past four a.m. when the sudden appearance of the land, and breakers close ahead, caused all the ships to end an engagement which had lasted ten hours, and make efforts to haul off. The "Indefatigable" at once bore to the south- wards, with four feet of water in her hold, all her masts much damaged, and her crew almost worn out with fatigue. The "Droits de 1' Homme " in attempting to tack, lost her fore mast and bowsprit, and struck on a sand bank in Audierne Bay. The main mast went by the board, and she then fell on her broadside, with a tremendous surf beating over her. The " Amazon '•'^' seeing the danger, also wore, with three feet of water in her hold, but with her mizzen top-mast shot away, and her masts and rigging almost cut to pieces, was unable to haul off, and went on shore about the same time. Her crew with the exception of six, who were drowned, saved themselves on rafts, but on landing were all made prisoners by a body of French soldiers. In the action three men were killed, and fifteen wounded. On board the " Indefatigable " whicli with the greatest difiicidty weathered the Penmark Eocks, the first Lieutenant and eighteen men were wounded. Through the stormy state of the weather, the crew of the iUfated " Droits de 1' Homme," spent four nights on the wreck without succour, the waves constantly breaking over them, till more than half of them were drowned, or perished of cold and hunger. Her crew with the soldiers, amounted
* At the distribution of the General Naval Medal in January, 1849 seven medals only were claimed by the survivors of the crew of the " Amazon."
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to at least one thousand three hundred and fifty men, and of these, two hundred and fifty were killed and wounded in the engagement with the British frigates. Some English prisoners Avho were on board when she struck, and who fortunately got to land, in consideration of their sufferings, and the assistance they rendered, were sent home without ransom or exchange by the French Government.
Sir John Jervis off Cape St. Vijs'CExt, February 14th, 1797 (see ante) page 37.
The "San Fiorenza" and "Nymphe," with Two French Frigates, March 9th, 1797.
Early in the morning of March 9th, the frigates "San Fiorenza" thirty-six. Captain Sir H. Neale, and "Nymphe" thirty-six. Captain J. Cooke, cruising off Brest, met with the French frigate " Resistance " forty, and corvette " Constance " twenty -two, standing in towards the port, in which a French fleet of fourteen sail of the line, and six frigates was Ijdng, in sight from the tops of the British vessels. Having the weather gauge, the " San Fiorenza" and "Nymphe" bore down and engaged the "Eesistance," which soon surrendered, and the "Constance" coming up, after a resistance of about ten minutes, also hauled down her colours. The whole affair, which was a running fight, was over in half an hour. Neither of the British ships sustained any loss. The prizes were two very fine vessels, and were both added to the British Navy, the " Eesistance " having her name changed to the " Fisgard."-''
* These two Ships formed part of a frigate squadron, which had made a descent on the Welsh Coast, and had landed one thousand two hundred men, principally galley slaves, in Fisgard Bay. They surrended on the first summons to a body of Militia, under Lord Cawdor.
90 naval medals.
Battle of Camperdown. October 1 1th, 1797, {see ante). Page 39.
The "Phcebe" and Nereide," December 2 1st, 1797.
On December 20tb, the "Phoebe" thirty-six, Captain R. Barlow, crusing in the North Atlantic, fell in with the French thirty-six gun frigate "Nereide," which on seeing the "Phoebe," hauled to the wind. The latter ship immediately stood after the "Nereide" and the chase lasted all day, till about nine p.m., when the British frigate got within gunshot of her opponent. A running fight continued till ten p.m., when the two ships got fairly alongside each other, and after a close action of forty-five minutes, the "Nereide" lowered her light, and hailed to saj^ she had surrendered. The rigging of both ships was much damaged, and the hull of the French frigate was considerably shattered, but neither lost a mast. The loss of the "Nereide" was twenty killed and fifty-five wounded, the casualties on board the "Phoebe" were three men killed and ten wounded. The prize was purchased for the British Navy, and classed under the same name as a thirty-six gun frigate.
The "Mars" and "L'Heroule."
April 21st, 1798.
In the spring of 1798, a detachment of the Channel fleet, under Admiral Lord Bridport was cruising off Brest. On April 21st, three strange sail were discovered, one of which, a French seventy-four was chased by the "Mars" seventy- four, Captain Alex. Hood, the " Eamilies " seventy-foui', Captain H. Inman, and the " Jason " thirty-eight gun frigate, Captain C. Stirling. Shortly after six in the evening the "Eamilies" carried away her fore-top mast and fell astern,
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and the chase was continued by the "Mars " and " Jason," the rest of the British fleet being distant ten or twelve miles. The French ship, which was "L'Hercule" a new seventy- four just out of port, finding herself unable to escape through the passage du Eaz into Brest, dropped her anchor, and with her sails furled and a spring on her cable, awaited the approach of the " Mars." About nine fifteen p.m. the "Mars" which had left the "Jason" far astern, was fired on by the " L'Hercule," and gave a return, when Captain Hood ranging a short distance ahead of his opponent, let go his anchor. The "Mars" dropping astern through the strength of the current, the anchor on her larboard bow became hooked in the starboard anchor of the "Hercule," and thus entangled, their sides rubbing together so that the lower deck guns of each ship coidd not be run out, but were fired within board, the two ships fought for nearly an hour and a half. Two attempts of the Frenchmen to board the "Mars" were defeated, and the starboard side of the " Hercule " being terribly shat- tered, several of her ports beaten into one, and five of her lower deck guns dismounted, at ten-thirty, she hailed that she had surrendered. In this severe action the " Mars " lost her gallant Captain, Hood,*" twenty-nine ofiicers and men killed and missing, and sixty men wounded. The loss of the "Hercule," out of a crew of seven hundred men, was two hundred and ninety killed and wounded. About twenty minutes after the engagement terminated, the "Jason" came up, and assisted in removing the prisoners and getting the prize under sail. The damages to her hull were so extensive, that it was with the greatest difficulty that she was brought into Plymouth, where she was refitted, and added to the British Navy.
* Captain Hood was mortally wounded by a musket ball, soon after the action commenced, but lived just long enough to hear the cheers given, when his opponent struck. He was a nephew to Admirals Lord Hood and Bridpcrt.
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Defence op Maecouf. May 6tli, 1798.
The Islets of Marcouf, lying about four miles from the coast of Normandy, were taken possession of hy Sir Sydney Smith, in the year 1 795, as a post for obtaining information from France, and for intercepting the trade between Cherboui'g and Havre. They were garrisoned by about five hundred seamen and marines, under the command of Lieutenant C. P. Price of the "Badger," and Lieutenant P. Bourne of the "Sandfly" gunboat, and a small naval force was appointed to cruise near the place. During the night of May 6th, 1798" the Prench made a determined effort to re-take the Islands, with a large body of seamen and soldiers, on board a flotilla of about eighty flat bottomed boats and gunvessels. At day- break the next morning. Lieutenant Price opened fire on the approaching enemy with seventeen pieces of cannon, which was warmly returned by the French gun brigs, and under cover of their fire, the troops in the boats pushed on towards the shore. But on getting within musket shot, the boats received such volleys of round, grape, and canister shot, that six or seven of them were " cut into chips," and sank with all on board. Another was found on shore bottom upwards, and the remainder retreated in confusion to La Hogue. According to an account of their own, the French had over one thousand men kiUed, wounded, and drowned in this affair ; the loss of the British was one man killed and four wounded. The "Adamant," "Eurydice," and "Orestes," were within six miles of the islands, but being becalmed, and the tide against them, were unable to take any part in the defence. For their conduct, Lieutenants Price and Bourne were promoted to the rank of commander. At the peace of Amiens the islands were evacuated.
The "Lion" axd Four Spanish Frigates, July 15th, 1798. On July 15th, the "Lion" sixty-four, Captain Manley Dixon, about thirty leagues off Carthagena, met with four
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thirty -four gun Spanish, frigates, one of them, the ' ' Santa Dorotea," forty-two, having lost her fore-topmast. The Spanish ships formed in line of battle, but the "Lion" having the weather gage, bore down, and succeeded in cutting off the " Dorotea," left astern by her consorts. This sliip though her topmast was gone, sailed nearly as well as the "Lion," and the other three frigates tacked, and made three attempts to support her, but each time receiving a broadside from Captain Dixon, at length haided off, and stood aw^ay to the north west. The "Lion" then got alongside the "Dorotea" and engaged her yard arm to yard arm, shooting away her mizzen mast, and damaging her main mast and rudder, till seeing herself abandoned by her comrades, and having twenty of her crew killed and thirty-two wounded, she struck her colours.* The " Lion " who was fifty men short of her complement, had a mid- shipman and one man wounded. The " Santa Dorotea " was afterwards, under the same name, added to the British Navy as a thirty-six gun frigate.
Battle of the Nile. August 1st, 1798, (see ante), page 40.
The "Espoie" axd the "Liguria,"
August 7th, 1798.
The brig-sloop "Espoir," fourteen guns (six pounders). Captain L. 0. Bland being in charge of a convo}^ a few leagues from Malaga, on August 7th, discovered a large ship steering with the intention of cutting off some of the vessels. Captain Bland made sail to meet her, and just before seven p.m. came within jnusket shot of the stranger, which had hove to for him to come up. The "Espoir" hoisted her colours, and was hailed by the enemy which displaj^ed none,
* But twenty-one medals were issued to the survivors of this action.
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to strike, or be sunk, this was followed by a shot, succeeded by a whole broadside, which Captain Bland returned. A severe action commenced, and lasted till past ten o'clock, when the enemy hailed, and said he was a Genoese. Captain Bland ordered him to lower his sails and come on board, to which he paid no attention, and shooting ahead to gain a raking position, he received the whole broadside of the " Espoir," which he returned, but the British sloop tacking to give him another, he again hailed, to say he had surrendered. This was about eleven p.m. the enemy lowered his sails, and all firing ceased. The prize turned out to be the " Liguria " a Grenoese pirate, mounting twelve long eighteen pounders, four twelve pounders, and sixteen long six pounders, besides sixteen wall pieces and swivels, with a crew of one hundred and twenty men of all nations, of whom seven were killed, and her captain and thirteen men wounded in the action. The only man killed on board the " Espoir " was the master, Mr. Solsby, and six men wounded. The "Liguria" which was alnaost double the size of the "Espoir "was a Dutch frigate, which had been purchased by the Genoese. On his return to England, Captain Bland was made a post captain, as a reward for his bravery and seamanship.
Sir J. B. Warren's Action with a French Squadron, October 12th, 1798.*'
In September, 1798, a French squadron, comprising the " Hoche " seventy -four. Commodore Bompart, three frigates of forty guns, five of thirty-six guns, and a schooner, with a body of troops on board, sailed from Brest, with the intention of mak- ing a descent on the coast of Ireland. The squadron was speedly discovered by some scouting British frigates, who brought the intelligence of its having put to sea to Lord Bridport, and Commodore Sir J. B. Warren, commanding on the Irish
* Eighty-one medals were given in 1849 to the survivors of this action.
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station. On October 1 1 th, Sir John with the ' 'Canada" seventy- four, flagship, " Foudroyant " eighty. Sir Thomas Byard, " Robust " seventy-four, E. Thornborough, " Magnamime " forty -four, Hon. M. I)e Courcy, "Ethalion" thirty-eight, Gr. Countess," " Melampus " thirty-six, G. Moore, "Amelia" thirty-six, Hon. C. Herbert, and "Anson" forty-four, P. C. Dui-ham, sighted the French ships bearing up for Tory Island, on the north west coast of Ireland, and chased them that day and the night following. During the night, which was very boisterous, the " Anson " lost her mizzen mast and main yard in a squaU, and the " Hoche " her main tojimast, and fore and mizzen top-gallant masts. At daybreak on the morning of October 12th, the French squadron was seen a little distance to the windward, formed in two lines. Soon after seven a.m. the " Robust " followed b^-the " Magnamime" bore down and engaged the " Hoche " and three frigates, but after a few broadsides, the frigates made sail away, and the " Hoche " after a most gallant defence, her hull and rigging cut to pieces, five feet of water in her hold, and twenty -five of her guns dismounted, struck her colours. The French fi-igates were pursued, and after a running fight of five hours, three of them were captured, the " Bellone," the " Coquille," and the " Euibuscade," of thirty-six guns each. The " Anson " being crippled, and far astern, exchanged broadsides with five French frigates as they passed her. The " Melampus " parted company in the chase, and at midnight on October 13th came up with another of the enemy, the " Resolue " thirty-six, which after a broadside or two, siirrendered. On October 17th the "Loire" forty, another of Commodore Bompart's squadron, fought a severe, but indecisive action with the "Mermaid" thirty -two, Captain. J. Newman ; and the next day, in a disabled condition, was captured after a smart engagement b}' the " Anson," which was in a crippled state herself, and the eighteen gun brig "Kangaroo." The prize, one of the finest frigates in the French Navy, was taken by Captain Durham into Plymouth.
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The " Hoche," lier name changed to the "Donegal," was added to the British Navy.
/ The " FisGARD " and " L'Immortalite,"
October 20th, 1798.
At eight on the morning of October 20th, the " Fisgard " thirty-eight. Captain T. B. Martin, discovered and chased "L'Immortalite " forty, one of Commodore Bompart's illfated squadron, making the best of her way to Brest. At half-past eleven a.m. the ships were near enough to exchange shots with their stern and bow guns, and in about an hour after, the " Fisgard " brought her opponent to close action. But so spirited was the resistance of "L'Immortalite," that in twenty -five minutes, the "Fisgard" with her sails and rigging cut to pieces, dropped astern, and the Frenchman made all sail to escape. At half -past one, the "Fisgard" having repaired damages, again got alongside her antagonist, and a more furious encounter than the first followed, which lasted till three p.m., when " L'Immortalite " her mizzen mast gone close to the deck, and almost in a sinking state, hauled down her colours. The masts and rigging of the " Fisgard " were much injured, and having received several shots between wind and water, she had six feet of water in her hold, and was obliged to keep a pump continually going. Her loss was ten seamen killed, and a Lieutenant of marines, and twenty-five men wounded. "L'Immortalite" with a crew of five hundred and eighty seamen and soldiers, lost her brave commander Captain Legrand, her first Lieutenant, and fifty-two other officers, seamen, and soldiers killed, and sixty- one wounded. The prize was taken into Plymouth and added to the British Navy.
The "Sybille" and "La Forte," February 28th, 1799.
The French frigate "La Forte " having made great havock on the British commerce in the Bay of Bengal, the " Sybille "
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thirty-eight, Captain E. Cooke, sailed from Madras in search of her. " La Forte," was a most formidable frigate, consider- ably larger than the *' Sybille " and cai'rying fifty-two guns, exclusive of swivels. About nine on the evening of February 28th, Captain Cooke discovered the French frigate, with two rich prizes, and at midnight got near enough to receive a broadside from the larboard guns of "La Forte," and a fire from one of her captures, which he did not return. After some manoeuvring the " Sybille," got under the stern of " La Forte," almost touching her spanker boom, and gave her the whole of her larboard broadside, and lufiing up to leeward, poured in another broadside with the most destructive effect. These two broadsides killed and woimded between fifty and sixty men on board "La Forte," and threw the enemy into such confusion that in their return they fired from both sides of their shij) at once. The frigates then engaged broadside to broadside ; the French Captain, a gallant veteran, was killed, and his first Lieutenant soon shared the same fate. About the same time Captain Cooke was mortally wounded by a grape shot, and Lieutenant Hardyman took the command. At two thirty, the fire from the French frigate, never very effective, entirely ceased, and the " Sybille " hailed to know if she had struck, receiving no reply, the "Sybille" recommenced firing, to which no return was made, and again hailed her opponent without effect. The Frenchmen then manned their rigging and attempted to escape, but their mizzen-mast being shot away in a few minutes after, their main and fore -masts with the bowsprit, went overboard, and the action ended. The "Sybille" had her sails and riggiug cut to pieces, and her main and mizzen-masts badly damaged, but had received but six shots in her hull. Captain Davies (an "aide de camp" to Lord Mornington) who was on board the "Sybille" as a volunteer, with four men were killed, and Captain Cooke (mortally) and sixteen men wounded. The "Forte" was a perfect wreck. Her bowsprit had gone close to the figure head, all her masts with the sails set were overboard, lier
98 NAVAIi MEDALS.
boats, booms, wheel and capstans, shot to pieces, and her starboard, quarter deck, and forecastle bulwarks, completely- destroyed ; in fact her starboard side from the bends upward was almost beaten in. Her Captain, first lieutenant, and other officers, with sixty of her crew were killed, and eighty- wounded, many of whom died afterwards. A detachment of the Scotch brigade, was on board the " Sybille " and rendered good service during the engagement. The two prizes escaped, though chased after the action by the " SybiUe." The "Forte" was taken into Calcutta, and added to the British Navy as a forty-four gun frigate.*' Her command was given to Lieutenant Hardyman.
The "Telegraph" and " L'Hirondelle." March 17th, 1799.
On March 1 8th at daylight, the British hired armed brig "Telegraph" sixteen guns, about nine leagues from the Isle de Bas, fell in with the French privateer brig " L'Hirondelle " of sixteen guns. After a smart action which lasted three hours and a half, "L'Hirondelle" being in an unmanageable state and totally unrigged, struck her colours. Of her crew of seventy-two men, five were killed and fourteen wounded. The "Telegraph" had five men wounded. Lieutenant J. A. Worth who commanded the " Telegraph," was promoted to the rank of commander as a recognition of his conduct in this affair. Though both ships mounted the same number of guns, those of the "Telegraph" with the exception of two, were eighteen pounder cannonades, the guns of " L'Hiron- delle " were nine and six pounders.
"La Forle " was one of the finest frigates ever built. Her length between decks was one hundred and twenty feet, her breadth forty- three feet, and her burden one thousand four hundred tons. The gallant Captain Cooke, lingered of his wound till the 25th of May following, when he died at Calcutta.
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*
Sir Sid]!^y Smith's Defence of Acre. May 20tli, 1799. The French Army under Bonaparte in March 1799 invaded Syria, and having carried Jaffa by storm, marched against 8t. .Jean d'Acre, which place they invested on March 18th, A few days before. Commodore Sir Sidne}^ Smith, in the " Tigre," seventy-four, with the "Theseus," seventy-four, Captain E. W. Miller, and the "Alliance," Captain D. Wilniot, anchored in the bay, and assisted the Pasha Djezzar in repelling the French attack. On the 18th, Sir Sidney captui-ed a French flotilla of seven vessels, laden with battering cannon, ammunition, and siege materiel from Eg\^3t, all of which was landed, and immediately employed in the defence of the place. In spite of the fire from the ships, armed boats, and the ramparts, the French pushed on their approaches, till on April 9th, the garrison aided by a detachment of seamen and marines, made a successful sortie, and almost destroyed the works of the besiegers. The " Tigre " being moored on one side of the town, and the " Theseus " on the other, completely flanked the walls, and repeated determined attempts made bj' the French to storm a wide breach in the defences, were repulsed with heavy loss. In one of these attacks, Captain Wilmot of the "Alliance " was killed. On May 7th, a strong body of Turkish troops arrived by sea, and the enemy made a most furious assault, in the hope of carrying the town before the reinforcements could be landed. So critical was the situation, that Sir Sidney landed his boats' crews, and at their head, defended the breach till the arrival of the Turks, when the assailants were driven back with great slaughter. Another attack the same night being defeated, the French grenadiers refused to mount the breach again over the decaying bodies of their former companions ; and all hope of success being at an end — Bonaparte, on the night of May 20th, raised the siege, and retreated towards Egypt, leaving twenty-three pieces of cannon, with their carriages burnt, in his trenches. The los
100 NAVAL MEDALS.
of the British, in these operations was sixty-six men killed and drowned, one hundred and thirteen wounded,* and eighty-two made prisoners.
The " Surprise " and " Hermione," October 25th, 1799, (see ante) page 42.
The " Pylades " & "Espiegle." Attack on Schiermonikoog^ August 11th and 12th, 1799.
On August 11th the British sloop "Pylades" sixteen, Captain A. MacKenzie, the British sloop " Espiegle," sixteen, Captain J. Bowden, the ten-gun cutter " Courier," Lieutenant T. Searle, forming part of a squadron cruising off the coast of Holland, under Captain F. Sotheran of the " Latona " thirty-eight, were ordered to attack some vessels lying between the island of Schiermonikoog and the main land. This service was performed with much bravery, the " Crash," formerly a gun brig in the British Navj', mounting twelve cannonades, being after a determined resistance of nearly an hour, captured and brought out. The next day. Captain MacKenzie having manned the "Crash," and appointed Lieutenant Slade of the " Latona " to command her ; with an armed schuyt captured from the enemy, and the launches and boats of the squadron, proceeded to attack the schooner " Yengeance " six guns, and other vessels, which were moored under the guns of a battery, on the Island of Schiermonikoog. In the face of a hot lire, Lieutenant Cowan of the "Pylades" landed and spiked the guns of the battery, the " Vengeance " was set on fire by her crew and destroyed, and a row boat and twelve schuyts taken possession of, without the loss of a man. In the cutting out of tlie "Crash" the "Pylades" had one man killed and two wounded.
* In this total of the British loss are included, Captain IMiller, and thirty-nnie other officers and men killed and drowned, and forty-seven wounded by the accidental explosion of some shells on the quarter deck of the "Theseus," on May 14th. The after part of the ship was blown to pieces, and she was with difficulty kept