Part 17

Admiral Arbuthnot, with the squadron, soon after passed Fort Moultrie with trifling loss, and anchored just without the range of shot from the town, which completed its investment towards the sea, though a communication was unavoidably open between the Garrison and the Country, by means of Cooper's River to the North-east. This was soon cut off by a large detachment under Colonel Webster, which General Clinton was enabled to spare, from his access to the sea being kept up by the ships of war. A very brilliant affair took place between the advanced guard of that force and a body of Americans, at Monk's Corner, which reflected much honour upon Colonel Tarleton and Major Fergusson, the former of whom, soon after, very justly secured permanent fame, by beating a Rebel Corps of Cavalry upon the banks of the Santee.

Early in May, the besiegers having completed their third parallel, Captain Hudson, of the Navy, was landed with 200 Seamen and Marines on Sullivan's Island, in order to have stormed the important post of Fort Moultrie, at the same time the ships were to attack by sea. The garrison surrendered to that party on the 6th of May. This had a strong effect upon our subsequent operations, as the town fell by capitulation on the 12th.

Very high commendations were bestowed upon Generals Earl Cornwallis, Leslie, and Paterson; Lieut. Colonels Webster and Tarleton, and Major Moncrieffe, also had their share of applause in Sir Henry Clinton's detail. The services of Captain Elphinstone, now Lord Keith, were also very signal. Much good was anticipated from this happy event, which was not, however, eventually realized.

The gallant exertions of Lord Cornwallis in the subsequent progress of the campaign, upon a minute retrospect, must rank him as a great and a zealous Officer. Colonel Tarleton also stands high upon its annals, which will be recognized in terms of eulogium by posterity.

Admiral Rodney, who had proceeded to the West Indies from Gibraltar, found himself opposed to a superior force of the enemy. Confiding in the long-tried valour of a British Fleet, he was determined, however, to dispute the palm with them. Monsieur Guichen, previous to his arrival, had paraded before St. Lucia, seemingly with a view of attempting something; but Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker and General Vaughan had evidently made such judicious dispositions, as deterred him from even a partial trial of force. Sir George Rodney soon returned the visit, and offered battle, which was not accepted. Leaving some coppered frigates to watch their motions, he returned to Gros Islet Bay.

In the night of the 15th of April, De Guichen put to sea, and was quickly followed, when a general chace ensued. At the close of day on the 16th, the English formed into line, and a series of able manœuvring on both sides took place next morning. At eleven the conflict began, which ended after four, when the enemy bore away. The English Fleet, obliged to repair its damages, could not pursue.

Most tremendous was the fire of the Sandwich, Admiral Rodney's ship, upon that day, and so visible were its effects, that it is impossible to calculate what can be achieved by Britons, when their valour is let loose, against any force, however great. Captain Carey, of Marines, was wounded in the Grafton, and Lieut. Herriot, who now so ably conducts a well-known paper entitled _The Sun_, in the Elizabeth.

Regaining sight of the French Fleet, they run for shelter under the guns of Guadaloupe upon the 20th. The talents of Captain Young, of the Sandwich, were peculiarly displayed upon this occasion, and were most auxiliary to the Commander in Chief. Thus was the Empire of these Seas recovered by an inferior Fleet, which was productive, however, only of a flimsy triumph, as there were no English troops to follow it up by an attack upon their islands. English commerce, however, was protected, while that of the French suffered much. Two other actions of lesser note were fought on the 15th and 19th of May, but equally indecisive.

The spirited countenance of Captain, now Admiral Cornwallis, off Monte Christi, in the Lion, of 64 guns, having under him the Bristol of 50, and Janus of 44, which were opposed by Monsieur La Motte Picquet, reputed one of the best Officers in the French Navy, with four 74 gun-ships and two frigates, must ever be noticed as one of the most brilliant incidents of the American war.

It has been the lot of that brave man, to have saved to his Country, in two instances, a respectable portion of her Naval forces, when apparently doomed to fall and overwhelmed by numbers. With his little squadron he resisted, successfully, this united attack, through the night of the 20th of March, and on the following day maintained the unequal combat nearly three hours. On the 22d the English Ruby, of 64 guns, and two frigates appeared, with which he, in turn, became the pursuer of La Motte Picquet, who, by his own account, and in the true spirit of a Frenchman, asserted his claim _to two hearts_, as being emblematical of his courage.

Some single actions were fought during 1780, that would have done honour to any period of our maritime greatness.

Amongst these may be noticed the capture of La Capricieuse, of 44 guns, by La Prudente frigate. Captain Waldegrave, now Lord Radsdale. Speaking of the conduct of his Marines on this occasion, he says, "In justice to Lieutenant Banks of the Marines, I must beg leave to observe to their Lordships, that his party behaved with the utmost steadiness and bravery, keeping up a regular and constant fire from the beginning of the action, till necessity called them to the great guns, when they shewed an equal share of spirit and good order."

Another terminated in the taking of La Nymphe by the Flora, Captain Peere Williams, which was manned principally by landsmen, and a raw party of Marines. Soon after the conflict began, the Flora's wheel was shot away, when both ships fell on board each other. This afforded some instances of individual gallantry, by repelling the enemy's boarders, and by the British returning the compliment, and eventually striking the flag of La Nymphe. Although complete adepts in the small sword, still it proved unavailing against the cutlass and the axe.

Lieutenant, now Captain Busigny of Marines, very much distinguished himself, and his sword bore marks of his valour.

Although not properly within my scope, still the bravery of Captain Moore in the Fame privateer of Dublin, cannot pass unnoticed. It reflected honour upon his Country. In his little ship of 24 guns and 108 men, he attacked five sail of the enemy formed into line, carrying 54 guns and 167 sailors. Four out of that number were taken, and recompensed his courage by their wealth.

The alertness of a British Seaman, whose name cannot be retraced, was the means of developing sufficient matter for reprisals against the Dutch, upon the 20th of December. Never did there appear such a scene of low intrigue, and selfish cunning as in these papers which were saved from the ocean. They betrayed a treaty of commerce, which had existed, in secret, ever since 1778, with the rebel states, which would have been soon cemented by one of alliance, under the same dark cover, if this disaster had not discovered all, and brought down the vengeance of Britain for such perfidy.

CHAP. XXXV.

Twenty thousand three hundred and seventeen Marines were voted for the service of 1781.

The widely extended commerce of Holland now lay open to general enterprize, which was soon successfully exerted. As avarice was the predominant cause of hostilities, so it was the object of chastisement.

Gibraltar attracted the early attention of our Ministry, by an effort to relieve it, which was accomplished by Admiral Darby, with the Grand Fleet, under circumstances of apparent difficulty, but of eventual good fortune. If the Combined Forces had been united, which was their annual policy and within their power, such an attempt must have been abortive, or performed at an unwarrantable risk.

That fortress persevered in a system of defence, peculiarly destructive to the enemy, and of a kind the most honorable to General Elliot and his garrison. Captain Hervey in the Panther, with his small squadron, also gave proofs of wonderful courage, in frustrating the aim of some fire vessels that were employed to burn it.

France always intent upon her own interests, embraced this occasion of reinforcing her West India fleets by a powerful detachment under the Compte De Grasse. This became necessary, from the return of De Guichen to Europe, who, after having joined Don Solano's fleet, went down to Hispaniola, with an evident purpose of attacking Jamaica, but from whom he separated without a stroke. Although the battles of Admiral Rodney afforded no signal marks of victory in captures, still _their effects_ had a strong influence in the conduct of De Guichen for proceeding homewards with those shattered ships, from amongst his fleet, that could be refitted only in Europe.

Holland soon felt the consequences of its baseness, by the loss of all its West India possessions, and some valuable convoys. The free port of St. Eustatius, hitherto the depot of America, and of every adventurer who had money, fell early in February without firing a gun. Demerara, Issequibo, and the Dutch Settlements on the Spanish main were successively taken, together with the Mars of 60 guns, Admiral Krowl, with 28 sail of merchantmen under his protection, who was killed by a musquet ball, in a short action with the Monarch, Captain Reynolds.

Sir Samuel, now Lord Hood, having been soon after sent to windward to cruize for De Grasse, was limited to a station, which gave little hope of ultimate success.

Three sail of the line were unfortunately retained at St. Eustatius, which would have been a valuable addition to his force, thus inferior to the expected arrivals from France.

The British Admiral continued off Fort Royal, Martinique, until the 28th of April, when a signal was made for the enemy's approach. Every effort was used to close with the land, and of course with them, who, in line of battle, on the morning of the 29th, afforded protection to a numerous convoy that soon reached a safe anchorage. De Grasse was immediately strengthened by 4 ships of the line, from the Bay, which authorized him to have followed up the most decisive views. Sir Samuel Hood formed his fleet into close order, and was joined by the Prince William of 64 guns, Captain Stair Douglas, who then watered at St. Lucia, but had weighed with an unexampled dispatch to share in the conflict, and who continued to cheer along the British Line, until he fell into his station.

De Grasse opened his fire, but at a distance little calculated to balance the scale of victory. He had the option of it though he never availed himself of his fortune. Three hours cannonade was kept up, during which it appeared that the French powder was much stronger than ours, when the British Admiral seeing the unavailing expenditure ceased to waste it.

This period could not boast of that liberal attention to the seaman's wants, which has characterized our Country, during the late war, towards her naval servants. Scurvy, at that time, was the prevalent disease in our fleet, and this had reached an alarming height in many of the ships attached to Sir Samuel Hood.

The world too generally ground their opinions upon external circumstances, without examining minutely into inferior details, which, when known, will be considered, by the judicious, as often constituting the solid merits of human action. To a great superiority of fresh ships and healthy crews, as yet unbraced by the climate, Admiral Hood was opposed with 7 sail less in number, reduced in effective strength by scurvy, and against an enemy, whose naval confidence had never arrived at a greater summit. That steady countenance which he evinced in their presence, was yet surpassed by a noble effort, on the following day, which shewed the invincible spirit of his mind, and these resources so usually annexed to magnanimity and talents.

Observing the scattered order of the French, and catching a change of wind in his favor, not common in that Country, he directed a general chace, and levelled all his force against their most vulnerable point.

But the elements were fickle, and disappointed his manly views, after which he bore up for Antigua to refit, and land his wounded. The interval was seized by De Bouillé and De Grasse to carry St. Lucia, who were happily resisted by the united energies of Captain Campbell of the 87th Regiment, and Lieutenant, afterwards the unfortunate but amiable Captain Miller of the Theseus. Improving the same occasion, another, but more prosperous expedition, was undertaken against Tobago, which was finally seconded by the whole French fleet and army.

Sir George Rodney, having assumed the command, reached Barbadoes on the 23d of May, where he learned the attack upon that island. Lieutenant Johnstone of Marines was sent in an Advice Boat in order to gain intelligence, and other information of a secret nature. His ability and zeal fully qualified him for the task, but nothing could avert its surrender, after two fruitless attempts to relieve it. This may be said to have ended the campaign of 1781, in the West Indies.

In this summer the total reduction of West Florida was effected by the Spaniards, who persevered in recovering the possessions, formerly wrested from them. The combined fleets, after covering a debarkation at Minorca, towards the close of August, proceeded in triumph to the mouth of the British Channel, while Admiral Darby retired to Torbay. Discord and sickness were again the agents of heaven to counteract their menaces, and a kind Providence wafted home our commerce in safety, soon after those powerful enemies had each returned to his own ports.

The 5th of August exhibited a display of obstinate bravery not unworthy of former times, when the Empire of the Seas was so strenuously disputed by Great Britain and Holland. Two squadrons headed by Officers, who were animated by the same stern spirit, met on the Dogger Bank, each with a convoy under his protection. Having secured their safety, Admiral Parker bore down against his rival, Zoutman, who coolly awaited his approach until he reached the good old measure for deciding their Country's differences and prowess. After a close conflict of three hours and a half, the Dutch resigned the palm by bearing up for the Texel. Captain Campbell of Marines, in the Berwick, and Lieut. Stewart of the same ship, besides Lieut. Cuthbert of the Dolphin, were the Officers that fall under my review of casualties in wounded on that occasion. The sinking of one of their 74's after the action, the safe return of a valuable and important fleet into our ports, while that of the enemy flew for shelter into their own, were the consequent fruits, and must be undisputed evidences of victory.

During this unfortunate war, the similarity of language and of manners, had introduced into the bosom of our Country many an American Incendiary, who, without suspicion, were either the immediate Emissaries or maintained a correspondence with those of France. Inviolable secrecy must ever be the life of foreign expeditions, but it unhappily did not exist at this era, and more particularly in that which was set on foot against the Dutch Settlement at the Cape of Good Hope.

This was undertaken under the joint auspices of Commodore Johnstone and General Meadowes, who departed from England on the 13th of March, and reached Port Praya Bay, in St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd islands, on the 10th of April.

During war there ought never be too confident a security. Vigilance and alertness are the essence of discipline, and they never should be relinquished even within the bosom of a friendly country. A surprize can find no palliation.

Anchored in a scattered form, which a little time could not entirely remedy, our squadron was unexpectedly assailed by Admiral Suffrein, one of the few of his countrymen who met Englishmen on their favourite plan of close fighting, and whom the early intelligence of his court had detached with a force sufficient to counteract the schemes of our Cabinet. After a most spirited attack which strongly attested his enterprize and courage, he was repulsed by British valour, and his ships so much shattered as to hold out to the Commodore the prospect of an ultimate triumph.

The enemy were afterwards chaced, but more imperious and future views put an end to the pursuit. That good and gallant Officer Capt. now Sir Thomas Pasley, of the Jupiter, Capt. Alms, of the Monmouth, and Captain Hawker, of the Hero, were particularly noticed by their Chief, for their conduct through the day. Great and animated were the exertions of some of the East Indiamen, and the steady countenance of Capt. Jenkinson and his detachment of the 98th Regiment, in repelling the enemy's boarders from the Fortitude, attracted much deserved praise. Suffrein having anticipated Commodore Johnstone, in reaching the Cape, threw into the garrison every necessary supply, which precluded all hopes of succeeding against it, and changed the future plan of the expedition. Having received notice of five Dutch East Indiamen being in Saldahna Bay, forty miles north from the Cape, the squadron shaped its course thither, and made prizes of four, the other having been set on fire. This was a deep cut upon our avaricious foe. The French Admiral went on to India, and General Meadows proceeded under a proper escort to the same quarter, while the Commodore returned to England.

Notwithstanding the diminished territories of France in the East, still the zeal and ability of her Agents, well versed in intrigue, had the address, not only to reconcile the existing contentions between Hyder Ally and the Mahrattas, but to direct their united power against our wide possessions in that part of the world. These were to be supported by promised aids from Bourbon and the Mauritius, as well as auxiliaries from many of the petty Princes of Hindostan, who eagerly acceded to the coalition.

The apathy of the Presidency at Madras, at this momentous crisis, was highly criminal. No steps were taken to concentrate their troops, although they were long apprized of Hyder's views, who, like a torrent, came down from the mountains and entered the Carnatic with an army of 100,000 men. Sir Hector Monro, at last, took the field against this host, and having raised the siege of Arcot, fixed his post at Conjeverane, where he awaited his expected reinforcements from the Tanjore Country in the South, and those from the Guntaz Circar in the North.

This being merely introductory matter to future discussion, in which my corps was called forth, my detail of these movements must be concise.

The world well knows the sad disaster of Colonel Baillie's detachment from the latter Country, in which was also involved that of Colonel Fletcher from the Main Army, after having exhibited the most extraordinary feats of European valour. From unaccountable causes, no effort, worthy of the occasion, was made to alienate the doom of those brave, but unfortunate men. The immediate consequences were the retreat of General Monro to the Mount, and the Carnatic being overrun by Hyder and his savage legions. Rapid were his successes, and Madras itself anticipated the horrors of a siege from this relentless invader.

The energies of the Council of Bengal were patriotically great under these perilous events. Casting an eye towards that distinguished Veteran, Sir Eyre Coote, he was with one general voice called forth to retrieve these calamities. He accordingly embarked from Calcutta, with a force, while some seapoy battalions marched from Bengal to the Carnatic. General Goddard was directed to transport a detachment from his army acting against the Mahrattas, and Sir Edward Hughes, with his fleet, was solicited to block up the ports of Hyder, on the coast of Malabar. The Government of Bombay was likewise ordered to alarm his dominions.

Sir Eyre Coote quickly restored its wonted lustre to the British arms by a series of brilliant efforts, during 1781, that enabled him, after the destruction of Hyder's naval force at Calicut and Mangalore, by Sir Edward Hughes, to send an adequate detachment for the reduction of Negapatam, which was committed to Sir Hector Monro, who assumed the command of the troops in the Tanjore Country, and who was enjoined to co-operate in the attempt with Admiral Hughes and his squadron. Hyder Ally had placed a strong garrison in the Fort, and occupied many strong holds within that Province and on its borders.

Preparatory for this object a number of the Company's troops reached Nagore on the 21st of October, which were soon headed by General Monro, who landed from the Superbe. Sir Edward Hughes disembarked his Marines, consisting of 443, on the same day, and a battalion of 827 seamen upon the 22d. The looked for shift of the Monsoon, and lateness of the season prompted the most active measures. Owing to a heavy surf the cannon and all necessary implements were conveyed by rafts to the shore, in which the zeal of our Sailors, under the superintendance of Captain Ball, was most praiseworthy.

The enemy having thrown up strong lines flanked by redoubts, to defend the approaches to Negapatam, they were stormed and carried on the night of the 29th; much of the success and glory of which very justly attached to the Seamen and Marines, whose intrepidity was never more conspicuous. They also evinced an unrelaxed zeal in prosecuting the necessary works of labour. During the siege two sorties were attempted by the garrison, which originally consisted of 8000 men, but in each they were quickly repulsed. After a severe and well aimed fire, from the 3d to the 12th of November, the Dutch proposed terms which were accepted.

During the whole course of this fatiguing service, 17 Seamen fell, and 27 were wounded, and the detail of Marines was 13 killed, and 29 casualties, most of whom died; besides a number of both who became victims to sudden cramps, the effects of hard duty amidst the rains.

The happy results of this conquest were the immediate evacuation of every post in the Tanjore by Hyder's troops, and the return to allegiance of all those petty Princes who had been seduced, by him, from their obedience to the Nabob of the Carnatic.