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Read Ebook: The history of our Navy from its origin to the present day 1775-1897 vol. 3 (of 4) by Spears John Randolph
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PERRY'S EXPEDITION CROSSING THE BAR AT THE MOUTH OF THE TABASCO RIVER. , 395
THE NAVAL EXPEDITION UNDER COMMODORE PERRY ASCENDING THE TABASCO RIVER AT THE DEVIL'S BEND. , 399
S. F. DUPONT. , 402
LANDING OF PERRY'S EXPEDITION AGAINST TABASCO. , 407
COMMODORE PERRY'S EXPEDITION TAKING POSSESSION OF TUSPAN. , 411
MATTHEW CALBRAITH PERRY. , 414
CAPTURE OF TABASCO BY PERRY'S EXPEDITION. , 415
NAVAL BOMBARDMENT OF VERA CRUZ, MARCH, 1847. , 425
THE UNITED STATES NAVAL BATTERY DURING THE BOMBARDMENT OF VERA CRUZ ON THE 24TH AND 25TH OF MARCH, 1847. , 429
THE BATTLE OF VERA CRUZ.--NIGHT SCENE. , 431
VIEW OF URAGA. YEDDO BAY. , 445
A JAPANESE JUNK. , 448
COMMODORE PERRY'S FIRST LANDING AT GORAHAMA. , 451
COMMODORE PERRY DELIVERING THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO THE JAPANESE REPRESENTATIVES. , 453
A JAPANESE FISH-PRESENT. , 456
THE IMPERIAL BARGE AT YOKOHAMA. , 457
THE FINAL PAGE OF THE FIRST TREATY WITH JAPAN. , 458
COMMODORE PERRY MEETING THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONERS AT YOKOHAMA. , 459
JAPANESE WRESTLERS AT YOKOHAMA. , 461
COMMODORE'S PENNANT, 1812-1860. , 464
THE HISTORY OF OUR NAVY
WHEN PORTER SWEPT THE PACIFIC
So Porter was left free to choose his own course. It was characteristic of the man that he should have decided, in spite of the fact that the Spaniards, who controlled the west coast of South America, were practically allies of Great Britain, that he would round the Horn and destroy the British shipping in the southern Pacific. He could not hope for a really friendly reception in any port there, but he was confident that he could live off the enemy. Sailing from St. Catharine's on January 26, 1813, he found an enemy on board his ship next day which we, in this era of the medical science, can scarcely appreciate. A form of dysentery appeared among the crew that was apparently contagious, or was, at least, caused by conditions that threatened the whole crew. It was especially dangerous from the fact that he was bound around the Horn, where the weather would compel the closing of ports, hatches, and companion-ways, and so prevent ventilating the ship. But the commonsense of the captain served where the knowledge of medicine failed, for he adopted what would now be called rigorous sanitary measures; he kept the ship and crew absolutely clean and so stopped the epidemic and preserved the health of the crew in a way unheard of, in those days of scurvy and ship fever.
The ship made the Horn in February, the end of the southern summer season--the season of the fiercest gales in that region. The weather became frightful. The seas broke over the little frigate continually, gun-deck ports were broken in fore and aft, extra spars were swept overboard, and boats were knocked to pieces at the davits by the waves. At one time the boatswain was so terrified by the assaults of the sea that he shouted:
"The ship's side is stove in. We are sinking!" and for a brief time there was a panic among some of the crew.
"This was the only instance in which I ever saw a regular good seaman paralyzed by fear of the perils of the sea," wrote Midshipman Farragut.
At this, Porter headed for the scene of the trouble, and the next morning saw a sail.
Porter's next work was in "disguising our ship, which was done by painting in such a manner as to conceal her real force and exhibit in its stead the appearance of painted guns, etc.; also by giving her the appearance of having a poop, and otherwise so altering her as to make her look like a Spanish merchant-vessel."
Nukahiva lies in the tropical climate of the South Pacific--a climate where the sea and the air dance together under an unclouded sun; where the wanton waves tumble and roll invitingly on the beeches; where seemingly the wind-driven light splashes the swaying fronds of the cocoanut-palms; where the air of night is soft and sweet and wooing; where nature asks no labor in return for her bounties; where the thoughts of the people run only to war and love. It was to Jack the ideal country--a paradise on earth.
There were several tribes on Nukahiva. The sailors made friends with those living close at hand, and subdued those, from farther away who came to make trouble. And thereafter they worked upon the ships by day, and at night, by turns, frolicked with the friendly natives.
Says Farragut in his journal:
"During our stay at this island the youngsters--I among the number--were sent on board the vessel commanded by our chaplain for the purpose of continuing our studies away from temptation."
And then came an incipient mutiny. The sailormen had enjoyed life with their friends, the Nukahivas, so much that when, in December, Porter determined to go in search of an enemy worthy of the ship, they first grumbled, and then some of them, under the lead of an Englishman named Robert White, talked of refusing to go at all.
"All of you who are in favor of weighing the anchor when I give the order, pass over to the starboard side."
They all passed across the deck promptly. Then he called out White, and asked him about his Sunday boasting. White denied having made the boast, but a number of the crew testified to what he had said, and at that Porter turned on the fellow and said in a burst of anger:
"Run, you scoundrel, for your life."
"And away the fellow went over the starboard gangway." So Farragut tells the story. He was picked up by one of the ever-present native canoes and carried ashore.
PORTER'S GALLANT ACTION AT VALPARAISO
"Captain Hillyar's compliments to Captain Porter, and hopes he is well."
And Captain Porter, who had never felt better in his life than at that moment, replied:
"Very well, I thank you; but I hope you will not come too near for fear some accident might take place which would be disagreeable to you." And with that he waved his trumpet toward some of the crew forward who, with ropes in hand, were awaiting the signal, and they instantly triced a couple of kedge anchors out to the weather yard-arms ready for dropping on the enemy to grapple him fast in reach of the well-trained Yankee boarders, armed with sharpened cutlasses and dirks made from old files.
Indeed the Yankee forecastlemen were so eager that they swarmed to the rail as the anchors rose to the yard-arms, while one of them, a quarter-gunner named Adam Roach, with his sleeves rolled up and cutlass in hand, climbed out on the cathead and stood there, in plain view of the British marines, awaiting the moment when the ships should come together.
But they did not come together, yard-arm to yard-arm, either then or afterward. Captain Hillyar hastily braced his yards aback and "exclaimed with great agitation:"
"I had no intention of getting on board of you--I had no intention of coming so near you; I am sorry I came so near you."
At once both of the enemy's ships gave chase, and Porter, after clearing the wreckage, turned to beat back to his old anchorage. But because he was crippled, and because of a sudden shift of wind, he could not make it, and so he "ran close into a small bay about three-quarters of a mile to leeward of the battery on the east side of the harbor," and there let go his anchor "within pistol-shot of the shore."
At this juncture, the wind having shifted, Captain Porter ordered his crew to slip the cable and make sail; and it was then found that the running gear had been so badly cut that only the flying jib could be spread.
And there was Lieutenant J. G. Cowell. He had his leg shot off just above the knee and was carried below. The surgeon on seeing him at once left a common sailor to attend to him, but Cowell said:
"No, doctor, none of that; fair play is a jewel. One man's life is as dear as another's; I would not cheat any poor fellow out of his turn." And so he bled to death before his turn came.
In the record kept by young Farragut we have a wonderful story of a battle as seen by a lad of twelve. "I performed the duties of captain's aid, quarter-gunner, powder-boy, and in fact did everything that was required of me," he wrote.
"I shall never forget the horrid impression made upon me at the sight of the first man I had ever seen killed. He was a boatswain's mate, and was fearfully mutilated. It staggered and sickened me at first, but they soon began to fall around me so fast that it all appeared like a dream, and produced no effect on my nerves. I can remember well, while I was standing near the captain, just abaft the mainmast, a shot came through the waterways and glanced upwards, killing four men who were standing by the side of the gun, taking the last one in the head and scattering his brains over both of us. But this awful sight did not affect me half as much as the death of the first poor fellow. I neither thought of nor noticed anything but the working of the guns.
"On one occasion Midshipman Isaacs came up to the captain and reported that a quarter-gunner named Roach had deserted his post. The only reply of the captain, addressed to me, was, 'Do your duty, sir.' I seized a pistol and went in pursuit of the fellow, but did not find him.
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