CHAPTER LII
THE BALTIC FLEET
[Sidenote: 1854. Kioga Bay.]
My cabin was the after-part of the main-deck, with its accommodation and comforts; but under the impression that business was intended I did away with luxuries. Instead of drawers I had tin cases to fit neatly overhead between the beams. One quarter-gallery was my bath and dressing-room; no bulkheads of any sort. At dinner-time a temporary canvas-screen fitted, after we went to the stern walk, which did duty of after-cabin. Exercising at quarters, we transferred the foremost guns from each side, and fired them out of my cabin windows.
On visiting Clarence Paget in the _Princess Royal_ I found a cot hung up, with a chubby-faced boy down with fever. It was Victor Montagu, the young son of Lord Sandwich, midshipman and nephew of his captain. We met afterwards in China and elsewhere.
[Sidenote: April 12.]
Daylight.--Fleet weighed and made sail as per signal. In all, 39 pennants.
[Sidenote: April 25.]
Dressed ships with masthead flags in honour of the birthday of the Princess Alice.
[Sidenote: May 1.]
Arrived the _Austerlitz_, 100 guns, screw propeller, Captain Laurençin, the first of the French fleet. She had been several days at different rendezvous. On board was my friend Gizholme of Tahiti as second. Our meeting was cordial: we embraced as Frenchmen. Beyond the exchange of salutes, no further public mark shown of how we appreciated the alliance, but the figureheads, “Napoleon and Wellington,” were confronting one another.
[Sidenote: Elgsmabben, May 4.]
Arrived, Captain Henry Seymour, from West Indies and England. We had long been on the look-out for the _Cumberland_. It was a pleasure and amusement to initiate Seymour into the mysteries of this warlike fleet, which no one seemed to understand. My friend had a charming younger brother, Wilfrid, with him, whose profession had not been decided on. Henry was full of life and spirits, looking forward to great things--yet to be done.
[Sidenote: May 5.]
Fleet weighed as per signal, screws under steam, and proceeded through the Daläräo Channel. Rendezvous Golska Sands. _Austerlitz_ in co. Before the leading ships had reached the Landsort Lighthouse, the whole fleet was enveloped in fog.
[Sidenote: May 7.]
Commander George Wodehouse joined the fleet.
[Sidenote: May 8.]
Intelligence having reached of death from drowning of Captain Foote of the _Conflict_, the Admiral promoted Commander Cumming of the _Gorgon_ into the vacancy, appointing Commander Cracroft of this ship to the _Gorgon_; sending the Commander of the _Cressy_, John Dorville, who was anxious for a change anywhere, to the _St. Jean d’Acre_; and promoting the first lieutenant of the _Duke_, an arrangement which appeared to give satisfaction to all parties except myself, who had parted with an esteemed friend and good officer. I was glad, however, to get Dorville.
[Sidenote: May 17.]
A division of ships placed under command of Rear-Admiral Corry. Remainder formed into two lines:--
_Duke of Wellington._ _Hogue._ _St. Jean d’Acre._ _Blenheim._ _Austerlitz._
_Edinburgh._ _Cressy._ _Cæsar._ _Princess Royal._
[Sidenote: Running for Hangö.]
We used to be next astern of the flag, but I fancy the Chief got tired of our figurehead--a fine half-figure of Sir Robert Stopford--always looking into the stern-windows of his cabin!
[Sidenote: Running for Hangö Island.]
11 A.M.--Signal made for us to proceed in chase of a stranger ahead. May 14 having been fixed as the latest day on which neutral vessels quitting a Russian port would be allowed to pass the line of blockade, brought in sight a number of vessels, from whom we obtained accurate information of the position and force of the Russian fleets at Kronstadt and Helsingfors. 8 P.M.--Resumed station in line of battle.
[Sidenote: May 18.]
Signal made for us to look out on starboard beam of flag.
[Sidenote: May 19.]
7 A.M.--Boarded several vessels that had left Kronstadt or Narva on or before the 14th. 8.30 P.M.--Resumed station.
[Sidenote: May 21.]
Arrived _Arrogant_ and _Hecla_ with Russian prize barque, which they had cut out at Eckness. They were cheered on joining the fleet.
[Sidenote: May 22.]
Received from the _St. George_ our spare screw propeller, seven tons weight; awkward to stow. Placed it athwart, and between the end of the booms and galley-funnels. Still supplying distilled water!!
[Sidenote: May 24.]
Fired royal salute in commemoration of Her Majesty’s birthday.
[Sidenote: Hangö Roads, May 26.]
9.30 A.M.--Commander-in-Chief came on board, nominally to inspect, and left again after having made some unjust remarks relative to the gunnery and drill of the ship, such as, if reported to the Admiralty, might be considered by them as an excuse for his having for so long persistently avoided the neighbourhood of the enemy’s ships.
[Sidenote: June 2.]
8.45.--Came to with the fleet in Barösund.
[Sidenote: June 3.]
Arrived _Hecla_, who supplied us with eight oxen, without fodder! Slaughtered them. Received more potatoes than we could consume.
[Sidenote: June 4.]
Arrived _Pigmy_, Lieutenant James Hunt, my _Dido_ shipmate.
[Sidenote: June 9.]
Stood out of Barösund.
[Sidenote: June 12.]
5.30 A.M.--Weighed under steam, standing to the eastward. _Imperieuse_ and _Arrogant_ joined, we being on their cruising-ground. Fleet came to off Helsingfors, from which place, by telescope, the masts of some of the Russian fleet could be seen at anchor in the harbour.
[Sidenote: June 13.]
At 5.30 A.M.--Fleet weighed and made sail. 6.30.--Observed the French fleet to the westward. The French Vice-Admiral, M. P. Deschênes, hoisted the English ensign at the main, and saluted flag of Sir Charles Napier. Salute returned. English fleet saluting French flag. 10.--Shortened and furled; proceeded under steam.
On joining company, found French fleet to consist of the _Inflexible_, 90, Vice-Admiral Deschênes; _Du Guesclin_, 90, Rear-Admiral Penana; _Hercule_, 100, Captain Louien; _Jemappes_, 100, Captain Robin du Parc; _Taga_, 100, Captain Fabore; _Duperié_, 82, Captain Penana; and _Trident_, 82, Captain F. de Maussion de Condé, with seven frigates, besides steamers. French fleet hove to, while our fleet passed heading into Barösund. Paddle-wheel steamers assisting in towing French fleet in.
1 P.M.--Came to in sixteen fathoms. After the French fleet had anchored, the allied forces in Barösund consisted of 19 English ships of the line (11 of these screws), 8 French ships of the line (1 screw) 4 French, and one English frigate, 13 steamers of both nations. We had also the _Belleisle_ (Hospital) and _Resistance_, store-ship, making a total of 47 men-of-war. There were in the anchorage _Esmeralda_, and R.Y.S. _Gondola_, Lord Lichfield’s yacht, besides colliers and transports, making altogether a goodly sight. The French fleet had 2000 marines on board, beyond their complement.
[Sidenote: June 14.]
Admiral Sir Charles Napier visited the French Commander-in-Chief in the _Inflexible_; the French fleet manning yards and cheering.
[Illustration: _The Commander-in-Chief._]
[Sidenote: Barösund, June 15.]
French Vice-Admiral, Parseval Deschênes, returned Sir Charles Napier’s visit. The captains of the British ships attended on board the _Duke of Wellington_, when they were introduced to the French Admiral, and honours paid him similar to those received by Sir Charles Napier. Received powder and shot from _Resistance_.
[Sidenote: June 16.]
Laid out targets at 750 yards, and exercised at general quarters. Practice particularly good at mark--a single staff cut down over and over again. Received shot from _Resistance_, 10, troop-ship, Master Commander Manser Bradshaw.
[Sidenote: June 20.]
Dressed ship with masthead flags, and at noon both fleets fired a royal salute in honour of anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession.
[Sidenote: Sestran Island, June 24.]
French fleet proceeded to eastward, Admirals communicating, when it was proposed by Parseval Deschênes to Sir Charles Napier that, to prove to the Russians the _entente cordiale_ that existed between our nations, the English screw-liners should each take a French liner in tow, and proceed in line past the Russian forts, the French Admiral, as senior officer, waiving his right of precedence. His proposition was not acceded to by Sir Charles Napier; the excuse that “His Captains were too inexperienced to undertake such an operation”!
[Sidenote: Off Kronstadt, June 26.]
5 A.M.--Fleet weighed under steam. French fleet in co., proceeding easy to eastward. 11 A.M.--Approached near enough to Kronstadt to observe the mastheads of the Russian fleet and then wore. 1.50.--Came to in 16 fathoms. Anchored in two columns. Frigates and steamers sent to reconnoitre.
[Sidenote: June 27.]
_Driver_ arrived. Cholera made its appearance on board both fleets. Elliot, Clarence Paget, and myself took advantage of a kind invitation from Lord Lichfield for a sail on board the _Gondola_, as we might run pretty close to the entrance of Kronstadt without attracting attention.
[Illustration: _The_ Gondola _Yacht off Tolbeacon Light_.]
We were some distance inside the Tolbeacon Lighthouse, as were also the cruising frigates, when we observed a large Russian steamer standing out. When it was thought advisable for us to haul to the wind, the sudden change of motion and difference of size of ships had the effect on me of a stomach pump; and when it was reported that the Russian was steering for us, I considered myself a Russian prisoner! However, cruisers quickly discovered our position and ran towards the Russian, which returned to Kronstadt. This led to a report getting into the English papers that we had been chased by the Emperor Nicholas in person.
[Sidenote: June 28.]
Hoisted masthead flags, and at noon both fleets fired a royal salute in honour of anniversary of Her Majesty’s coronation. On these occasions the French and English flags were hoisted together. My distillery was never at rest, supplying fleet with the purest of water.
[Sidenote: June 29.]
9.30 A.M.--Weighed; made all plain sail for exercise. During our stay off Kronstadt, steamers and boats from the fleet were continually sounding on the north side of the island, thereby pointing out from whence an attack might be expected, when nothing of the sort was ever contemplated.
[Sidenote: July 1.]
There was a creek that ran up a considerable distance to the rear of the Kronstadt Batteries. Scarcely a ship of the line that did not submit to the consideration of the Commander-in-Chief an exact model of the boats and spars, with weight and draught of each, by which heavy ordnance could be conveyed to the rear of the Russian Batteries. The Commander-in-Chief’s fore-cabin was half full of these clever and interesting models, which were not even acknowledged.
[Sidenote: July 2.]
9.30.--Weighed under steam. Fleets in co. 6 P.M.--Came to off Seskan Island.
No encouragement given by Chief to mix with cheery allies.
[Sidenote: July 13.]
Sailed _Majestic_, on a cruise, being sickly with cholera.
[Sidenote: July 18.]
Arrived _Dauntless_, 33, screw-steamer frigate. Captain Alfred P. Ryder. Joined Mr. Stanley Graham, son of First Lord, midshipman from _Dauntless_.
[Sidenote: July 21.]
Admiral Corry returning to England in _Dauntless_, ships remaining were placed under the orders of Commodore Martin, and proceeded to cruise in the Gulf of Finland. 4.30 P.M.--Arrived Admiral Plumridge in _Leopard_; with a division of steamers joined company. 7 P.M.--Rounded Lagskar Lighthouse. 9.45.--Came to in 13 fathoms in Ledsund.
[Sidenote: July 22.]
Notice having been received that 10,000 French troops were coming out, preparations were made for an attack on the fort at Bomarsund. The destruction of which might, with little or no difficulty, have been accomplished in the month of April by a division of the British fleet.
At daylight the block-ships and _Amphion_ under Admiral Chads, and steam division under Admiral Plumridge, proceeded towards Bomarsund--a safe channel for ships of any draught having been discovered by Captain William Hall of _Hecla_, and afterwards buoyed off by Captain Sullivan.
[Sidenote: July 24.]
Marines inspected by Colonel Graham, who pronounced them the finest body of men he had seen in the fleet.
[Sidenote: July 26.]
_Odin_ arrived; Captain Francis Scott, old friend of my lieutenant days.
[Sidenote: July 29.]
Supplied _Cumberland_ with water. Sent three cholera cases to _Belleisle_.
[Sidenote: July 31.]
Four more cholera cases; making us anxious for health of crew. Arrived General Barraguay d’Hilliers and staff in the French Emperor’s yacht _La Reine Hortense_ from Stockholm; received him with cheers and yards manned. Visits exchanged between Chiefs and others. Manning of yards.
[Sidenote: Aug. 1.]
French and English Generals and engineer officers visiting Bomarsund to make arrangements prior to attack. Steam vessels constantly on the move between this anchorage and Åland Islands. More cholera cases! Ordered by Commander-in-Chief to send field-pieces, _without men_, on board _Driver_ for conveyance to Admiral Chads.
[Sidenote: Aug. 5.]
Another death, a marine, from cholera, making, since its first appearance on 27th June, twenty cases, of which twelve proved fatal.
[Sidenote: Aug. 6.]
French ships proceeding towards Bomarsund, four of their largest ships, with both Admirals, besides frigates, steamers, and transports.
[Sidenote: Aug. 7.]
Sent scaling ladders to _Bulldog_ for conveyance to Admiral Chads. General Barraguay d’Hilliers proceeded to Bomarsund in _La Reine Hortense_. Embarked seventy marines under command of Captain Clavell, and Lieutenants Brooke and Davidson, on board _Dawn_, in compliance with a request made by Barraguay d’Hilliers, but reluctantly acceded to by Sir Charles Napier, for land service.
Not, as the General informed me, that he required the force, but that he was anxious we should share in all operations; such being the express wish of the French Emperor. Lieutenant Lennox attended as A.D.C. to Colonel Graham. All remaining transports and steamers proceeded up. Commander-in-Chief, attended by the Captain of the Fleet, Rear-Admiral Seymour and suite, hoisted his flag in _Bulldog_.