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Pellew's/Exmouth's - Dispatches |
PELLEW to SPENCER
Indefatigable, Falmouth. 17th January, 1797
My Lord, - I am laboring under
some difficulty in communicating with your lordship from my want
of certain knowledge of my invaluable friend, Captain Reynolds. 1
We have been very long brothers in affection and my grief would
never cease should any misfortune on this occasion happen to him.
We were both, my lord, in imminent danger, but I believe my ship
was rather most crippled during the first onset before Reynolds
could get up. I therefore conclude the Amazon to have been in a
better state than myself when we hauled off. If she is safe, my
heart will be at ease. I fear your lordship will think me rather
imprudent on this occasion, but what can be done if an enemy's
coast is always to frighten us and give them protection as safely
as their ports? If Lord Hawke had no fears from a lee shore with
a large fleet under his charge, could I for a moment think of two
inconsiderable frigates? I was anxious to tow this nondescript to
England; for indeed, my lord, I cannot tell you what she was. All
those about me believe her a ship-of-the-line without a poop. Two
tier of guns she certainly had, and I should think not less than
6 or 700 men. When he endeavor'd to run me on board his lion-head
was at least 6 feet above our taffrail, and heavy fire of
musketry assailed us through his head doors. In fact, my lord, we
must patiently await intelligence from France. I have great doubt
if any person can be saved; the surf was tremendous and beating
quite over them. I have placed him on the chart about 3 or 4
miles to the southward of Audierne Town. She must have suffered
prodigiously; our expenses alone was above 100 barrels of powder.
I never experienced such a severe fatigue. The ship was full of
water, the cockpit half-leg deep, and the surgeon absolutely
obliged to tie himself and patient to the stantions to perform an
amputation. We broke no less than 28 ring bolts thro' the side.
We were, however, fortunate in having no men killed, and many of
the wounded are but slight from splinters. My worthy old
lieutenant, Mr. Thomson, who has weather'd many a battle,
received rather a severe contusion on his breast and shoulder.
The surgeon is apprehensive the latter will be troublesome. I
entreat of your lordship the favour of making him a commander. He
is truly a deserving man, and I trust will obtain your favour
altho' we have not brought the enemy to England.
I cover to your lordship the copy of my letter to the Board. It
is very long, but I could not make it shorter to be intelligible.
I shall entreat your lordship to curtail it if you think proper.
The Indefatigable must go into a dock; there are many shot very
low in her bottom and her Lisbon complaint in one part is leaky.
I beg of your lordship to direct her defects to be made good that
we may get again to sea.
I cannot speak too highly of my officers and men. I beg your
lordship to give them all a step without our parting; it can be
done by making the Indefatigable a fourth-rate as a mark of your
approbation of their conduct. Your lordship will remember that
none of them got any promotion on taking La Virginie. Little
Cadogan is a most delightful boy. 2 I think he promises to be
everything the heart can wish. He is stationed on the quarter
deck, where I assure you, my lord, he was my friend. He stood the
night out in his shirt and kept himself warm by his exertions. I
cannot say too much in his praise. I have thus, my lord, run over
a night of severe difficulties. I entreat your indulgence to my
errors, your favorable opinion being the height of my ambition,
and there is not exertion I would not make to obtain it. Being
with very high respect,
Your lordship's most grateful and most oblig'd servant,
Ed. Pellew
1. Pellew in the Indefatigable (44) and Reynolds in the Amazon (36) had met, about 50 leagues SW of Ushant, the Droits des l'Homme (74), returning with General Humbert on board from Ireland. They fought her from 5:30 P.M. on the 13th January all through the night in a heavy sea till past 4:00 A.M. next morning, when land was sighted close ahead. The Indefatigable hauled off and got clear, but the Amazon, very much injured, ran aground half an hour later. She became a total wreck and her company were made prisoners. The Droits des l'Homme was also lost with nearly all her crew, numbering about 1000. For a full description of the action see next letter.
2. Probably the Hon. George Cadogan.
