December 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 25. HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Hancock Gazette - 1827


Most Christian Majesty.” * * * * *


From the London Gazette Extra, Novem- ber 10


Admiralty-Offi ce, November 10, 1827 Dispatches have been this day received


at this offi ce, addressed to John Wilson Croker, Esq. by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, K. C. B. Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty’s ships in the Mediterranean: His Majesty’s ship ASIA, or in the Port of Navarino, October 21, 1827


Sir, – I have the honor of informing his


Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral, that my colleagues, Count Hayden and Chevalier de Rigny, having agreed with me that we should come into this port, in order to induce Ibrahim Pacha to discontinue the brutal war of extermination, which he has been carrying on since his return here from his failure in the Gulph of Patras, the combined squadrons passed the batteries, in order to take up their anchorage, at about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The Turkish ships were moored in the


form of a crescent, with springs on their cables, the larger ones presenting their broadsides towards the center, the smaller ones is succession within them, fi lling up the intervals. The combined fl eet was formed in the


order of sailing in two columns, the British and French forming the weather or starboard line, and the Russian the lee line. The ASIA led in, followed by the GE-


NOA and ALBION, anchored close along- side a ship of the line, bearing the fl ag of the Capitana Bey, another ship of the line, and a large double banked frigate, each having their proper opponent in the front line of the Turkish fl eet. The four ships to windward, part of the Egyptian squadron, were allotted to the squadron of Rear Admiral de Rigny, and those to leeward, in the bight of the crescent, were to make the stations of the whole Russian squadron; the ships of their line, and being followed up by their own frigates. The French frigate ARMIDE was directed to place herself alongside the out- ermost frigate, on the left-hand entering the harbor, and the CAMBRIAN, GLASGOW, and TALBOT next her, and abreast of the ASIA, GENOA, and ALBION; the DART- MOUTH and the MUSQUITO, the ROSE, the BRISK, and the PHILTOMEL, were to look after six fi re ships at the entrance of the harbor. I gave orders that no gun should be fi red unless guns were fi rst fi red by the Turks; and those orders were strictly observe. The three English ships were ac- cordingly permitted to pass the batteries to moor, as they did with great rapidity, without any act of open hostility, although there was evident preparations for it in all the Turkish ships, but upon the DARTMOUTH sending a boat to one of the fi re vessels, Lieut. G. W. H. Fitzroy and several of her crew were shot with musketry. This produced a defensive fi re of musketry from the DARTMOUTH and LA SYRENE; bearing the fl ag of Rear Admiral de Rigny; that was succeeded by cannon shot at the Rear Admiral from one of the Egyptian ships, which, of course, brought on a return, and this very shortly afterwards the battle became general. The ASIA, although placed alongside the ship of the Capitana Bey, was even nearer to that of Moharen Bey, the Commander of the Egyptian ships; and since his ships did not fi re at the ASIA, although the action was begun to windward, neither did the ASIA fi re at her. The latter indeed sent a message “that he would not fi re it all,” and therefore no hostility took place betwixt our two ships, for some time after the ASIA had returned the fi re of the Capitana Bey. In the meantime, however, our excellent


pilot, Mr. Peter Mitchell, who went to inter- pret to Maharem my desire to avoid blood- shed, was killed by his people in our boat alongside. Whether with or without his or- ders I know not, but his ship soon afterwards fi red into ASIA, and was consequently eff ec- tually destroyed by the ASIA’S fi re, sharing the same fate as his brother Admiral on the starboard side, and falling to the leeward a mere wreck. These ships being out of the way, the ASIA became exposed to a raking fi re from vessels in the second and third line, which carried away her mizzen mast by the board, disable some of her guns, and killed and wounded several of her crew. This nar- ration of the proceedings of the ASIA would probably be equally applicable to most of the other ships of the fl eet. The manner in which the GENOA and ALBION took their stations was beautiful; and the conduct of my brother Admirals, Count Hayden and the Chevalier de Rigny, throughout, was admirable and highly exemplary. Captain Fellows executed the part


allotted to him perfectly, and with the able assistance of his little but brave detach- ment, save the SYRENE from being burnt by the fi re vessels. And the CAMBRIAN, GLASGOW, and TALBOT, following the fi ne example of Captain Hugon, of the AR- MIDE, who was opposed to the leading frig- ate of that line, eff ectually destroyed their opponents, and silenced the batteries. This bloody and destructive battle was continued, with unabated fury, for four hours, and the scene of wrecks and devastation which pre- sented itself at its termination was such as has been seldom before witnessed. As each ship of our opponents became eff ectually disabled, such of her crew as could escape from her, endeavored to set her on fi re, and it is wonderful how we avoided the eff ects of their successive and awful explosions. It is impossible for me to say too much


for the able and zealous assistance which I derived from Captain Curzon throughout this long and arduous contest; nor can I say more than it deserves for the conduct of Commander Baynes, and the offi cers and crew of the ASIA, for the perfection with which the fi re of their guns was directed; each vessel, in turn, to which her broadside was presented became a complete wreck. His Royal Highness will be aware, that so complete a victory, by a few, however per- fect, against an excessive number, however individually inferior, cannot be acquired but at a considerable sacrifi ce of life; accord- ingly, I have to lament the loss of Captain Bathurst, of the GENOA, whose example on this occasion is well-worthy the imitation of his survivors. Captain Bell, commanding the Royal Marines of the ASIA, an excellent offi cer, was killed early in the action, in the steady performance of his duty; and I have to mourn the death of Mr. William Smith, the master, admired for the zeal and ability with which he executed his duty, and beloved by all for his private qualities as a man. Mr. Henry S. Dyer, my secretary, having received a severe contusion from a splinter, I am deprived temporarily of his valuable assistance in collecting and keeping up the general returns and communications of the squadron; I shall therefore retain in my of- fi ce Mr. E. J. T. White, his fi rst clerk, whom I have nominated to succeed the Purser of the BRISK. I feel much personal obligation to the Hon. Lieut. Colonel Craddock, for his readiness during the heat of the battle, in carrying my orders and messages to the diff erent quarters after my Aides-to-Bamp were disabled; but I will beg your permission to refer his Royal Highness for further par- ticulars of this sort to the detail of the killed and wounded, a subject which it is painful for me to dwell upon; when I contemplate,


as I do with extreme sorrow, the extent of our loss, I console myself with the refl ection, that the measure which produced the battle was absolutely necessary for obtaining the results contemplated by the Treaty, and that it was brought on entirely by our opponent. When I found that the boasted Otto-


man word of honor was made a sacrifi ce to wanton, savage devastation, and that a base advantage was taken of our reliance upon Obrahim’s good faith I own I felt a desire to punish the off enders. But it was my duty to refrain, and refrain I did; and I can assure his Royal Highness, that I would have avoided the disastrous extremity, if other means had been open to me. The ASIA, GENOA, and ALBION, have each suff ered so much, that it is my intention to send them to England, as soon as they shall have received at Malta the necessary repairs for their voyage. The TALBOT, being closely engaged with a double banked frigate has also suff ered con- siderably, as well as another of the smaller vessel; but I hope their defects are not more than can be made good at Malta. The loss of the man it in the Turco-Egyptian ships must have been immense, as his Royal Highness will see by the accompanying list, obtained from the Secretary of the Captain Bey, which includes that of two out of three ships to which the English division was opposed. Captain Curzon having preferred continuing to assist me in the ASIA, I have given the charge of my dispatches to Commander Lord Viscount Iugestre, who, besides having had a brilliant share in the action, is well competent to give his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral any further particulars he may require. I enclose for his Royal Highness’s


further information, a letter from Captain Hamilton, descriptive of the proceedings of Ibrahim Pacha, and the misery of the country which he has devastated – a protocol of a conference which I had with my colleagues, and the plan and order for entering the port, which I gave out in consequence. E. CODRINGTON, Vice Admiral * * * * *


Loss of the English fl eet 75 killed;


wounded, 197. French fl eet, 43 killed, 79 severely and 65 slightly wounded – total, 187 killed and wounded. The carnage in the Turkish ships, the


crews of which fought with desperation, was horrid. In one of the largest ship 650 men were killed! in another, 400! The allied fl eets carried 1,260 guns, and the Turkish fl eet 1,718 guns. The former had an advantage in weight of metal, but the latter had assistance from the heavy batteries on shore. A letter from a French offi cer, dated


before Navarino, says, that the Turks are supposed to have lost 3000 men. * * * * *


Letters of the 25th of October from Zante


announced that Ibrahim Pacha, upon being informed of the memorable action at Nava- rino, fell back upon Coron, and put to the sword all the Greek prisoners, men, women and children, whom he had held in captivity fi fteen months. “According to custom,”says these let- ters, “the monks and priests were crucifi ed, or burnt at a slow fi re. Details are given upon this subject which make one tremble. The English, French, and Russian fl ags fl oated on the 24th


on the ramparts of Navarino.


Modon must now lie in the hands of the Christian triple Alliance.


Irruption of the Thames. – St. Kather-


ine’s Docks were, on the night of 31 October, visited by interruption of the Thames, of so extensive a description, that in a few minutes all those portions of the dock which had been excavated, were fi lled to the level of


the water in the river. A Danish fi sherman lately caught in


the Baltic an enormous salmon, round the throat of which was tied a sort of amulet, with antique characters engraved thereon. The Academy of Copenhagen had declared the characters to be Ronic, signifying “Fish, you were once my prisoner, but merciful as skillful, the great and powerful Erik re- stores you to the sea deities; return thanks, therefore, to Odin.” This is expressed in fi ve lines of poetry, below which there is another inscription, the meaning of which has not yet been discovered. It appears, according to common report, that the salmon was fi rst caught before the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, were converted to Christianity.


Furet de Londrea A Havre paper says, “The prodigious


increase of French shipping within a few years, has had the happiest infl uence on the prosperity of our ports. All the population of the French coast, of 400 leagues in extent, estimated at 300,000,000, is employed by it. In 1814, none but old ships were seen in our ports. These have been replaced by new vessels, whose elegance and solidity leave us nothing to envy in the vessels of our rivals. Fine ships are built at Bordeaux, Hantz, and Bayonne, and Havre has in its docks some vessels which will not suff er in comparison with certain American packets, which have been praised beyond all measure.


Gibraltar papers to November 5th have


been received in Boston. A letter from Algiers circulated at Gibraltar gives the fol- lowing account of an action between [????] ALGERIAN AND FRENCH SQUAD- RONS


The Algerians had been for some time


preparing for the avowed object of attacking the French force; and on the night of October 30, (being the naïve of the festival of Ma- homet’s nativity) their squadron, consisting of the following ships, put to sea: a frigate of 50 guns – a corvette (the admiral’s ship) 36 guns – another corvette 24 guns – another 20 guns – two three-masted schooners, 22 guns each – two schooners, 16 guns each – two schooners 12 guns each – and a brig of 13 guns.


Early the following morning, they were


seen steering to the NW whilst the French squadron, consisting of vague 60 gun raze (the admiral’s ship) another of the same class and metal, – two brigs, one of 20, the other of 16 guns – and a schooner of 14 guns, appeared at a considerable distance in the offi ng, bearing down with a northerly wind up on the enemy. On their approach to each other, both squadrons maneuvered for some time to get the weather gage, which the skill of the French obtained and kept. At 1 o’clock PM the action commenced, and was continued courageously on both sides for two hours and a quarter. The intention of the Algerians evidently appeared to be to board rather than to fi ght at a distance; but their object was frustrated by the windward position of the French ships. The French Admiral bore the brunt of the action, and for some time sustained the united attacks of the Algerian Admiral’s ship, two corvettes, and a schooner. At a quarter past three the action ceased, neither party showing a disposition to renew it, and as far as [????] be observed, neither having sustained much injury, for at 4 o’clock, all the Algerian squadron was seen steering for the port, apparently in as good order, and with as much regularity as when they left it, unpursued and unmolested by the French, who steered a northwesterly course. The French squadron has since resumed the


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