Royal Naval Biography/Daly, Cuthbert Featherstone
CUTHBERT FEATHERSTONE DALY, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1808.]
We first find this officer serving as senior Lieutenant of the Arrow sloop, Captain Richard Budd Vincent; from one of whose official letters we make the following extracts relative to the destruction of l’Actif French privateer, under the island of Fano, at the entrance of the Adriatic, in June 1804:
“I kept plying to windward, and observed a great number of her crew on shore upon the cliffs, all with muskets, and others carrying arms and ammunition from the vessel to the shore: the privateer being hauled close to the beach, under a cliff, with colours and pendant flying, moored with three anchors, and a hawser from the mast-head to the cliff above her, and her guns pointed to the sea. This disposition induced me to attempt cutting her out. About half-past two (P.M.) I brought the Arrow to an anchor within gun-shot, and sprung her broadside to the shore; then sent the boats armed under Lieutenant C. F. Daly, with orders to bring her out; but, very soon after they put off, grape and musket-shot were fired at them, both from the privateer and the shore. I then supported the boats by a brisk fire from the Arrow, and Lieutenant Daly succeeded in boarding the privateer, cut her adrift, and would have brought her out, but her rudder being unhung and ashore, she soon after grounded within pistol-shot of the beach. I judged it therefore expedient to set her on fire, by which she was totally destroyed. She was a tartan, mounting 4 long guns, with about 74 men, and rowing 24 oars; a new vessel, fitted out at Leghorn, and had done some mischief.
“I cannot but express the very high sense I entertain of the conduct of Lieutenant Daly, the officers, and men employed in the boats on this occasion, for their spirited resolution in boarding the privateer, amidst a heavy cross fire from that vessel, the cliffs, beach, and houses. I have to lament the loss of Mr. Thomas Patterson, master’s-mate, and one seaman killed; also several wounded, one of whom is since dead.”
The Arrow’s heroic defence against two large French frigates, on her return from the Mediterranean, has been fully described in our memoir of Captain Vincent. We subsequently find Lieutenant Daly accompanying Sir Home Popham to the Cape of Good Hope, in the Diadem 64; and on the surrender of that colony, he appears to have been sent home with despatches in the Seahorse transport. His promotion to the rank of Commander took place April 10, 1806.
We now lose sight of Captain Daly until June 1808, at which period he commanded the Comet, an 18-gun ship-sloop, on the north coast of Spain, where he performed a very important and hazardous service, as will be seen by the following copy of an official letter from the officer under whose orders he was then serving:
“H.M.S. Cossack, off St. Andero, June 25, 1808.
“My Lord,– The last opportunity I had of writing to your lordship, I acquainted you of my intention to go to St. Andero immediately, to afford every assistance in my power to the loyal inhabitants, and bring off any British subjects that might wish to come away, in the present uncertain state of the country, as I had intelligence that the French frigate in Passage, accompanied by several gun-boats, was expected to make a descent on that part of the coast. Owing to the strong easterly winds, and long calms, I did not get there till the 21st. The signal-post displayed a flag of truce, which was answered by both ships. The captain of the port, Don Vincento Camino, came on board: he told us the French army was soon expected to make an attack on the pass in the mountains that guarded the approach to the town; and he invited us to anchor in Sardenero bay (which we did at 5 P.M.): but until he had made his report to the bishop, who was the present governor, he wished us not to land. No boat returning by one o’clock the next day, I concluded that some sudden attack or unexpected event must have taken place. In the afternoon a brig came out of the harbour full of people of all descriptions, who had left the town on the report that the French were advancing. I immediately got under weigh, and sent Captain Daly, of the Comet, up the harbour, to gain some confirmed intelligence, and should the report prove true, to reconnoitre the fort, and find out where the principal magazine was, and, if possible, to destroy it. Between 8 and 9 P.M., Captain Daly returned with certain information, that the French army had gained the pass, halted only a few miles from the town, and were expected to enter it that night or next day.
“Captain Daly also made every possible observation, and had himself spiked the guns in two forts near the town; he likewise requested permission to go and destroy the magazine, and the guns in the forts that guard the entrance of the harbour. I should certainly have sent the boats that night, but the great chance of their being taken by surprise, should the enemy advance, and the night being very dark and squally, with every appearance of bad weather, made me defer it till the next morning: at daylight we stood into the bay, and manned and armed two boats from each ship, under the orders of Captain Daly, who was accompanied by Lieutenant Herbert, of the Cossack, Lieutenant Read, R.M., and several of the younger officers, who all volunteered their services: they left this ship soon after six o’clock, and landed about eight; spiked all the guns in fort St. Salvador de Ano, and fort Sedra, wedging shot in the chambers of them, by which they are rendered quite useless. The magazine was at some little distance, and had 500 whole barrels of powder in it, besides quantities of other stores, all of which was completely destroyed, great part by throwing it over the cliff into the sea, leaving sufficient to blow up the magazine: the train was laid for a considerable distance, and it was let off about ten o’clock, which instantly levelled the whole building to the ground. Finding some more powder in fort Sedra, a train was laid to it, which took effect, and blew part of the guard and store-houses up; the two other forts on the west side of the bay they could not attempt, as the surf was so high it was impossible to land; and to walk round was too far from the boats, as they had not a moment to spare, having heard, before they set fire to the first train, that the French had entered the town, and expecting that a strong guard would immediately be sent to the forts. The boats left the shore by eleven o’clock, and had just got round the point of de Ano when a considerable body of French dragoons appeared on the hill, and took post near the smoking ruins of the magazine. I am sorry to say, Captain Daly and Lieutenant Read were both much scorched, in setting fire to the last train; particularly the latter officer: but I am happy to find that his eyes are safe, and that he is doing well. Captain Daly speaks in high commendation of the zeal and exertion of every officer and man employed with him. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“George Digby.”
“To Admiral Lord Gambier.”
The service for which Captain Daly obtained post rank, is thus described by himself, in a letter to the same noble Admiral, dated at sea, Aug. 11, 1808:
“My Lord,– On the 9th instant, I left Gijon; and, at half-past eight this morning, being in lat. 45° 38' N. and long. 5° 4' W., I observed three strange sail N.N.E. At nine, I distinguished them to be a corvette and two men-of-war brigs. Having hoistcd the private signal, their not answering it induced me to conclude they were enemies.
“In the face of so superior a force, I thought it most prudent to continue my course under all sail, as by altering it they might be inclined to chase me. I am happy to say that by so doing the enemy were so far intimidated as to tack, and make all sail from me to the N.N.E. At noon, the corvette, having much outsailed her consorts, tacked and stood to the southward. I now carried all possible sail in chase of the two brigs, and, at half-past three, the headmost tacked and passed me to windward about two guns’ shot distance; at five, the other brig hoisted French colours, and began to engage me with her stern-guns. At 20 minutes after, having got within pistol-shot of her, I commenced close action, which she sustained for twenty minutes; when, being much disabled, she hauled down her colours, and proved to be la Sylphe (commanded by Mons. Louis Marie Clemont, capitaine de fregate, and a member of the legion of honor), mounting 16 twenty-six-pounder carronades and 2 long nines, with a complement of 98 men * * * *. Her consorts, who so shamefully deserted her, were the Diligente, of 22 guns and 140 men, and Espiégle of 18 guns and 100 men: they had left l’Orient two days before, having each a quantity of flour on board; and I have reason to believe they were bound to Martinique[1].
“I am happy to say, no person belonging to H.M. sloop under my command was hurt, but her main and main-top-masts were badly wounded, and her sails and rigging cut[2].
“I beg leave to recommend to your lordship’s notice. Lieutenant Tomkinson, first of the Comet, for his zeal and activity in this contest; and to represent that the conduct of every officer and the ship’s company, the latter chiefly consisting of new raised men, was such as to merit my highest approbation. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“C. F. Daly.”
Captain Daly’s post commission bears date Aug. 18, 1808.
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.