Royal Naval Biography/Fellowes, Thomas
Sir THOMAS FELLOWES,
[Post-Captain of 1811.]
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; Knight of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Anne; Knight of the Royal Spanish Order of Charles III; and a Commander of the French Legion of Honor.
This officer is the fifth and youngest son of the late Dr. William Fellowes, of Bath, Physician Extraordinary to his present Majesty, when Prince Regent, by the eldest daughter of Peregrine Butler, of Dungarvon, co. Waterford, Esq. He is consequently brother to Sir James Fellowes, Knt. M.D. F.R.S. who received the honor of knighthood from our late monarch, for distinguished services, and was actively employed as inspector of hospitals to the British army, during the peninsular war. His elder brother, William Dorset Fellowes, Esq. Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain[1], officiated under Lord Gwydir at the coronation of king George IV. and executed all the details of that solemnity. His eldest sister, on the same occasion, was most graciously selected by his Majesty to lead the royal procession to Westminster Abbey, in the character of Principal Herb Woman.
Mr. Thomas Fellowes was born at Minorca, in 1778; and he first went to sea, as a midshipman in the Hon. East India Company’s service, about the year 1791 . We are not acquainted with the exact date of his entry into the royal navy, but believe it to have been in 1797, on which occasion he was received on board the Royal George, a first rate, bearing the flag of Lord Bridport, commander-in-chief of the channel, or grand fleet.
The monotonous service of blockading Brest harbour not being suitable to his active disposition, Mr. Fellowes soon afterwards obtained permission to join the Diana frigate, commanded by Captain Jonathan Faulknor, and employed as a channel cruiser. In that ship, he appears to have been entrusted with the charge of a watch, and admitted to mess with the lieutenants, a convincing proof of the estimation in which his abilities and general conduct were held by his superiors. We subsequently find him proceeding to Jamaica, as master’s-mate of the Crescent frigate; and assisting at the capture of El Galgo, Spanish national brig, under circumstances highly creditable to his commander, the late Commissioner Lobb[2].
The Crescent being short of commissioned officers, Mr. Fellowes was appointed prize-master of El Galgo; and on his arrival at Port Royal, he joined the Queen 98; from which ship he was soon afterwards removed to the Sans Pareil 80, bearing the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, commander-in-chief on that station. In 1801 and 1802, he successively acted as lieutenant of the Cumberland 74, Snake sloop, and Carnatic 74; the former third rate commanded by Captain Henry William Bayntun, the latter bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Robert Montagu.
Unfortunately for Mr. Fellowes, the peace of Amiens took place before he had served the established probationary term; and although Rear-Admiral Montagu, with a delicate regard to his feelings, kindly offered to send him home acting in the Ambuscade frigate, rather than allow him to resume the duties of a midshipman on the same station, he preferred having his discharge, to continuing in the service without any prospect of promotion; little imagining that hostilities would so soon be renewed. His wishes being complied with by the Rear-Admiral, he immediately obtained the command of a West Indiaman, and continued in her until some time after the re-commencement of the war, when we find him joining the Culloden 74, commanded by Captain Christopher Cole, and about to receive the flag of Sir Edward Pellew, now Viscount Exmouth, by whom he was successively appointed to two frigates, on the East India station: the name of the first we do not remember; the other (the Cornwallis) he was reluctantly obliged to leave, through ill health, just as she was about to make the interesting trip of which an outline has been given at pp. 170–174, of Suppl. Part I.
Mr. Fellowes returned home in the Hindostan 50, and next joined the Acasta frigate. Captain Philip Bearer, an officer of great professional and literary attainments, who likewise gave him the charge of a watch, and with whom he continued until he was at length promoted into the Belleisle 74, bearing the flag of Sir Alexander Cochrane, at the Leeward Islands, June 29, 1807.
Shortly after his advancement, Lieutenant Fellowes was appointed to the Melville sloop of war. Captain the Hon. James W. King; and in the same year he assisted at the capture of the Danish islands, together with a large fleet of merchantmen[3].
We next find Lieutenant Fellowes commanding the Swinger gun-brig, and assisting at the capture of Deseada; on which occasion he marched into the interior of that island, with forty men under his orders, for the purpose of attacking about seventy regular troops and militia, who had retreated thither after making a vain attempt to prevent the British from landing: these men having accepted the terms offered, laid down their arms and were secured by Lieutenant Fellowes, a circumstance not mentioned in Captain Selby’s letter, at p. 53 of this volume.
Some time after that event, Lieutenant Fellowes made a gallant and successful attempt, with two boats, upon a French armed ship, lying in Bay Mahout, Guadaloupe; the prize proved to be l’Alert letter of marque, mounting 6 carriage guns and 4 swivels, with a complement of 40 men, besides several passengers: unfortunately, however, the captors were obliged to scuttle and abandon her, in consequence of getting a-ground under the enemy’s batteries, to the fire of which, and that of a large privateer, they were exposed for fourteen hours – their loss, notwithstanding, consisted of only one killed and two or three wounded; whereas the French had twelve slain, and several so badly wounded that they could not be removed, which alone prevented l’Alert from being set on fire.
While in the Swinger, Lieutenant Fellowes was often engaged with the batteries of Guadaloupe. From her he removed to the Unique brig of 14 guns and 75 men; in which vessel he was present at the capture of the Saintes, and most actively employed during the blockade of Basse Terre. A very gallant exploit performed by him in sight of that place, is thus described by his friend Captain Beaver, in an official letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane, dated May 22, 1809:–
“Yesterday, at seven o’clock, I discovered a schooner at anchor close under one of the enemy’s batteries, to the northward of Basse Terre, and immediately recognized her to be one that had been examined by and kept company with us for two days, under Swedish colours, from St. Bartholomew’s bound to Martinique, pretending to be leaky, and wishing to get into the Saintes; but who, under cover of the night. Lad run under one of the enemy’s forts.
“To punish such perfidy, I permitted, contrary to my usual custom, the Julia and Unique to run under several batteries, in order to bring her out; but she was found so fast on shore that we could not move her. Captain Dowers, a copy of whose letter I herewith transmit to you, sent Lieutenant Fellowes, who commands the Unique, on shore with twenty-four seamen, to storm the battery and spike the guns; which service he performed with great gallantry, bringing away the colours in the presence of five times his own number of the enemy’s regular troops, and not more than a mile from their hutted encampment.”
Enclosure.
“Sir,– On our closing with the schooner, which had warped among the rocks, under a two-gun battery, flanked by two heavy batteries nearer Basse Terre, I sent our boats with one from the Unique, the whole under the command of Lieutenant Fellowes of that brig, with directions to land and storm the battery.
“Before they got on shore, a troop of cavalry, some infantry, and an immense number of militia had collected in the fort; and notwithstanding our people had to climb up a very steep precipice, with musketry annoying them from every point, they charged and drove the enemy from their guns, spiking them, killing several men, and bringing away their arms and colours. Lieutenant Fellowes then formed his men and retreated to the boats; but finding the schooner so fast amongst the rocks that it was impossible to move her, and the fire of musketry from the bushes striking the boats every instant, he very properly left her and returned on board. The loss on our part is one officer” (a midshipman of the Julia) “killed, whom Lieutenant Fellowes speaks very highly of, and seven men wounded; our damage is some shot in the hulls, sails, and rigging, and four guns dismounted. I cannot say too much in praise of the coolness and determination of every officer and man on this occasion. Lieutenant Fellowes’ conduct speaks for itself; we did not fire from the brigs till the enemy’s musketry went through our hammocks. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“Wm. Dowers.”[4]
The official report made by Captain Dowers applies only to the severely wounded: – the Unique’s boat, being completely riddled, sunk under Lieutenant Fellowes; one musket-ball passed through the crown of his hat, another struck the pike in his hand, and his jacket was shot through in two places; yet, strange to say, he was the only person of the party that escaped unhurt.
Previous to this affair, the Unique had been very much weakened by the almost daily firing of her guns at the enemy’s land batteries; and as she was now become very leaky, the senior officer of the blockading squadron resolved, although possessed of very inadequate means, to convert her into a fire-vessel, for the purpose of acting against two French frigates lying at Basse Terre.
On the very next day after this enterprise had been determined upon, Lieutenant Fellowes reported his brig ready; but unfortunately she had been so much lightened by the removal of most of her stores, not only for their preservation, but likewise to save the trouble of constant pumping, that she was thereby rendered incapable of performing the appointed service. When endeavouring to get between the enemy’s ships and the shore, a sudden gust off the land obliged him to luff her up, almost head to wind; otherwise she must have capsized, and probably all on board would have perished: before the sails could be again filled, he had the mortification to find her take the ground, not far from one of the frigates; and then, having no other alternative, he was obliged to abandon her ; first setting fire to the train, lest she should fall into the enemy’s possession.
Notwithstanding the failure of this attempt to destroy one or both of the enemy’s ships, the explosion of the Unique had the good effect of rendering their commanders dissatisfied with the security of the anchorage at Basse Terre:– taking advantage of a dark night, they soon afterwards put to sea; but only to be captured – one, la Felicité, by the Latona frigate. Captain Hugh Pigot; and the other, la Furieuse, by Captain William Mounsey, in the Bonne Citoyenne sloop of war.[5]
The following copy of a letter from Captain Beaver to Mr. Barrow, of the Admiralty, will shew the high opinion that distinguished officer entertained of Lieutenant Fellowes:
“Sir,– In reply to your letter, directing me to report, for their lordships’ information, how far Lieutenant Fellowes’ statement is correct as to his want of time to remove the victualling stores and necessaries of the late brig Unique, when burnt at Basse Terre, Guadaloupe.
“I beg leave to observe, that the order to prepare her as a fire-vessel was given one day, and she was burnt the next, which was rather a windy and squally day, and therefore every thing could not have been removed with that facility that they might had the weather been more favourable: it is highly probable, too, that on such an occasion. Lieutenant Fellowes’ ardour to fit his vessel for her destined service might have been the cause of his overlooking some stores: his own private property I am sure he never considered; and from his asserting it, I am certain that the estimate of his losses, as Purser, is within bounds.
“I cannot omit this opportunity of stating to their lordships, that I do not know an officer of greater professional abilities, or more zeal, than Lieutenant Fellowes: a few days only before the Unique was burnt, he very gallantly landed in the face of five times his number of the enemy’s regular troops, stormed a fort, and spiked the guns; and as he was under my orders the whole time I blockaded Basse Terre, I had frequent opportunities of witnessing and approving his gallantry, when under the batteries; and I do most humbly beg leave to recommend him to their lordships as an officer of very uncommon merit. I am, &c.
(Signed)“P. Beaver.”
On the 16th Sept. 1809, Lieutenant Fellowes was advanced to the rank of commander, as a reward for his meritorious services in the Swinger and Unique. On the 2d Aug. 1810, he received an appointment that led to his further promotion. At this latter period, the French having passed the Sierra Morena, had entered Andalusia in great force; and among other preparations for reducing the Isle of Leon, they had began to equip a formidable flotilla, manned by the seamen originally trained to that species of service at Boulogne, and who had been sent from the Danube, by Buonaparte, purposely to assist at the siege of Cadiz.
To annoy the enemy’s naval force, and to retard the completion of additional batteries at the different posts occupied by the army under Marshal Soult, eleven heavy Spanish gun-boats were officered and manned by the British squadron at Cadiz; ten others were constructed there under the directions of Sir Richard G. Keats, and nine more brought from Gibraltar, making altogether thirty sail, the whole of which were for several weeks commanded by Captain Fellowes, as appears by the following extracts of a journal now before us:
“Throughout the month of Oct. 1810, the flotilla was daily engaged with the enemy’s batteries. On the 9th, Captain Fellowes joined us with a reinforcement from Gibraltar, and assumed the chief command. On the 11th, a large French schooner was captured under a very heavy fire from fort Catalina. On the 18th, at 3-30 A.M. a brisk cannonading commenced in the direction of Roto, which proved to be Captain Fellowes attacking a French privateer. In the night of the 28th the gun-vessel commanded by Lieutenant William Style struck on the Los Corrales reef, by which accident a midshipman and fourteen of her crew perished: the remainder were saved through the exertions of Captain Fellowes, who treated them with the greatest kindness. On the 31st, the flotilla was stationed between Catalina and Rota, to intercept the enemy’s gun-boats coming from San Lucar to Port Santa Maria.
“Nov. 1, – observed one of the French vessels a-ground on the bar of the Guadaleto. At 10-30 A.M. the British flotilla commenced action with her and seven others, which, favored by the darkness of the night, had eluded our vigilance, and were then lying within the bar, protected by fort Conception, several redoubts, and a corps of horse-artillery on the beach. At 11, the vessel a-ground was deserted by the enemy; and at 11-30 she was boarded and destroyed, under a very heavy fire, by Captain Rainier, commanding officer of the guard-boats, who found several men killed or dying on her deck. At noon the action ceased.
“Nov. 2, – At day-break, discovered that a considerable number of the French gun-boats had taken shelter at Rota. The bombs and flotilla were ordered thither, but recalled in consequence of the Spaniards objecting to an attack, which might have proved injurious to the inhabitants of that town. At 3-30 P.M., the enemy were seen through the haze, running before the wind and tide: the guard-boats and flotilla immediately went in pursuit. At 4, Lieutenant Leeke, of the flag-ship, was killed in an attempt to turn the headmost French vessel. At 4-10, the action became general, and the British were exposed to a tremendous fire from the shore till called off, at 4-50, by signal from the admiral: At 5, the enemy’s rear-most vessel got into Port Santa Maria. On this occasion, the guard-boats of the squadron were conducted by Captain Kittoe, of the Milford: among the wounded on our side was Lieutenant William Hall, commander of the Bouncer gun-boat.
“Nov. 12, – the English flotilla co-operated with the Spanish batteries in an attack upon fort Napoleon and other strong works near Matagorda. In the night of the 14th, the French gun-boats attempted to push past Puntales, and get into the Trocadero channel, but were driven back by the British; some to Port Santa Maria, outside of which harbour they never again ventured; and the rest into the San Pedro river, from whence they were afterwards transported overland to the marshes of the Marquilla, below Puerto Real.
“Nov. 15, – Captain Robert Hall arrived from Gibraltar, and hoisted his distinguishing pendant in the Rambler, as senior oflicer of the flotilla.”
From this period. Captain Fellowes most ably and gallantly commanded one half of the gun-boats until April 22, 1811, when he again assumed the chief command, and continued to hold it till he was superseded in consequence of his promotion. For several months, not a day passed without seeing him engaged with the enemy. In addition to the dangers of this most arduous and harassing service, he was exposed to very great privations in his little vessel, the Watchful, whose cabin for himself and a midshipman was only 7 feet long and 3 high, out of which he never slept from Sept. 1810 until June 1811!
An attack made upon the French gun-boats at Port Santa Maria, Nov. 23, 1810, is thus described by Sir Richard G. Keats, in a letter to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton:–
“Observing the enemy to have collected several gun-boats in the river of Santa Maria, in a situation subject to bombardment; at a proper time of the tide yesterday, I placed the mortar and howitzer boats, under the able direction of Captain Hall, which (whilst the Devastation, Thunder, and;Etna bombs, with one division of Spanish, and two divisions of English gunboats, under the zealous command of Captain Thomas Fellowes and Lieutenant William Fairbrother Carroll, successfully drew the attention and fire of fort Catalina) threw, seemingly with considerable effect, some hundred shells amongst the gun-boats and about the place of construction, until the wind coming in from the westward made it necessary to move them out. We have not yet ascertained what has been the damage or loss ou the part of the enemy; but we have unfortunately to lament the death of two highly esteemed and respectable young officers. Lieutenants Thomas Worth and John Buckland, of the royal marine artillery, whose loss is the theme of universal regret. Mr. Samuel Hawkins, midshipman of the Norge, also fell gallantly, which, with 4 Spanish and 4 English seamen wounded, constitutes our whole loss on a service, the execution of which merits my warmest praise.”
On the above occasion. Captain Fellowes was engaged with fort Catalina from 2-30 P.M. until 10 o’clock at night. Towards the close of the following month, a combined attack was likewise made upon the enemy’s flotilla below Puerto Real; the castle of Puntales at the same time engaging the forts on the opposite tongue of land, and the bombs keeping Catalina in play. The action commenced at 1 P.M. and did not cease until all the French vessels there, seventeen in number, were completely disabled.
On the day after the glorious battle of Barrosa, Captain Fellowes greatly distinguished himself by his gallantry in storming a 4-gun battery, surrounded by a ditch and spiked stockade, at the entrance of Port Sauta Maria, under a heavy fire of grape from all the neighbouring works. In the performance of this service, he was bravely seconded by Lieutenant Style. The following is an extract of the official letter in which Sir Richard G. Keats makes mention of this exploit:–
“The wind having come off the land, and the sea much abated, two landings were effected, by way of diversion, yesterday morning[6], between Rota and Catalina, and between that fort and Santa Maria, with the royal marines, commanded by Captain English, 200 seamen of the squadron, and 80 of the Spanish marine; one division of which was under the direction of Captain Spranger, of the Warrior; the other under Captain Kittoe: at the same time, Catalina was bombarded by the Hound and Thunder bombs; and that fort and the batteries on the east side of the bay were kept in check with much spirit by the gun and mortar-boats, under the respective commands of Captains Hall and Fellowes. One redoubt of 4 guns, near Santa Maria, was stormed by the marines of the Milford, led on by Captain Fottrell; a second, to the south of the Guadaleto, was taken by Captain Fellowes; and the guns of all the sea defences, together with the small fort of Puntilla, from Rota (which the enemy evacuated) to Santa Maria, with the exception of Catalina, were spiked, and the works dismantled.”
In the performance of this highly important service, the British had one gun-boat sunk before Catalina; but their whole loss amounted to only 3 men killed and 13 wounded, 2 of whom mortally.
Although Captain Fellowes was advanced to post rank on the 4th Mar. 1811, he did not quit Cadiz until June following, at which period he was succeeded by Captain William Fairbrother Carroll: from the time of Captain Hall’s departure until then, he had been most handsomely and skilfully seconded on every occasion by Captain Frederick Jennings Thomas, whose valuable services we shall soon have to relate. A fuller account of the occurrences at and near Cadiz, during the period that Sir Richard G. Keats commanded the naval force there, will be given under the head of Captain William Henry Smyth.
The subject of this memoir was next appointed, Feb. 1812, to the Fawn, a small post-ship, in which he cruised for some time on the Channel station, and subsequently escorted a fleet of merchantmen from Cork to Barbadoes. On his arrival in Carlisle bay, he received a handsome letter of thanks from the masters of the convoy “for the excellent arrangements he made to prevent separation, and for his very great attention to them during the voyage.”
From Barbadoes, Captain Fellowes proceeded to the Jamaica station, where he recaptured several British merchant vessels, one of which was the Perthshire letter of marque, mounting 14 guns, with a cargo of fish and oil.
On the 9th Jan. 1813, being then employed in affording protection to the trade between Curagoa and the Spanish Main, Captain Fellowes recaptured a brig; and finding that she had been taken by one of three powerful American privateers, which he had previously obliged to fly from their rendezvous between Beata and St. Domingo, he immediately went in pursuit of the marauder, whom, at daylight on the 10th, he discovered from the mast-head, close in with the land to the eastward of Porto Cabello. A long and arduous pursuit took place, at the commencement of which the chace was fired upon by the batteries to prevent her entering the above harbour; and at 2 o’clock in the morning of the 11th, the Fawn having got within range, the weather being squally, and a heavy sea running, she was obliged to run ashore on Point Hicacos, where her commander and 24 men were drowned in attempting to reach the land. The vessel thus destroyed was the Rosamond, of 8 heavy guns and 105 men: when fallen in with by the Fawn she had on board 100,000 dollars in specie, besides much valuable merchandize, the plunder of various English and Spanish vessels. Captain Fellowes shortly afterwards received a letter from the Captain-General of the Caraccas, of which the following is a translation:–
“Dear Sir,– Mr. Simon Cock has informed me of your arrival at La Guiara, at which I am extremely pleased, and only sorry at not having; the pleasure of seeing you here, which I have so much desired.
“This government is penetrated with the liveliest sense of gratitude for the zeal and ability which you have manifested in driving the enemies of peace and commerce from these coasts, and securing them from their prejudicial depredations.
“Confident of your zeal tor the general cause, I take the liberty of requesting you, if possible, to extend your cruise to the east coast of the province of Cumana, where the insurgents have landed at a place called Guiaia, paralyzing commerce, and obstructing the general supplies of provisions sent to the island of H.B.M. and seriously affecting the interests of his afflicted ally, the Spanish nation:
“Should you have it in your power to visit the capital, I shall be extremely happy. I am, with sentiments of the highest consideration, &c.
(Signed)“Domingo Monteverde.”
Captain Fellowes likewise received the thanks of Major-General Hodgson, Governor of Curaçoa, for his “zealous and active exertions;” and the merchants of that island presented him with a piece of plate, as an acknowledgment of the services he had rendered them.
The Fawn was paid off in Oct. 1813, on which occasion her crew addressed a letter to Captain Fellowes, worded as follows:–
“Sir,– It is with the deepest regrette that we have this day learned that His Majesty’s Ship under your Command is ordered to be paid off, as it deprives us of a Commander, we one, and all would wish to sail with. We beg leave. Sir! to state that your great attention to our Comforts in our different stations has left a grateful impression on our minds, and induces us to take the Liberty of soliciting the favour of serving in any Ship to which you may be appointed, we hope. Sir! that you will be pleased to Excuse this freedom as it proceeds from no other motive than our Gratitude to a Commander we so much Esteem and Respect. We have the honor to be (Sir) Your Very humble Servants,
“The Ship’s Company in Geniral.”
Here follow 43 signatures.
From this period, Captain Fellowes remained unemployed till Feb. 21, 1827, when he was appointed to the Dartmouth frigate, of 42 guns. In that ship he proceeded to the Mediterranean station, just after the conclusion of the treaty entered into between his Majesty and the Courts of the Tuilleries and of St. Petersburgh, with a view to effect a reconciliation between the Ottoman Forte and the inhabitants of the Greek provinces and islands, where a contest had been carried on for several years, – marked on each side by excesses revolting to humanity. In the course of the measures adopted to effect the object of that treaty, a collision, wholly unexpected by his Majesty, took place between the squadrons of the contracting Powers and the Turco-Egyptian fleet. The part borne by Captain Fellowes on that occasion, and the result of the conflict, will be seen by the following copy of the British Admiral’s official letter, &c. &c.:–
“His Majesty’s ship Asia, in the Port of Navarin[7], Oct. 21, 1827.
“I have the honor to inform his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral, that my colleagues. Count Heiden and the 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 gulf of Patras, the combined squadrons passed the batteries, in order to take up their anchorage, at about two 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 centre, the smaller ones, in succession within them, filling up the intervals.
“The combined fleet 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 Genoa and Albion, and anchored close alongside a ship of the line, bearing the flag of the Capitan Bey, another ship of the line, and a large double-banked frigate, each thus having their opponent in the front line of the Turkish fleet. 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 mark the stations of the whole Russian squadron; the ships of their line closing those of the English line, and being followed up by their own frigates. The French frigate Armide, was directed to place herself alongside the outermost frigate, on the left hand entering the harbour; and the Cambrian, Glasgow, and Talbot next to her, and abreast of the Asia, Genoa, and Albion; the Dartmouth and the Musquito, the Rose, the Brisk, and the Philomel, were to look after six fire-vessels, at the entrance of the harbour. I gave orders that no gun should be fired, unless guns were first fired by the Turks; and those orders were strictly observed. The three English ships were accordingly permitted to pass the batteries and to moor, which they did with great rapidity, without any act of open hostility, although there was evident preparation for it in all the Turkish ships; but upon the Dartmouth sending a boat to one of the fire-vessels. Lieut. G. W. H. Fitzroy[8], and several of her crew, were shot with musketry. This produced a defensive fire of musketry from the Dartmouth aud la Syrene, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral De Rigny; that was succeeded by a cannon-shot at the Rear-Admiral from one of the Egyptian ships, which, of course, brought on a return, and thus, very shortly afterwards, the battle became general. – The Asia, although placed along, side the ship of the Capitan Bey, was even nearer to that of Moharem Bey, the commander of the Egyptian ships; and since his ship did not fire at the Asia, although the action was begun to windward, neither did the Asia Are at her. The latter, indeed, sent a message, “that he would not fire at all,” and, therefore, no hostility took place betwixt our ships for some time after the Asia had returned the fire of the Capitan Bey.
“In the mean time, however, our excellent pilot, Mr. Peter Mitchell, who went to interpret to Moharem my desire to avoid bloodshed, was killed by his people in our boat alongside, – whether with or without his orders, I know not; but his ship soon afterwards fired into the Asia, and was, consequently, effectually destroyed by the Asia’s fire, sharing the same fate as his brother admiral, on the starboard side, and falling to leeward a mere wreck. These ships being out of the way, the Asia became exposed to a raking fire from vessels in the second and third line, which carried away her mizen-mast by the board, disabled some of her guns, and killed and wounded several of her crew. This narration of the proceedings of the Asia would probably be equally applicable to most of the other ships of the fleet. The manner in which the Genoa and Albion took their stations was beautiful; and the conduct of my brother admirals. Count Heiden and the Chevalier De Rigny, throughout, was admirable and highly exemplary.
“Captain Fellowes executed the part allotted to him perfectly; and with the able assistance of his little but brave detachment, saved the Syrene from being burnt by the fire vessels. And the Cambrian, Glasgow, and Talbot, following the fine example of Capitaine Hugon, of the Armide, who was opposed to the leading frigate of that line, effectually destroyed their opponents, and also silenced the batteries. This bloody and destructive battle was continued with unabated fury for four hours, and the scene of wreck and devastation which presented itself at its termination, was such as has been seldom before witnessed. As each ship of our opponents became effectually disabled, such of her crew as could escape from her endeavoured to set her on fire; and it is wonderful how we avoided the effects 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 officers and crew of the Asia, for the perfection with which the fire 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 perfect, against an excessive number, however individually inferior, cannot be acquired but at a considerable sacrifice of life; accordingly, I have to lament the loss of Captain Bathurst, of the Genoa, whose example on this occasion is well worthy of the imitation of his survivors. Captain Bell, commanding the royal marines of the Asia, an excellent officer, 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. L. 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 office Mr. F. J. T. White, his first clerk, whom I have nominated to succeed the purser of the Brisk. I feel much personal obligation to the Honorable Lieutenant-Colonel Craddock, for his readiness, during the heat of the battle, in carrying my orders and messages to the different quarters, after my aides-de-camp were disabled; but I will beg permission to refer his Royal Highness for further particulars of this sort to the details of the killed and wounded, a subject which it is painful for me to d>vell upon; when I contemplate, as I do with extreme sorrow, the extent of our loss, I console myself with the reflection, 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 opponents.
“When I found that the boasted Ottoman word of honour was made a sacrifice to wanton savage devastation, and that a base advantage was taken of our reliance upon Ibrahim’s good faith, I own I felt a desire to punish the offenders. But it was my duty to refrain, and refrain I did; and I can assure his Royal Highness that I would still have avoided this disastrous extremity, if other means had been open to me. The Asia, Genoa, and Albion, have each suffered 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 suffered considerably, as well as others of the smaller vessels; but 1 hope their defects are not more than can be made good at Malta. The loss of men 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 Capitan Bey, which includes that of two out of the three ships to which the English division wus opposed. Captain Curzon having preferred continuing to assist me in the Asia, I have given the charge of my despatches to Commander Lord Viscount Ingestre, 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.
(Signed)“Edward Codrington, Vice-Admiral.”
It appears, by a letter from Zante, dated Dec. 14th, 1827, that the harbour of Navarin was reconnoitred by the Pelican sloop on the 17th Nov., at which period there were twenty-nine men of war lying there, viz. “one Turkish ship of the line, and four frigates, much damaged; two frigates fit for service one of the Egyptian razées, in tolerable condition; and five corvettes, eleven brigs, and five schooners in good condition.” A letter from Alexandria, dated Dec. 29th, states, that on the 27th of that month, “four frigates, eight brigs, and four cutters, with several transports,” arrived there; and that “a ship of the line (meaning, we presume, the razée) and two frigates had separated from them in a gale of wind:” there is no mention made by the Capitan Bey’s secretary of any fore-and-aft rigged vessels. The following list will shew the strength of the combined squadrons, and the loss sustained by each ship and vessel composing them:
| killed | wounded | ||||||
| Asia | 74 | flag-ship, Captain Edward Curzon, Commander Robert Lambert Baynes, |
19 | 57 | |||
| Genoa | 74 | Captain Walter Bathurst, Commander Richard Dickinson |
26 | 33 | |||
| Albion | 74 | Captain John Ackworth Ommanney, Com. John Norman Campbell, |
10 | 50 | |||
| Dartmouth | 42 | Captain Thomas Fellowes, C.B. | 6 | 8 | |||
| Cambrian | 48 | Captain Gawen William Hamilton, C.B. | 1 | 1
| |||
| Glasgow | 50, | Captain Hon. James Ashley Maude | 0 | 2 | |||
| Talbot | 28, | Captain Hon. Frederick Spencer | 6 | 17 | |||
| Musquito | 10, | Comm. George Bohun Martin | 2 | 4 | |||
| Rose | 18, | Comm. Lewis Davies | 3 | 15 | |||
| Brisk | 10, | Comm. Hon. William Anson | 1 | 3 | |||
| Philomel | 10, | Comm. Viscount Ingestre | 1 | 7 | |||
| Total | 75 | 197 | |||||
French. | |||||||
| Syrene | 60, | Rear-Admiral H. De Rigny | 21 | 42 | |||
| Scipion | 74, | Captaine Millius | 2 | 36 | |||
| Trident | 74, | Captaine Maurice | 0 | 7 | |||
| Breslau | 74, | Captaine De La Bretonnière | |||||
| Armide | 44, | Captaine Hugon | 14 | 14 | |||
| Alcyone | sch., | 1 | 9 | ||||
| Dauphinoise | 1 | 8 | |||||
| 40 | 130 | ||||||
| Officers, not included in the above number | 3 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 43 | 133 | |||||
Russian. | |||||||
| Azof | 74, | Rear-Admiral Count De Heiden | 24 | 67 | |||
| Gargoute | 74, | 14 | 37 | ||||
| Ezekiel | 74, | 13 | 18 | ||||
| Alexander Newsky | 74, | 5 | 7 | ||||
| Constantine | 50, | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Provernoy | 48, | 3 | 4 | ||||
| Elena | 48, | 0 | 5 | ||||
| Castor | 48, | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 59 | 139 | |||||
Grand Total, – 177 killed, 469 wounded. | |||||||
Copy of the General Order to which we alluded at p. 332.
“H.M.S. Asia, in the Port of Navarin, 24 Oct. 1827.
“Before the united squadrons remove from the theatre on which they have gained so complete a victory, the Vice-Admiral, commander-in-chief, is desirous of making known to the officers, seamen, and marines, employed in them, the high sense which he has of their gallant and steady conduct on the 20th instant. – He is persuaded that there is no instance of the fleet of any one country shewing more complete union of spirit and action, than was exhibited by the squadrons of the three Allied Powers together, in this bloody and destructive battle. He attributes to the bright example set by his gallant colleagues, the Rear-Admirals, the able and cordial support which the ships of the several squadrons gave each other, during the heat and confusion of the battle. Such union of spirit and of purpose – such coolness and bravery under fire – and such consequent precision in the use of their guns, ensured a victory over the well-prepared arrangements of greatly superior numbers: and the whole Turkish and Egyptian fleets have paid the penalty of their treacherous breach of faith. The boasted Ibrahim Pacha promised uot to quit Navarin, or oppose the allied fleets; and basely broke his word. The allied commanders promised to destroy the Turkish and Egyptian fleets, if a single gun were fired at either of their flags; and, with the assistance of the brave men whom they have had the satisfaction of commanding, they have performed their promise to the very letter. Out of a fleet composed of eighty-one men of war, there remain only one frigate and fifteen smaller vessels, in a state ever to be again put to sea. Such a victory cannot be gained without a great sacrifice of life; and the commander-in-chief has to deplore the loss of many of the best and bravest men whom the fleet contained. The consolation is, that they died in the service of their country, and in the cause of suffering humanity.
“The commander-in-chief returns his most cordial thanks to his noble colleagues, the two Rear-Admirals, for the able manner in which they directed the movements of the squadron; and to the Captains, Commanders. Officers, Seamen, and Royal Marines, who so faithfully obeyed their orders, and so bravely completed the destruction of their opponents.
(Signed)“Edward Codrington.”
In a letter from Rear-Admiral De Rigny to Sir Edward Codrington, dated Oct. 23, 1827, we find the following passage:
“Allow me to take this opportunity of returning my thanks to Captain Fellowes for the assistance which the Syrene received from the boats of the Dartmouth, when, with much skill and bravery, they attacked and turned off the fire-ships ready to come down upon us.”
Lord Ingestre, the bearer of Sir Edward Codrington’s despatches, was conveyed to Ancona by the Dartmouth; and Captain Fellowes subsequently returned home overland, via Marseilles, in company with Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore, who, it is generally understood, had been sent to Malta, to obtain further information for H.R.H. the Lord High Admiral, upon the circumstances which led to the battle of Navarin; an event of so recent a date as to render any comment, on our part, superfluous.
On the 13th Feb. 1828, a few days after the meeting of Parliament, Captain Fellowes was introduced to his Majesty, at Windsor, by the Lord High Admiral, and received the honor of knighthood for his gallant conduct at Navarin. He soon afterwards left London in order to resume the command of the Dartmouth, which frigate is still employed on the Mediterranean station.
The subject of this memoir was nominated a C.B. in June 1815: the Spanish Order of King Charles III. was conferred upon him April 26, 1821, as a reward for his gallant and zealous exertions at Cadiz, to which the safety of the inhabitants of that city was in a great measure owing: the insignias of the French and Russian Orders, mentioned at the commencement of this memoir, were sent to him after the battle of Navarin.
Sir Thomas Fellowes married, 1st, in Nov. 1813, Katherine Mary, eldest daughter of the late Sir William Abdy, Bart. Captain R.N. by which lady he had two sons and one daughter:– 2dly, Aug. 24, 1819, Mary Anne Catharine, only child of the late Isaac Humphrys, Esq. Colonel of the Bengal artillery, and Military Secretary to that Government, by whom he has issue two sons and three daughters.
addendum.
SIR THOMAS FELLOWES, Knt. C.B., &c.
(Suppl. Part II. p. 335.)
After the battle of Navarin, his present Majesty, then Lord High Admiral, presented this officer with a sword, bearing the royal arms on one side the guard, and his own arms on the other.
Captain Fellowes returned hoiae from the Mediterranean in Feb. 1830; and paid off the Dartmouth frigate, at Chatham, on the 15th of the following month. On the 23d June in the same year, the honorary degree of Doctor in Civil Law was conferred on him at Oxford. Dr. Bliss, Deputy Professor, in presenting him to the heads of the University, after Viscount Combermere, observed, – “You behold another chieftain, glorious as a conqueror like the former, though he has warred upon another element. Covered like the former with insignia, which display the gratitude of foreign courts and nations, his glory is not only that of conquest, but that of having preserved from death by fire and water, thousands, not only of his friends and fellow-countrymen, but even of inveterate enemies; thus fixing the banner of mercy and love on the hostile mast of deadly enmity.”
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part II. pp. 954–961.
- ↑ See Suppl. Part I. p. 299, et seq. N.B. Commissioner Lobb died at Sheerness, July 28, 1814.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 263, et seq.
- ↑ Captain Dowers, eldest son of Purser Dowers, Esq. a retired commander, obtained post rank Sept. 24th, 1814, and died at Antigua, Dec. 26th, 1816. He was considered a most active gallant officer, and his premature loss deeply lamented by a large circle of friends.
- ↑ See memoir of Captain Thomas Tudor Tucker.
- ↑ Mar. 6, 1811.
- ↑ Navarin, the Pylos of the ancients, and the supposed birth-place of the venerable Nestor, is situated about 10 miles from Modon; and, consequently, near the most S.W. point of the Morea.
- ↑ Second son of General the Hon. William Fitzroy, of Kempston Lodge, Norfolk.