THE CUTTING OUT OF THE ESMERALDA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 219, 25 November 1859, Page 3

THE CUTTING OUT OF THE ESMERALDA.

From Lord Dundonald's Wcttitly published book upon the war of South American Independence, we take the following spirited description of this magnificent naval exploit ,• —

The enterprise was hazardous, for since my former visit the enemy's position had been much strengthened, no less than 300 pieces of artillery being mounted on shore, whilst the Esmeralda was crowded with the best sailors and marines that could be procured, sleeping every night at quarters. Site was, moreover, defended by a strong boom with chain mooring, and by armed blockships; the whole being surrounded.by twenty-gun boats; so that no ship could possibly get at her. For three days we occupied ourselves in preparations, still keeping secret the purpose for which they were intended. On the evening of sth November, this was: communicated to the ships by the following proclamation:-—" Marines and Seamen. This night we are going to give the enemy a mortal blow. Tomorrow you will present yourselves proudly before Callao, and all your comrades will envy your good fortune." One hour of courage and resolution is all that is required of you to, triumph. Remember,-thajtjYjm-have'< conquered in yaldivfe, and" be* riot^fraid of those who have hitherto fled-^rom' ■yod. The value of the vessels captured in Callao will be yours, and the same reward in money will be distributed amongst you as has been offered by the Spaniards in Lima to those who should capture any of the China, squadron. The moment of glory is approaching, and I hope that the Chilieuos will fight as they have been accustomed to do, and that the English will act as they have ever done at home and alroad. Cochrane:"—On hearing this proclamation, it was stated that I should lead the attack in person, volunteers being requested to come forward, on which the whole of the marines and seamen on hoard the three ships offered to accompany me. As this could not be permitted, a hundred and sixty seamen and eighty, marines were selected, and after dark were placed in fourteen boats alongside the flag-ship, each armed with cutlass and pistol/ being for distinction's sake dressed in white, with a blue band on tbe left arm. The Spaniards I expected would be off their guard, as by way of ruse, the other ships had been sent out of the bay under charge of Captain Foster, its though in pursuit of some vessel in offing^so that the Spaniards would consider themselves safe from attack for that night. At ten o'clock all was in readiness, the boats being formed in two divisions, the first commanded by my Flag-Captain Crosbie, and the second by Captain Guise, —my boat leading. The strictest silence, and the exclusive use of cutlasses were enjoined; so that as the oars were muffled, and the night dark, the enemy had hot the least suspicion of the impending attack. It was just upon midnight when we neared the small opening left in the boom, pur plan being being well nigh fustrated by the vigilance of a guard boat, upon which my launch had unluckily stumbled. The challenge was given, upon which,, in an under tone, I threatened the occupants of the boat with instant death if they, made the least alarm. No teply waa made to the JhteaVand in a few minutes oar gallant fellows were alongside the frigate in line, boarding at several points simultaneously. The Spaniards were completely taken by surprise—the whole, with tbe exception of the sentries, being asleep at their quarters—and great was the havoc made amongst them by Chile no cutlasses, whilst they were recovering themselves. Retreating to the forecastle, they made a gallant stand, and it was not until the third charge that, the position was carried. The fight was for a short time renewed on the quarter deck, where the Spanish marines fell to a man, the rest of the enemy leaping overboard and into the hold to escape slaughter. On boarding the ship by the. main chains, I was knocked back by the butt-end of the sentry's musket, and falling on a tholepin of the boat, it entered, my back near tbi' spine, inflicting a severe injury, which caused me many years of subsequent suffering. Immediately regaining my footing, I reascended the side, and when on deck was shot through the thigh, but, binding a handkerchief tightly round the wound, managed, though with great difficulty, to direct the contest to its close. The whole affair from begining to end, occupied outy a quarter of an hour, our loss being eleven killed and thirty wounded, whilst that of the Spaniards was a hundred and sixty, many of whom fell under the cutlass of the Chilenos before they could staud to their arms • • • • Th& uproar speedily alarmed the garrison, who, hastening to their guns, opened fire on their own frigate, thus paying us the compliment of having taken it; though, even in this case, their own men most still haye, been on board, so that firiug on them w%a a wanton proceeding, as several Spaniards wer,e. killed or wounded by the shot of the fortresß, and amongst the wounded was Captain Goig, the commander of the Esmeralda—who after he waß made prisoner, received a severe contusion by a shot from his own party. The fire from the fortress, was, however, neutralised by a 1 successful expedient. There were two foreign ships of war present during the contest —the United States frigate Macedonian, and the British frigate Hyperion; and these as previously agreed on with the Spanish authorities in case of a night attack, hoisted peculiar lights as signals, to prevent being fired upon. This contingency being provided fo:r by us, as soon as the fortress cor^e»ced its fire on the Esmemlda^ also ran up similar lights, so tbiit the garrison became puzzled which to fire atV the intended mischief thus involving theHyperion and Macedonian, which were several times struck, the Esmeralda being comparatively untouched."

A " Sir Harry"' strawberry,- i^easuring upwards of Beven inches in, eiroumferenoe, and weighing one oun^ce and three quarters (one QU,n,ce aod, twelve drachms), was^ gathered in a garden, at P^rry village, near Birmingham, last week. Several other " Slit; Harry's" of nearly the game size and weight-have been gatherq^ in the same gardeo. These Btrawber^ieq, were,, trained on hoopa, and excited ni^fh surjaise, resembling alar^ to^jajto, i .. .: •^he,Klna o^Sardinia,l|saldio.havebe^h so, hpiror'Stru^t w ; hett Jprieird of the peace con9Jud|4 betw^n tte two Emperors, that he aY tvmpied to commit suicide.—Coart Jbmml'

" Guidsake, man" said a douce houswife to an honest dairyman the other day, " what sort o'urflVs thia yew doom'un wi'«oo; The la.tf I got, there was about a thjrd. o't water." '<Then ye're a' wwng, goidewife," replied Will j " it's some ither body*a milk y«'te taa