Meditations upon an Escape Our Efforts baffled A Christmas
Night in a Dungeon Reminiscences of Home and Friends A
Sentinel firing on his Prisoners I am removed to a Cell with
Fifty Prisoners Again removed to a higher Cell, with only
Twelve Improved Condition Hear of a Scheme of the
Prisoners below to effect their Escape Contrive to join them
Stratagem to drown the Noise of Working-tools Successful
Undermining Noise in Opening the Third Door Sentinels
alarmed The Guards enter Search and discover our Engineer-
ing Fury of the French Officers Mr. Brine, answering to the
name of O'Brien, is captured instead of me I escape from the
Dungeon and regain my own Cell Feign Illness, and avoid
Suspicion ...... Page 191
CONTENTS xxiii
CHAPTER XIII
A Trial at Metz English Officers sentenced to the Galleys Forging
and using false Passports The Consequences A new Scheme
of Escape A favourable Night but unfavourable Sentinels A
Farewell Dinner Another Attempt at Escape A Descent of
Ramparts by a Rope Concealment in a Ditch Rolling down
a Glacis An Adieu to the Mansion of Tears Making towards
the Rhine Concealment in a Wood Refuge in a Vineyard
Shooting a Fox Disturbed in our Lair A Flight and its
Dangers The Banks of the Rhine Passing the River A Joy-
ful Escape into neutral Territory Prospective Comforts of an
Inn, and Refreshment .... Page 215
CHAPTER XIV
Refreshments at a Village Inn The Town of Rastadt A civil
Traveller Good Accommodation Baden Awkward Ren-
contre with a Royal Party An Alarm about Passports A Genteel
Inn dangerous to Fugitive Travellers The Advantages of a
Drunken Landlord The Town of Hornberg To Kriemhields-
ach_, after passing the Black Forest Banditti The Murder of
a French General A German Inn and a rustic Dance The
Town of Tiitlingen A Concealment of Eight Days Vain
Attempts to smuggle Passports Progress of our Journey
Crossing the I Her Leaving Wiirtemberg and entering Bavaria
The Progress of our Flight Kaufbeuern An inquisitive
Landlord and frightened Guests . . . Page 232
CHAPTER XV
Leaving Kaufbeuern on the Left Hand Crossing the Wardach and
the Lech A welcome Ferry-boat The Town of Weilheim A
long and exhausting March The Soporific of Fatigue The
Ferry over the River Inn Frightened at a Soldier A false
Alarm Crossing the River The Town of Reichenhall Our
Approach to the Bavarian Frontiers The Increase of Dangers
Passing Barriers with Success A Supposition that we were in
the Austrian Dominions A woeful Miscalculation and a
narrow Escape from its fatal Consequences An unexpected
Demand for Passports An Evasion The Bavarian and
xxiv CONTENTS
Austrian Confines Our extreme Danger Anticipating the
Galleys A Track through a Wood at the foot of a Mountain
A Flight The Boundary passed, and the Fugitives in the
Emperor's Dominions Soldiers in Ambush The Fugitives
captured Feigning to be Americans from Altona Rage of the
Bavarian Guard at being outwitted . . . Page 247
CHAPTER XVI
Our Arrival at Salzburg The Director of Police Perseverance in
our Tale of being Americans Suspected of being Spies
Austrian Feelings favourable towards England and Englishmen
Confession of the Truth Treated well as English Officers
An excellent Inn A kind Governor Great Civility De-
spatches from Vienna Passports ordered for us A Remittance
of Money from Vienna Passports for Trieste Our Journey
German Students and Dog Latin Clagenfurt Laibach
Banditti A Mountain Scene An Irish Watch-fire Arrival at
Trieste Ecstasies at beholding the Gulf and the English
Frigate in the Offing Our Embarkation Picked up by the
Amphion's Boat An old Friend and Shipmate Discovering an
Enemy A desperate and unsuccessful Fight The Killed and
Wounded Shot through the Right Arm Valour of Lieut. G.
M. Jones His Wound Excessive Kindness of the Amphioris
Captain and Officers The Spider Brig Corfu Malta Sir
Alexander Ball Unexpected Meeting with old Friends escaped
from Bitche Promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Warrior (a
seventy-four) The Glories of the Naval Service opened to me
Page 203
CHAPTER XVII
Receiving a Lieutenancy Lord Collingwood's Kindness Joining
the Warrior An unexpected Supply of Dollars An Accident
at Sea Capture of Ischia and Procida Expedition against the
Ionian Isles Joining the Amphion Captain Hoste's Activity
in the Adriatic Commodore Dubourdieu and his Squadron at
Ancona Chasing the Enemy A Wild-goose Pursuit Success
at Last A glorious Battle and a splendid Victory Details of
the Action at Lissa My Return to England Interview with
the First Lord of the Admiralty A Visit to Ireland A Solici-
tation from Captain Hoste to Join the Bacchante as First
CONTENTS xxv
Lieutenant Revisiting the Mediterranean Provoking the
Enemy They provoking us A Capture Unhappy Loss of
Prizes An inexplicable Accident Extraordinary Explosion of
a French Frigate A Flag of Truce Venice Corfu Capture
of Flotilla ...... Page 287
CHAPTER XVIII
Capture of General Borde and his Staff A gallant Boarding
Exploit A horrible Murder by Italian Prisoners of War
Success of our Navy A Balance of Accounts My Promotion
Quitting the Bacchante Pain of leaving old Friends and
brave Shipmates The Plague at Malta Captain Pell gives me
a Passage Home An ineffectual Chase and a narrow Escape
Stratagems of the Enemy Toulon Gibraltar The English
Channel Ingenious Device of Captain Pell, resulting in the
curious Capture of a French Privateer Arrival in England A
kind Reception by the First Lord of the Admiralty An Official
Promise te Hope deferred maketh the Heart sick " A Return
to London The Peace of 1814 Its Consequences Half-Pay
and an End to all Adventures . . . Page 331
APPENDIX
Letter of Barklimore to O'Brien . . . Page 339
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN . . . Frontispiece
PAGE
MAP SHOWING THE LlNES OF O'BRIEN'S THREE ESCAPES XXViii
ESCAPE FROM THE GENDARMES NEAR SARREGUEMINES . .118
CUTTING OUT THE ENEMY'S VESSELS AT PORT LEMA . . 314
CAPTURE OF A FRENCH FLOTILLA OFF OTRANTO 328
N JS
"" <>
g pa 2 23 *
5 o 1
CHAPTER I
The Hussar Frigate is sent home with despatches, and wrecked on
the Saintes Efforts to save the ship Attempt to escape in the
boats foiled by bad weather A surrender to the enemy.
IT was on Monday, the 6th February 1804, that the
Hussar made sail from Ares Bay in Spain, being bound
for England with despatches, from our commodore Sir
Edward Pellew, and with orders first to communicate
with our Channel Fleet off Brest. We had a fresh breeze
from the S.W. ; and on the succeeding day (Tuesday,
7th) the wind and weather were nearly the same. At
noon, to the best of my recollection, we were in lat. 46
50', Ushant bearing N. 37 E., distant 113 or 114 miles.
On Wednesday (8th) the wind and weather were the
same, and we were steering, as nearly as I can recollect,
N.E. by E., and running nine knots an hour. Every
heart was elated with the joyful expectation of being
safely moored in a few hours in the land of liberty. Some
were employed in writing to their friends and relatives ;
but, alas ! how frail and delusive are the hopes of man !
How differently had our lot been decreed ! The happy
arrival, with many, never took place. With all the others
it was long delayed ; and the vicissitudes and miseries we
were doomed to suffer will amply appear in the subsequent
2 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
It was upon this fatal Wednesday, at about 10.45 P.M.,
whilst steering this course of N.E. by E., and running at
the rate of about seven knots an hour, in dark and hazy
weather, the Hussar struck upon the southernmost point of
the Saintes. We beat over an immense reef of rocks,
carried away our tiller in several pieces, unshipped the
rudder, and, from the violence of beating over the reef, we
damaged the ship's bottom so considerably that the leak
became very serious. At length we got into deep water,
and let go our bower anchors, to prevent being dashed to
pieces on the immense rocks ahead. We got our top-
gallant yards and masts on deck, and used every possible
means to lighten the ship. The greater part of the crew
were kept at the pumps ; whilst the remainder, with the
officers, were employed in staving the water-casks in the
hold, in shoring the ship up, as the ebb tide was making
and she was inclining to starboard, and in doing all that
was deemed expedient to the safety of the ship. All was
unavailing. The carpenter reported that she was bilged ;
and we could distinctly hear the rocks grinding and
working through her as the tide fell.
At daylight Mr. Wey mouth (the master) was sent to
sound for a passage amongst the rocks, on the supposition
that we might be able to buoy the ship through, but he
returned without success ; though, had he accomplished it,
from the state the ship was in, there could have been little
hope of getting her out. A division of the seamen and
marines, with their respective officers, was then ordered to
take possession of the island, that in the last extremity
there might be an asylum secured for the men and officers.
The rest of the crew remained at the pumps, but with no
success, as the leak kept gaining upon them, The island
WE ABANDON THE FRIGATE 3
was taken without any opposition, the only people on it
being a few distressed fishermen and their families.
Ahout 11 A.M. we began to land the crew, no hopes
remaining of being able to save our ship. However, the
remainder of the people kept still working at the pumps,
waiting the return of the boats. At noon, the flood
making strongly, and we fore-reaching withal, Captain
Wilkinson gave directions to let go the sheet-anchor,
which was immediately done. Strong gales from
S.W.
February 9th. By about 1 P.M. everybody was safely
landed, with two or three pigs and some biscuit, which were
the only subsistence we had secured. Captain Wilkinson
and Mr. Weymouth came in the last boat. At about
1.30 P.M. Lieutenant Pridham, with Messrs. Carey, Simpson,
and Thomas (three warrant-officers), and myself, were
ordered by the captain to return to the ship, to cut her
masts away, and destroy everything we could possibly get
at. On our arrival on board, the water was nearly square
with the combings of the lower deck. At about 3.30 P.M.
we quitted her, having executed with the greatest accuracy
the duty we were ordered upon : the wind still increasing,
left us but little hope of her hanging together for the
night.
We joined the officers and crew in a small church ; and
this was the only place on the island where we could con-
veniently take up our residence. The weather was
excessively inclement during the night. At daylight, dis-
covering the ship still apparently whole, Captain Wilkinson
despatched Mr. Pridham and Mr. Mahoney (master's
mate), with a party of men, to destroy her by fire. The
other officers and people were employed in equipping
4 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
thirteen fishing-boats, which belonged to the inhabitants, 1
for the purpose of transporting the ship's company,
either to our fleet off Brest or to England, as circum-
stances might admit. Mr. Pridham and his party
returned, and the report of the ship's guns announced the
execution of the duty they had been sent upon.
On the 10th, at about 1.30 P.M., our boats were in
readiness, it then blowing hard from the S.W. We all
embarked in them. I had the honour to command one,
with twenty - five men ; Captain Wilkinson, with the
master, leading in the barge, which was the only ship's
boat in company. We made sail out of the little creeks
in which the boats had been moored, the sea running
excessively high, and at about two the barge hauled up to
the N.W. We all, of course, followed. About 2.30 or
3 o'clock in the afternoon we bore up again. Several
of the boats were in distress, being very badly found,
having neither sails, rigging, nor ground tackling that
could be at all trusted to. Lieutenants Pridham and
Lutwidge (who remained prisoners of war until the peace
of 1814), and Lieutenant Barker (who was afterwards
killed in a duel at Verdun), were to keep ahead, as no
other boat had compasses. At about five, in a very severe
squall with rain, we lost sight of the barge. Everybody in
our boat was of opinion that she had been upset ; and at
5.30 P.M., it blowing extremely hard, with a heavy shower
of rain, we lost sight of all the boats. At about six we
observed St. Matthew's Light 2 on the weather bow. The
1 I here feel it a duty to state, that, for the boats which we seized
from the poor fishermen,, bills of exchange were given to the full
amount of their value upon the English Government.
2 Pointe St, Mathieu, on the left upon entering Brest,
PERILS IN BERTHEAUME BAY 5
wind now chopped round to the N.W., in a very heavy
squall, which carried away our mainmast in the step l and
fore-tye, and very nearly swamped us, having almost filled
the boat with water. We chipped the heel of the main-
mast, restepped it, and rove the main-tye and halliards
forward, which enabled us to set the foresail, and keep
scudding before the wind to Rock Fort, with the expecta-
tion of falling in with some of the other boats; but in
this we were disappointed. At eleven we determined to
anchor at the bottom of Bertheaume Bay, though with
very little or no hope of riding long, our only ground
tackling being a small grapnel and a very few fathoms
of one inch and a half rope.
We providentially succeeded in bringing up, though
we were, unfortunately, too near the shore and most
miserably situated: the weather tide, running strongly
against a violent gale from the N.W., occasioned such a
sea as to bury us frequently in its abyss.
At A.M., the sea breaking in a most terrific manner
over us, and finding that we were driving and almost
touching abaft, expecting every second to be dashed on
the rocks astern of us, we hauled in briskly on the grapnel
rope, hoisted the foresail and wore round, paying out the
grapnel rope j ust hauled in, until we brought it right over
the quarter, which enabled us to get our grapnel on board
with ease ; then we stood over to the Camaret Bay side,
in the hope of falling in with some little haven to shelter
us, or with one of the other boats ; but we were dis-
appointed in either expectation.
At about 4.30 A.M., finding we advanced towards Brest
1 The step is that part of the mast that fixes in the boat ; the
fore-tye, the rope hy which the foresail is hoisted up.
6 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
Harbour considerably, we resolved to try the grapnel once
more; although we were not in the smallest degree
sheltered from the inclemency of the weather, and were
placed immediately under a fort, which we distinguished
by its lights, that enabled us to see the sentinels on their
posts walking to and fro. We made, if possible, worse
weather here than at our former anchorage, with the
exception that the grapnel held. At 7.30 A.M. the wind
and weather became more inclement than on the preceding
night. Not a boat of ours was in sight, every minute we
expected to be hailed by the fort, and not a soul amongst
us could speak a word of French. We were almost perish-
ing and starved from the fatigue and sufferings of the
night, the few provisions we had being totally destroyed
by the salt water. Seeing no alternative but the pain
and mortification of delivering myself and my boat's crew
prisoners of war, I came at length to that resolution.
Accordingly I ordered all the small arms in my boat to
be hove overboard, and at eight cut the grapnel rope, and
ran into Brest Harbour under the foresail.
Imagining that the boat's crew and myself might be
better received and treated on board the commander-in-
chiefs ship than in a private vessel, I went alongside the
Alexandre, which ship bore his flag, and I surrendered
myself and my crew as prisoners of war.
CHAPTER II
A kind reception by the enemy Our shipmates all prisoners
Consolations under misfortunes Prisoners sent to the hospital
at Brest Robbery by a French seaman Running the gauntlet
Dilemma of wearing or giving up a sword Kindness of the
French nuns Orders to march into the Interior Wounded
pride and hard fare Bad faith of the Minister of Marine
The march begins for Verdun Arrival at Laridernau Aristo-
cratic differences in rates of pay or allowances amongst re-
publicans Landiviziau An illustration of equality Morlaix
to Rennes Prisoners and vermin Vitre English dogs at a
French inn Laval A spectacle for the mob Alencon
Difficulties increased Part of the crew separated from their
officers Our arrival at Rouen An honest gaoler and his
amiable wife A moderate bill for gaol fare Bons garfons
in a prison Our arrival at Amiens English sympathy for
suffering countrymen.
I WAS not disappointed in my expectations, for I was
received with the utmost civility. Every attention was
paid to me, and I was provided with a suit of dry clothes.
They got me instantly (of which I never before stood more
in need) a warm draught, and gave each of my men a glass
of liquor, and ordered breakfast for them, with everything
else that was necessary to recruit exhausted nature, and to
console them under their sufferings and misfortunes. The
poor fellows were in a most deplorable state, shivering and
shaking like aspen leaves ; some of them were so worn out
with fatigue, hunger, and the extreme severity of the
7
8 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
weather that they could scarcely articulate when spoken
to. The French officers informed me also, that the whole
of the boats, except mine and one other, from the extreme
violence of the weather, had been obliged to make for
Brest, and had arrived in the night ; whilst they added
that they had been under the greatest apprehensions for
our safety, as it was not supposed possible, from the size
of the boats and the manner they were found, that they
could exist through the severity of the night. Lieut.
Barker, Mr. Nepean, a midshipman, and now a com-
mander, and Mr. Carey, the boatswain (who afterwards
died at Verdun)* came on board, from the other French
ships-of-war in which they were prisoners, to congratulate
me on my extraordinary escape and safe arrival. We were,
however, under the strongest and most painful apprehen-
sions that Mr. Robert James Gordon, the midshipman
who commanded the boat which had not yet arrived, had
perished with his companions.
The next day, the llth, at 2 P.M., we were all sent on
shore to the hospital at Brest, which was the place assigned
to us, as each individual was more or less unwell from the
hardships he had undergone.
To mark the character of the French seamen and of
their naval service, I must here relate that a small leathern
trunk or valise, in which I had saved a change of linen,
etc., had been taken out of one of our marines' hands, by
a French sailor who spoke a little English, under the
pretence of saving him the trouble of carrying it down the
ship's side ; whilst the scoundrel, instead of putting it into
the boat, handed it in through one of the lower-deck ports.
Our marine, who remained on the ship's gangway, had
construed the transaction into an act of kindness, and con-
MY VALISE DISAPPEARS 9
eluded that the trunk had been safely deposited in the
boat which was to carry us on shore ; nor was the theft
discovered until upon our landing, when the humble,
though to me invaluable, property could not be found. I
immediately communicated the fact to the officers who
conducted us, and they instantly sent on board an order to
search for the valise. In fact, they appeared excessively
hurt that such an act of villainy should have been com-
mitted by one of their crew. They assured me that the
perpetrator should be severely punished, and that my little
portmanteau should be safely returned. I despaired of
this very much, though I entertained little doubts of the
first part of the promise being faithfully kept. In the
meantime, these officers conducted us to the hospital, and
insisted upon my wearing my sword all the way. The
captain had refused to receive it on board, observing that
I had been unfortunately wrecked, and not taken in fight,
and, consequently, that I had no right to lose my sword ;
and he further remarked, that, in his opinion, we ought
to be returned to our native country, and should not be
considered as prisoners ; but he added that the gaoler on
shore would deprive me of my side-arms, which was after-
wards the case.
On our arrival at the hospital, or rather prison (as we
were closely watched and guarded), the gaoler took away
my sword, and appeared very much enraged at my not
allowing him to take my belt ; this, I observed to him,
could do no mischief. I now had the inexpressible happi-
ness of shaking hands with all the officers, excepting Mr.
Thomas (carpenter), who was unfortunately drowned in
attempting to land in Bertheaume Bay, and Mr. Gordon
(midshipman), who, I was very much pleased to hear, was
10 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
safe at Conquet, where he had effected a landing. We
expected him and his boat's crew round to Brest the
following day.
On the 14th we had the pleasure of seeing him and his
crew safely arrived ; they spoke very handsomely of the
treatment they had received at Conquet and on the
march. I now received part of the things that were in
the valise, and the thief, I was informed, had run the
gauntlet.
We were very well used during our stay here, and were
attended by religwuses, or old nuns, which is a general
custom in all the French hospitals. They were the most
attentive nurses I ever beheld : constantly on the alert ;
visiting their patients; administering relief wherever it
might be wanted ; and always solacing the dejected.
On the 18th we received information that we should
commence our march towards our depot on the following
morning ; and accordingly, on the 19th, we were ready at
a moment's notice. At about eight o'clock we were all
drawn up in the hospital yard. Mr. Mahoney and myself
(being the senior midshipmen) took our stations, as we
were accustomed, next to the lieutenants; but, to our
great surprise, on the names being called over, we were
moved, together with Mr. Carey, the boatswain, and Mr.
Simpson, the gunner, 1 and placed next to the seamen.
At the same time, each of us was offered a loaf of brown
bread for the day's subsistence, which we declined. We
demanded of the French officers an explanation of this
extraordinary conduct, and they informed us that we were
of a class (master's mates) different from any in their
1 He escaped, subsequently to me, with some other naval officers,
from Bitche.
AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE 11
navy, and that they had, therefore, ranked us as adjutants,
or sous -officers, and they insisted that they could not
make any alteration. Lieut. Pridham now interfered in
our behalf. It appeared he had been made acquainted,
on the preceding night, that we should be thus ranked ;
but not being versed in the regulations and titles of the
French military service, he had supposed that an adjutant
was equal to a rank between a midshipman and a
lieutenant in our navy ; and this, of course, he thought
our proper place. After remonstrating for a long time
against the impropriety of our being degraded to the
ranks and put among the people, the officer agreed to go
to the Minister of Marine 1 to have the business, as he
termed it, arranged. He shortly returned; the Minister
of Marine was out, but we received an assurance from his
head clerk or secretary that the mistake should be
rectified the moment he returned, and that a courier would
be despatched after us to the next stage with another
feuille de route. Thus far reconciled, we commenced our
forced march and, as we were informed, for Verdun, in
Lorraine, although our crew appeared quite indignant at
this insult or disrespect offered to their officers, and
refused to move until we persuaded them to be obedient.
At about seven in the evening we arrived at our first
stage, the small and miserable village of Landernau, about
twenty miles N.E. of Brest. I anxiously expected every
moment the arrival of the courier, so little was I then
acquainted with the nature of French promises and with
the French character. Here, as a great favour, we were
permitted to mix with the officers. Our allowance was
1 Probably the Prefet Maritime of Brest is meant ; the Minister of
Marine would of course be at Paris.
12 ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN O'BRIEN
eleven sous, or 5Jd. per diem ; whilst the youngest mid-
shipman or volunteer had fifty. The allowance to the
men, I believe, was only five sous.