Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton Part 1

Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton.

by Daniel Defoe.

TO THE READER

_The Author of these Memoirs began early to distinguish himself in martial Affairs, otherwise he could not have seen such Variety of Actions both by Sea and Land. After the last Dutch War he went into Flanders, where he not only serv'd under the Command of his Highness the Prince of Orange, whilst he was Generalissimo of the Dutch Forces, but likewise all the time he reign'd King of Great Britain. Most of the considerable Pa.s.sages and Events, which happened during that time, are contained in the former Part of this Book_.

_In the Year 1705, the Regiment in which he serv'd as Captain was order'd to embark for the West Indies; and he, having no Inclination to go thither, chang'd with an half-pay Captain; and being recommended to the Earl of Peterborow by the late Lord Cutts, went with him upon that n.o.ble Expedition into Spain_.

_When the Forces under his Lordship's Command were landed near Barcelona, the Siege of that Place was thought by several impracticable, not only for want of experienc'd Engineers, but that the Besieged were as numerous as the Besiegers; yet the Courage of that brave Earl surmounted those Difficulties, and the Siege was resolv'd upon_.

_Our Author having obtain'd, by his long Service, some Knowledge of the practick Part of an Engineer, and seeing at that critical Time the great Want of such, readily acted as one, which gave him the greater Opportunity of being an Eye-Witness of his Lordship's Actions; and consequently made him capable of setting them forth in these his Memoirs._

_It may not be perhaps improper to mention that the Author of these Memoirs was born at Ewelme in Oxfordshire, descended from an ancient and an honourable Family. The Lord Dudley Carleton, who died Secretary of State to King Charles I. was his Great Uncle; and in_ _the same Reign his Father was Envoy at the Court of Madrid, whilst his Uncle, Sir Dudley Carleton, was Emba.s.sador to the States of Holland, Men in those Days respected both for their Abilities and Loyalty._

MEMOIRS

OF AN

_English Officer, &c._

In the year one Thousand six Hundred seventy two, War being proclaimed with _Holland_, it was looked upon among n.o.bility and Gentry, as a Blemish, not to attend the Duke of _York_ aboard the Fleet, who was then declared Admiral. With many others, I, at that Time about twenty Years of Age, enter'd my self a Voluntier on board the _London_, commanded by Sir _Edward Sprage_, Vice-Admiral of the _Red_.

The Fleet set Sail from the _Buoy of the Nore_ about the beginning of _May_, in order to join the _French_ Fleet, then at Anchor in St.

_h.e.l.len's Road_, under the Command of the _Count de Estree_. But in executing this Design we had a very narrow Escape: For _De Ruyter_, the Admiral of the _Dutch_ Fleet, having Notice of our Intentions, waited to have intercepted us at the Mouth of the River, but by the a.s.sistance of a great Fog we pa.s.s'd _Dover_ before he was aware of it; and thus he miscarried, with the poor Advantage of taking only one small Tender.

A Day or two after the joining of the _English_ and _French_, we sailed directly towards the _Dutch_ Coast, where we soon got sight of their Fleet; a Sand called the _Galloper_ lying between. The _Dutch_ seem'd willing there to expect an Attack from us: But in regard the _Charles_ Man of War had been lost on those Sands the War before; and that our Ships drawing more Water than those of the Enemy, an Engagement might be render'd very disadvantageous; it was resolv'd in a Council of War to avoid coming to a Battle for the present, and to sail direftly for _Solebay_, which was accordingly put in Execution.

We had not been in _Solebay_ above four or five Days, when _De Ruyter_, hearing of it, made his Signal for sailing in order to surprize us; and he had certainly had his Aim, had there been any Breeze of Wind to favour him. But though they made use of all their Sails, there was so little Air stirring, that we could see their Fleet making towards us long before they came up; notwithstanding which, our Admirals found difficulty enough to form their Ships into a Line of Battle, so as to be ready to receive the Enemy.

It was about Four in the Morning of the 28th of _May_, being _Tuesday_ in _Whitson Week_, when we first made the Discovery; and about Eight the same Morning the Blue Squadron, under the Command of the Earl of _Sandwich_, began to engage with Admiral _Van Ghent_, who commanded the _Amsterdam_ Squadron; and about Nine the whole Fleets were under a general Engagement. The Fight lasted till Ten at Night, and with equal Fury on all Sides, the _French_ excepted, who appeared stationed there rather as Spectators than Parties; and as unwilling to be too much upon the Offensive, for fear of offending themselves.

During the Fight the _English_ Admiral had two Ships disabled under him; and was obliged about Four in the Afternoon to remove himself a third Time into the _London_, where he remain'd all the rest of the Fight, and till next Morning. Nevertheless, on his Entrance upon the _London_, which was the Ship I was in, and on our Hoisting the Standard, _De Ruyter_ and his Squadron seem'd to double their Fire upon her, as if they resolv'd to blow her out of the Water. Notwithstanding all which, the Duke of _York_ remain'd all the time upon Quarter Deck, and as the Bullets plentifully whizz'd around him, would often rub his Hands, and cry, _Sprage, Sprage, they follow us still_. I am very sensible later Times have not been over favourable in their Sentiments of that unfortunate Prince's Valour, yet I cannot omit the doing a Piece of Justice to his Memory, in relating a Matter of Fact, of which my own Eyes were Witnesses, and saying, That if Intrepidity, and Undauntedness, may be reckon'd any Parts of Courage, no Man in the Fleet better deserv'd the t.i.tle of Couragious, or behav'd himself with more Gallantry than he did.

The _English_ lost the _Royal James_, commanded by the Earl of _Sandwich_, which about Twelve (after the strenuous Endeavours of her Sailors to disengage her from two _Dutch_ Fire Ships plac'd on her, one athwart her Hawsers, the other on her Star-board Side) took Fire, blew up, and perish'd; and with her a great many brave Gentlemen, as well as Sailors; and amongst the rest the Earl himself, concerning whom I shall further add, that in my Pa.s.sage from _Harwich_ to the _Brill_, a Year or two after, the Master of the Pacquet Boat told me, That having observ'd a great Flock of Gulls hovering in one particular Part of the Sea, he order'd his Boat to make up to it; when discovering a Corpse, the Sailors would have return'd it to the Sea, as the Corpse of a _Dutch Man_; but keeping it in his Boat, it proved to be that of the Earl of _Sandwich_. There was found about him between twenty and thirty Guineas, some Silver, and his Gold Watch; restoring which to his Lady, she kept the Watch, but rewarded their Honesty with all the Gold and Silver.

This was the only Ship the _English_ lost in this long Engagement. For although the _Katherine_ was taken, and her Commander, Sir _John Chicheley_, made Prisoner, her Sailors soon after finding the Opportunity they had watch'd for, seiz'd all the _Dutch_ Sailors, who had been put in upon them, and brought the Ship back to our own Fleet, together with all the _Dutch Men_ Prisoners; for which, as they deserv'd, they were well rewarded. This is the same Ship which the Earl of _Mulgrave_ (afterwards Duke of _Buckingham_) commanded the next Sea Fight, and has caus'd to be painted in his House in St. _James's Park_.

I must not omit one very remarkable Occurrence which happened in this Ship, There was a Gentleman aboard her, a Voluntier, of a very fine Estate, generally known by the Name of _Hodge Vaughan_. This Person receiv'd, in the beginning of the Fight, a considerable Wound, which the great Confusion, during the Battle, would not give them leave to inquire into; so he was carried out of the Way, and disposed of in the Hold.

They had some Hogs aboard, which the Sailor, under whose Care they were, had neglected to feed; these Hogs, hungry as they were, found out, and fell upon the wounded Person, and between dead and alive eat him up to his very Scull, which, after the Fight was over, and the Ship retaken, as before, was all that could be found of him.

Another Thing, less to be accounted for, happen'd to a Gentleman Voluntier who was aboard the same Ship with my self. He was of known personal Courage, in the vulgar Notion of it, his Sword never having fail'd him in many private Duels. But notwithstanding all his Land-mettle, it was observ'd of him at Sea, that when ever the Bullets whizz'd over his Head, or any way incommoded his Ears, he immediately quitted the Deck, and ran down into the Hold. At first he was gently reproach'd; but after many Repet.i.tions he was laugh'd at, and began to be despis'd; sensible of which, as a Testimonial of his Valour, he made it his Request to be ty'd to the Main Mast. But had it been granted him, I cannot see any t.i.tle he could have pleaded from hence, to true Magnanimity; since to be ty'd from running away can import nothing less, than that he would have still continued these Signs of Cowardice, if he had not been prevented. There is a Bravery of Mind which I fansy few of those Gentlemen Duellists are possess'd of. True Courage cannot proceed from what Sir _Walter Raleigh_ finely calls _the Art_ or _Philosophy of Quarrel_. No! It must be the Issue of Principle, and can have no other Basis than a steady Tenet of Religion. This will appear more plain, if those Artists in Murder will give themselves leave cooly to consider, and answer me this Question, Why he that had ran so many Risques at his Sword's Point, should be so shamefully intimidated at the Whiz of a Cannon Ball?

_The Names of those English Gentlemen who lost their Lives, as I remember, in this Engagement_.

Commissioner c.o.x, Captain of the _Royal Prince_, under the Command of the Admiral; and Mr. _Travanian_, Gentleman to the Duke of _York_; Mr.

_Digby_, Captain of the _Henry_, second Son to the Earl of _Bristol_; Sir _Fletchvile Hollis_, Captain of the _Cambridge_, who lost one of his Arms in the War before, and his Life in this; Captain _Saddleton_, of the _Dartmouth_; the Lord _Maidstone_, Son to the Earl of _Winchelsea_, a Voluntier on board the _Charles_, commanded by Sir _John Harman_, Vice-Admiral of the Red.

Sir _Philip Carteret_, Mr. _Herbert_, Mr. _Cotterel_, Mr. _Peyton_, Mr.

_Gose_, with several other Gentlemen unknown to me, lost their Lives with the Earl of _Sandwich_, on board the _Royal James_; Mr. _Vaughan_, on board the _Katherine_, commanded by Sir _John Chicheley_.

In this Engagement, Sir _George Rook_ was youngest Lieutenant to Sir _Edward Sprage_; Mr. _Russel_, afterwards Earl of _Orford_, was Captain of a small Fifth Rate, called the _Phnix_; Mr. _Herbert_, afterwards Earl of _Torrington_, was Captain of a small Fourth Rate, called the _Monck_; Sir _Harry Dutton Colt_, who was on board the _Victory_, commanded by the Earl of _Offery_, is the only Man now living that I can remember was in this Engagement.

But to proceed, the _Dutch_ had one Man of War sunk, though so near the Sh.o.r.e, that I saw some part of her Main Mast remain above Water, with their Admiral _Van Ghent_, who was slain in the close Engagement with the Earl of _Sandwich_. This Engagement lasted fourteen Hours, and was look'd upon the greatest that ever was fought between the _English_ and the _Hollander_.

I cannot here omit one Thing, which to some may seem trifling; though I am apt to think our Naturalists may have a different Opinion of it, and find it afford their Fansies no undiverting Employment in more curious, and less perilous Reflections. We had on board the _London_ where, as I have said, I was a Voluntier, a great Number of Pidgeons, of which our Commander was very fond. These, on the first firing of our Cannon, dispers'd, and flew away, and were seen no where near us during the Fight. The next Day it blew a brisk Gale, and drove our Fleet some Leagues to the Southward of the Place where they forsook our Ship, yet the Day after they all returned safe aboard; not in one Flock, but in small Parties of four or five at a Time. Some Persons at that Time aboard the Ship admiring at the Manner of their Return, and speaking of it with some Surprize, Sir _Edward Sprage_ told them, That he brought those Pidgeons with him from the _Streights_; and that when, pursuant to his Order, he left the _Revenge_ Man of War, to go aboard the _London_, all those Pidgeons, of their own accord, and without the Trouble or Care of carrying, left the _Revenge_ likewise, and removed with the Sailors on board the _London_, where I saw them; All which many of the Sailors afterwards confirm'd to me. What Sort of Instinct this could proceed from, I leave to the Curious.

Soon after this Sea Engagement I left the Fleet. And the Parliament, the Winter following, manifesting their Resentments against two of the Plenipotentiaries, _viz. Buckingham_ and _Arlington_, who had been sent over into _Holland_; and expressing, withal, their great Umbrage taken at the prodigious Progress of the _French_ Arms in the _United Provinces_; and warmly remonstrating the inevitable Danger attending _England_ in their Ruin. King _Charles_ from all this, and for want of the expected Supplies, found himself under a Necessity of clapping up a speedy Peace with _Holland_.

This Peace leaving those youthful Spirits, that had by the late Naval War been rais'd into a generous Ferment, under a perfect Inactivity at Home; they found themselves, to avoid a Sort of Life that was their Aversion, oblig'd to look out for one more active, and more suitable to their vigorous Tempers Abroad.

I must acknowledge my self one of that Number; and therefore in the Year 1674,1 resolv'd to go into _Flanders_, in order to serve as Voluntier in the Army commanded by his Highness the Prince of _Orange_. I took my Pa.s.sage accordingly at _Dover_ for _Calais_, and so went by way of _Dunkirk_ for _Brussels_.

Arriving at which Place, I was inform'd that the Army of the Confederates lay encamp'd not far from _Nivelle_; and under the daily Expectation of an Engagement with the Enemy. This News made me press forward to the Service; for which Purpose I carry'd along with me proper Letters of Recommendation to Sir _Walter Vane_, who was at that time a Major-General. Upon further Enquiry I understood, that a Party of Horse, which was to guard some Waggons that were going to Count _Montery's_ Army, were to set out next Morning; so I got an _Irish_ Priest to introduce me to the Commanding Officer, which he readily oblig'd me in; and they, as I wish'd them, arriv'd in the Camp next day.

I had scarce been there an Hour, when happen'd one of the most extraordinary Accidents in Life. I observ'd in the East a strange dusty colour'd Cloud, of a pretty large Extent, riding, not before the Wind (for it was a perfect Calm) with such a precipitate Motion, that it was got over our Heads almost as soon as seen. When the Skirts of that Cloud began to cover our Camp, there suddenly arose such a terrible Hurricaine, or Whirlwind, that all the Tents were carry'd aloft with great Violence into the Air; and Soldiers' Hats flew so high and thick, that my Fansy can resemble it to nothing better than those Flights of Rooks, which at Dusk of Evening, leaving the Fields, seek their roosting Places. Trees were torn up by the very Roots; and the Roofs of all the Barns, _&c._ belonging to the Prince's Quarters, were blown quite away.

This lasted for about half an Hour, until the Cloud was wholly past over us, when as suddenly ensued the same pacifik Calm as before the Cloud's Approach. Its Course was seemingly directly West; and yet we were soon after inform'd, that the fine Dome of the great Church at _Utrecht_ had greatly suffer'd by it the same Day. And, if I am not must mistaken, Sir _William Temple_, in his Memoirs, mentions somewhat of it, which he felt at _Lillo_, on his Return from the Prince of _Orange's_ Camp, where he had been a Day or two before.

As soon after this, as I could get an Opportunity, I deliver'd, at his Quarters, my recommendatory Letters to Sir _Walter Vane_; who receiv'd me very kindly, telling me at the same time, that there were six or seven _English_ Gentlemen, who had enter'd themselves Voluntiers in the Prince's own Company of Guards: And added, that he would immediately recommend me to Count _Solmes_, their Colonel. He was not worse than his Word, and I was enter'd accordingly. Those six Gentlemen were as follows, ---- _Clavers_, who since was better known by the t.i.tle of Lord _Dundee_; Mr. _Collier_, now Lord _Portmore_; Mr. _Rooke_, since Major-General; Mr. _Hales_, who lately died, and was for a long time Governor of _Chelsea-Hospital_; Mr. _Venner_, Son of that _Venner_ remarkable for his being one of the Fifth-Monarchy Men; and Mr. _Boyce_.

The four first rose to be very eminent; but Fortune is not to all alike favourable.

In about a Week's Time after, it was resolv'd in a Council of War, to march towards _Binch_, a small wall'd Town, about four Leagues from _Nivelle_; the better to cut off the Provisions from coming to the Prince of _Conde's_ Camp that Way.

Accordingly, on the first Day of _August_, being _Sat.u.r.day_, we began our March; and the _English_ Voluntiers had the Favour of a Baggage Waggon appointed them. Count _Souches_, the Imperial General, with the Troops of that Nation, led the Van; the main Body was compos'd of _Dutch_, under the Prince of _Orange_. as Generalissimo; and the _Spaniards_, under Prince _Vaudemont_, with some Detachments, made the Rear Guard.

As we were upon our March, I being among those Detachments which made up the Rear Guard, observ'd a great Party of the Enemy's Horse upon an Ascent, which, I then imagin'd, as it after prov'd, to be the Prince of _Conde_ taking a View of our Forces under March. There were many Defiles, which our Army must necessarily pa.s.s; through which that Prince politickly enough permitted the _Imperial_ and _Dutch_ Forces to pa.s.s unmolested. But when Prince _Vaudemont_, with the _Spaniards_, and our Detachments, thought to have done the like, the Prince of _Conde_ fell on our Rear Guard; and, after a long and sharp Dispute, entirely routed 'em; the Marquiss of _a.s.sentar_, a _Spanish_ Lieutenant-General, dying upon the spot.

Had the Prince of _Conde_ contented himself with this Share of good Fortune, his Victory had been uncontested: But being pushed forward by a vehement Heat of Temper (which he was noted for) and flush'd with this extraordinary Success, he resolv'd to force the whole Confederate Army to a Battle. In order to which, he immediately led his Forces between our Second Line, and our Line of Baggage; by which means the latter were entirely cut off; and were subjected to the Will of the Enemy, who fell directly to plunder; in which they were not a little a.s.sisted by the routed _Spaniards_ themselves, who did not disdain at that time to share with the Enemy in the plundering of their Friends and Allies.

The _English_ Voluntiers had their Share of this ill Fortune with the rest; their Waggon appointed them being among those intercepted by the Enemy; and I, for my Part, lost every Thing but Life, which yet was saved almost as unaccountably as my Fellow-Soldiers had lost theirs. The Baggage, as I have said, being cut off, and at the Mercy of the Enemy, every one endeavour'd to escape through, or over the Hedges. And as in all Cases of like Confusion, one endeavours to save himself upon the Ruins of others: So here, he that found himself stopt by another in getting over the Cap of a Hedge, pull'd him back to make way for himself, and perhaps met with the same Fortune from a Third, to the Destruction of all. I was then in the Vigour of my Youth, and none of the least active, and perceiving how it had far'd with some before me, I clapt my left Leg upon the Shoulders of one who was thus contending with another, and with a Spring threw my self over both their Heads and the Hedge at the same time. By this Means I not only sav'd my Life (for they were all cut to Pieces that could not get over) but from an Eminence, which I soon after attain'd, I had an Opportunity of seeing, and making my Observations upon the remaining Part of that glorious Conflict.

It was from that advantageous Situation, that I presently discover'd that the Imperialists, who led the Van, had now join'd the main Body.

And, I confess, it was with an almost inexpressible Pleasure, that I beheld, about three a-Clock, with what intrepid Fury they fell upon the Enemy. In short, both Armies were universally engag'd, and with great Obstinacy disputed the Victory till Eleven at Night. At which Time the _French_, being pretty well surfeited, made their Retreat. Nevertheless, to secure it by a Stratagem, they left their lighted Matches hanging in the Hedges, and waving with the Air, to conceal it from the Confederate Army.

About two Hours after, the Confederate Forces follow'd the Example of their Enemies, and drew off. And tho' neither Army had much Reason to boast; yet as the Prince of _Orange_ remained last in the Field; and die _French_ had lost what they before had gain'd, the Glory of the Day fell to the Prince of _Orange_; who, altho' but twenty-four Years of Age, had the Suffrage of Friend and Foe, of having play'd the Part of an old and experienc'd Officer.

There were left that Day on the Field of Battle, by a general Computation, not less than eighteen Thousand Men on both Sides, over and above those, who died of their Wounds: The Loss being pretty equal, only the _French_ carried off most Prisoners. Prince _Waldeck_ was shot through the Arm, which I was near enough to be an Eye-witness of; And my much lamented Friend, Sir _Walter Vane_, was carried off dead. A Wound in the Arm was all the Mark of Honour, that I as yet could boast of, though our Cannon in the Defiles had slain many near me.

The Prince _of Conde_ (as we were next Day inform'd) lay all that Night under a Hedge, wrapp'd in his Cloke: And either from the Mortification of being disappointed in his Hopes of Victory; or from a Reflection of the Disservice, which is own natural over Heat of Temper had drawn upon him, was almost inconsolable many Days after. And thus ended the famous Battle of _Seneff_.

But though common Vogue has given it the Name of a Battle, in my weak Opinion, it might rather deserve that of a confus'd Skirmish; all Things having been forcibly carried on without Regularity, or even Design enough to allow it any higher Denomination: For, as I have said before, notwithstanding I was advantagiously stationed for Observation, I found it very often impossible to distinguish one Party from another. And this was more remarkably evident on the Part of the Prince of _Orange_, whose Valour and Vigour having led him into the Middle of the Enemy, and being then sensible of his Error, by a peculiar Presence of Mind, gave the Word of Command in _French_, which he spoke perfectly well. But the _French_ Soldiers, who took him for one of their own Generals, making Answer, that their Powder was all spent, it afforded Matter of Instruction to him to persist in his Attack; at the same Time, that it gave him a Lesson of Caution, to withdraw himself, as soon as he could, to his own Troops.