Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/45

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1802.

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if I am so unfortunate this time as to be hit hard, recollect the charge that devolves upon you, and in God’s name don’t think of striking, let the consequences be what they will. I have now every confidence in the crew, and they handle their guns to my satisfaction, but I should like to take the enemy by boarding^[1]!’

“Shortly after this conversation, the other ship tacked, and Sir George Collier ordered the Acasta’ s signal to be made to tack after her^[2] . In making the signal the Acasta’s distinguishing pendants got foul, and before they could be cleared the Newcastle mistook it for a general signal. Fearing the consequences of such a mistake, Sir George desired the optional signal to be hoisted with the Newcastle’s pendants, and I am positive that he never intended her to tack^[3].

“When the Acasta had filled on the starboard tack, I observed to Sir George, that if the ships standing in shore were really frigates, which it was impossible to ascertain, owing to

56 guns, 28 of which were 32-pounders, called Columbians, resembling those used in the British navy under the names of their inventors, Gover and Congreve.

↑ Mr. James tells us that the Leander possessed one of the worst crews in the service; and adds, “Well was it, indeed, that she never fell in with one of the American 44’s.“The Morning Chronicle of March 30, 1824, contains a letter from Captain Francis Fead, asserting that the Leander had as fine a ship’s company as ever he would wish to command.
↑ The enemy’s second ship, hove in stays on the Leander’s weather beam. The Acasta then bore N.E. and Newcastle S.E. by E. The headmost American, then 5 or 6 miles to windward of the Newcastle, was forereaching on the squadron, and nearly out of sight from the Leander’s deck; the Newcastle was dropping fast to leeward, and the Acasta weathering on the Commodore.
↑ Sir George Collier, confiding in the zeal and judgment of the Captains under his orders, had previously informed them that whenever a certain flag was hoisted with any signal addressed to either of them, they were at liberty to disregard the signal, if they considered that by following the order conveyed thereby the object in view was not so likely to be attained, as by acting in contrariety thereto. The flag alluded to was entered pro tempore in the signal books, under the designation of the “optional flag.” On its being hoisted with the Newcastle’s pendants, as above stated, that ship made answer by signal, “the flags are not distinguishable.”

[2] Mr. James tells us that the Leander possessed one of the worst crews in the service; and adds, “Well was it, indeed, that she never fell in with one of the American 44’s.“The Morning Chronicle of March 30, 1824, contains a letter from Captain Francis Fead, asserting that the Leander had as fine a ship’s company as ever he would wish to command.

[3] The enemy’s second ship, hove in stays on the Leander’s weather beam. The Acasta then bore N.E. and Newcastle S.E. by E. The headmost American, then 5 or 6 miles to windward of the Newcastle, was forereaching on the squadron, and nearly out of sight from the Leander’s deck; the Newcastle was dropping fast to leeward, and the Acasta weathering on the Commodore.

[4] Sir George Collier, confiding in the zeal and judgment of the Captains under his orders, had previously informed them that whenever a certain flag was hoisted with any signal addressed to either of them, they were at liberty to disregard the signal, if they considered that by following the order conveyed thereby the object in view was not so likely to be attained, as by acting in contrariety thereto. The flag alluded to was entered pro tempore in the signal books, under the designation of the “optional flag.” On its being hoisted with the Newcastle’s pendants, as above stated, that ship made answer by signal, “the flags are not distinguishable.”

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