HENRY WHITMARSH PEARSE, Esq.
A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
[Post-Captain of 1809.]
This officer received his first commission about Oct., 1796; served as a Lieutenant in the Victory, under Nelson; and was promoted by his lordship, May 8, 1804, to the command of the Halcyon brig, mounting 14 twenty-four-pounder carronades and 2 long sixes, with a complement of 94 officers, men, and boys. His subsequent exertions for the protection of the trade, and destruction of the enemy’s armed vessels in the vicinity of Gibraltar, gained him the warmest approbation of that illustrious chieftain. On the 20th Sept. 1804, he captured l’Esperance French privateer, of 10 guns and 54 men.
In Dec. 1806, Captain Pearse fell in with three Spanish cruisers; and after an action, highly creditable to him and his crew, succeeded in obtaining possession of the largest, a polacre of 14 long twelves and 72 men. The following is a copy of his official letter to Lord Collingwood on this occasion:–
“My Lord,– I beg leave to inform your Lordship, that on the 13th instant, at 8 A.M., Cape St. Martin’s S.S.W. 6 leagues, I perceived three sail (a ship, a brig, and a xebec) standing out from under the land towards me; being on contrary tacks we closed fast. When within four or five miles, I discovered they were vessels of war, and shortly after they steered directly for me. Seeing they were superior, and five settees coming from the same quarter, I judged it prudent, as they seemed determined to bring me to action, to close with them as soon as possible, and decide the contest before any assistance could be given by the others. At 10-30, being nearly within musket-shot, they hoisted Spanish colours, and commenced action. As soon as I got abreast of the second vessel, I got on the other tack, and brought them to closer action, which lasted till 12 o’clock, when their fire slackened. At half-past, being almost a calm, the brig and xebec hauled away to the southward, assisted by their boats and sweeps; the ship, then nearest us, endeavouring to do the same to the northward. We swept after her, and in an hour got close alongside, when she struck her colours, and proved to be a polacre privateer, the Neptuno dios de los Mares, from Denia, going on a cruise between Minorca and the coast of Africa, with the other two in company; who, I am sorry to say, made their escape, but not before their fire had been silenced. The five settees, when within three miles, seeing the ship deserted, returned into the port of Denia. Though extraordinary, I am happy to say we had none killed, and only three wounded: Lieutenant Briggs, my first, by a splinter in the arm, whom I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship’s notice; Lieutenant Pearse, who has been acting three years and a half in this vessel; and one seaman. The loss of the enemy must be great. The wounded from the ship, 9 in all, are doing well.
“I give your Lordship the full particulars of this event, and trust my attacking so very superior a force, seeing they were resolutely determined to bring me to action, will meet your approbation. Knowing I could depend upon my officers and ship’s company, whose cool, brave, and steady conduct on this, as on former occasions, almost insured me success before the action commenced. They merit my warmest acknowledgments.
“I cannot omit mentioning my having four passengers; Captain Sullivan, of the 81st regiment, who commanded the small-arms; Messrs. Purvis and Crokat, and a Neapolitan messenger, were all of great service, as we were 16 short of complement. The enemy’s fire was mostly directed at our masts and rigging, in which we have suffered very materially.
“The force opposed to the Halcyon was the Neptuno dios de los Mares, 14 twelve-pounders and 72 men; la Virgine de Solidad, 14 twelve and eight-pounders, 78 men; el Vives, 12 eight and six-pounders, 65 men, I have the honor to be, &c.
“I am glad of this opportunity, says the worthy Collingwood, when transmitting Captain Pearse’s letter to the Admiralty, ”of giving to their lordships my testimony of the spirited and skilful conduct of Captain Pearse, in all the duties on which he is employed. The present instance demonstrates what his ability is when there is opportunity to exhibit it[1].”
At the beginning of Sept. 1808, information having been received at Messina that a number of the enemy’s coasting vessels, laden with contributions in kind from the two provinces of Calabria to the Neapolitan government, were assembled in Diamante bay, near the Gulf of Policastro, under the protection of several gun-boats and land batteries. Sir John Stuart, commanding the British troops in Sicily, detached Lieutenant-Colonel Bryce, of the Royal Engineers, to co-operate with a small naval force under Captain Pearse, and endeavour to take or destroy them. The successful result of this enterprise is thus described by that gallant and judicious officer, in a letter to his General, dated Sept. 8:–
“Sir,– I do myself the honor to acquaint you, that the detachment you were pleased to put under my orders, has successfully executed the service in view, by capturing, in conjunction with Captain Pearse, R.N., a flotilla of thirty-eight vessels, of which four are large gun-boats, under the town of Diamante, where they had been blockaded with much perseverance by Captain (Henry) Prescott, of H.M. brig Weazle;
“We were baffled by calms during five days on the passage from Melazzo, on three of which we must have been distinctly seen from the enemy’s coast. On examining the position taken here, I found it very respectable, as the town of Diamante, which covered the vessels, ranged on the right and left of it, stands on a peninsula nearly inaccessible on three sides; the fourth is protected by difficult inclosures, and there is, besides, a building of considerable strength commanding the whole.
“Under these discouraging circumstances, augmented by the non-arrival of the Sicilian gun-boats, and the absence of two of the transports, it required the fullest confidence in the conduct of Major Hammill, and the troops intended to be landed, to induce me to hazard an attempt on the town, without the possession of which, I saw nothing effectual could be done. After the strong building above-mentioned had been successfully cannonaded for several hours, by Captains Pearse and Prescott, R.N., and the Chavalicr de Balsamo, commanding a galliot of H.S.Majesty, who were indefatigable in their exertions, 250 men of the regiment of Malta, under Major Hammill, and 100 of the 58th regiment, under Captain O’Brien, were landed at day-break this morning, about half a mile to the northward of the town, accompanied by a howitzer and two 6-pounders, commanded by Captain Campbell of the royal artillery. The enemy, who consisted of about 400 men of the civic-guard, with a proportion of French troops, were gradually forced back, through the underwood, upon the town, which, however, they did not attempt to defend, but took to the mountains; and we were enabled to turn their batteries on the beach to the southward of the town, without sustaining any loss, when the whole of the vessels fell into our hands * * * *. I have the honor to be, &c.
The land ordnance taken on this occasion, consisted of 3 brass howitzers and 4 field-pieccs, 1 iron long 12-pounder, 15 carronades, and 2 swivels. The British appear to have sustained no loss, and that of the enemy has never been ascertained.
In May 1809, part of the Halcyon’s officers and crew assisted at the destruction of the enemy’s forts on the small islands of Gianuti and Pianoso; a service executed with great gallantry, under the directions of Lieutenant Bennett, of the Seahorse frigate. On the 30th Aug. following. Captain Pearse captured the St. Anna French privateer, of 2 guns and 46 men. His promotion to post rank took place Dec. 23d in the same year.
Agents.– Messrs. Barnett and King.
- ↑ Mr. James erroneously describes the Neptuno as a Spanish corvette, and her consorts national vessels: he also says that not a man was injured on board the Halcyon. See Nav. Hist. Vol. IV., p. 392 et seq.