Captain Jacobson signaled to a trailing sloop to send signal Enemy in Sight, one ship to the flagship and ordered the setting of a full spread of sails and HMS Hector surged forward. He needed to intercept the US Navy Sloop to prevent it from sending a warning.
Captain Winslow ordered USS Kearsarge to an easterly course in an attempt to observe the size of the Royal Navy fleet. Five miles to the south the USS Independence was shadowing on a southeasterly course. The masthead lookout shouted, ”Enemy in Sight, she is a frigate under full sail, course west northwest.” Winslow, realizing the Royal Navy discovered his vessel; ordered USS Kearsarge to come about to a west-northwest course, set full sail and ordered maximum speed from the steam engine. Winslow sent signals to USS Independence to break off and report to Bermuda. Winslow knew he was in a race to reach Bermuda because the frigate was a faster ship, but USS Kearsarge had a six-mile lead. It would be a close thing.
Bermuda:
USS Pawnee, with Enemy in Sight signal flags flying entered the south channel leading to the naval anchorage. After being informed of the signal flags, Admiral Porter ordered the fleet to readiness.
A carriage was waiting for Commander Prentiss dockside and immediately took him to Admiral Porter’s office. Prentiss saluted. Admiral Porter returned the salute and asked: “Commander, what is your report.”
Prentiss replied: “Admiral Porter, 3 hours ago and 40-miles southwest of Bermuda we sighted the Royal Navy Fleet approaching from the Southeast. As you predicted, they took the Downwind Route. We identified three picket ships as sloops of war and saw many masts on the horizon. Captain Winslow and Commander Parsons are continuing to shadow the enemy fleet. Captain Winslow ordered me to return to Bermuda to report to you.”
Porter replied: “Thank you, Commander. You did well to bring the news so quickly. The fleet is in readiness. We sail within the hour. Your orders are to go back and lend assistance to Captain Winslow and Commander Parsons. They will likely need it. The rest of the fleet will be right behind you.” Commander Prentiss saluted, turned on his heel and left. Minutes later the carriage brought him back to USS Pawnee, which backed out of the slip, turned and headed back out the channel.
During the next hour, Admiral Porter dictated orders to his ship captains, with his aids quickly giving them to couriers. With little fanfare, his carriage took him to the dock where he boarded USS Agamenticus. The shout “Admiral on Deck” sounded as he entered the weather deck and took the stairs to the pilothouse. Within minutes USS Agamenticus led the fleet out of the anchorage. Admiral Porter looked over at his Flag Captain James Decatur and said: “It is time to test the new rifled 10-inch long guns in battle. They should present the Royal Navy an unpleasant surprise. I will be in my quarters. Notify me when we sight the enemy.”
Admiral Porter tried to relax to relieve the tension regarding the impending battle. He reassured himself that his fleet was more modern and better equipped. He trusted his Captains to follow his directions, or if required act independently. Unable to sleep, he selected a book from his library.
Chapter 7
May 4, 1869 - Bay of Fundy
The Royal Navy warships stationed at St Johns New Brunswick and Winslow, Nova Scotia had combined forces. The senior captain and acting Commodore was Captain Peters of the 74-gun, 2-deck battleship HMS Glasgow. She was the second Royal Navy warship of that name. The first was a 20-gun frigate, commanded by Captain Tyringham Howe. She was able to escape capture in the Battle of Block Island with a seven ship Continental Navy flotilla in 1775. The rest of his flotilla consisted of three, 38-gun frigates and two sloops of war.
Commodore Peters had assembled his flotilla at St John's. He calculated that the American military would attempt to land either there or at Winslow which was across the Bay. He dispatched one of the sloops to patrol the mouth of the bay. That sloop identified the United States Navy flotilla and hastened back to bring warning. Peters led his flotilla out of St Johns to challenge the Americans.
Commodore Treat led his line of battle against Peter’s battle line. Following USS Abenaki were USS Manhattan, USS Montauk, USS Biddeford, USS- Chenango, USS Block Island and USS Suwanee.
HMS Glasgow fired the first broadside at USS Abenaki. The sloped 8-inch armor plate deflected all the hits. The twin 20-inch Dahlgrens responded and blew holes in the lower gun deck, dismounting three cannons. The turret rotated away to reload. HMS Glasgow’s second broadside was no more effective than the first. USS Abenaki fired again, this time near the forward section of HMS Glasgow, again blowing holes in the hull and dismounting two more cannons. Then she was past and was nearing the next ship in line, a 38 gun frigate.
The Frigate’s hull was of much lighter construction than a battleship. Abenaki’s second salvo punched through and exploded at the base of the mizzen mast, and up through the deck of the frigate. Wood splinters and shrapnel killed dozens including the captain and the helmsman. The frigate staggered out of line and began to take on water. USS Abenaki fired a raking salvo through the stern igniting the magazine, and the frigate caught fire and blew up.
USS Montauk was firing into HMS Glasgow as USS Abenaki was engaging the second frigate. The third frigate and the two sloops decided it was time to break off. They pulled out of the line of battle and set sail and full steam south to engage the transport ships. HMS Glasgow turned sharply to port to bring its starboard guns into the battle. That maneuver shielded the frigate and sloops from USS Chenango, USS Block Island, and USS Suwanee. USS Biddeford came about firing into HMS Glasgow and began pursuing the escaping Royal Navy vessels. USS Suwanee also came about and joined the chase. USS Chenango, USS Block Island, and USS Montauk surrounded HMS Glasgow firing salvo after salvo into the battleship. With his ship sinking under him and realizing that further resistance was futile, Commodore Peters struck his colors.
The remaining Royal Navy frigate and two sloops of war were approaching Treat’s transport ships and their escorts. With the frigate USS Gretchen in the lead, the five escorts descended onto the Royal Navy ships. In ship to ship combat, USS Gretchen engaged HMS Guernsey, and both ships fired broadsides into each other in a circular battle. Both being 38-gun frigates the battle was even. Then USS Biddeford arrived and fired a salvo into HMS Guernsey. Seeing that escape was impossible and destruction inevitable HMS Guernsey struck her colors.
The two Royal Navy sloops were engaged on both sides by the US Navy sloops and battered into hulks. With their commanding officers killed in the battle, junior lieutenants struck the colors.
15 Miles SE of Bermuda.
Following a 25 mile chase, HMS Hector was finally closing the range on USS Kearsarge. Hector mounted two 68 pound cannons as bow chasers which began firing at USS Kearsarge and were beginning to find the range. In reply, USS Kearsarge was firing the stern 15-inch Dahlgren and splashes from near misses erupted around HMS Hector. Captain Winslow knew that if HMS Hector closed the range, the battle would end quickly; as the frigate massively out-gunned USS Kearsarge. USS Independence was three miles to the southeast but was being pursued by three Royal Navy sloops.
The masthead lookouts on USS Kearsarge could see the massive Royal Navy fleet, which was heading directly at Bermuda. There was still a chance the fleet would turn north towards Halifax, as they were approaching the most favorable wind waypoint, which would direct them towards Halifax.
Captain Winslow hoped that USS Kearsarge and USS Independence could survive long enough to lead the Royal Navy into Admiral Porter’s fleet. To gain more time, he tacked to the southwest towards USS Independence. The change of tack would provide mutual support when the Royal Navy vessels closed the distance. It also would allow him to bring the forward 15-inch Dahlgren into action. Previously, it had been blocked by the masts and sails. That cannon evened the gun battle with HMS Hector, with two guns in action for each ship. When the range was 4 miles, USS Kearsarge and HMS Hector fired both guns in rapid succession. Winslow ordered a hard turn to starboard. Moments later, one ball hit the fo
'c'sle showering splinters which wounded several crewmen. The second ball hit the hull amidships, where Winslow had hung overlapping anchor chains for armor. Two strands of chain parted, but the armor held.
HMS Hector shuddered when two cannon balls from USS Kearsarge slammed into the deck, one just aft of the fo'c'sle and the other on the quarterdeck. Splinters were flying everywhere. Captain Jacobson turned to comment to his 2nd Lieutenant when to his horror he saw the officer rolling on the deck with a splinter through his throat. Moments later the officer was still with a growing puddle of blood staining the deck. Shaken, Jacobson ordered the body taken below, and sand spread on the blood stain.
Inexorably, HMS Hector grew closer and closed the distance to less than 2 miles. Both Kearsarge and Hector were suffering hits with mounting damage, but Hector's ironclad sides and heavier weight of shot were beginning to exert dominance. USS Independence was also beginning to suffer damage in the running battle. Winslow signaled to Independence that they would come about together and attack the Royal Navy sloops of war. That would diminish the effectiveness of HMS Hector, as she would be unable to fire without endangering her consorts.
USS Kearsarge, armed with heavier guns fired a broadside including two 32 pounders and both of the 15-inch Dahlgrens into the lead sloop with explosive shot causing severe damage. USS Independence followed up with its own eight gun broadside, and the Royal Navy sloop began to sink. Kearsarge and Independence then engaged the other two sloops, with USS Kearsarge quickly overpowering the smaller ship, which began to list heavily. USS Independence and HMS Specter continued to pound each other with broadsides, and both were soon heavily damaged.
HMS Hector was now closing in within a ½ mile of USS Kearsarge from the starboard bow. Captain Jacobson who was unable to aid his stricken consorts, was thirsting for revenge. He ordered his gunners to prepare a broadside.
Captain Winslow realized USS Kearsarge had little chance of victory in a ship to ship fight. His 15-inch Dahlgrens could hurt HMS Hector, but his secondary guns were no match to her overall armaments. Winslow ordered his gun captains to aim for Hectors amidships and double-shotted all the guns on the starboard side.
The two Dahlgren's fired first in hopes of peeling away the iron armor, then the two 32 pounders and the 30 pound Parrot gun could shoot at the opening. The four explosive shots, striking at the same place, shattered the iron, dismounted two guns, killing the gun crews. The two 32 pound cannon balls and the 30 pound shot from the Parrot gun blasted through the opening plowing through the deck. The Parrot gun explosive shot showered splinters and shrapnel, killing more than a dozen crew manning the cannons on either side of the hole in the bulwark.
HMS Hector shuddered with the impacts, then delivered a 12 gun broadside into USS Kearsarge. The effect was devastating, blasting through the chain armor, punching holes in her side. Shrapnel and splinters were flying everywhere downing officers and crew alike.
Captain Winslow ordered a hard turn to starboard to bring his port side batteries to bear, as the Dahlgrens and Parrot gun rotated to port on their tracks. The Kearsarge 5 gun broadside blasted into HMS Hector, who replied this time with a 14 gun broadside of explosive shot which smashed through the sides of USS Kearsarge and exploding within felling crew everywhere and starting fires.
Shrapnel hit Captain Winslow in the abdomen, chest, and legs, dropping him to the Quarterdeck. Ensign John Porter ran to his side, knelt down and saw the severity of the wounds. He shouted to the Executive Officer George Dewey that the captain was down and he helped Commander Dewey to drag Captain Winslow over where he could lean against a bulwark.
USS Kearsarge now only had two guns left, and the 15-inch Dahlgrens fired at point blank range. Another section of HMS Hector's armor shattered, and two more guns were dismounted. Hector’s return broadside blasted holes in the sides of USS Kearsarge, which began to sink by the bow.
Lt. Commander Dewey looked at Captain Winslow who nodded when Dewey issued the order to abandon ship. Sailors who could swim jumped into the water and headed for the lifeboats towed behind. Commander Dewey supervised the filing of the lifeboats.
As the Marines slid down the ropes from the fighting tops, a sergeant came over to help with Captain Winslow. Winslow refused assistance stating: “There is nothing you can do to save me; Kearsarge is my ship, and I will stay with her. Go with the Ensign and make sure he gets into one of the lifeboats.” The sergeant stood up, saluted and looking at Ensign Porter said: “Sir, are you ready?” Then turning back to Captain Winslow he said: “USS Pawnee is back with signal flags flying.”
Winslow coughed, spit up blood and with a grimace said: “Ensign Porter, your uncle is arriving, get to the boats.”
Ensign Porter stood up, saluted Captain Winslow, turned on his heel and said: “Sergeant, you are with me,” and headed to the side where a lifeboat was tied up.
The bow of USS Kearsarge began to slip under the water, and she was settling fast. The last lifeboats pulled away. Winslow looked up the mast and saw the torn flag still flying. He smiled, closed his eyes and was gone. Less than a minute later the ocean surged over the quarterdeck and USS Kearsarge slipped below the waves.
USS Independence was also sinking, as was HMS Specter. Both vessels launched lifeboats, and the surviving crews scrambled to safety. Soon only Commander Parsons and Captain Wicks were left alive on their respective vessels. They saluted each other and then headed to the lifeboats.
Captain Jacobson had ceased fire when USS Kearsarge began to sink. His wounded were gathered and taken below to the surgeon. He ordered the helmsman to steer towards the lifeboats. Placing his telescope to his eye, Jacobson examined USS Pawnee, which was three miles distant with signal flags flying. He sent a Midshipman aloft to determine if any other United States Naval vessels were in sight.
Examining the horizon, the Midshipman could see only USS Pawnee. Off in the distance were smudges of unknown sources smoke. Suddenly he heard a strange whistling sound, then two geysers of water erupted from the water as shells exploded upon hitting the water 300 yards away.
Looking frantically at the horizon, the Midshipman still could not see where the shells came from, then heard the whistle sound again. The shells impacted again, this time much closer. Through his telescope midshipman saw a vague outline of a ship in the distance. The noise was now a high pitched scream and geysers straddled HMS Hector, landing within 50 feet on either side, showering the crew with shrapnel.
Jacobson realized that USS Pawnee was acting as a signal ship ordered the helmsman to make a sharp course change to the west. The screaming whistle sounded again, this time much louder. One shell landed close astern; the other hit the fo'c'sle blasting crew overboard. Two more shells straddled amidships.
Jacobson shouted through his speaking trumpet for the midshipman to report. The report never came as two shells exploded, one high between the masts, the other penetrating to the boiler room before exploding. The boiler exploded up through the main deck, toppling the main mast. HMS Hector was mortally wounded. More geyser splashes erupted then another shell hit, this time at the waterline, penetrating to the bottom before exploding rupturing the hull. HMS Hector began to roll over just as another shell struck and penetrated to the magazine exploding Hector in a ball of flame.
The seamen already in the lifeboats were shocked at the destruction of HMS Hector. The exploding shells had swamped several of the boats. The others rowed to retrieve the survivors. Seamen from three ships, former enemies mingled together, but now with survival being the only objective.
USS Pawnee indeed had been the signal ship providing directional coordinates back to USS Agamenticus. She and the line of US Navy ironclads were invisible in the sea mist due to their low freeboard profile. Admiral Porter had received the signal that USS Kearsarge and USS Independence sank, and one Royal Navy frigate was still on the scene. He decided to test the accuracy and distance of his new long guns.
At a range of 7½ miles the forward turret adjusted to m
aximum barrel elevation and fired the first salvo. Less than a minute later the signal long was received. The hydraulic cannon raising and lowering mechanism were adjusted down two notches. The guns fired another salvo. The return message was short. The mechanism was adjusted up one notch, and the turret fired again. The signal straddle came back. The gun set was relayed to the rear turret and Agamenticus altered course to allow both turrets to fire simultaneously and the signal hit was received. The guns fired five additional salvos, then the signal target destroyed was received.
USS Pawnee was the first ship to reach the area of the sea battle, and amongst the wreckage were six overcrowded lifeboats. Under the watchful eye of armed Marines, the survivors climbed boarding nets. The wounded, both American and British received treatment and the more seriously wounded taken to the Orlop. Commander Prentiss ordered that the British sailors confined to a hold. When the three surviving Royal Navy junior lieutenants gave their parole, he assigned them to a cabin.
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