In Pursuit of the Essex

by Hughes, Ben;

  After the Americans had hoisted the Stars and Stripes on the whalers, a breeze sprang up. The Essex and Barclay set sail and the four ships were soon united. The prisoners were taken onto the Essex and offered a chance to join the crew. At least three from the Montezuma, nine from the Georgiana and six from the Policy agreed. The rest were confined below decks with the Spaniards taken from the Barclay three weeks before while the prizes were searched for supplies. Equipped for a three-year round voyage, they had not yet consumed half their stock. ‘We obtained … abundant … cordage, canvas, paints, tar and every other article necessary for the ship’, Porter recalled. Numerous small arms, gunpowder and ammunition were found, several of the tortoises that had been thrown overboard, many of them weighing over 350lbs, were picked up by the boat crews on their return and Porter purchased Captains Baxter’s and Pitt’s private supplies of slops, tobacco and spirits. The captures would also result in significant prize money: they were valuable ships, heavily laden with whale oil, but perhaps the most important consequence was a much-needed boost in morale. ‘[Their capture] convinced us [that] we ought not to despair of success under any circumstances’, Porter recalled, ‘and that, although the patient and persevering may for a time meet with disappointments, fortune will at length most commonly make amends.’13

  On 30 April, Porter fitted out the prizes. Midshipman William H. Odenheimer was given command of the Montezuma and Midshipman Cowan, who was replaced in the Barclay by Midshipman Feltus, was given charge of the Policy. Each was provided with a small prize crew and signal book and ordered to keep their men on reduced rations, clear their decks of whaling equipment, bend their light sails, reave their running rigging and keep up with the Essex as best they could. In the event of separation two anchorages popular with British whalers on the northern Peruvian coast, the Bay of Tumbez and the Island of La Plata, were assigned as rendezvous. The plundered supplies were used to make minor repairs to the Essex. The carpenters worked on the main deck, Master Cowell and his mates oversaw the tarring and overhauling of the rigging, and others painted the frigate’s interior. With Surgeon Miller’s condition deteriorating, Porter moved him from the Barclay to the Policy where the bedridden Bowman proved an amiable companion despite his own poor health.14

  The best of the prizes, the Georgiana, was given to Lieutenant Downes. Built for the British East India Company as a packet, she was ‘a noble ship’ pierced for twenty guns. Porter felt she would make an ideal cruiser and ordered Downes to strip her down. The oil casks were sent on board the other prizes. The tryworks, iron boilers used for reducing the whale oil, were dismantled, along with the cutting stage where the whale’s carcass would be brought alongside and the windlass, a giant winch on the bow designed to tear off strips of blubber. Once the work had been done, the Georgiana sat higher in the water, improving her sailing and allowing Porter to mount more guns. Between 3 and 8 May, as the flotilla drifted within sight of Wenman’s Island, the Policy’s ten 6-pounders were hoisted in through the Georgiana’s open gun ports, giving Downes a total of sixteen guns besides the four swivels and six blunderbusses mounted on the main deck. The small arms found on the prizes were also taken on board, bulwarks were built for protection and the lieutenant was provided with a crew of forty-one. Thirty-six were from the Essex. The remainder had enrolled from the prizes and Midshipman Haddaway was assigned acting lieutenant. William Kingsbury, the ‘trusty old’ tar who had restored calm round the Horn, was made boatswain and the disgraced Mr. Miller was charged with maintaining the guns. By the morning of 8 May the work was complete. Porter renamed the sloop USS Georgiana and read out her commission. Downes hoisted American colours at the mizzen peak and saluted with sixteen guns.15

  Informed that at least three more British whalers – the Rose, the Perseverance and the New Zealander – were ‘in the neighbourhood’, Porter sailed for James’ Island that afternoon. Baffling winds and strong north westerly currents continued to frustrate and on the evening of 9 May, after lunar observations had revealed that the flotilla remained as far to the north as it had been on the 29 April, Porter decided to take the Montezuma, the dullest sailer, under tow. Once the hawser was attached, it was the turn of the Barclay and Policy to slow the convoy. That night the Essex was obliged to shorten sail to avoid losing sight of them and on the morning of 10 May Porter rowed across to the Barclay to ensure Feltus had set as much canvas as she could carry. The flotilla spent the next two days beating to windward with little to show for their efforts until the lookouts sighted an island on the weather bow at 4 p.m. on 12 May. That evening the current swung round to the southward and by daylight the Essex was just four leagues from land.16

  Dominated by a central vegetation-covered height, sloping down to long, low points and fine sandy beaches, the island possessed ‘a very agreeable and inviting appearance’, especially as the Essex’s water supplies were running low and the men had been so long at sea. Porter ‘at first supposed it to be James’ Island, as did all the prisoners who were acquainted with its appearance; but they all declared, that … they could not recollect the sandy beaches and fine bays with which this appeared indented’. A thick fog confused the matter and, as Colnett’s charts proved unhelpful, Porter signalled the Georgiana to conduct a reconnaissance. As Downes set sail, a breeze sprung up from the northward accompanied by a strong current and Porter took advantage to take his dull sailers to the south towards Hood’s Island. A boat was lowered with instructions for the Georgiana to continue on her course then look into Banks’ Bay before rendezvousing with the Essex at either Hood’s or Tumbez on the coast of Peru. Downes continued to the southern point of the landmass, which was found to be Indefatigable Island, while the Essex, Barclay, Policy and Montezuma proceeded southeast.17

  At noon, as the fog lifted, the Essexes spotted Charles’ Island to the south-southwest. Bearing away, at 4 p.m. Porter dropped anchor in eight fathoms in the bay where he had stopped four weeks before. With the Barclay, Policy and Montezuma at anchor between the Essex and the beach, Porter was rowed ashore to see if any letters had been left at the post-box since his last visit. None were found, but a water cask and barrel of bread which the Americans had noticed on their last visit had been taken, fresh tracks were visible on the beach leading to the post box, a deep impression had been made in the sand and some rope, which appeared to be of British manufacture, was found. Deducing that the visitors had pressed on for the whaling grounds at Banks’ Bay, Porter reasoned that they were sure to fall into Downes’ hands. In the interim he would remain at Charles’ Island. His men could get some shore leave and he would have a chance to find the spring that his informants had assured him was in the interior.18

  The next morning Porter, Randall and Feltus took two boats and two empty ten-gallon kegs and rowed to the western point in search of the spring. Having narrowly avoided being driven onto a hidden rock by the swell, the Americans landed at a black sand beach and dragged their boats ashore. There they found ‘fresh embers and [the remains of] a tortoise, which had not been killed … more than two days [before]’. At the edge of the beach, a well-trodden path cut eastwards across the dunes. Following it, Porter found ‘a pair of mockasons, made of English canvas and a tortoise shell containing about two quarts of English barley’. After crossing a series of low, barren hills and lava fields dotted with withered trees, they reached the spring. Porter thought ‘the water … excellent’. While the kegs were filled, the men went in search of giant tortoise. Thirty were turned onto their backs, but the men were only able to carry one, ‘selected … for his antiquated appearance’, back to the boats. ‘His weight was exactly one hundred and ninety seven pounds’, Porter recalled, ‘but he was far from being considered of a large size.’

  The trip proved exhausting. After manhandling the kegs to the beach, it was ‘necessary to … raft [them] … to the ship, a distance of six miles, through a high sea and sometimes against rapid currents’. Realising it would be impractical to water the ship in this way, Por
ter came up with a plan B. ‘Well knowing the roving disposition of seamen, I determined to let a party go on shore to amuse themselves’, he explained, ‘believing, if water was to be found within two or three miles of us, it would be discovered … On their return at night I was not disappointed.’ Half a mile inland the hollows in a lava field had been filled with rainfall. Though brackish and ‘filled … with slime and insects … it was [deemed] a treasure too precious to lose’. Over the next few days, work parties filled 200 ten-gallon kegs – enough to keep the Essex and her prizes at sea for two weeks.19

  The Essexes enjoyed their stay at Charles’ Island. When not employed watering or wooding the ship, the men were allowed ashore in shifts ‘to take a run’. While the mess cooks gathered driftwood and thorn scrub to make a fire, their companions fished, hunted and foraged for prickly pears. Giant land tortoises were caught and birds trapped by the dozen. The former were roasted whole in their shells. The latter were made into potpies. In the evening, the men sat round bonfires on the beach and returned to the ships at nightfall. The midshipmen divided their time between playing amongst the sand dunes and studying under Chaplain David Adams. Farragut thought his time on Charles’ Island ‘among the happiest days of [his] … life’. After the pressures of the shipboard routine, the young officers in the making could behave like children again.20

  At 3 a.m. on 15 May, USS Georgiana sailed into Post Office Bay. Weighing anchor near the Essex, Lieutenant Downes made his report. While navigating a two mile wide channel between Indefatigable and Duncan Island on 12 May, he had come perilously close to the rocks and had spent the best part of the next twenty-four hours tacking away from the lee shore. The following evening, finding himself in the vicinity of Charles’ Island, Downes had decided to stand into Post Office Bay in the hopes of meeting a British whaler. That afternoon Porter dispatched Downes to Albermarle in pursuit of the whaler which he suspected had recently called in at Post Office Bay. The lieutenant was ordered to return to Charles’ Island ‘as soon afterwards as possible’ and look for further instructions buried in a bottle at the foot of the post-box should Porter be obliged to leave the anchorage in the interim. As the Georgiana set sail, Porter proposed that Chaplain Adams should survey Indefatigable Island. Having a keen interest in medicinal plants, Adams was delighted. By 4 p.m. he had filled the two whaleboats assigned to him with a week’s provisions and selected Midshipman Odenheimer and several men to accompany him. Adams was ordered to return within six days.21

  Over the next few days Porter had the whalers’ hulls and cabins and the Essex’s bends and upper works repainted. When he returned to the mainland he intended to sell his prizes to the highest bidder: an improvement in their appearance would command a higher price. Meanwhile, the men continued to explore. Midshipman Feltus found the remains of a vegetable garden once belonging to an Irish castaway by the name of Patrick Watkins and the tomb of a former crewmember of the Georgiana was also discovered. ‘The spot’, Porter recalled, ‘was shaded by two lofty thorn-bushes, which afforded an agreeable shade … [It] became the favourite resort of our men at their meals. The pile of stones … served them … for table and seat … and [they] quaffed many a can of grog to his poor soul.’ On 16 May Feltus discovered two large caverns near the spring. ‘The bottom [and] sides were quite black & looked as if they were smoked’, he recalled, ‘[and] in the bottom there appeared to be a quantity of ashes.’ Another afternoon, Farragut and Porter went fishing off the Devil’s Crown. ‘As we approached’, the former recalled, ‘a number of seals were … making for the water … the men … singled out a fine fellow and beat him over the head with oars and boat hooks, but … [to] no avail … Finally, one of the sailors succeeded in getting hold of his tail; but he dragged the whole crew … into the water. The Captain fired at the seal when he freed himself from the men but he sank out of sight.’22

  On 20 May, Adams and Odenheimer returned from Indefatigable Island. Indulging his ‘zeal for promoting geographical … knowledge’, Adams had measured the latitude and longitude of the principal points and had enjoyed fine views across the archipelago from the summit of its 864-metre high volcano. Wood and giant tortoises had proved abundant. In the fertile southern half, specimens measuring over five and half feet had been found. In terms of practical discoveries, the trip had been less successful. Surrounded by dangerous inshore reefs, Indefatigable offered no suitable anchorage and no fresh water had been found. Adams’ most interesting discovery was made on his return to Post Office Bay. While rowing across the channel on the night of 19/20 May, the Americans had passed within a mile of a strange ship heading for Albemarle. In the moonlight Adams could see she was triple-masted and bore a tier of guns. From the outline of the works on her deck, she seemed to be a whaler.

  On hearing the news, Porter was caught in two minds. Part of him wanted to pursue the stranger. From the chaplain’s description, he thought she might be the Charlton, a 274-ton British whaler mounting ten guns, which would make a fine addition to Porter’s growing fleet. On the other hand, Downes could probably deal with the stranger on his own. Besides, Porter’s chief concern was fresh water and the only sure way to secure it was to return to the mainland. At midday, the Blue Peter was hoisted. While the men returned to the ships, Porter, Gamble and Shaw climbed some heights to see if they could spot the stranger. It proved an arduous undertaking. ‘After crawling through prickly-pear trees and scrambling over loose lava, which tore our shoes … we … arrived’, the captain recalled, ‘exhausted with thirst, heat and fatigue, at the summit.’ One hundred and twenty metres above sea level, the view was ‘extensive’, but no sails were in sight. Porter decided to head for Tumbez on the Peruvian coast without delay. Leaving a letter in a bottle buried under the post box informing Downes of his intentions, on the morning of 21 May Porter gave the order to stand out of Post Office Bay.23

  The voyage to Peru was more difficult than Porter had anticipated. Sailing southwest to round Charles’ Island, on the 22nd the Essex was obliged to take the Montezuma in tow. The next day the ships tacked to the northeast under grey skies. With a good breeze from the southward, they sighted Hood’s Island at 11.30 a.m. Porter decided to square away for the bay on the island’s northeast side in the hope of making new prizes, but towards evening the wind dropped and a current swept the ships towards the rocks on the southeast point. On the evening of the 24th Captain Randall on the Barclay noted a festering slick of whale oil, offal, blood and guts. Feasted on by birds, sharks and scavenging fish, the putrid raft was a sure sign that whalers were nearby. At midnight the flotilla was so close to the rocks that Feltus could hear the breakers and Porter ordered the Montezuma cast off for fear that she would drag the Essex to her doom. That night the current intensified. The ships managed to tack away from danger, but by daylight had been swept back to Charles’ Island. Frustrated, Porter changed his plan once more. ‘I determined to bear away, look into the harbour of Charles’ Island and proceed from thence to the … Cocos [an island chain 400 miles to the northeast known for its fresh water], looking into Banks’ Bay in my way.’ It seemed likely that there were several potential prizes in the vicinity. If Porter caught them they might offer the possibility of fresh water, while if he left Downes to his own devices, the lieutenant ran the risk of being outgunned.24

  That morning the long-suffering Doctor Miller passed away. ‘It was supposed that the danger … of going on … [the rocks] the preceding night … tended greatly to hasten his death’, Porter recalled. Out of respect for his station, Miller was placed in a coffin and the funeral delayed until a suitable landfall could be made. Doctor Hoffman was promoted to the rank of acting-surgeon and that afternoon, the Essex hove to off Post Office Bay where Porter sent a boat ashore with an updated message for Downes. The next day, with Miller’s corpse ripening, a funeral was improvised on the Policy. Porter and all his senior officers attended. After Chaplain Adams had read a brief service, the body was committed to the deep.25

  On 27 May
the flotilla drew parallel with the southernmost point of Albemarle. Porter ordered the ships to spread out to maximum signalling distance to conduct a sweep through the whaling grounds. With the Essex towing the Montezuma in the centre, the Barclay stood to the starboard while the Policy sailed off the frigate’s larboard quarter. At 9 p.m., after a sudden illness of just two hours’ duration, Quarter Gunner Benjamin Geers became the seventh Essex to die during the voyage. While the others had all been victims of illness or accident, there was some indication that Geers’s death could have been the result of foul play. ‘He complained of a violent pain in his breast’, Porter recalled, ‘was constantly calling for water and died in violent convulsions, frothing very much at the mouth.’ Some suspected he had committed suicide by ingesting arsenic, but Porter could not believe that such an apparently ‘happy and contented’ man would take his own life.26

  Sailing north across the western limits of Elizabeth Bay, on 28 May the flotilla skirted Narborough Island and by noon could see the northern head of Albemarle beyond the Turtle’s Nose. At 4 p.m. a lookout spotted a strange sail making northwest. Casting off the Montezuma, Porter gave chase, leaving the prizes behind him and by the time the sun began to dip, he could see the stranger ‘standing from us with all the sail she could crowd’. Aware that the chase would change course to elude him during the night, Porter pushed on until 9 p.m. then hove to while his prizes re-joined. That night the Montezuma sailed seven miles to the northwest before heaving too. The Barclay was sent the same distance to the east, while the Essex remained stationary. At dawn the Montezuma signalled a sail to the northward and the chase resumed. At sunset, with the Essex rapidly gaining, the stranger hauled close on a wind to the eastward, hove about and boldly stood towards her pursuer. An British ensign flew from her stern flagstaff and a pendant from her main peak.