Royal Naval Biography/Walcott, John Edward
JOHN EDWARD WALCOTT, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1822.]
Third son of Edmund Walcott Sympson, of Winkton, in Hampshire, Esq.
This officer commenced his professional career under the patronage of the late Right Hon. George Rose, Treasurer of the Navy, who placed him on board the Blenheim 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Samuel Hood, and about to sail for the Leeward Islands, Oct. 18th, 1802. In this ship he remained until June, 1804, when ill health obliged him to return to England. He next joined the Lively frigate, Captain (now Sir Graham Eden) Hamond; and served in her at the capture of the Spanish-treasure ships, off Cape St. Mary, Oct. 6, 1804; also at the detention of the San Miguel merchantman, from Omoa bound to Cadiz, having on board nearly 200,000 dollars, upwards of 2000 bales of indigo, four cases of wrought plate, and other valuable articles, Dec. 7, 1804; on which latter day, he likewise witnessed the capture of the Santa Gertruyda frigate, with a cargo of great value, by the Polyphemus 64, Captain John Lawford[1].
In Sept. 1806, Captain Hamond having previously resigned the command of the Lively, Mr. Walcott joined the Centaur 74, bearing the broad pendant of his friend, Sir Samuel Hood, under whom he served in the expeditions against Copenhagen and Madeira, in 1807, and subsequently on the Baltic station. The following is a copy of that officer’s official letter to Sir James Saumarez, reporting the capture of the Danish despatch-boat mentioned at p. 32:–
“Sir,– Last evening a boat was discovered rowing along shore, under the cliffs of Möen, and from a number of soldiers marching on the beach, as a guard, she appeared suspicious. The cutter of this ship, armed, was sent, with the hope of intercepting her, and gaining information. She was not closed with until run on shore on the S.E. point, beyond the cliff, where the enemy have a post and endeavoured to cover her by a body of troops with two field-pieces. Lieutenant James Shea, who commanded the cutter, gallantly pulled in under a heavy fire, and the boat was carried; but I have to regret this brave young officer was killed, just at the moment he got alongside. Messrs. Walcott, master’s-mate, and Price, midshipman, brought her off, after a warm contest of some minutes, without further loss. She proved to be from Copenhagen bound to Bornholm, and as there were proclamations, &c. addressed to the governor, I imagine she was employed as a packet-boat; but the crew had time to effect their escape, and carry off most of the packages and letters. I have the honor to be, &c.
Mr. Walcott was soon afterwards ordered to act as signal-lieutenant of the Centaur, and in that capacity he assisted at the capture and destruction of the Sewolod, Russian 74, in the upper part of the Baltic, Aug. 26, 1808[2].
On the 19th Oct. in the same year, Sir Samuel Hood addressed the following letter to Sir A. S. Hamond, late Comptroller of the Navy:
“My dear Sir Andrew,– I know the interest you take for the welfare of young Walcott, and am therefore induced not to lose a moment in the pleasure of informing you of Sir James Saumarez, at my solicitation, having given him the appointment of Lieutenant, in the room of Captain Lawless, late first of this ship and promoted on our success. I had, from his very gallant conduct in the capture of a boat off Möen, when one of my lieutenants was killed, and the very excellent manner he conducted himself in the absence of my signal-officer, sent with the Swedish Admiral during the chase of the Russian squadron, and in that action, kept the vacancy open for him until he had passed his examination on the 16th instant. I can say no more to you in his favor than that I hope he will not quit me until he can gain another step. A more deserving, good young officer does not exist. I hope therefore, you may be induced to assist in his confirmation with Mr. Rose. Believe me always yours most truly,
Mr. Walcott’s commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, Nov. 25, 1808, from which period he served under Sir Samuel Hood, in the Centaur, Hibernia, and Minden, on the coast of Spain, in the Baltic, and on the Mediterranean and East India stations, until the demise of that great and lamented officer, who expired at Madras, literally worn out in the service of his country, Dec. 24, 1814.
Some time previous to his dissolution. Sir Samuel Hood, from having it in contemplation to return home overland, had addressed Viscount Melville in favor of Lieutenant Walcott, as follows:–
“My Lord,– The time of approach to the termination of my command on this station being near, and having been enabled only to promote two of my lieutenants, who had been with me many years, I have to entreat your Lordship, should I not have the chance of another vacancy, to do me the kindness before I strike my flag to promote to a Commander my flag-lieutenant (John Edward Walcott). He is an officer whose attention and ability in his profession caused me to place him in that station; he served with me in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and this country, in the same situation; and when my secretary was obliged to return to England from ill health; soon after my arrival here, seeing me in distress, he volunteered his services for both situations, which he has filled with much capacity and judgment. He is the son of a very respectable gentleman in Hampshire, and will do honor and credit to the service whenever he is advanced. I have therefore to request your Lordship’s protection towards him. &c. &c.
Lieutenant Walcott returned to England with the widow of his invaluable friend, in the Malacca frigate, Captain George Henderson; and was the bearer of the following letter from the senior officer in India, addressed to J. W. Croker, Esq. and dated at Point de Galle, Jan. 13, 1815:
“Sir,– Lieutenant John Edward Walcott, flag-lieutenant and secretary to the late commander-in-chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, being on his return to England, I feel I cannot do better than refer my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to him for information on all circumstances connected with this squadron, both previous to and since the period of the lamented Admiral’s decease.
“I am aware that it is not strictly within my province to speak officially to their Lordships of this valuable officer, yet I cannot deny myself the pleasure of bearing testimony to the high opinion in which he has been held both on my own part and that of the captains of the squadron who had any opportunity of witnessing his worth. To Sir Samuel Hood, his services were, I know, invaluable; and were I to enter on that distinguished officer’s feelings and sentiments towards Lieutenant Walcott, feebly indeed could I convey to their Lordships the sense with which he breathed his last towards him. I have the honor to be, &c.
Mr. Walcott was promoted to the rank of commander, June 6, 1815; but he had not the good fortune to re-obtain active employment until Sept. 14, 1821, when we find him appointed to the Carnation of 18 guns, in which sloop he sailed for the West Indies, Jan. 4. 1822. In August following, being then off the west end of Cuba, he fell in with, and gave protection to the trade passing through the Florida stream, from Jamaica to England. A mistaken and singular opinion having been adopted by the Committee at Lloyd’s as to the degree of attention he had paid to the mercantile interests on this occasion, gave rise to a correspondence between that body and the Board of Admiralty, and led to a discussion in the House of Commons (by motion on the part of Joseph Marryat, Esq. the chairman of the said committee), in March, 1823, when Vice-Admiral Sir George Cockburn addressed the House on the subject, and declared “that Captain Walcott’s conduct had been in exact accordance with the duty he had to perform.”
Captain Walcott was posted into the Tyne 26, on the Jamaica station. May 6, 1822; but he had no opportunity of joining her until the month of December following. In the beginning of 1823, he convoyed another homeward bound fleet through the Florida Stream, and then proceeded in quest of some piratical vessels. The result of an anxious cruise of two months, in company with the Thracian sloop. Captain John Walter Roberts, is thus stated by him in an official, but hitherto unpublished letter, dated off the east end of that island, and addressed to Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Rowley, K.C.B. April 7, 1823:
“My letter narrating the proceedings of H.M. ships Tyne and Thracian, in execution of your orders for the extirpation of the pirates cruising in the Old Bahama Channel, and on the coast of Cuba adjoining, will apprise you of my having put to sea from the harbour of Neranjos, on the 29th ultimo, in search of the schooner I had information of, as likely to be found off Baracoa.
“I have the honor further to report, that we gained sight of a schooner bearing her description, early on the forenoon of the 31st, off that place: H.M. ships disguised as much as possible, to bear the appearance of merchant vessels, stood in to close with her, then under easy sail, standing in for the land. Three hours, however, undeceived the object of our pursuit; when, on perceiving her to crowd all sail for the harbour of Mata, which I had understood occasionally to be a piratical rendezvous, disguise was thrown off, and all possible efforts made in direct chase until 1-30 p.m. when, on observing her to anchor in the said harbour, with every appearance of suspiciousness, from mooring head and stern, with her broadside commanding the narrow entrance, little more than a cable’s length in breadth, notwithstanding her having displayed Spanish colours, and from the ships being at this time far in the offing, with a very light air, the boats of both were instantly hoisted out, manned, and armed. At 3 p.m., when within gun-shot, she opened her fire under the royal flag of Spain (which, after the first shot, was supplanted by the black flag), upon the boats, wearing their proper national colours; her decks crowded with men, and her force, comparatively with open boats at such a time of day, most formidable, whilst I perceived a body of men had landed, to cut us up from a thicket on one side of the harbour’s entrance; and altogether, from the admirable position for defence which she had taken up, the period of pulling in, and consequent inability, for a time, to board with the prospect of success, the boats were necessarily placed under an incessant and moat galling fire of every description for upwards of three-quarters of an hour, which was sustained with the firmest intrepidity; the carronades of our two pinnaces played with considerable effect, together with our musketry on nearer approach; but the instant the favorable moment arose, one and all dashed in, under a heavy shower of grape and musketry, gave three cheers when just alongside, and prepared to board with a devotedness every way equal to even a more formidable force. The panic on board was instantaneous, and with trifling exception the entire of the crew threw themselves into the sea; 28 were secured, amongst whom was their commander, but numbers, I regret to add, escaped through their near vicinity to the shore. The vessel proved to be the piratical schooner Zaragozana, of 120 tons, carrying one long 18-pounder on a swivel, four long 9-pounders, and eight swivels; was otherwise well armed, and every way prepared against our boarding; her decks covered with bottles filled with combustible materials, with a crew of from 70 to 80 men, chiefly European Spaniards, commanded by one of that nation under the name of Cayatano Aroganez, who fought his vessel with a skill, and, until the moment of panic, with a desperate courage, worthy of a better cause, impelled however, I believe, in a measure, by the conviction which he had that the ships, from draft of water, could not enter the harbour, and that therefore, could he overcome the boats, his triumph and safety were insured.
“Where all. Sir, officers, seamen, and marines, so heroically performed their duty, I should feel it invidious to particularize individuals, were I not anxious to bring under your knowledge officers in command of boats so worthy of your notice, and the approbation of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Lieutenant (Amos) Plymsell, next in command, a zealous and gallant officer, who has accompanied me on every service with the boats. Lieutenant James Campbell, and Messrs. Robinson, Dawson, Shapland, Gettings, and Dalyell, midshipmen; likewise Mr. West, surgeon, and Mr. Graham, assistant, who volunteered their services. I should equally be wanting in candour towards those who were unavoidably left in the ships, were I not to state, that all panted to accompany me, foremost amongst whom, in justice to him and in honor to myself, must I name Captain Roberts, who on every occasion throughout the period of his service with me, has manifested a zeal and effort commanding the applause of all. He lost no time in following me with the ships, and had reached, by the assistance of Mr. Bull, acting master of theTyne (who throughout the cruise has brought the ships in safety through constant intricate and dangerous navigation) nearly within gun-shot, on our capture being complete.
“The schooner was fitted out, and armed as she is, at the Havannah, from whence she sailed in January last, with 50 men on board, under the designation of a merchant vessel armed for self defence, and thus permitted to depart by the authorities of that city.
“In forwarding the list of killed and wounded, I cannot but congratulate myself on the providential trifling loss sustained[3], whilst the piratical vessel, so far as I can speak with accuracy, had 10 killed and 15 wounded, though I have reason to believe the number much beyond, including the drowned. Of those escaped, 16 were, on the following day, overtaken in the woods, and secured, by the troops the governor of Baracoa sent round, on hearing of the capture, to co-operate in any way I should be pleased to point out i and by whom I have been apprized, officially, that they will be dealt with agreeably to those laws they have so dreadfully outraged. I have the honor to be, &c.
“P.S. The Zaragozana is the same schooner which plundered the French merchant ship in the early part of March, and whose cargo I found concealed in the harbour of Neranjos.”
On receiving the account of this important capture, the commander-in-chief at Jamaica issued the following general memorandum:
“The courage, perseverance, zeal, and abilities displayed by Captain Walcott, of his Majesty’s ship Tyne, in carrying into execution my orders for the extirpation of the pirates in these seas, have excited my highest commendation and praise, and I beg that he will accept of the same.
“To Captain Roberts, and the other officers employed under Captain Walcott, I desire to express my warm admiration of their conduct, which I shall make known to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
“To the petty-officers, seamen, and marines employed upon the above arduous service, my thanks are given, and I view their bravery, and cheerful endurance of fatigue and privation, as a pledge of their good conduct upon all future occasions on which their country may claim their services.
“The foregoing Public Order to be read to the officers and companies of H.M. ships and vessels under my command.
“To the respective Captains and Commanders.”
In a letter to the Admiralty, dated April 12th, 1823, Sir Charles Rowley, after extolling “the zeal and ability displayed by Captains Walcott and Roberts,” added:
“The capture of this vessel is not only gratifying as regards her piratical character, but as an evidence of the perseverance exhibited by Captain Walcott, who, disregarding his weak state of health, endured the privations and fatigue of searching creeks and inlets in open boats for six days. Fortunately success has attended his labours. I have pleasure in embracing this opportunity of bringing under their Lordships’ notice the abilities and unremitted attention of Mr. Thomas Bull, acting master of the Tyne, who a second time has conducted the ship through an intricate and dangerous navigation without the slightest accident. The praise given to this officer by Captain Godfrey is corroborated by his successor, whose favorable opinion is contained in the letter which I herewith transmit.”
Being at this period a very great sufferer from the climate of the West Indies, Captain Walcott was obliged to resign the command of the Tyne, by invaliding; and he returned to England with Sir Charles Rowley, in May, 1823. the receipt of the Rear-Admiral’s late communication was thus officially acknowledged:
Sir,– Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 12th April, transmitting two letters from Captain Walcott, of the Tyne, reporting the proceedings of that ship and the Thracian, in search of piratical vessels, and the capture of a schooner of that description, called the Zaragozana, by the boats of the Tyne and Thracian, in the harbour of Mata, I am commanded by their Lordships to express their approbation of the conduct of Captain Walcott and the other officers and men employed.
“And I am to acquaint you, that, as a mark of their approbation, their Lordships have promoted Mr. Shapland, the senior midshipman mentioned by Captain Walcott, to the rank of Lieutenant; and that they have ordered Mr. Bull, acting master of the Tyne, to be made a Master, and to be placed at the head of the additional number of Masters about to be made. I am, &c.
“To Sir Charles Rowley, K.C.B. &c. &c. &c.”
Messrs. Henry Shapland and Thomas Bull were accordingly promoted, on the same day that Mr. Barrow’s letter was written. On the 16th of the ensuing month, Captain Roberts, whom Sir Charles Rowley had appointed to succeed Captain Walcott in the command of the Tyne, was advanced to post rank; and Mr. John Delancey Robinson, midshipman, who likewise assisted at the capture of the Zaragozana, to that of lieutenant. In the mean time, Cayatano Aroganez, and 23 of the other miscreants, were tried, sentenced to death, and executed at Jamaica.
Captain Walcott’s eldest sister is married to Captain George Henderson, R.N.
- ↑ See Vol II. Part I. p. 176.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part II. p. 649. et seq.
- ↑ Total one killed and five wounded.