1827 H. J. C.'S LETTER ABOUT NAVARIN. 371 laid, and over them beds; on these lay the wounded, some too bad to speak, others groaning and crying out with the agony they were in. Some (generally the least hurt) calling out lustily for the doctor. 'Oh! doctor, my dear doctor, do come here, I'm bleeding to death,' &c., and some saying it was their turn, &c. I managed to feel my way to an unoccupied berth amidships, alongside a poor fellow who had been severely wounded, and I think we made a pretty quiet pair, except occasional, nay frequent, calls for water, of which, owing to my excessive thirst, I must have drunk a good deal, besides what I poured on the bandage which had just been put on my wound, which felt as if it was on fire and devilish uncomfortable: the water felt like ice to it, and relieved it a great deal.1 When the doctor came to overhaul me he found the upper wound in my thigh, which I had not complained of before, thinking it only a scratch (not baving cut off my trousers), for I found that the pain of the one diminished or concealed the pain of the other. The probing of the upper wound was not painful, but the ball had so buried itself with a turn that it could not be found. The lower one was very painful, for the finger being much more satisfactory than the probe, the doctor made his meet, thus satisfying himself that nothing was in. This did bring me to the 'vocative case.' I was then removed into a cockpit cabin, and remained there two or three days, during which time the inflammation was completely subdued by poultices, and I was comparatively easy. After I had found my berth and got my eyes accustomed to the light, or what little of it there was, I began to look around me, and a disagreeable sight it was. Had not I known that father was on deck and in such immediate danger, I might have given you some very fine reflections upon honour and glory, &c., well suited to time and place; but my thoughts were more on deck than below, and the only thought I had of that nature was that I had had quite enough of honour and glory Doctor Liddell, who was very fond of him (they had been together for three years in the 'Naiad'), seeing him there, asked what was the matter, and wanted to attend to him: he answered that it was not much, and he would rather wait and take his turn with others. BB 2 for the occasion, and would be an interesting object to boot! However, when all was over, I thought, and think now, I was a very lucky fellow to get off as I did, taking everything into consideration. that General Order. 'Asia,' in the port of Navarin: October 24, 1827. Before the united squadrons remove from the theatre in which they have gained so complete a victory, the Vice-Admiral Commander-in-Chief is desirous of making known to the whole of the officers, seamen, and marines, employed in them, the high sense which he has of their gallant and steady conduct on the 20th inst. He is persuaded that there is no instance of the fleet of any one country showing more complete union of spirit and of action than was exhibited by the squadrons of the three Allied Powers together in this bloody and destructive battle. He attributes to the bright example set by his gallant colleagues the Rear-Admirals, the able and cordial support which the ships of the several squadrons gave to each other during the heat and confusion of the battle. Such union of spirit and of purpose, such coolness and bravery under fire, and such consequent precision in the use of their guns, ensured a victory over the well-prepared arrangements of greatly superior numbers; and the whole of the Turkish and Egyptian fleets have paid the penalty of their treacherous breach of faith. The boasted Ibrahim Pacha promised not to quit Navarin or oppose the Allied Fleet, and basely broke his word. The Allied Commanders promised to destroy the Turkish and Egyptian fleets if a single gun was fired at either of their flags, and with the assistance of the brave men whom they had the satisfaction of commanding, they have performed their promise to the very letter. Out of a fleet composed of sixty men-of-war, there remain only one frigate, and fifteen smaller vessels in a state ever to be again put to sea. Such a victory cannot be gained without a great sacrifice of life; and the Commander-in-Chief has to deplore the loss of many of the best and bravest men which the fleet 1827 GENERAL ORDER TO THE ALLIED FLEET. 373 contained. The consolation is, that they died in the service of their country, and in the cause of suffering humanity. The Commander-in-Chief returns his most cordial thanks to his noble colleagues, the two Rear-Admirals, for the able manner in which they directed the movements of their squadrons; and to the captains, commanders, officers, seamen, and royal marines, who so faithfully obeyed their orders, and so bravely completed the destruction of their opponents. EDWARD CODRINGTON, Vice-Admiral. |