# Royal Naval Biography/Carroll, William Fairbrother

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WILLIAM FAIRBROTHER CARROLL, Esq. A Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath. [Post-Captain of 1813.]
This officer is a son of Daniel Carroll, of Uskane, co. Tipperary, Esq. a gentleman brought up to the Irish bar. He was born at Glencarrig, co. Wicklow, Jan. 28, 1784; and we find him commencing his naval career, Dec. 12, 1795, in the Diamond frigate. Captain Sir W. Sidney Smith, with whom he was taken prisoner by the French, April 18, 1796. ​Previous to this misfortune, he had assisted at the destruction of an enemy’s convoy, at Herqui, near Cape Frehél.
On his being exchanged, after an imprisonment of 16 months, Mr. Carroll joined the Syren frigate, Captain Thomas Le Marchant Gosselyn, under whom he served at the capture of Surinam, Aug. 20, 1799. In July 1800, when assisting in an attack upon a French vessel, he was severely wounded in the left side by a musket-ball, which, after some time, was extracted, close to his back-bone.
In 1801, Mr. Carroll was removed to the Sans Pareil 80, bearing the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, commander-in-chief at Jamaica; whose remains he accompanied to England, in the Sting schooner, towards the end of that year.
After passing his examination, Jan. 1, 1802, Mr. Carroll immediately joined the St. Fiorenzo frigate, and proceeded in her to the East India station; where he was appointed acting lieutenant of the Centurion 50, in Aug. 1803. The gallant manner in which that small two-decker was defended, when attacked in Vizagapatam road, by a French 80-gun ship and two frigates of the largest class, Sept. 18, 1804, has been fully described at pp. 875–877 of Vol. II. Part II.
Mr. Carroll’s commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, May 15, 1804; but it appears, from Captain Lind’s report of the above action, that he had not then received the usual notification thereof. We next find him serving as flag-lieutenant to Sir W. Sidney Smith, in the Pompée 74, on the coasts of Naples and Calabria. In the night of May 11, 1806, he “particularly distinguished himself” at the storming of the island of Capri; and on the 23d of the same month he was again officially praised for his “extreme exertions,” in bringing off 2 long 36-pounders, which were found in an enemy’s vessel, lying on the beach at Scalea.
In Jan. 1807, Lieutenant Carroll accompanied Sir W. Sidney Smith to the Dardanelles, on the memorable expedition against Constantinople. After the destruction of the ​Turkish squadron anchored off Point Pesquies, he was directed to land and complete the destruction of a redoubt, containing 31 guns, 8 of which were brass, and carried immensely large balls. This service was most effectually performed by him, under the protection of the Active frigate: he likewise destroyed the guns of the Turkish 64, which ship had been previously burned by the boats of the Pompée and Repulse.
Sir W. Sidney Smith having struck his flag, on his return home from Alexandria, in June 1807; the Pompée was then transferred to Vice-Admiral Stanhope, with whom we find Lieutenant Carroll sailing for Copenhagen in the course of the following month. During the operations against that capital, he commanded an armed tender, employed in covering the left wing of our army from the enemy’s formidable flotilla; with which he was often warmly engaged.
Some days after the surrender of the Danish navy, a most alarming fire broke out in the dock-yard, which afforded Lieutenant Carroll an excellent opportunity of displaying his activity, fearlessness, and zeal. the following is a copy of the official letter written by Sir Samuel Hood to Vice-Admiral Stanhope, in consequence of that event:–
“Naval Arsenal, Copenhagen, 23d Sept. 1807.
“Sir,– I have the most sincere satisfaction in making known to you the uncommon exertions exhibited in extinguishing the fire in this dockyard last night. As Major-General Spencer witnessed the whole, I shall have only generally to express the ardour of both army and navy; but I cannot allow to pass over what more immediately came under my notice respecting the navy: Captain Dacres, who was near the spot when the fire broke out, and whose activity and zeal for the King’s service, whilst acting with me in this arsenal, could not be exceeded; to his promptitude in giving orders, his personal and undaunted conduct, do I attribute the stop put to the fire. He was seen with Lieutenant Carroll, Mr. Ives, master of the Pompée, and many other brave men, hauling the hot shells from the flames, whilst others were bursting round them. I have also to express what I have noticed in the activity of Captains Arthur, Bowles, Spencer, and Deans, whose ships were in the arsenal. They particularly aided the exertions of Captain Dacres, who mentions them with warmest praise. ​The two latter, I am sorry to add, have received contusions by the splinters of shells. There were many other officers, during the fire, who gave every aid; but it is impossible to speak of them individually, when all have a claim to my approbation. Captain M‘Kenzie, who is acting as commissioner, was zealously employed; and Captain Webley, of the Centaur, assisted in carrying the necessary orders into execution with promptitude. I shall have the honor of transmitting you an account of the wounded, as soon as it can be collected.
(Signed)“Saml. Hood.”
In 1808, Lieutenant Carroll served under Sir W. Sidney Smith, in the Foudroyant 80, on the South American station. His subsequent appointments were, about June 1809, to be first of the Achille 74, Captain Sir Richard King; and, in Oct. 1810, to the Gibraltar flotilla, under the command of Commodore Penrose.
At this latter period, Cadiz being closely invested by the French army under Marshal Victor, it appeared from the geographical position of the neighbouring country, that the most effectual mode of interrupting the siege, and harassing the enemy, would be to send detachments to various parts of the Spanish coast; which, by occupying their attention, would oblige them to weaken the besieging army, in order to succour the points menaced with attack. In furtherance of this principle, a motley assemblage of troops sailed from Gibraltar, to attack the castle of Frangerola, and to co-operate with the loyalist party at Malaga, just after Lieutenant Carroll’s arrival. The conduct of the expedition was confided to Major-General Lord Blayney, whose force consisted of 300 British troops; 500 German, Polish, and Italian deserters; and the Spanish regiment of Toledo, by which corps he was joined at Ceuta. His lordship embarked on board the Topaze frigate. Captain Henry Hope; and was accompanied by the Sparrowhawk brig, Captain James Pringle; together with several gun-boats, under the command of Captain Robert Hall.
It having been reported at Gibraltar, that much dissatisfaction reigned in Malaga, that the guns on the Mole had been removed, and that the inhabitants would readily unite their efforts with any force that might be sent to assist them in driving the French out of the town, Captain Hall ​expressed himself very sanguinely as to the possibility of carrying Malaga by a coup-de-main; and he proposed that the troops should occupy the enemy’s attention on the land side, while the ships bombarded the town to the eastward; and that the boats should at the same time push for the mole, and throw a party into the town, to favor and assist an insurrection of the inhabitants.
“To this plan,” says Lord Blayney, “I found it impossible to give my approbation, well assured that no intelligence received from the Spaniards was to be depended on; and besides, there being an extensive plain between the Rio Grande and Malaga, in which a large body of cavalry could act to the greatest advantage; and as I had every reason to believe that the enemy could immediately collect a force of this description, it seemed to me highly imprudent to risque encountering it, with the motley troop of foreigners that composed two-thirds of my detachment.”
These reasons induced Lord Blayney to determine on proceeding to Cala Moral, a bay between Marbella and Frangerola, with the intention of attacking the latter, the possession of which would be of the greatest consequence to his future proceedings, as affording the means of receiving regular and certain information, as well as of organizing the peasantry (to whom arms had been already distributed), and commanding the neighbouring country.
On the 14th Oct. the troops were landed at Cala Moral without accident or opposition; their subsequent movements are thus described by Lord Blayney, in an official letter addressed to the Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar, dated at Grenada, on his way to Verdun Nov. 8, 1810:
“We proceeded over a difficult and mountainous country, until we came opposite the castle. Immediately on my arrival, I sent in a flag of truce, which was refused; and the enemy commenced a heavy fire on our gun-boats, sunk one, and killed and wounded several men in others; on which I advanced close to the works, with the Germans and 89th, when a warm fire of musketry commenced, supported by grape from the fort. In this contest, I lament to inform your Excellency, Major Grant, of the 89th, was mortally wounded, with several others. We succeeded, however, in silencing the guns, so as to admit the boats taking a station. During a severe night of thunder and rain, the artillery, consisting of one 32-pounder carronade, two 12-pounders, a howitzer, and 2 swivels, were landed. Early next morning a heavy and destructive fire commenced on both sides.
​“I ascertained by our advanced piquets, that the enemy in the course of the night had received large reinforcements, and I had information of a considerable army being on their march from Malaga, under the command of General Sebastiani; I accordingly gave orders to change our position, our right to Frangerola, and left on a strong ridge of hills, with the sea close to our rear, and both flanks protected by gun-boats; a position I conceived capable of resisting any effort the enemy could have made.
“I had been arranging a disposition for the gun-boats, when I heard an attack was made, chiefly directed against the left, where the foreign troops were posted; and the enemy possessed themselves of our artillery. I instantly formed the 89th regiment, consisting of only 280 men, and retook the guns with the bayonet. On the left an irregular force advanced, dressed precisely the same as the Spanish troops, and it was called out they were Spaniards. My horse being previously shot, I could not go by the left sufficiently rapid to ascertain the fact, and was obliged to go by the front, when a desperate body closed in from the left, and so heavy a fire commenced, that those around me were mostly killed or wounded; here a warm contest ensued, chiefly with the bayonet, and I was obliged to surrender, having but nine men remaining on the hill. I learned afterwards, with much concern, that the guns had again been taken, and the troops forced to retreat. General Sebastiani’s conduct to me, and that of his officers, does credit to his nation.
“Captains Hope, Hall, and Pringle, of the navy, with Lieutenant Carroll, and the officers commanding the gun-boats, performed their part with the zeal and intrepidity which has hitherto distinguished that service.
(Signed)“Blayney, Major-General.”
“To H.E. Lieut.-General Campbell, &c. &c. &c.”
After this unfortunate business, Lieutenant Carroll was ordered to Cadiz; in the defence of which city he continued to be employed until the day subsequent to the battle of Barosa, when his boat was destroyed while leading a division to cover the landing of a storming party, on the north side of the bay. A portion of the services performed by the flotilla, between Oct. 1810 and Mar. 1811, have been described at pp. 323–326 of Suppl. Part II.
In the last of a series of letters, from Sir Richard G. Keats to the Admiralty, detailing the co-operation of the naval force under his command, with Lieutenant-General Graham’s army, there appears the following passage:–
“Lieutenant W. F. Carroll, whose conduct on all occasions has been conspicuous, having had his gun-boat sunk before Catalina, and thereby sustained a considerable loss, I have given him six weeks’ leave of absence, and with it my despatches.”
On the 5th Dec. 1811, Captain Carroll was sent with several gun-boats to the assistance of the British troops at Tariffa, then besieged by 10,000 of Marshal Victor’s army. After contributing to the safety of that place, he resumed his former station, and continued to annoy the enemy and protect the suburbs of Cadiz, until the whole of the French lines were abandoned, in Aug. 1812.
We next find this officer commanding the Volcano bomb, on the coast of Catalonia, where he again highly distinguished himself, as will be seen by the following official letter, addressed to Rear-Admiral Hallowell:–
“H.M.S. Invincible, off the Col de Balageur, June 8, 1813.
“Sir,– In pursuance of your directions to take the ships and vessels named in the margin, under my orders, and co-operate with Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost in the siege of the fort of Col de Balageur, I have the honor to inform you, that the troops wore landed about noon of the 3d instant, and the Lieutenant-Colonel immediately invested the fort, the riflemen of De Roll’s regiment, and other light troops, being pushed close up to the walls.
“The fort is situated in a most difficult pass, through which the high road from Tortosa to Tarragona winds, and it is absolutely the key of the only road for cannon into this province, from the westward, without going ​round by Lerida. It is armed by 12 pieces of ordnance, including two 10-inch mortars, and 2 howitzers, and the surrounding heights are so difficult of access, that it has been a work of the greatest labour to establish the necessary batteries before it.
“Two six-pounder field-pieces, and a howitzer, were landed on the evening of 3d instant, dragged up, and placed on the ridge of a steep and rugged mountain, to the S.E. of the fort: two 12-pounders were added to the former by noon the next day. The whole remained under the command of Lieutenant Corbyn, first of the Invincible, having under his orders a detachment of midshipmen and seamen from this ship, and a most excellent fire was kept up from them, which considerably damaged the defences of the fort, and checked its fire upon our working parties.
“In the mean time, 3 Spanish 24-pounders were landed, and 2 more guns, of the same calibre, from this ship, to be got up by the high road to the foot of a very steep height, on the crest of which the breaching battery was to be constructed, at about three hundred yards from the eastern face of the fort.
“In the afternoon of the 4th instant the fort was summoned to surrender; and the commandant answered, that he should defend the place committed to his charge.
“During the night of the 4th, every exertion was used to bring the guns up to the hill, and to complete the breaching-battery; but, as it could not be completed by day-light, the men were withdrawn.
“The seamen and marines were landed early in the afternoon of the 5th, and carried up the stores for the battery, under a brisk fire of shot and shells from the fort.
"The 3 Spanish 24-pounders, notwithstanding their immense size and weight, were conveyed up the side of the hill, over ihe most difficult and rugged ground, by the united exertions of the soldiers, seamen, and marines, under the immediate direction of Captain Carroll, of the Volcano. Two 8-inch mortars were brought as far along the road as was practicable before dark; and the iron 24-pounders were conveyed to the foot of the hill as soon as it was dark.
“The work of the battery advanced rapidly, although it was necessary to fill all the sand-bags at the bottom of the hill; and I was in confident expectation that the battery would open soon after daylight; but by 10 o’clock the rain fell in torrents, attended by the most violent thunder and lightning I almost ever witnessed.
“The quantity of ammunition which had been brought up for the battery, lying in exposed situations, made it the more awful, and the enemy kept up an incessant fire of shells and grape shot.
“In defiance of all these obstacles, 2 of the guns were got high enough up to mount on the platforms; but all our exertion was unequal to place them there, owing to the violence of the rain, and the excessive difficulty of working in the extreme darkness of the night. From the same reason, too, the mortars could not be brought forward; and after a night of the ​most excessive labour, we had the mortification of being again obliged to retire; the officers and men being quite worn out.
“The weather continued very bad until the afternoon of the 6th instant, when a party was landed, and the mortars were got forward; before daylight, the seamen and marines were on the pile, and all the guns were placed on the battery ready for mounting. The 2 mortars opened soon after daylight, and the shells were thrown with great precision, by Lieutenant James, of the royal marine artillery, landed from the Strombolo, who worked the mortars with his party; and the fire from Lieutenant Corbyn’s battery was resumed with excellent effect. This united force made very considerable impression on the fort: an expense magazine was blown up, and the enemy’s fire was very much slackened.
“At seven o’clock, just before the breaching battery was ready to open, a white flag was shewn from the fort; Captain Stoddart, of the Strombolo, and Captain Zehupfenning, were immediately sent to the fort, and the latter returned in a few minutes with an offer from the commandant, to surrender the fort and garrison upon conditions of marching out with the honors of war, the officers and men preserving their private property.
“This was immediately acceded to by Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost and myself: the fort was taken possession of by the advance of the troops. The garrison marched out, grounded their arms on the glacis, and were immediately embarked.
“I have great satisfaction in stating, that during this service, which has so much depended on the united exertions of the army and navy, the most perfect cordiality has existed among all ranks, and I have met, in Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost, all that openness of communication and confidence which an acquaintance with the character of this excellent officer gave me reason to expect.
“In an operation where the laborious exertions of the captains, officers, seamen, and marines under my orders, have been most conspicuous, I hope I shall be excused for having gone so much into detail; but it is my duty, and a most agreeable one, to bring under your view the praiseworthy conduct of all ranks and descriptions. I must particularly draw your attention to the zeal and activity displayed by that valuable officer. Captain Carroll, of the Volcano; his conduct was the admiration of every body, and he was ably supported by Lieutenant Pidgely, of the Invincible, and the other officers, seamen, and marines, under his direction. From the explosion of a shell near him the night before. Captain Carroll was obliged to suspend his services until the morning of the 7th (but I am happy to state, he has perfectly recovered), and Captain Stoddart, of the Strombolo, succeeded him in the direction of getting up the guns, &c. for the breaching battery, and deserves every credit for his active services. I am also much obliged to Captain Badcock, of the Brune, for the assistance he afforded me.
“I cannot conclude this letter, without calling to your notice the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant Corbyn, both in getting the guns up to the ​battery he commanded, and the excellent fire he kept from them afterwards; and I feel highly gratified in noticing the conduct of so old and excellent an officer, with whose value I am well acquainted, from a service of many years together.
“I have the honor to enclose a list of the killed and wounded of the crews of the ships under my orders, which, considering the fire upon us for so many hours, is unaccountably small.
“The troops under Colonel Prevost’s command have had an officer and four men killed, and thirty-nine wounded, in which are included an officer and seven soldiers of the Spanish regiment of Palma.
“I have enclosed you a list of the garrison of the fort, consisting of two lieutenants, a surgeon, and garde-magazin, sixteen Italian artillerymen, and eighty-three non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the 11th French regiment of the line, of whom two were killed and eleven wounded.
“I likwise enclose returns of the ordnance, &c. found in the fort.
“During the siege of the fort, the gun-boats were stationed in Ampolla bay, to observe the road from Tortosa, as we had constant reports of the enemy being in motion from that quarter.
“I have the honor to be, &c. (Signed)“Charles Adam, Captain.”
“Return of ordnance and ammunition taken in the fort.
“2 brass twenty-four-pounders, mounted on travelling carriages; 2 brass twelve-pounders, on garrison carriages; 1 brass eight-pounder, on a garrison carriage; 2 brass four-pounders, on garrison carriages, 2 brass ten-inch mortars, 1 stone mortar, 2 six-inch brass howitzers, 6 dismounted iron twelve-pounders, 3 mortar-beds, 260 twenty-four-pounder round shot, 40 twenty-four-pounder grape shot, 400 twelve-pounder round shot, 220 eight-pounder round shot, 150 ten-inch shells, 900 hand-grenades, 22001b. of gunpowder, 92,000 rounds of ball-cartridge, 1000 flints, 30 handspikes, 6 sponges, 4 ladles, 3 wadhooks, 97 boarding pikes, 110 muskets complete with bayonets, 101b. of slow match.
(Signed)“T. Arabin, Capt. Roy. Art.”
Captain Carroll’s post-commission bears date Dec. 6, 1813. During the remainder of the war, he commanded the Revenge 74, bearing the flag of Sir John Gore, and employed in the Adriatic. He returned home from the Mediterranean in the Cyrus 20, and continued to command that ship, chiefly on the Irish station, till Sept. 1818. He was nominated a C.B. Sept. 19, 1815.
In Aug. 1825, Captain Carroll was appointed to the ​Warspite 76, fitting for the flag of Rear-Admiral Gage, with whom he sailed for the East Indies, Feb. 11, 1826.
This officer married Martha Milligan, eldest daughter of Rear-Admiral Dacres, by whom he has several children. His eldest brother, a Lieutenant-Colonel, commanded the 6th Portuguese regiment, and lost his life from fatigue at the battle of Thoulouse: Philip, his youngest brother, who was a Lieutenant R.M.A. and aid-de-camp to Lieutenant-General Doyle, of the Spanish service, perished at Cadiz. His sisters are married as follow:– Elizabeth, to Lieutenant-Colonel Milling, 81st regiment; – Catherine, to Lieutenant-General Nelson; – Mary, to Colonel Stirke, 12th regiment.
Agent.– J. Hinxman, Esq.
* ↑ See Vol. I. Part I. p. 296.
* ↑ See Supl. Part II. note ‡ at p. 97.
* ↑ See Vol. I. Part I. pp. 316–319.
* ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 801, et seq.
* ↑ See Suppl. Part I. pp. 238–240.
* ↑ Commanded by Lieutenant Frederick Jennings Thomas.
* ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 298.
* ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. pp. 442–444.
* ↑ Thames, Volcano, Strombolo, Brune, and eight gun-boats.
* ↑ One killed, and six wounded.
* ↑ See Suppl. Part II. p. 483.