Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-03
390gfrp.

The beautiful poetical ehusion which we publish under
this head, to-day, was written in commemoration of one OF
the most daring feais Of heroic valour recorded n modern
history, ",he capture of the Esmeralda, - under the batteries
of Calao. -tIalIs Journal describes this sallan, achieve
mem, in the following animated and glowing terms:-
''ln the meantime, while the libcrating army, under
San Martin, were removing 10 Ancou, Lord Cochraue,
with part of his squadron, anchored in the outer roads
Of Callao, the sea port of Lima. The inner harbour
is guarded b, an extensive system of batteries, admi-
rabiy constructed, and bearing the general name of
the Castle OF Callao. The merchant ships, as well as
the men-of war consisting, at that time, of the Esrne-
ralda, a large 40 gun irigate, and two sloops of war,
were mooret under the guns OF the castle, within
"a scrnlci;cle OF fourteen g~un-boats, and d boom made
OF spars Chained together. Lord Cochrane having
previously accommodated these formidable defences, in
person, undertook, on the night OF the 9Th OF No
vernber, the desperate enterprise of cutting out the
Spanish frigate, although known 10 be fully prepared
tor an attack. He proceeded i'll fourteen boats, con-
tanning $40 men, all volunteers from the different ships
Of the squadron, in two divisions, one under the i'm.
mediate orders OF Captain Crosbie, the other Under
Captain Guise, both commanding ships of the Squa-
drun.
Al midnight, the boats having forced their way
across the boom, Lord Cochroue, who was leading
rowed alongside the first %gun-boat, and taking the Officer
by surprise, proposed 10 him, with 4 pistol at his head
the alternative OF silence or DEATH" no reply wa
made, the boats pushed on unobscrved, aud Lore
Cochranc mounting the Esrneralda's side, gave the frs
alarm. The sentinel on the gaugway levelled his piec,
and fired, but was instantly cut down by the COX
swain, and his I%.ordship, though wounded in the thigh
at the same moment stepped on the deck The frigatl
being boarded with no less gailantry, on the opposit,
side, by Captain Guise, who met Lord Cochrane mid,
way on the quarterback, and by Captain Crosbie, the
after part of the ship was carried, sword in hand. The
Spaniards rallied on the fOIecastlG, where they made 4
desperate resistance, till OVeFfnwered by a fresh party
of seamen and marines, headed 10y Lord Cochrane. A
gallant stand was again made for some time on the main
deck, but before one O'clock the ship was captured, heI
cables cut, and she was sieered triumphantly out o
the harbour, under the fire of the whole of the nortl
face Of the castle. The Hyperion, an English, and tho
Macedonian, an American trigate, which were at an.
Choir close to the scene Of action, got under weigh when
the attack commenced, and, i'll order 10 prevent their
being mistaken by the batteries for the Esneralda.
showed distinguishing signals; but Lord Cochrane, who
mad fnrcsccn and provided even for this minute circum-
stance, Loislci the same lights as the American and
EngIea :rigetes, ana mus rendered il impossible for the
batteries discriminate between the three ships, and
the .srieTalda, in consequence, was very little injured
by the shot from the batteries. The Spaniards had
upwards of 100 men killed and wounded, and the Chill.
ians II killed and 30 wounded.
This loss was a death-blow TO the Spanish naval force
in that quarter of the world; for, although there were
etill two Spanish frigates and some smaller vessels in the
Pacific, they never afterwards ventured to show them.
selves, but left Lord Cochrane undisputed master of the
coast.