EXPEDITION TO SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA,

UNDER CAPTAIN G. G. LOCH, R.N.

CAPTURE OF FORT SERAPAQUI,

February 21st, 1848.

The State of Nicaragua will be found towards the southern portion of that narrow neck of land which joins the two mighty continents of North and South America. A variety of outrages and insults having been offered to British subjects, two individuals especially having been carried off from San Juan by Colonel Salas of the Nicaraguan army, Mr. Walker, Her Majesty's Consul-General and Agent, stationed at Bluefields, sent to Admiral Austen, the Commander-in-Chief on the West India Station, requesting the support and protection of some ships-of-war for British interests in that part of the world.

In consequence of this request, the Admiral despatched H.M.S. 'Alarm,' Captain Granville G. Loch, and H.M.S. 'Vixen,' Commander Ryder, to Bluefields. They reached that place on the 5th of February, when Mr. Walker particularly requesting to be allowed to accompany the expedition Captain Loch proposed at once to lead against the Nicaraguans, he embarked with them, and they again sailed on the 7th for San Juan de Nicaragua, accompanied by a boat belonging to Mr. Walker. They reached the mouth of the river the following day, where the ships came to an anchor. The nearest Nicaraguan settlement was at Serapaqui, about thirty miles up the river, but which, from the strength of the current and various rapids, is generally a four days' journey by boats. It was understood that Colonel Salas was stationed at this fort with a considerable body of troops. Nothing daunted by this, by the known strength of the fort, and the difficulty of approaching it, on account of the rapidity of the current of the river which there flows by it, Captain Loch resolved to insist on Colonel Salas making all the reparation in his power, or, in the event of his refusal, to compel him to do so by force.

The fort of Serapaqui was situated on a point projecting into the river very abruptly, to the height of fifty feet. It was protected in the rear by a dense forest, and in the front by an abattis formed of large trees felled, with their heads and branches reaching into the river. The defences of the fort consisted of six angular stockaded entrenchments, formed of very tough timber, eight feet high and four feet thick, one side of each stockade looking across the river, and the other down the reach. The principal stockade commanded the only landing-place, on which also a gun was at the time mounted. The fort was only to be approached by heading a rapid current of nearly five knots an hour, in order to pass the fort and descend towards the landing-place, which was above the stockaded batteries, and excessively steep and narrow. The fort is situated at the head of a straight reach about a mile and a half long, the banks on either side affording an almost impenetrable shelter to a concealed foe.

As soon as the ships anchored, the expedition, consisting of 260 officers and men, left their sides in twelve boats—consisting of the ships' launches, the 'Vixen's' paddle-box boats, the gigs, Mr. Walker's boat, a spare pinnace, commanded by Lieut. Johnston of H.M.S. 'Alarm,' and the ship's barges.

The representations as to the strength of the current were found to be in no way exaggerated, but with a gallantry, zeal, and perseverance never surpassed, Captain Loch and his brave followers pulled on hour after hour against the stream. Often they had to pass over downfalls and rapids, when it was only by the greatest exertions the heavy boats could in any way be forced along, and in this service Lieut. Scott, First of the 'Vixen,' showed the most praiseworthy zeal and gallantry. At night they rested, but at an early hour again each morning they recommenced their exertions, and at length, after a most fatiguing pull of 72 hours, they anchored a short distance below the fort. Here a most melancholy accident occurred, which threw a gloom over the whole band.—A friend of Mr. Walker's had accompanied him in his boat, and in the night, by some chance, he slipped overboard, and was swept down the stream by the rapid current. Mr. Walker heard his despairing cry for help, and regardless of the risk he ran, he leaped overboard in the boiling waters, in the vain hope of saving him. He, too, was at once whirled away by the current, and carried far away, before, by any possibility, assistance could be afforded him: both gentlemen thus unhappily losing their lives. Early on the morning of the 12th of February, the expedition got under weigh, and proceeded up towards the fort. Captain Loch and Commander Ryder went on ahead in their gigs, in order to communicate with Colonel Salas, and to state the object of Her Majesty's forces being in the river. No sooner, however, were they seen from the fort than they were fired at by two guns, and directly afterwards, by musketry from both sides of the river. As this act effectually prevented any peaceable arrangements, Captain Loch immediately ordered up the boats for the purpose of storming the fort. The two gigs then took the lead, followed pretty closely by some of the lighter-pulling boats, consisting of a spare pinnace, commanded by Lieut. Johnston, H.M.S. 'Alarm,' containing some of the 38th Regiment, the 'Alarm's' barge, commanded by Lieut. Ridge and First-lieut. Boyle of the Royal Marines, with a part of his detachment, and the 'Vixen's' port paddle-box boat, with the head-quarters of the detachment of that regiment, commanded by Captain Smith. On they went, pulling against the rapid current, which, as they advanced, grew still stronger, and exposed all the time to a hot fire of musketry from men concealed behind both banks of the river, so that there was little use even in attempting to return it. From this severe fire several men were wounded, and one officer very severely—Mr. H. Turner, midshipman—and two killed. The boats were also almost riddled with shot, and nearly half the oars were broken; and it seems surprising, considering also their crowded state, with the millstream rate of the current, that a greater number of casualties did not occur. In this exposed position, often appearing to be quite stationary, they had to pull one hour and forty minutes before they were enabled to pass the batteries sufficiently high to drop down to the landing-place previously mentioned.

By this time nearly all the boats were up, and Captain Loch gave the order to land, he himself leading the way, accompanied by First-lieut. Boyle and the Royal Marines of his ship, who, with his detachment, acted as his guard, and showed an example of gallantry which his men were not slow to follow. Captain Smith, commanding the detachment of H.M. 38th Regiment, was near him on landing, and Commander Ryder, at the head of his division, was close to him, while Lieuts. Johnston and Ridge, of the 'Alarm,' led on their men in gallant style. The boats' crews uttered a truly British cheer, as they leaped on shore and gallantly charged the enemy. The Nicaraguans withstood them for some time, but the cutlass and pistol soon did their work, and in ten minutes they had taken to flight, and the British flag was hoisted on the fort. One of the first on shore was a seaman of the 'Vixen' (Denis Burke, stoker), who quickly fought his way up to the enemy's colours, and captured them. As the enemy fled, the British pursued them into the thick woods, but after they had been chased for about thirty minutes, Captain Loch considering that they had been sufficiently punished, ordered the recall to be sounded. They then destroyed the stockades, spiked the guns, broke the trunnions, and threw them, together with all the muskets and ammunition left behind, into the river. The force was next embarked, when the whole of the defences were set on fire. Owing to the density of the cover into which the enemy retreated, it was difficult to ascertain their loss—but twenty were found dead, and probably twice that number were wounded. The enemy's force had consisted of about 200 soldiers, besides some boatmen pressed by Colonel Salas into his service. Two officers were taken prisoners, who were sent on board the ships, and seven men were captured, who were distributed among the boats, to act as pilots in their perilous descent of the river. This, however, was fortunately accomplished without any accident. Captain Loch, besides the officers already mentioned, speaks in his despatch of Mr. Martin, purser of the 'Alarm,' who accompanied him in his gig, and was of the greatest value and assistance; of Mr. Collins, purser of the 'Vixen,' who was a volunteer in the head-quarter port paddle-box boat; the Hon. H. A. Moreton, mate of the 'Alarm,' who commanded the pinnace; Mr. Tyler, mate of the same ship; Mr. N. C. B. Turner, midshipman of 'Vixen,' who was badly wounded; and Mr. F. A. Dewdney, midshipman, also of 'Vixen.' The British loss consisted of two men killed and one officer and twelve men wounded.

From the dangers to which the party were exposed, and the difficulties they overcame, this affair may well be considered as one of the most gallant among those we have to record.