WARFARE ON THE RIVERS LA PLATA AND PARANA.

BATTLE OF THE PARANA,

November 20th, 1845.

On the eastern shores of South America, and to the south of the Brazils, will be found the mouth of the mighty river La Plata, with the city of Monte Video on the northern shore, and Buenos Ayres some way up on the southern. At the time to which we are about to refer, Juan Manuel de Rosas had, in the confusion which was created after the Declaration of Independence, by the South American states, worked his way up to power in that of La Plata. With a devoted army of gauchos, the wild horsemen of the Pampas, he took possession of Buenos Ayres, and afterwards assisted the butcher Orribe, in his attempt to make himself master of Monte Video, the capital of the Banda Oriental.[1]

Now, by an old treaty, the English, and French Governments had guaranteed the integrity of the Banda Oriental, and, accordingly, Rosas was ordered by these governments to withdraw his troops from the territory. As he did not do so, his squadron, assisting at the siege of Monto Video, was taken from him, and a blockade of the territory over which he held sway was proclaimed about the middle of 1845.

The province of Corrientes, which had revolted from him, and was under the government of General Maderiaga, and the independent province of Paraguay, had combined to overthrow the power of Rosas. He, in return, to harass and annoy them, had closed the outlets of their rivers, so as to put an effectual stop to all their foreign commerce.

An English and French squadron were off Monte Video, when this state of things having continued for some time, it was resolved to open up the channel of commerce, by sending an expedition to force the Parana.

Rear-Admiral Inglefield was Commander-in-Chief, with his flag on board the 'Vernon.' The French squadron was commanded by Admiral Lainé. The command of the English force was given to Captain Charles Hotham, of Her Majesty's steam-frigate 'Gorgon,' and he had under him, 'Firebrand,' steam-frigate, Captain J. Hope; 'Philomel,' surveying-brig, Commander B. J. Sulivan; 'Comus,' 18 guns, Acting-Commander E. A. Inglefield; 'Dolphin,' brigantine, Lieut. R. Levinge; 'Fanny,' tender, Lieut. A. C. Key.

The French force was under Capt. Trèhouhart, of the 'San Martin,' 10 guns, with the steamer, 'Fulton,' 2 guns; 'Expeditive,' 16 guns; 'Pandour,' 10; and 'Procida,' 4 guns.

Strong gales prevented the squadron meeting at the appointed rendezvous, off the Guassu (one of the mouths of the Parana), so soon as was expected, and consequently they did not begin to ascend till the 8th of November. On the 18th the expedition arrived within three miles of the defences General Rosas had caused to be thrown up on the right bank of the Parana at Punta Obligado, to oppose their progress. This spot was about 30 miles below the river San Nicholas, and 100 from the mouth of the river.

At daylight the following morning the two Captains reconnoitred the position of the enemy, and soon discovered that great military skill had been evinced, both in the ground chosen and the plan of defence pursued. Four batteries had been erected; two on heights 60 feet from the water-line, and two in the intervening valley, the whole mounting 22 pieces of ordnance, 32, 28, 24, 18, and 12 pounders, and, with the exception of a small open space, were backed by thick woods; three heavy chains, supported by 24 vessels, were extended across from the mainland to the island; astern of these lay 10 fire-vessels, and the west end of the chains was defended by an Argentine schooner-of-war, carrying six guns. The river at this point is 800 yards wide, and the current runs three miles an hour.

Captains Hotham and Trèhouhart also gained information from various sources that 3,500 men (cavalry, infantry, and artillery) were collected, so that it was evident that the enemy had resolved to make a determined resistance, and that there would be an abundance of work to be performed.

The two Captains, having completed their reconnaissance, agreed on their plan of attack. It was as follows:—The ships were to form in two divisions; the north, under the direction of Capt. Trèhouhart, to be composed of the 'San Martin,' Capt. Trèhouhart; 'Comus,' Acting-commander Inglefield; 'Pandour,' Lieut. Du Paie; 'Dolphin,' Lieut. E. Levinge.

The south division was placed under the command of Commander Sulivan, and composed of the 'Philomel,' Commander Sulivan; 'Expeditive,' Lieut. Miniac; 'Fanny' (hired armed), Lieut. Key; 'Procida,' Lieut. Maria de la Pinzêre. These divisions were to anchor on the north and south shores at a distance of 700 yards from No. 1 Battery.

The steamers 'Gorgon,' Capt. C. Hotham; 'Fulton,' Lieut. Mazeres; and 'Firebrand,' Capt. J. Hope, were to anchor at a distance of 1,500 yards from the farthest battery. The morning of the 20th broke dark and foggy, but about 8 A.M. the weather cleared, and a southerly breeze sprang up. At a quarter to nine the southern division weighed, and with a light breeze stood towards the batteries, followed shortly afterwards by the 'San Martin' and 'Comus.' The 'Dolphin' and 'Pandour' had previously anchored on the north shore. Two of the 'Dolphin's' crew, R. Rowe, gunner's mate, and W. Ross, caulker's mate, though severely wounded, refused to leave their quarters till the day was won.

At about ten minutes before ten the batteries commenced the action by opening a heavy fire on the 'Philomel' and the southern division, which Commander Sulivan speedily returned with interest. On this occasion the gallant Lieut. Doyle, of the 'Philomel,' had his arm shot away, and for some time his life was despaired of; but, notwithstanding the agony of his wound, he still showed his interest in the progress of the action. On this the 'Dolphin' weighed, to support the ships in action, but as some of her sails were shot away before she could reach her appointed station, the current drove her astern, and compelled her to anchor; Lieut. Levinge, however, contrived to place her in a position where her guns did good execution; she, however, was unavoidably exposed all the time to a tremendous shower of shot, shell, grape, and rockets, which came flying over her. During it several of her people were wounded, and Mr. G. Andrews, clerk in charge, was unhappily killed, while assisting the surgeon in his duties to the wounded.

The remaining ships of the north division were gallantly led into action by the brave Capt. Trèhouhart, whose brig succeeded in reaching her appointed station. A terrific cannonade was now taking place, increasing as the ships, one after the other, got into action. It had, however, unfortunately the effect of making the wind fall light, and in consequence, the ships of the northern division having to contend with a current running three miles an hour, were compelled to anchor two cables short of the stations assigned to them. About this time the Spaniards cast loose the fire-vessels, chained two and two together, and as they came drifting down rapidly towards the squadron, the steamers kept moving about, to tow them clear, should they drift against any of the ships. Fortunately they did no harm, but till they had drifted past, the steamers could neither anchor nor open their fire. At about ten minutes to eleven the action became general, and the effect of the admirable gunnery practice, both of the English and French crews, was soon evident by the unsteadiness with which the enemy continued their fire; no men could, however, have fought more bravely than they did. No sooner had the fire from the British ships swept one set of men from their guns than they were replaced by others, compelled, if not determined of their own accord, to fight to the last. Their cavalry also hovered round the wood, and drove back those who attempted, as some did, to quit their guns. The action had continued with unmitigated fury on both sides, when, at half-past 12, the 'Argentine' schooner 'Republicano,' which guarded the chains laid across the river, blew up. On this Capt. J. Hope gallantly volunteered to pull up in his boat and cut the chain, so as to allow some of the squadron to pass up above the batteries. Instantly manning his boat, he pulled away to perform this hazardous exploit. He succeeded in cutting the chain without any casualty, and a passage being thus cleared, the 'Fulton' passed up the river and flanked the batteries. She was speedily followed by the 'Firebrand' and 'Gorgon.' The fire of the batteries had before this told most fearfully on the 'San Martin' and 'Dolphin.' The cable, indeed, of the French ship having been shot away, she dropped astern, with upwards of 100 shot-holes through her sides, and a number of her people killed and wounded. The 'Expeditive' and 'Comus' were now ordered to place themselves within musket-shot of the batteries, in order to assist the flanking fire of the steamers. This they did forthwith in a most dashing way, under a hot fire, by which the brave and gallant officer Lieut. C. Brickdale was killed. At length the fire from the batteries began to slacken, some of the guns being dismounted, and the gunners driven from the others; and at 4 P.M., an occasional shot only being fired, Capt. Hotham made the signal for the boats of the squadron, manned and armed, to rendezvous alongside the 'Gorgon' and 'Firebrand,' sending at the same time to the French commander, to propose that the remaining part of their plan, which was that they should land and storm the batteries, should be carried, into immediate execution. The officer who bore the message found Capt. Trèhouhart occupied in moving the French squadron close in to cover the landing; trusting, therefore, to the covering fire of the French ships, and knowing that Capt. Trèhouhart would follow with his division of seamen, Capt. Hotham landed with 180 blue-jackets and 145 marines, when, giving three hearty British cheers, they formed on the beach preparatory to making a rush up the hill. Commander Sulivan, who had under him the skirmishing party and light company of seamen, led the way up the hill, the rest quickly followed, and, as they reached the crest, they were received by a smart fire of musketry; the enemy were, however, quickly driven back before the bayonets of the marines, under the command of Capt. F. Hurdle, R.M., while, at the same time, the light company of seamen, under Lieut. A. C. Key, made a dash at the wood, which it was most important to possess, and carrying it in a few minutes, took possession of it. Shortly after this the French brigade landed, and the enemy taking to flight in all directions, little more remained to be done beyond spiking the guns and destroying the batteries. Captain Hope, after cutting the chain across the river, landed with Captain Hotham, and acted as his aid-de-camp throughout the day. So also did Lieut. J. E. W. Lawrence, of the Marine Artillery, who had exerted himself very much in drilling a brigade of seamen till they had become most efficient light troops, and capable, as Captain Hotham states, of resisting cavalry.

The French commander, Trèhouhart, behaved in the most gallant manner throughout the action, his brig being exposed all the time to a very hot fire, by which he lost many of his crew. The casualties of the French were, 17 killed, and 60 wounded.

The British casualties were as follows:—

Lieut. C. Brickdale, H.M. sloop 'Comus,' killed; Mr. G. Andrews, clerk in charge H.M. brigantine 'Dolphin,' killed; Lieut. C. Doyle, H.M.S. 'Philomel,' very severely wounded—lost arm; Mr. R. Warren, second-master of ditto; Mr. J. Gallagher, assistant-surgeon of ditto; Mr. T. Ellstob, assistant-clerk of ditto—all slightly wounded. Lieut. A. C. Key, 'Fanny,' tender, slightly wounded; 'Gorgon,' one seaman, one marine, one boy, slightly wounded; 'Firebrand,' one seaman killed, one seaman severely wounded; 'Philomel,' one seaman killed, two seamen, one boy very severely wounded, and two seamen slightly wounded; 'Comus,' one boy killed, two seamen slightly wounded; 'Dolphin,' three seamen and one boy killed, six seamen severely wounded, two seamen slightly wounded. Total, 9 killed, 24 wounded.

When we consider the small size of the vessels employed, and the light weight of their metal brought up to oppose immensely strong stone batteries, with heavy guns posted on the summit of perpendicular cliffs, this action may take rank as one of the most gallant on record.

In consequence of it, Captain C. Hotham was made a Commander of the Order of the Bath, Commander B. J. Sulivan was posted, and Lieuts. Inglefield, Levinge, Doyle, and Key, were made commanders; R. Howe, gunner's mate, was made a gunner; and W. Ross, caulker's mate, was made a warrant officer; both of whom, though severely wounded, had refused to quit their quarters till the battle was over.

Two ships of war being left to prevent the enemy offering any obstruction to the navigation of the Parana, the squadron proceeded to convoy a fleet of merchantmen up the river.

DESTRUCTION OF THE 'CHACABUCO.'

Information having been conveyed to the two captains, that a war-schooner, the 'Chacabuco,' and two gun-boats, belonging to General Rosas, were at anchor in the Arroyo del Paebon, Captain Hotham directed the 'Firebrand,' in company with the French vessel the 'Fulton,' to go in search of them, and to destroy them.

Accordingly, on the 24th November, the 'Firebrand,' taking the 'Fulton' in tow, proceeded on that service. On arriving at the mouth of the Paebon, Captain Hope discovered that there was not water sufficient to enable his ship to get up it. Taking, therefore, three boats and fifty men, he started in pursuit of the schooner, which he found had gone up the river. On his way up he learned, from an intelligent native, that the whole force of the enemy collected to protect the schooner, amounted to no less than 250 men, and that below where she lay, a strong iron chain was drawn across the river; so that he could not hope to take her by surprise. This was very vexatious, but as he would have risked the destruction of all his people, without anything like an adequate benefit to be gained, he very wisely returned.

At his request, however, Captain Hotham again despatched him by another channel to intercept the schooner, should she venture to attempt escaping by it.

This she did before long, and the 'Firebrand' would soon have caught her, had not the windings of the river enabled the people on her decks to descry the approach of the English vessel, at a considerable distance. The Spaniards soon saw that if they kept to the main stream the 'Firebrand' would overtake them, they accordingly commenced hauling the 'Chacabuco' up a narrow and shallow creek, by means of warps, manual labour, and horses. Captain Hope still pursued her as long as there was water to float the 'Firebrand;' but after a chase of sixty miles, she grounded. Captain Hope had now driven the schooner into a net, and was about to send his boats away to bring her out, when the enemy, convinced that they had no prospect of saving her, set fire to her, and blew her up. After this little affair, the squadron re-assembled at Punta de las Pedras. During the night of the 2nd, the enemy brought down four field-pieces, and opened a fire on them, but without doing any injury. On the 3rd, the squadron, on their passage up the Parana, passed the strong point of the Rosario, where they expected to meet with much opposition; but, instead of troops, a number of country people, women and children, were collected on the beach, to see the ships pass, and not an armed man was visible. Rosas, not yet knowing exactly what stuff British seamen are made of, contemplated the possibility, perhaps, of catching them all in his net, and of preventing them ever returning. Or, it is possible, that the lesson he had just received at Obligado made him unwilling again to interfere with them. However, as we shall see, he did attempt to stop them on their way down, whether or not he then thought of so doing. As the convoy proceeded up the river, the enemy took every opportunity of annoying them with their flying artillery, and as they possessed an unlimited supply of horses, this they were able to do whenever the channel of the river approached the shores of the Argentine Republic.

The most formidable position, however, on the whole river, was the cliffs, or barrancas, as they are called, of San Lorenzo. They run for several miles along the banks of the river, and are nearly perpendicular, with a perfectly level surface on their summit, along which artillery can travel without any impediment whatever. It is thus evident that flying artillery could be run to the edge of the cliff, and, after firing at the passing vessels, could again retire, without a chance of a shot in return, from the ships' guns.

To add to the difficulties of the passage, a strong current is always running down, so that sailing-vessels require a fresh breeze, and steamers have to put on all their power to go ahead.

ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE BATTERIES OF SAN LORENZO.

After the squadron and convoy had passed up, which they did without the loss of a single vessel or man, Rosas set to work to fortify the cliffs of San Lorenzo. This he did in the most effectual way in his power, by throwing up large works of earth, and in collecting guns from every direction, and also in training his men to the use of them. He had plenty of time to effect these objects, as the squadron was detained some time at Corrientes, while the merchantmen were disposing of their cargoes, and collecting fresh ones to to take back in return. May 1846, indeed, had arrived, before the different vessels of the convoy had settled all their affairs, and, to the number of 110, were ready to descend the river.

In the mean time a constant communication had been kept up with the Admiral at Monte Video by the men-of-war, which had on each occasion to run the gauntlet of the batteries, and, in some instances, with severe loss: their commanders at the same time affording a noble display of gallantry in obeying the orders they had received. Commander Sulivan, among others, made himself very conspicuous by the accurate knowledge he possessed of the river, which enabled him to pilot the ships up without risk.

The 'Philomel' having been despatched from Corrientes to Monte Video, as she approached the batteries of San Lorenzo, Commander Sulivan made preparations to pass them. Knowing that he could pass under the cliffs, he judged it best to hug them as closely as possible, lest any guns should already be mounted. Having made a barricade of hammocks and bags for the helmsman, he sent all hands below to be out of harm's way; he himself only and his first-lieutenant remaining on deck to con the brig. Slowly and silently the little vessel drew near the point of danger. A light and favourable air filled her sails, and almost grazing the perpendicular cliff, she glided slowly by. When the brig was close under the first battery, the enemy opened their fire at her, but so near was she to the cliffs, that they could not sufficiently depress their guns to touch her decks: their lowest shot going through the boom mainsail, four or five feet above the hammock-netting. They continued their ineffectual fire till the gallant little 'Philomel' was quite clear and out of range.

H.M. steamer 'Lizard,' H. M. Tylden, lieutenant, commanding, which was sent up the Parana on the 21st of April, was not so fortunate in escaping without damage. When about six miles from San Lorenzo, Lieut. Tylden observed that large batteries had been erected on a commanding point, and that the adjacent coast was lined with artillery and field-pieces. As the 'Lizard' approached the batteries, Lieut. Tylden ordered three ensigns to be hoisted, as a signal to the enemy that he intended to fight as long as his ship floated. At half-past eleven A.M., the northern batteries opened a heavy fire, and, on approaching nearer, the other batteries and artillery commenced a quick and well-directed fire also, which was returned by the 'Lizard' with rockets and her forecastle gun, until the rocket-stand was shot away, and the gun could no longer be elevated sufficiently to bear on the enemy. When the gallant commander found that the heavy shot, grape, and musketry were riddling his vessel from stem, to stern, he ordered the officers and men to go below, with the exception of those absolutely required on deck, in the hopes that they might thus escape injury. Scarcely, however, had they gone below, when two shot entered the gun-room, one of which killed Mr. Barnes, clerk in charge, and the other Mr. Webb, master's assistant. Two seamen also were killed, and Mr. Miller, assistant-surgeon, and three men were wounded. As the wind and current were against her, and there was a great deal of water in the hold, she made but slow progress, and it was not till 25 minutes past one P.M. that she got out of fire. She received 7 shot between wind and water, besides 9 cannon, 14 grape, and 41 musket balls, in the hull and bulwarks, and 7 cannon and grape in the funnel and steam-pipe; while her boats, mainmast, and rigging were shot through and through by cannon.

H.M. steamer 'Harpy,' E. H. B. Proctor, lieutenant, commanding, went up the river under similar circumstances on the 11th May. As she passed the forts of San Lorenzo, a galling fire of musketry, field-pieces, and other guns was opened on her within sixty yards. The fire was kept up on her for upwards of an hour; and as she passed slowly up the stream, she was followed by field-pieces and a large body of troops, who, remaining concealed, lined the banks, keeping up a constant fire of musketry. About ten minutes before she got clear of gun-shot range, her gallant commander was hit in the fleshy part of the right arm by a round shot. He immediately fell, and was carried below, when Mr. Bruce, mate, took charge of the ship; while Mr. Ward, second master, in the most cool and steady way, notwithstanding the tremendous fire to which she was exposed, attended to her steering. No other person on board the 'Harpy' was hit; but she was greatly cut up about the rigging, and received many musket balls and grape in her hull, funnel, topsails, and boats.

H.M. steam-sloop 'Alecto,' Commander F. W. Austen, had previously early in April gone up, towing three heavily-laden schooners against a current of three knots and a head wind. On approaching a place called Tonelero, a number of workmen were seen throwing up batteries, clearly for the purpose of annoying the convoy on their way down. Opening her fire on them, she soon put them to flight. She came up to the batteries on the morning of the 6th, with a strong wind and current against her, and the heavy schooners in tow. She had been accompanied all the way by a squadron of cavalry, who kept pace with her in an easy walk, halting every now and then. At two her crew went to quarters; and at forty minutes past two, having before fired a few shot, her three guns and rockets were got into full play. This was answered by the lower guns on the batteries with round shot, until she reached the narrowest part; when the enemy opened with round shot and grape together. Their guns were raking her at this time from head to stern, in such a way that none of her guns could be brought to bear in return. In this state she remained for twenty minutes, scarcely going a-head, and receiving the fire of seven eighteen-pounders, several of which were pointed down on her decks. During this time she fired away in return at the enemy, who appeared abreast of her, every round of grape and canister on board, and was then reduced to round shot. For a few minutes also she exchanged with them a sharp fire of musketry. She then went gradually a-head, and as the river widened, and the current decreased in strength, she drew out of shot, having been an hour and fifteen minutes under fire. Captain Austen, her commander, was the only person hurt, a spent grape-shot having struck him a severe blow on the thigh. Commander Mackinnon, then a lieutenant, who has written a most amusing account of the affair, says, "that in going into action the men appeared to take it as a matter of course; but as the plot thickened, and they warmed at the work, they tossed the long guns about like playthings, and indeed managed them in an admirable manner." This he attributes to the system taught on board the 'Excellent.' The crews of the Monte Vidian schooners were in a dreadful fright all the time, expecting to be sent to the bottom. On sounding the well on board the 'Alecto,' a considerable quantity of water was found in the hold. When search was made, a shot-hole was discovered forward between wind and water. This was speedily plugged. Just as she came in sight of the convoy, after her long and tedious voyage, she got on shore, and remained for some days before she was again floated off.

GALLANT EXPLOIT OF LIEUT. MACKINNON WITH HIS ROCKET BATTERY AGAINST THE FORTS OF SAN LORENZO.

Santa Fe is situated on the east bank of the river. It is a place of some size, built partly at the foot, and partly on the side of a lofty hill, surrounded by corrales, where thousands of cattle are slaughtered, their hides and the tallow being shipped from the port, while vast flocks of vultures, carrion-crows, and other birds of prey, hover over them to consume the refuse beef which there are not human mouths sufficient to eat. As may be supposed, it is far from an agreeable place. The greater part of the English and French men-of-war were lying at Baxadar de Santa Fe, which was the appointed rendezvous of the merchantmen. Here the greater number having effected their object, collected towards the middle of May. The difficulty was now to get the convoy safely back past the batteries of San Lorenzo. Sir Charles Hotham had gone up to settle some diplomatic affairs with the Government of Corrientes, and on the 16th of May he returned in the 'Alecto.'

A plan had occurred to Lieut. Mackinnon of that ship by which the passage of the convoy might be facilitated; and having proposed it to Sir Charles Hotham, he, after a short consideration of its possibility, expressed his willingness to have it carried out, provided the ground was found as suitable as supposed.

Lieut. Mackinnon stated, "That opposite to the heavy part of the batteries of San Lorenzo he had observed an island covered with long reeds, grass, and small trees, but completely commanded by the guns of the battery. He proposed, the night before the convoy was to fight their way down, to take on shore a certain number of Congreve rockets, to land them at the back of the island, and to place them all ready in the course for being erected immediately. This, if properly prepared, could be effected in a few minutes; then to dig by the side of each rocket a hole, large enough to contain the men working them, and to throw the earth up as a kind of barricade before it. At the signal given by the Commander-in-Chief, when all the enemy's batteries were fully manned, waiting for the convoy, to commence a tremendous fire, which, being totally unexpected on their part, would be proportionably effective and destructive. The chances were that they would return this fire, which the prepared holes would render harmless; and if the rocket-stands or tubes were hit—a very difficult object—poles and instruments would be at hand to repair them immediately. Besides, when the vessels were passing, the chances were that, from the heights of the cliffs, the rockets would strike the enemy over the mast-heads of the ships, thus causing a double-banked fire of great force."

Sir Charles Hotham, having consulted Captain Hope and Captain Trèhouhart, who highly approved of the plan, provided the ground when reconnoitred was found as suitable as expected. The execution of it was intrusted to Lieut. Mackinnon, of the 'Alecto,' with Lieut. Barnard, of the 'Firebrand,' as his second. For several days the preparations were going on; and on the 25th of May, all being ready, the convoy and men-of-war, with the exception of the British steamer, dropped down the river, and anchored about five miles above the batteries of San Lorenzo.

At length, on the night of the 1st of June, Sir Charles Hotham and the French Captain, with some other officers, reconnoitred the locality. Besides the island we have spoken of, there were several others of nearly the same size, and at the same distance from the western shore: to the eastward of them again was an immense archipelago of low swampy islands, covered with brushwood, extending in that direction six or eight miles between them and the main shore of Entre Rios. There was just sufficient light for the reconnoitring party to see their way as they steered through the intricate passages to the east of the large islands. With muffled oars and in dead silence they pulled on till they reached the island they wished to examine, and as they shoved the boat's bow into the mud, a loud rustling was heard in the brushwood, and a wild beast of some sort, which they took for a tiger, rushed towards them. They dared not fire, of course, and without allowing a moment's hesitation to interfere with the service they were upon, proceeded to land according to seniority. As the first officers leaped on shore, sword in hand, the supposed tiger, with a loud snort, jumped into the river, proving to be a harmless carpincho, or water-hog, peculiar to the large rivers of South America.

They now advanced cautiously, among the reeds and brushwood, across the island, when to their great satisfaction they found that the river itself had performed the very work required, by throwing up, when swelled by the rains, an embankment many feet high along the entire length of the island, so as completely to screen them from the enemy's batteries—a work, indeed, which many hundred men could not so well have executed in a week: behind this the land rising, there was consequently a large natural trench; here the rockets might be placed in comparative safety; the only difficulty would be to get the men into the trench, and to retire safely after the ammunition was expended, and to avoid any suspicion on the enemy's part of the proximity of such a foe. They then returned to the ship, and completed the necessary preparations. The next night the rocket-party, in the 'Alecto's' paddle-box boat, took their departure under the command of Lieut. Mackinnon. He was accompanied by his second in command, Lieut. Barnard, of the Marine Artillery, by Mr. Hamm, the boatswain of the 'Alecto,' and Mr. Baker, the pilot, with 12 artillerymen and 11 seamen. Silent as the grave, they pulled behind the islands, and without accident reached the appointed spot. They first set to work to get the rocket-stands and rockets up to the embankment; and very fatiguing work it was to the men, for they had to carry them through a swamp, into which they sank up to their knees, and then a considerable distance over rough and uneven ground, among thick reeds and brushwood. A glass of grog, with some pork and biscuits, set them to rights again; and without delay they planted the rocket-stands, pointing them, so that the rockets might just clear the top of the batteries. Fortunately, a few yards beyond the little bay, where the boat had been lying all night, a large willow-tree had fallen into the river, the exact length of the boat, and beyond that was a point of land running out likewise; between these the boat was swung. Branches of willow were stuck in all round and inside the boat, which most effectually concealed her; so much so, that when Lieut. Baker arrived the next night at the spot, he was observed standing up in the stern-sheets of the gig, looking wistfully towards the sandy beach, and seeing nothing of the boat, though the starboard bow-oar of the gig splashed the water in Lieut. Mackinnon's face. The latter officer whistled; upon which Lieut. Baker pulled in and began conversing. All this time Lieut. Mackinnon was standing with one leg on the gunnel of the boat and the other on land, the boat's gunnel being flush with it; it had, therefore, something the appearance of standing sidewise half into a tree, and so completely deceived Lieut. Baker, that he exclaimed, "But where on earth have you put the boat to?" The low laugh from the men who were hid under a tarpaulin revealed where she was. When they were moving about in daylight they were obliged to crouch down like a herd of kangaroos, creeping behind the bushes and among the long grass, so as not to be seen by the enemy, to whom the whole island was then exposed to view. Had the Spaniards found out that they were there, of course they would have sent boats across to attack them, and would have fired on them from the forts; and though no doubt the blue-jackets would have made a good fight of it with their rockets, the plan for preserving the fleet must have failed entirely. The first day all hands were roused from their sleep in the boat, and mustered at 2 P.M.; their arms being examined, they were ordered to remain at the boat in readiness for any emergency, while the officers and two artillerymen relieved the look-out at the battery. Twenty-eight embrasures, with heavy guns in them, were counted in the enemy's forts; and so close were the party, that, with pocket-telescopes, they could clearly distinguish the faces of the people, and observed General Moncellia, the brother-in-law of Rosas, drive up in his carriage with four horses, and, dismounting, inspect the troops and guns. Little did he suspect the foe he had near him. Having remained some time, the officers crawled back to the boats to take some rest; but they were far too anxious to sleep long; and the next night was passed, as before, in paying constant visits to the rocket-battery. Once they were nearly discovered, from one of the men incautiously exposing himself. As Lieut. Mackinnon was watching the battery, he observed the sentry suddenly stop and eye the spot narrowly. "Hold fast," he whispered to the man; "Don't move, as you value your life." The man obeyed, and to the Lieutenant's infinite relief, he at last saw the sentry move on. Daybreak of the 4th came at length; the wind blew fair down the stream, and every one was on the tiptoe of expectation, listening for the signal of the two guns, the preconcerted signal of the fleet being about to sail, It was a time of the greatest anxiety, for any moment, if discovered, the 28 pieces of ordnance might have commenced playing on them, and blown them all to atoms; but fortunately the eyes of the enemy were turned up the stream, towards the point from whence the fleet was expected to appear. Slowly the hours seemed to pass, till at length, at 9 A.M. the welcome sound of the two guns came booming along the water, and immediately the men proceeded from the boat to the rocket-stands, creeping along like a band of North American Indians on a war expedition to surprise a sleeping foe. A long pole, with the British flag made fast to it, had been prepared, on the elevation of which the first discharge of rockets was to take place. The squadron of men-of-war and merchantmen now approached, the 'Gorgon,' 'Fulton,' and 'Alecto' leading. Majestically they glided on till they came within range of the batteries, at which they commenced firing their shells with admirable precision. The long and anxious moment at length arrived for the discharge of the rockets. Lieut. Mackinnon waved his cap aloft; at this signal Lieut. Bernard planted the British flag under the nose of the enemy, and, taking off his cap, made them a low bow; up went a flight of rockets; two of them flew into the very centre of the most crowded part of the batteries, completely clearing them of their defenders, two went over their heads, and two stuck in the cliffs beneath them. The elevation of the four stands, which were wrongly pointed, being rectified, they were once more charged, and as soon as the enemy had returned to their guns, and were looking along the sights to take aim at the steamers, Lieut. Mackinnon, jumping up on the embankment, thoughtless of how he was exposing himself, sung out, "Pepper, lads! pepper, lads! pepper, pepper, pepper!" and pepper away the men did with a vengeance. The crash was tremendous; the enemy with dismay deserted their guns, and terrific must have been the slaughter among them, for in one minute 40 rockets, admirably directed, were poured in among them; to add to their confusion, a rocket had penetrated an ammunition-cart, which, blowing up with a prodigious sound, filled the air with smoke. At the same time, the dry grass about the seamen catching fire, they were surrounded by so dense an atmosphere that it was impossible for some moments to see what was going forward; the wind, however, soon blowing aside the murky veil, the fleet of merchantmen were seen passing quickly down, while the steamers took up their position directly under the batteries. On this up went another shower of rockets, which continued without cessation, filling the air with long delicate threads of smoke, under which the vessels passed in safety, the effect being most beautiful. These events occupied some time, and as soon as the stern-most ships of the squadron were well out of range of shot, the 'Gorgon' hoisted the signal for their return. The enemy's guns, as soon as they had no floating opponents directly in front, directed their fire at the island, and misled by the flagstaff, peppered away at that, to the great delight of the rocket-party, who were safe behind the bank; however, the enemy discovered their mistake, and turned their guns in the proper direction of the rocket-battery. The shot was harmless, as it either stuck in the bank or passed over the men's heads like cricket-balls. Now and then a single rocket was sent into some of the enemy's embrasures, which accelerated a return of shot. When the little 'Dolphin' came down, leading the convoy, at the order, "Cover the 'Dolphin,'" another volley and running fire burst forth, accompanied with loud cheers for the gallant little vessel, which passed down with slight damage. Preparations were made for decamping, and, as a last salute, the flag-staff was waved in the face of the enemy, which appeared to annoy them much, as a heavy fire was drawn towards the retreating party; but as they spread out wide apart, the shot passed through without touching a single man or article belonging to them. The boat was soon reached, the willows cast off, and all hands got on board, when, "Out oars!" was the word, and away they pulled down the stream to join the fleet.

So effectual had been the fire of the rockets that not a man in the squadron was hurt by the enemy; three of the merchantmen, by keeping too much over to the east, got on shore on the end of the large island to the south of the one where the rockets had been fired. Two of them were got off, the other was burnt, and the fleet, with flying colours, proceeded on their voyage down to Colombo and Monte Video. After these events the British and French squadron relieved Monte Video from an attack made on it by some of the allies of Rosas, and for some time their marines and seamen occupied it, and assisted in placing it in a better position of defence.

Since then Rosas has been compelled to fly the country; but though the commerce of those magnificent regions has increased and extended in consequence of the operations we have described, peace and tranquillity are still very far from being established in the country.