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Lot 424
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British Attack on Martinique! Eyewitness Officers Fight Their Battles “O’er Again”
British Attack on Martinique! Eyewitness Officers Fight Their Battles “O’er Again”
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Description:

British Navy
Port Royal, Jamaica; Rochester, England, ca. 1835
British Attack on Martinique! Eyewitness Officers Fight Their Battles "O'er Again"
ALS
[BRITISH NAVY].
- James Scott, Autograph Letter Signed, to [Henry Colburn], Editor of the United Service Journal, January 21, 1835, HMS President, Port Royal, Jamaica. 4 pp., 8" x 13" Re Lieutenant Maw's defense.
- James Scott, Autograph Letter Signed, to [Henry Colburn], Editor of the United Service Journal, February 2, 1835, HMS President, Port Royal, Jamaica. 3 pp., 8" x 13". Re Attack on Pigeon Island, Martinique.
- George G. Burton, Autograph Letter Signed, to [Henry Colburn], Editor of the United Service Journal, May 11, 1835, Rochester, England. 3 pp., 7.375" x 9.125". Re Attack on Pigeon Island, Martinique.

"perhaps it is not over wise when ‘fighting our battles o'er again' after a lapse of six and twenty years to trust entirely to our memories."

This trio of letters from Captain James Scott and Captain George G. Burton of the Royal Navy to Henry Colburn, the editor of The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, published in London, discuss a court-martial and the British attack on the French colony of Martinique in 1809.

Excerpts
[Maw's defense:]
"In the published Defence of Lieutenant Herny Lister Maw I observe the following assertion—‘more over the letter which I did write requesting that the "gross stigmas" that had been applied might be removed from my professional character and the strictest possible investigation upon all points connected with that affair—by such means as the Commander in Chief might deem necessary' ‘was written by Captain Scott's desire.'
"In this last very erroneous statement more is insinuated than meets the eye. I therefore feel painfully called upon to submit a plain statement of facts that led to the trial of Lieutenant Maw." (p1)

"the desertion of the smugglers on the night of Tuesday August the 12th…. At three bells he [Lieutenant Maw] quitted the deck without being relieved, the Mate of the Watch pursued the same course at four, and the Quarter-Masters and Sentries proved equally negligent upon their Posts: the Smugglers taking advantage of this unpardonable breach of Orders, lowered the Boat and escaped." (p2)

"Such are the facts of the case, and on ascertaining them I certainly animadverted strongly on what I considered the culpable neglect and disobedience of orders evinced by Lieutenant Maw. That Gentleman however refusing to receive my reprimand obliged me to refer the matter to the Commander in Chief, who desired me to place him under arrest. On receiving that order I requested the Admiral would suspend it till I enquired further into the business. It was granted. I returned on board, and communicated Sir George's order to Lieutenant Maw, and my request to stay the proceedings, trusting it would induce him to retract, and to express his sorrow for what had passed. His only reply was, he ne required no indulgence and he conducted himself in so improper a manner that I felt myself obliged to call him to order." (p2)

"I should be the last person who would wish to stop the current of good and kindly feeling which appears to have been expressed for Lieutenant Maw's restoration to the service...but 1 do submit that no man...is at liberty to place himself above the rules, regulations, and etiquettes of the profession of which he is a member. Mr. Maw is indebted to himself alone for the unfortunate predicament in which he stands." (p3-4)

[Attack of Pigeon Island:]
"In your November number (which has just reached me) under the head of ‘Capture of Martinique,' Commander George G. Burton thus accuses me of appropriating to myself services which belong to others. ‘And I believe that it is equally true that Captain Scott has seen so much service, he stands not in need of what belongs to others.'" (p1)

"Captain Burton having preferred treating your readers with his own suppositions, instead of designating the volume and page in "Recollections of a Naval Life" where the account complained of might be found, I must trespass upon your time and space by quoting the offending passage; and be it remembered, in that passage 1 am giving an account of a joint expedition.
"‘The materials for forming, the platform, &c, were immediately prepared; and as soon as night closed in to shelter us from the view of the enemy, the boats moved forward in silence to that part where, with great difficulty, a 13-inch mortar was landed, without drawing upon us the attention of the enemy.'
"Your readers will judge how far Captain Burton is justified in his stricture upon this statement, giving him the benefit of his allegation as to the service having been performed solely by himself; and that neither my shipmates nor myself had any hand in it. If my memory be correct, Captain Sir Francis Collier was the officer (under the immediate directions of Sir George Cockburn) who commanded the boots. But I now feel myself called upon to affirm, most distinctly, that I was in command of one of the Pompée's boats that night, and was employed till daylight in assisting in the landing and placing of ‘the mortar in question; and this affirmation I am ready to support by undoubted authority." (p2-3)

"The direct assertion that neither myself nor any of my shipmates were present on the occasion pointed out by Captain Burton, was heedlessly and thoughtlessly advanced; but I cannot doubt he will step forward and acknowledge his error...." (p3)

[Burton's response:]
"It was with some surprise I perused Capt. Scott's letter in your Number for March, in reply to my note of November.
"I of course cannot doubt Capt. Scott's assertion, that he was employed on the service noticed in my letter, notwithstanding I am quite unable to bring to my recollection that any boats but the Neptune's were employed that night on that service.
"I have therefore written to Capt. Douglas to assist my memory (who was then a midshipman of the Neptune and with me on the night in question). I have his letter now before me, wherein he says that he does not recollect that any boats except the Neptune's were employed mounting the Mortar; and in another place ‘Nor do I recollect falling in with my worthy messmate Scott, under any circumstances, while our party was so employed.' But he very properly adds, ‘however, it is My Dr Sir a long time since we met, and a very long time to tax ones memory with the by gone events &c &c' with all which I perfectly agree; and perhaps it is not over wise when ‘fighting our battles o'er again' after a lapse of six and twenty years to trust entirely to our memories.
"I therefore give Capt. Scott full credit for his assertion...." (p1-3)

Historical Background
During the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe were a threat to British trade in the West Indies. They provided safe harbor for privateers and French Navy warships that raided British merchant shipping. After Spain allied with Great Britain against France, the British Admiralty launched an expedition to neutralize the threat, beginning with Martinique.

An expeditionary force of 29 ships and 10,000 men under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and Lieutenant-General George Beckwith traveled to the West Indies. On January 30, 1809, British forces landed on both the southern and northern coasts. Meanwhile, a group of 600 Royal York Rangers landed at Cape Solomon to secure the entrance to Fort-de-France Bay.

The two main forces forced the French defenders back to Fort Desaix near the capital. The British troops at Cape Solomon panicked the French troops, who set fire to a naval brig and retreated to the tiny Islet aux Ramiers (Pigeon Island), located perhaps a quarter-mile off the coast at the southern entrance of Fort-de-France Bay. A naval brigade under the overall command of Captain George Cockburn set up batteries on the coast to bombard the French on Pigeon Island who, after enduring a twelve-hour bombardment, surrendered on February 4. When the British Navy entered the Bay on February 5, the French abandoned all the forts along the coast and consolidated at Fort Desaix, which surrendered on February 24. British forces captured Guadeloupe in 1810. Martinique and Guadeloupe remained British colonies until returned to the restored French monarchy in 1814.

James Scott (1790-1872) was born in London and joined the Royal Navy in 1803. He was rated a midshipman in 1804 and participated in a number of voyages, several under Captain George Cockburn, including one in 1808-1809 that resulted in the British capture of the French colony of Martinique. He was promoted to lieutenant later in 1809 and served with Admiral George Cockburn in the War of 1812. He was promoted to commander in October 1814 but received no ship until 1824. He was promoted to post-captain in 1828 and published Recollections of a Naval Life (1834). From 1834 to 1836, he served as flag captain for Admiral George Cockburn on the North America and West Indies Station. After serving on the Pacific Station from 1837 to 1839, he transferred to the East Indies and China Station during the Second Opium War (1856-1860). He gained successive promotions to rear admiral (1854), vice admiral (1861), and admiral (1865). He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (1841) and two decades later, a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (1862).

George G. Burton (1785-1870) entered the Royal Navy in 1797 and was rated a midshipman by 1801. By 1805, he was a senior lieutenant at Guadeloupe. He served as a lieutenant in the War of 1812, and for his services at Washington was promoted to the command of the Wolverine. He commanded a guardship from 1843 to 1846, when he was again promoted. He was placed on the retired list in 1856 and became a rear admiral in 1864.

Henry Colburn (ca. 1784-1855) was well-educated and fluent in French. He became an apprentice printer in 1800 and began publishing his first books in 1806. He pioneered what became known as "silver fork novels," which allowed readers to peer into the lifestyles of rich and aristocratic families. He also founded several periodicals, including the New Monthly Magazine, and Universal Register (1814), the Literary Gazette (1817), the Court Journal (1828), and The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine (1829). The last appealed to both a general audience and military and naval officers.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 13"
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