Journal of Alfred Walke, April and May, 1843 - Page 2
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same time the Montezuma succeeded in getting off. When the Enemy wore round & stood
to the S finding we were coming in on them too fast. At 7.30 the Enemy wore & stood
for us. Hauled up the Fore Sail. At 7.35 the Enemy commenced firing at us[.] Most
of their shot passed over us[,] some fell short but none struck us[.] At 7.50 manned our
Larbd [larboard] Battery & exchanged Five Broadsides with the Enemy’s Steamers[,] the Sail Ves-
sels then on our Starbd [starboard] bow on the Starbd tack firing at us. At 7.55 the
Enemys [sic] sail vessels Tacked to keep out of our reach when we hove in stays & fired
our starbrd broadsides at them[.] At 8 the Brig passed close under our Lee when Comdr Moore or-
dered her Commander GTK Lothrop to follow his motions. At 8.10 manned the Starbd
Battery & exchanged broadsides with the Enemys [sic] Steamers, their shot passing over us. At
8.20 the Steamer wore & stood to the S to join the Sail Vessels. At 8.25 finding
our shot did not reach[,] Ceased firing. At 8.35 the Schrs Siselana & Independencia
with the Gun Boats commanded by Cap’t Boyland passed us[.] Gave them
three Hearty Cheers which they returned[.] [T]hey then tacked & then followed our Mo-
tions[,] the Independencia wearing at her Fore No 5 of our Signals[,] A private
signal between the Two Squadrons. At 8.40 Beat the Retreat & Piped to Grog.
At 9.07 the Land breezes dying away came too [sic] with the Starbd Anchor with
springs on the chain 2 Fathoms Water 30 Fathoms Chain[.] The City of Campeche
S by E Dist[ance] 7 miles[.] Piped to Breakfast. At 9.30 Nearly dead Calm. Ships
ships [sic] head S. E. The Enemys [sic] Squadron on our Starbd beam[,] the Brig Wharton
on our Larbd Beam[,] the Yucatan vessels on our our [sic] Larbd Quarter[.]
At 11.15 the Two Steamers approaching us we Beat to Quarters, the Yucatan
Vessels commenced firing upon the Enemy[.] [T]he Enemy fired several shots
at them & us[.] Sprung the ship with the Larbd spring to bring our starbd
Battery to bear on the Enemy[.] At 11.27 a light breeze springing up from
the S & W[,] slipped the Anchor with 30 Fathoms chain with a slip Buoy on the chain[.]
Filled away on the Starbd Tack & exchanged several broadsides with the Steamers[.]
At 11.05 a Sixty-Eight Pound shot from the Guadaloupe cut the Starbd After Mizen
Shroud about 8 Feet above the Dead Eye (Commodore Moore holding the shroud
at the time). [P]assed between Commodore Moore’s & Lt. Gray’s head & would have
killed both of them but that they inclined their bodies in opposite
directions[.] [P]assed through the Poop Deck into the Cabin & out the Stern
about Two feet above the Transom[.] Up to 11.40 Continued firing at the En-
emy but finding that our shot did not reach them & they [we] having the weather
Gage of them We kept off for Campeche[,] the men being completely exhaus-
[t]ed having been at quarters and working [the] Ship with scarcely any cessation for near-
ly 24 hours, but in high spirits. At 11.45 Cap’t J D Boyland sent a Pilot
on board. At 12.15 the Ship struck lightly but continued to go ahead a little[.]
At 12.20 the Brig Wharton passed under our Lee when Comdr Moore ordered
Capt Lothrop to Steer for Campeche. At 12.30 finding the ship remained a-
ground Made signal 146 to Brig Wharton[.] At 12.40 the Ship Floated when
we steered on our Course[.] At 1 P.M. the Steamer fired several shots at
us which we returned but as our shot did not reach them we
ceased firing when the Enemy’s Vessels hauled off & stood too [sic] the S & W[.]
We running in & Anchoring off Campeche—Loss of [to] this Ship[:]
none[.] Brig Wharton[:] 2 men Killed & 3 wounded. Slightly. Enemys [sic] Loss[:]
The Cap’t & 14 men Killed & 30 wounded on board the Steamer Montezuma[.]
The Guadaloupe had seven men Killed[,] some Wounded & were
injured in their Hulls.
P.M. Monday May 1st 1843
This day Pleasant. Crew making wads[.] Enemys [sic] Squad-
ron at Anchor bearing W.S.W., dist 5 miles. Campeche bearing E by S
Dist 3 miles[.] Llormas bearing S Dist 4 Miles.
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Image enlarged to show detail. Journal of Midshipman Alfred Walke. Texas Navy Papers, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.