Journal of Alfred Walke, April and May, 1843 - Page 3
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The Second Action May 16th 1843
At 4.30 A.M. Called all hands and piped the Hammocks up. At 4.45
Called all hands Up Anchor. At 5 Set the Top sails. At 5.20 made
signal No 20 to Yucatan Squadron[.] At 5.25 made signal 406[.] At 5.30 weighed
Anchor and filled away[.] Head to S & W Wind SE and light, Wharton
in Company[.] Yucatan Squadron getting under weigh [sic] [.] At 6 set the Top
Gallant Sails[.] At 6.12 made signal No 10 to Yucatan Squadron. At
6.20 made signal No 77. Beat to Quarters and cleared ship for Action. Enemies [sic]
Squadron underway bearing W.S.W Dist 5 Miles. At 6.45 Enemy stand-
ing off. Beat the retreat & piped to Breakfast. At 8 Hoisted the Texas Ensign
at the Peak & Broad Pennant at the Main. At 10 Nearly Calm. At 10.40
Enemies [sic] Squadron hoisted their colours[.] Guadaloupe hoisted at the same time
English Ensign at the Fore, the Montezuma the English at the Main
& Spanish at the Fore & stood towards us. Beat to Quarters. Hoisted the
English & American Ensigns at the Fore & the Texas Ensign at the Mizen[.]
At 10.55 ships head S.W. on the starbd Tack[.] Wharton about 1⁄2 Mile Astern
Yucatan Squadron close in shore, Enemy about 2 1⁄2 miles off on our Larb[.]
Bow commenced firing at us[,] most of their shot falling short. At 11.05
made signal No 96 & fired Larbd Broadside, the Medium Twenty Fours not
reaching[.] Ceased firing with except[ion of] the Long Eighteens; Wharton commenced
firing at the same time. At 11.18 the second shot from the Long Gun cut
away the Guadaloupes [sic] Flag staff which fell overboard with the Ensign, when
the crews of both vessels gave Three Hearty Cheers[.] Guadaloupe hoisted an-
other Ensign at the Main Gaff. At 11.37 a thirty two lb shot from the Schr
Eagle passed through the Larbd hammock settings [?]
struck the combings of the Steerage Hatch[,] rebounded, struck the
Deck & passed out No 7 Port wounding Three Men[.] Closing upon the Enemy[.]
Commenced firing the Medium Guns. At 11.40 a shot from the Guada-
loupe cut away the starbd Main Top Gall’t Breast Back Stay, After Shroud
Main Top Gall’t Rigging, starbd Main Royal Lift & Halliards [sic] & passed through
Main Top Gall’t sail. At 11.43 a shot from the Guadaloupe cut the
starbd Fore Top Gall’t Steering Sail Yard in two[,] the sail being in the
Top.
(May 17th sea time) At 12.20 P.M. the sea breeze setting in but
very light the Montezuma being on our Larbd Bow[,] the Guadaloupe on
our Larbd Quarter[.] [S]et the Fore Sail[.] Put the Helm up. Squared the Yards[.]
Manned both Batterys [sic] & run [sic] directly between them trying to Bring
them to close Quarters giving them our Broadsides as the Guns bore, upon
the Schr Eagle Tacked, Made all sail & stood to the S & did not come
into the Action again[.] The Steamer finding we were bringing them
to close Quarters & the wind being light Paddled off & took their position
on our starbd Bow. At 12.50 a sixty Eight lb shot from the Guadaloupe came
through starbd Hammock Nettings Over No 7 Gun[,] passed out Larbd side[,]
Carrying away Forward Port Stancheon No 9 Port & the Mizen Channels forward
of the Port with Two Chain Plates. Up to 1.42 P.M. the firing continued on
both sides[,] Enemies [sic] shot passing between our Masts & over our Poop[.] At 1.42 a 68 lb
shot from the Guadaloupe Cut away the Main Brace Bumpkiss
etc. At 1.45 a shot from the Guadaloupe cut away the Fourth shroud of the
Starbd Main Rigging[,] Starbd Truss & Foot Rope of the Main Top Sail[.]
At 2 a shell exploded over head cutting the Main Royal Mast & several Ropes[.]
At 2.10 a 42 lb Shot from the Montezuma struck just forward of No 9 Gun
starbd side [and] passed through the waterway & Deck into the Ward Room through No 3
State Room, Pursers Store Room, Lodged in the Armory, wounding 2 men at
No 9 Gun. Thos Norris one of the men returned to his Quarters as soon as his
wounds were dressed & in a few minutes his left arm was shot off. At
2.24 a shot from the Guadaloupe passed through the Ensign at the
Peak[.] At 2.25 a 68 lb shot from the Guadaloupe struck the the [sic] edge of the
Copper under No 1 Gun breaking the Planking & rebounded causing a bad leak
which was immediately plugged up. At 2.26 A shot from the Guadaloupe
cut away the 3rd shroud of the Starbd Fore Rigging & Larbd Futtock Shroud[.] At 2.3 [?]
a 68 lb shot from Steamer Guadaloupe passed through Hammock Nettings
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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.