He only had one more turn of service afloat, in command of the Slaney, a 20-gun sloop, which cruised on the South American station from 1818 to 1821. The rest of his life—he was still only thirty-six years of age—was spent in enforced retirement: in the thirties and forties the navy was kept low, and there was little prospect of work for the half-pay captain.
On 28th June 1825 O’Brien married Hannah, youngest daughter of John Walmsley of Castle Mere, Lancashire, by whom he became the father of a large family, seven children in all. Two years after, he took his wife for a long tour round northern France, to show her the places of his imprisonments and escapes. It was this revisiting of old scenes that caused him to write the book which we have here reprinted. But he did not publish it till 1839, when it appeared, dedicated by permission to the young Queen Victoria. He had, however, already put out long before a shorter narrative of his escape, from which the two-volume book of 1839 was expanded. It had appeared in the Naval Chronicle for the years 1812-15, in the strange form of sixteen “Naval Bulletins” addressed to no less a person than the Emperor Napoleon. The dedication of this original draft deserves reproduction—it runs as follows:—
“As your Imperial Majesty has long delighted in the compilation of endless Bulletins, as they are styled, in which truth and candour are never suffered to appear, it may perhaps amuse you, during some of these pauses which occasionally occur in your systematic destruction and humiliation of your fellow-creatures, to be enabled to hear a little truth, and to trace the manner in which such a humble individual as myself bade defiance to your persecutions, and has at length returned to his duty as a naval officer, notwithstanding all the dungeons, fetters, and insults which distinguished your reign of despotism.”
The last of the “Naval Bulletins” appeared in the same number of the Naval Chronicle as a narrative by Henry Ashworth, one of the companions of O’Brien’s first escape. From this, an incomplete story, which Ashworth did not survive to finish, certain parts of O’Brien’s tale can be corroborated and expanded.
O’Brien was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral on 8th March 1852. He survived five years more, and died on 13th May 1857 at Yew House, Hoddesdon, in his seventy-third year.
The not very flattering portrait of him which we have reproduced as our frontispiece was drawn by J. Pelham and engraved by J. Brown for the book of 1839.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| [Preface] | [v] |
| [Biography of Captain O’Brien] | [ix] |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
|---|---|
The Hussar Frigate is sent home with Despatches, and wrecked onthe Saintes—Efforts to save the Ship—Attempt to escape in theBoats foiled by bad Weather—A Surrender to the Enemy | |
| [Page 1] | |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
A kind Reception by the Enemy—Our Shipmates all Prisoners—Consolationsunder Misfortunes—Prisoners sent to the Hospitalat Brest—Robbery by a French Seaman—Running the Gauntlet—Dilemmaof wearing or giving up a Sword—Kindness of theFrench Nuns—Orders to march into the Interior—WoundedPride and Hard Fare—Bad Faith of the Minister of Marine—TheMarch begins for Verdun—Arrival at Landernau—AristocraticDifferences in Rates of Pay or Allowances amongst Republicans—Landiviziau—AnIllustration of Equality—Morlaixto Rennes—Prisoners and Vermin—Vitré—English Dogs at aFrench Inn—Laval—A Spectacle for the Mob—Alençon—Difficultiesincreased—Part of the Crew separated from theirOfficers—Our Arrival at Rouen—An honest Gaoler and hisamiable Wife—A moderate Bill for Gaol Fare—Bons Garçonsin a Prison—Our Arrival at Amiens—English Sympathy forsuffering Countrymen | |
| [Page 7] | |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
Departure from Amiens—Arrival at Albert—Our French Officer’sDelicacy and Liberality—A Civic Feast at Bapaume—Effects ofChampagne on French Aldermen—A Separation from our kindConductor—A New Escort—A forced March to Cambray—PitiableState and severe Sufferings of the Seamen—Entranceinto Cambray—Imprisonment—Landrecies, Avesnes, Hirson—ABillet upon the Inhabitants—Rocroy—A brutal Landlord—TheRobbery and Abuse of Prisoners—Givet—Charlemont—A Descriptionof the Fortifications—An Escape of Prisoners—Afruitless Pursuit—Generosity of the French Commandant—PrivateLodgings—A Jacobin Landlady—Exhausted Funds—The4th of June—Honours done to King George the Third’sBirthday—Roast Beef and Plum Pudding—French Terrors ofInsurrection—The Difference between taking off and onlytouching Hats in saluting Men in Authority—Good News—Ajoyful Departure in a cart for Verdun | |
| [Page 26] | |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
Our Arrival at Verdun—A joyful Reception—General Wirion—HisIndulgence towards the Prisoners—The Meetings of old Shipmatesand Friends—Mental Employment the best Antidoteagainst Ennui and Dissipation—Restiveness at Confinement—Anxietyto be again in the Active Service of Old England—Meditationsupon an Escape—Contrivances to avoid a Breachof Parole or any Breach of Honour—Three Comrades or Compagnonsde Voyage—Scaling Ramparts—A Descent of Seventy-twoFeet—The Open Country—The March commences—Flyingby Night, and hiding in Woods by Day—Heavy Rains, DismalRoads, and Swampy Beds, with Bad Fare and Good Hearts—Leapinga Moat—A Dislocated Knee—The March resumed, andpursued lamely—The Town of Neuville—Extreme Sufferingsfrom Thirst—Water at length procured, Anguish allayed, andthe Escape proceeded upon with renewed Spirits | |
| [Page 43] | |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
The Journey pursued—A Bivouac in a Wood—Dangers of beingShot—Making free with an Orchard—Crossing the Oise—AMode of obtaining Provisions—A Cabaret and a Village Fête—Kindnessof the Peasantry—Petit Essigny—Wringing drenchedGarments, and Drying them over fading Embers—A miserableLandlord—A Change of Quarters—Luxuries of a Hay-loft—ASamaritan of a Hostess—Wretched Sufferings of Mr. Essel—Resortto another Village—A kind Landlord—Sympathies forDeserters—“A Fellow-feeling makes Men wondrous Kind”—TheLuxuries of a Clean Bed—Resort to another Village—Amotherly Hostess—A lucky Road-acquaintance—Virtue andHappiness in humble Life—The charitable Baker—Dangersfrom Sportsmen to Gentlemen hiding in Woods—Mr. Essel’sIllness disappearing—Increased Speed not always safe toFugitives—Coldness of the Weather—An hospitable Farmer—AFrench Harvest-home—Hesdin—Neuville—Étaples—Turnedout of a Straw Bed—A new Inn, with a Gendarme inDisguise in the Kitchen—Bribing a Landlord—No Boat to behad—An old Shepherd too cunning for a young Lieutenant andMidshipmen—Extreme Difficulties—High Hopes—Despondencyand Resources | |
| [Page 63] | |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
A False Direction and an Appalling Repulse—A Bribe refused—ADeluge, and Shelter in a Barn—A fatal Resolution—Dangersof Fugitives journeying by Daylight—A Market-day at Étaples—Passingthrough Crowds not very convenient for runawayPrisoners of War—An Attempt to reach the Sand-hills on theCoast—A Bold Progress through a Despicable Village—Thelast House—Parching Thirst, and begging for a Draught ofWater—An Acquiescence or Reply in the shape of two Custom-houseOfficers—Our Capture—A clever Fiction well devised,better sustained, and totally defeated—Getting rid of suspiciousGoods—An Examination before the Mayor—Americanism andthe American Gentleman—An awkward Exposure—A Mittimusto Boulogne Gaol—An Examination of our Persons and Clothes—OurFate sealed and Hope destroyed | |
| [Page 90] | |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
Our Entrance into the Gaol of Boulogne—Tantalising Sight of OldEngland’s Flag and white Cliffs—A Gaoler’s Supper and a conscientiousBill—Another Examination—The Route to Verdun—Arras—TheGaoler kind, and the Commandant full of Indulgence—Bapaume—TheBaker, and Inquiries for our lost Money—Cambray—Cateau-Cambresisand its horrible Dungeon—Landrecies—OurAwkwardness in Chains, Handcuffs, and Fetters—MyDislike to them—Avesnes—Information that we were tobe Shot—The Dungeon of Avesnes—A dungeon Companion whohad killed and cut up both his Parents—A Night of Horrorsand Lunacy—Hirson, a Town without a Gaol, but with a Dungeon—ASupper and its Consequences—The Discovery of ourImplements of Escape—Maubert Fontaine—A new Dungeonand a Fellow-prisoner—Reciprocal Services—A novel Mode ofhiding Pistol-barrels—Chaining Prisoners to a Cart—Mezières—Arrivalat Verdun—Separated from my Companions—Reflectionson being Shot—A close Examination—Questioned inrelation to Buonaparte—Allowed to join my old Associates—AnotherCross-examination—A Recommittal to Prison—OurFate determined—The Dungeon of Bitche—The Rev. LancelotC. Lee, a détenu—His Generosity | |
| [Page 100] | |
| [CHAPTER VIII] | |
Our Departure from Verdun for Bitche—Mars-la-Tour, Metz,and Sarrelouis—I receive a useful Present from Mr. Brown—Sarreguemines—Alast Chance—A mounted Guard—Thoughtsof an Escape—Calculations upon a Chase in a Woodbetween Horse-soldiers and Prisoners on Foot—Attemptresolved upon—Signal given—Flight from the Prison Caravanto the Wood—French Pursuit—A Prisoner recaptured—MyEscape from the Wood into another—My Companions, I fear,less fortunate—My Concealment—A swampy Bed and a stormySky, with a Torrent of Rain, for a Canopy—A prospectiveFlight of nearly 800 Miles—The Misery of a fruitless Searchfor lost Companions—Feeding on Haws, and herding withQuadrupeds and Vermin—A Hut discovered—Hunger compelsme to enter—A Compromise, a Bribe, Female Advocacy, andan Escape—On the Road to the Rhine—A Preparation to sellLife dearly—A narrow Escape—Living on Cabbage-Stalks andraw Turnips—Bad Feet and worse Health—A lonely Housenear a Wood—Strong Temptations to Enter—A brutal Host,extreme Danger, and a narrow Escape—Bad Specimens ofHuman Nature | |
| [Page 116] | |
| [CHAPTER IX] | |
An inclement Season—A Retreat in a Cavern-Somnambulism—TheDiscovery of a Shepherd’s Hut—A Traveller put out of awrong Road—Swimming in a Winter’s Night—Passing througha Mill—A suspicious Traveller may be an honest Man—ALorraine Cottage seen through a Fog—Dangers from over-kindPeople—Repugnance to be introduced to a Mayor or any othergood Society—Concealment in a hollow Willow—An honestFellow-traveller of fugitive Reminiscences—An ingeniousFiction—A Perspective of Strasbourg | |
| [Page 131] | |
| [CHAPTER X] | |
The Banks of the Rhine—Contemplations on crossing the Riverirregularly—Difficulties of finding a legal Passage—Mistakingtwo armed Officers for two harmless Fishermen—An appeal toFeelings, and a national Assurance of Patriotism—Cattle crossingthe Bridge of Kehl—An Intermixture with the Cattle, anda Passage over the Rhine—Joy of being out of France—AProgress towards Friburg—Contrast between a warm Featherbedand bivouacking in the Mud—An innocent Landlordclever at a Guess—An Escape round Friburg—A Night’s Rest—Enroute to Constance—A Village Inn—A Countryman fora Waiter, and a long Gossip upon Personal Histories andNative Places—The Inconsistencies of Superstition and Hunger—MyApproach to Constance—Effects on the Mind producedby its magnificent Scenery and beautiful Lake—Crossinga Branch of Lake Constance—Leaving the Kingdom ofWürtemberg and entering the Kingdom of Bavaria—A Night’srest in a Bavarian Village—La route to Lindau—Outmarchingan Enemy—The Gate to Lindau—Successfully passing theSentinels—Elation of Spirits—An awkward Querist—UnsuccessfulInvention—A Capture—Examination and Imprisonment—BitterReflections upon my cruel Destiny | |
| [Page 146] | |
| [CHAPTER XI] | |
A fresh Incarceration—Stripping a Prisoner naked a more effectualdetainer than Chains and Padlocks—Hopes of Escape provedelusive—Gaol Surgery and Gaol Diet—A timely Loan ofBooks—A short Visit from a Swiss Captive—Orders to preparefor a Return to France—A heavy Chain and huge Padlock—TheMob at Lindau—Leave-taking between a Prisoner and theGaoler and Gaoler’s Wife—the Road to France—Going to Bedin Chains—Strict Watching—Chances of a Rescue—Anticipationsof the Horrors of Bitche—Commiseration of my Guards—Crossingthe Bridge of Kehl—A Surrender to the FrenchGendarmes—Captivity in the Military Gaol of Strasbourg—Akind Gaoler and as kind a Wife—His Gratitude for EnglishKindness when a Prisoner of War—Examined by the Police—Affectionateleave-taking of the honest Gaoler and his Wife—Onthe Road to Bitche heavily chained to Eleven Corsicansgoing to suffer Military Execution—The horrible Dungeon ofNiederbronn—A revolting Night’s Confinement—DreadfulSufferings of two of the Corsican Soldiers—Distant Prospects ofBitche—Anticipations of a cruel Confinement—Arrival at theFortress | |
| [Page 174] | |
| [CHAPTER XII] | |
Conjectures of the Prisoners as to my Country and Crimes—Inferencesfrom my Chains that I had committed Murder—Mr.Ashworth and Mr. Tuthill, with Mr. Baker, rejoin me—LieutenantEssel dashed to Pieces in attempting to descend theRamparts of Bitche—My Grief at his Death—The immenseHeight of the Ramparts—My Horrible Dungeon—Its revoltingState of Filth—Interview with the Commandant—An Applicationto be allowed to take the Air granted for Two Hours a Day—Meditationsupon an Escape—Our Efforts baffled—A ChristmasNight in a Dungeon—Reminiscences of Home and Friends—ASentinel firing on his Prisoners—I am removed to a Cell withFifty Prisoners—Again removed to a higher Cell, with onlyTwelve—Improved Condition—Hear of a Scheme of thePrisoners below to effect their Escape—Contrive to join them—Stratagemto drown the Noise of Working-tools—SuccessfulUndermining—Noise in Opening the Third Door—Sentinelsalarmed—The Guards enter—Search and discover our Engineering—Furyof the French Officers—Mr. Brine, answering to thename of O’Brien, is captured instead of me—I escape from theDungeon and regain my own Cell—Feign Illness, and avoidSuspicion | |
| [Page 191] | |
| [CHAPTER XIII] | |
A Trial at Metz—English Officers sentenced to the Galleys—Forgingand using false Passports—The Consequences—A new Schemeof Escape—A favourable Night but unfavourable Sentinels—AFarewell Dinner—Another Attempt at Escape—A Descent ofRamparts by a Rope—Concealment in a Ditch—Rolling downa Glacis—An Adieu to the Mansion of Tears—Making towardsthe Rhine—Concealment in a Wood—Refuge in a Vineyard—Shootinga Fox—Disturbed in our Lair—A Flight and itsDangers—The Banks of the Rhine—Passing the River—A JoyfulEscape into neutral Territory—Prospective Comforts of anInn, and Refreshment | |
| [Page 215] | |
| [CHAPTER XIV] | |
Refreshments at a Village Inn—The Town of Rastadt—A civilTraveller—Good Accommodation—Baden—Awkward Rencontrewith a Royal Party—An Alarm about Passports—A GenteelInn dangerous to Fugitive Travellers—The Advantages of aDrunken Landlord—The Town of Hornberg—To Kriemhieldsach,after passing the Black Forest—Banditti—The Murder ofa French General—A German Inn and a rustic Dance—TheTown of Tütlingen—A Concealment of Eight Days—VainAttempts to smuggle Passports—Progress of our Journey—Crossingthe Iller—Leaving Würtemberg and entering Bavaria—TheProgress of our Flight—Kaufbeuern—An inquisitiveLandlord and frightened Guests | |
| [Page 232] | |
| [CHAPTER XV] | |
Leaving Kaufbeuern on the Left Hand—Crossing the Wardach andthe Lech—A welcome Ferry-boat—The Town of Weilheim—Along and exhausting March—The Soporific of Fatigue—TheFerry over the River Inn—Frightened at a Soldier—A falseAlarm—Crossing the River—The Town of Reichenhall—OurApproach to the Bavarian Frontiers—The Increase of Dangers—PassingBarriers with Success—A Supposition that we were inthe Austrian Dominions—A woeful Miscalculation and anarrow Escape from its fatal Consequences—An unexpectedDemand for Passports—An Evasion—The Bavarian andAustrian Confines—Our extreme Danger—Anticipating theGalleys—A Track through a Wood at the foot of a Mountain—AFlight—The Boundary passed, and the Fugitives in theEmperors Dominions—Soldiers in Ambush—The Fugitivescaptured—Feigning to be Americans from Altona—Rage of theBavarian Guard at being outwitted | |
| [Page 247] | |
| [CHAPTER XVI] | |
Our Arrival at Salzburg—The Director of Police—Perseverance inour Tale of being Americans—Suspected of being Spies—AustrianFeelings favourable towards England and Englishmen—Confessionof the Truth—Treated well as English Officers—Anexcellent Inn—A kind Governor—Great Civility—Despatchesfrom Vienna—Passports ordered for us—A Remittanceof Money from Vienna—Passports for Trieste—Our Journey—GermanStudents and Dog Latin—Clagenfurt—Laibach—Banditti—AMountain Scene—An Irish Watch-fire—Arrival atTrieste—Ecstasies at beholding the Gulf and the EnglishFrigate in the Offing—Our Embarkation—Picked up by theAmphion’s Boat—An old Friend and Shipmate—Discovering anEnemy—A desperate and unsuccessful Fight—The Killed andWounded—Shot through the Right Arm—Valour of Lieut. G.M. Jones—His Wound—Excessive Kindness of the Amphion’sCaptain and Officers—The Spider Brig—Corfu—Malta—SirAlexander Ball—Unexpected Meeting with old Friends escapedfrom Bitche—Promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Warrior (aseventy-four)—The Glories of the Naval Service opened to me | |
| [Page 263] | |
| [CHAPTER XVII] | |
Receiving a Lieutenancy—Lord Collingwood’s Kindness—Joiningthe Warrior—An unexpected Supply of Dollars—An Accidentat Sea—Capture of Ischia and Procida—Expedition against theIonian Isles—Joining the Amphion—Captain Hoste’s Activityin the Adriatic—Commodore Dubourdieu and his Squadron atAncona—Chasing the Enemy—A Wild-goose Pursuit—Successat Last—A glorious Battle and a splendid Victory—Details ofthe Action at Lissa—My Return to England—Interview withthe First Lord of the Admiralty—A Visit to Ireland—A Solicitationfrom Captain Hoste to Join the Bacchante as FirstLieutenant—Revisiting the Mediterranean—Provoking theEnemy—They provoking us—A Capture—Unhappy Loss ofPrizes—An inexplicable Accident—Extraordinary Explosion ofa French Frigate—A Flag of Truce—Venice—Corfu—Captureof Flotilla | |
| [Page 287] | |
| [CHAPTER XVIII] | |
Capture of General Bordé and his Staff—A gallant BoardingExploit—A horrible Murder by Italian Prisoners of War—Successof our Navy—A Balance of Accounts—My Promotion—Quittingthe Bacchante—Pain of leaving old Friends andbrave Shipmates—The Plague at Malta—Captain Pell gives mea Passage Home—An ineffectual Chase and a narrow Escape—Stratagemsof the Enemy—Toulon—Gibraltar—The EnglishChannel—Ingenious Device of Captain Pell, resulting in thecurious Capture of a French Privateer—Arrival in England—Akind Reception by the First Lord of the Admiralty—An OfficialPromise—“Hope deferred maketh the Heart sick”—A Returnto London—The Peace of 1814—Its Consequences—Half-Payand an End to all Adventures | |
| [Page 331] | |
| Letter of Barklimore to O’Brien | |
| [Page 339] | |