| On Thursday the 27th inst., about E. by S. eighteen
leagues from Yarmouth, I made a signal to the Rear-Admiral of twelwe sail of ships in
sight, believing they were the enemy ; upon which he with his whole squadron gave chase,
but the Worcester, getting a start of about two or three miles ahead, we made the
chase to be a Swede's man-of-war of 48 guns, and the rest were Swedish merchant-ships
under his convoy. I came within shot with colours flying, expecting he would strike his
topsail and pay the usual respect to her Majesty's ensigns, which he omitting to do, I
ordered a shot to be fired athwart his forefoot, of which he took no notice, his topsails
being up a trip. I then ordered another shot in the same manner ; he did not yet strike,
but sent me his boat with a lieutenant, who asked in his captain's name why I fired those
two shots. I asked him if his captain did not see the ensigns of her Majesty flying ; he
answered Yes. I asked him why he did not own her Majesty's sovereignty by
striking to her colours as all other nations did in these her seas ; he replied, they were
to strike to no ship whatever. I answered that if he would not fairly do it without
bringing it to a further issue, it was my duty to force him to it, and away he went ; upon
which I ran up with the ship and called to the captain myself, telling him if he would not
strike I would fire a broadside into him. This not doing, I fired one shot through him ;
he fired another into me ; we were loaded double and round below, and double round and
partridge aloft, and so near that our yard-arms were within one another. I then ordered
our whole broadside to be fired into him, which made a lamentable cry on board, and, as we
are told by her own people since, there was twenty-five men killed and wounded. He fired
at us, and so we were in for it broadside and broadside ; our braces, bowlings and topsail
sheets were so shot that, being afraid we should lose the working of the ship, I stretched
ahead, knotted them again, came upon him on the other tack, and laid him athwart the
hawse, and raked him with that broadside fore and aft. I then called to him to strike his
topsails, but he would not. I loaded and fired as fast as I could. In this time some of
our ships came upon him the other way, yard-arm and yard-arm, and gave him that broadside
; and thus it continued upwards of four hours, until both his topsail yards came down, and
then we desisted. Whether his yards came down by shot or by
his own striking I do not know, but the captain says himself he did not strike.
I am now according to the aforesaid orders got hither with her
Majesty's ship the Sorlings, the Swede's man-of-war, and ten merchantmen, all of whom I
keep with me until I receive his Royal Highness's or Council's order to relieve them.
It is said by the master of the Swede's man-of-war, who speaks good
English, that they had 134 men killed and wounded ; but this is by no means allowed by the
captain nor his lieutenant, for they will not own how great their damage is ; but I went
aboard myself and saw a very lamentable sight.
By the judgement myself, my officers and other people make, the
Swede is mightily in the French interest, and by chance the lieutenant was heard to say
that he wished they had met Monsieur St. Paul ; and I am very much mistaken of there are
not more Swede's men-of-war coming out to join the Dunkirk squadron, or to go for Brest.
This I only take from chance of words I have heard spoken, but cannot produce any
certainty for it.
Lieutenant Tompson of the Litchfield is on board the Swede
by the Rear-Admiral's order, whom I have advised by all means to find out what he possibly
can of these matters, and to give me in writing, which he promised to do.
I humbly hope his Royal Highness and Council will be of opinion that
what is done as to my part of it was but my duty to do in compliance with my instructions
and the support of her Majesty's honour.
The Rear Admiral, seeing how warmly I was engaged, sent me thanks by
my lieutenant for my proceedings therein.
Historical Manuscripts Commission
Report on the manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Portland....
vol. VIII, s. 133-135
London, 1907 |
KOMMENTARER
Butlers skildring av händelseförloppet, fastän
kortfattat, stämmer i stort sett bra överens med de versioner som ges i Psilanders
relationer och i "Uppsalarelationen". De mest intressanta detaljerna rör
egentligen de yttranden som, enligt Butler, ska ha fällts av den svenske löjtnanten och
den svenske styrmannen. Löjtnanten, vilken borde vara Herman Schmidt, ska ha beklagat att
de inte råkat på St. Pol och Butler förmodar att svenskarna tänker skicka krigsfartyg
till Brest eller Dunkerque för att delta i det franska kaparkriget.
Styrmannen, (Roserus von Ackern?), ska ha sagt att Öland
hade 134 döda och sårade som ett resultat av striden. Kan det vara ett tecken på
att von Ackern varit missnöjd med Psilanders agerande och velat understryka detta genom
att ge engelsmännen överdrivna förlustsiffror? Eller handlar det om ett missförstånd,
orsakat av "språksvårigheter"?
Det framgår av brevet att Butler var en smula orolig
över hur hans agerande skulle uppfattas på högre ort. Med tanke på de instruktioner
han var utrustad med, så hade Butler nog haft större skäl till oro om han låtit
Psilander slippa undan. Det är uppenbart att man på högre ort gillade Butlers agerande. |