CHARGES AND PROOFS RESPECTING THE CONDUCT OF PETER LANDAIS.
(COPY.)
WE, the Officers, &c. of the American squadron now at the Texel, this 30th day of October, 1779, do attest and declare, upon our words of honor, as gentlemen, that all the following Articles, which we subscribe, respecting the conduct of PETER LANDAIS, Captain of the frigate Alliance, are really and truly matters of fact. In Witness whereof, we hereunto sign our names and qualities; and will, at any time hereafter, be ready to prove the same upon oath, if required.
1. The Captain of the Alliance did not take the steps in his power, to prevent his ship from getting foul of the Bon Homme Richard, in the Bay of Biscay; for, instead of putting his helm a-weather and bearing up, to make way for his Commanding Officer (which was his duty), he left the deck to load his pistols.
2. When in chace of a ship (supposed an English East-Indiaman), on the — day of August, 1779, Captain Landais did not do his utmost to overtake that ship, which he might easily have done before night; but put his helm a-weather, and bore away several times in the day, after the Alliance had gained the wake of the chace, and was overtaking her very fast.
3. Captain Landais behaved with disrespect and impertinence towards the Commander in Chief of the squadron, on frequent occasions.
4. He disobeyed his signals.
5. He very seldom answered any of them.
6. He expressed his fears and apprehensions of being taken on the coast of Ireland; and insisted on leaving sight of it immediately, when we had cruised there only two days.
7. His separation from the squadron, the first time, must have happened either through ignorance or design; because tho' he distinctly saw the signal for the course before night, yet he altered it, first two, and then four points of the compass before morning.
8. His separation from the squadron, the second time, must also have happened through ignorance or design; because, the wind being at N. W. and the other ships, to his knowledge, lying to, and being astern of the Alliance, what less than separation could be the consequence of his obstinacy, in ordering the weather main brace to be hauled in, and the ship to be steered S. W. and S. W. by S. in the trough of the sea; which was done from ten at night 'till morning: and he would not then permit the ship to be tacked, in order to rejoin the squadron, as was proposed to him by the officers.
9. On the morning of the 23d Sept. when the Bon Homme Richard, after being off the Spurn, came in sight of the Alliance and Pallas, off Flamborough Head, Captain Landais distinctly told Captain Cottineau, that if it was, as it appeared, a fifty-gun ship, they must run away; altho' he must have been sure that the Pallas, from her heavy sailing, must have fallen a sacrifice.
[Page 6]10. In the afternoon of the same day, Captain Landais paid no attention to signals, particularly the signal of preparation and for the line, which was made with great care, and very distinctly, on board the Bon Homme Richard.
11. Altho' the Alliance was a long way ahead of the Bon Homme Richard, when bearing down on the Baltic fleet, yet Captain Landais lay out of gun-shot to windward, until the Bon Homme Richard had passed by and closely engaged the Serapis; and then, instead of coming to close action with the Countess of Scarborough, the Alliance fired at very long shot.
12. He continued to windward, and, a considerable time after the action began, fell astern and spoke the Pallas; leaving the Countess of Scarborough in the wake of the ships engaged, and at free liberty to rake the Bon Homme Richard.
13. After the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis were made fast along-side of each other, as in the margin, (which was not done till an hour after the engagement began) Captain Landais, out of musket-shot, raked the Bon Homme Richard with crossbar and grape shot, &c. which killed a number of men, dismounted sundry guns, put out the side-lights, and silenced all the twelve-pounders.
14. The Alliance then ran down towards the Pallas and Countess of Scarborough, that were, at the time, engaged at a considerable distance to leeward of the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis, and Captain Landais hovered about there out of gun-shot, and without firing, 'till some time after the Countess of Scarborough had struck; and then bore down, under his top-sails, and spoke, first the prize, and then the Pallas, asking a number of questions.
15. At last Captain Landais made sail, under his top-sails, to work up to windward, but made tacks before he (being within the range of grape shot, and, at the longest, three quarters of an hour before the Serapis struck) fired a second broadside into the Bon Homme Richard's larboard quarter, the latter part whereof was fired when the Alliance was not more than three points abast the Bon Homme Richard's beam, altho' many tongues had cried from the Bon Homme Richard, that Captain Landais was firing into the wrong ship, and prayed him to lay the enemy along-side. Three large signal lanthorns, with proper signal wax candles in them, and well lighted, had also, previously to his firing, been hung over the bow, quarter and waist of the Bon Homme Richard, in a horizontal line, which was the signal of reconnoisance; and the ships, the one having a high poop, and being all black, the other having a low stern, with yellow sides▪ were easily distinguishable, it being full moon.
16. The Alliance then passed at a very considerable distance along the larboard or off-side of the Bon Homme Richard, and having tacked and gained the wind, ran down again to leeward, and, in crossing the Bon Homme Richard's bow, Captain Landais raked her with a third broadside, after being constantly called to from the Bon Homme Richard, not to fire, but to lay the enemy along-side.
17. Sundry men were killed and wounded by the broadsides mentioned in the two last articles.
18. Captain Landais never passed on the off-side of the Serapis, nor could that ship ever bring a gun to bear on the Alliance at any time during the engagement.
19. The leaks of the Bon Homme Richard increased much after being fired upon by the Alliance; and as the most dangerous shot which the Bon Homme Richard received under the water, were under the larboard bow and quarter, they must [Page 7] have come from the Alliance, for the Serapis was on the other side.
20. Several people on board the Alliance told Captain Landais, at different times, that he fired upon the wrong ship; others refused to fire.
21. The Alliance only fired three broadsides while within gun-shot of the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis.
22. The morning after the engagement, Captain Landais acknowledged on board the Serapis, that he raked each time with grape-shot, which he knew would scatter.
23. Captain Landais has acknowledged since the action, that he would have thought it no harm if the Bon Homme Richard had struck, for it would have given him an opportunity to re-take her, and to take the Serapis.
24. He has frequently declared that he was the only American in the Squadron, and that he was not under the orders of Captain Jones.
25. In coming into the Texel, he declared that if Captain Jones should hoist a broad pendant, he would, to vex him, hoist another.
I attest the articles number 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 15, 16 and 22, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
ROBERT CORAM, Midshipman of the late Ship the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 10, 21 and 22, to be matters of fact and I believe all the rest.
J. W. LINTHWATE, Midshipman of the late Ship the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21 and 22, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
JOHN MAYRANT, Midshipman of the late Ship the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
Lieut. Col. WUBERT, American Engineer, and Commanding Officer of the Volunteers on board the Serapis, late of the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3 and 11, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
BENJAMIN STUBBS, Midshipman of the late Ship Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
THOMAS POTTER, Midshipman of the late Ship of war the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 19, to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
NATH. FANNING, Midshipman of the late Ship the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 21 to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
THOS. LUNDY, Midshipman of the late Ship Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, and 17 to be matters of fact, and I believe all the rest.
BEAUMONT GROU [...]E, Midshipman of the late Ship Bon Homme Richard.
We attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 18, * 20, and 21 to be matters of fact.
- JAMES DEGGE, Lieut. Alliance.
- JOHN BUCKLEY, Master, Alliance.
- JOHN LARCHAR, Ma. Mate Alliance.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 23 to be matters of fact.
STACK, Lieut. of Walsh's Regt. and Officer of Volunteers on board the Bon Homme Richard, by conge from Court.
[Page 8]I attest the articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, 23, and 24 to be matters of fact.
MACARTHY, Officer of Walsh's Regt. and Lieut. of Volunteers on board the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest to the articles 11, 12, 14, and 24; as to the 4th article, I know that he refused to obey the signals for going on board the Bon Homme Richard; and with respect to the 9th article, I recollect that he said, "If it is a ship of more than fifty guns, we have nothing to do, but to run away."
De COTTINEAU de KLOGUENE, Captain of the Pallas.
[The original of this last is in French.]
I attest the articles number 2, 5, 11, 12, 20, and 22 to be matters of fact.
M. PARK, Capt. of Marines on board the American Frigate Alliance.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21, to be matters of fact. RICHARD DALE, Lieut. of the late ship of war the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, and 22, to be matters of fact.
HENRY LUNT, Lieut. of the late ship the Bon Homme Richard.
I attest the articles number 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21, to be matters of fact.
SAMUEL STACEY, Master of the late ship the Bon Homme Richard.
No. II.
THE moment I was going on board your ship, I was just informed from shore, that Mr. Landais was there, with the American Lieut. Col. * and that they were determined to speak with Mr. De Cottineau. As he is not in a condition to support such an interview, I am instantly going to him.
Landais is a madman, from whom every thing is to be feared; against which I am now preparing myself.
No. III.
I THE under-signed Philip Ricot, Captain of a vessel in the service of the United States of America, and Commander of the Tender Vengeance, in conformity to the request of Commodore Paul Jones, my Commander, do communicate to him, and affirm to the different circumstances hereafter declared; in which M. Landais, Captain of the frigate Alliance, has, in this cruize, appeared to have deviated from that subordination which the service requires.
I observed, that, on the 31st of August, at half past four in the afternoon, a signal was made him by the Commodore to chace a sail in sight, which M. Landais did not obey.
The next day, Sept. 1st, the Commodore made him a signal to come under his stern, that he might speak with him: this M. Landais did not do.
The 5th of Sept. the Captains of the division being on board the Commodore, according to his orders, M. Landais was the only one who refused to go; and altho' Messrs. de Chamillard and Cottineau went on board the Alliance, to persuade him to it, he persisted in his refusal.
That, in the night of the 23d and 24th of said month, during the engagement between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis, the Alliance remained within cannon-shot of the enemy's ship, from about half after eight till ten o'clock, without my having seen her fire. I shall add, that, Oct. 1st, at eight at night, I received orders from the Commodore to go and tell M. Landais, who was to windward, to take post a-stern of him; to which I received [Page 9] this answer, and which was repeated by M. Landais himself: "Go, tell the Commodore, that he may go where he pleases."a The inconsistence of this answer, and his rudeness to me, have since obliged me to testify my dissatisfaction to M. Landais, who appeared to have forgot it.
I affirm to the facts above declared.
[The Vengeance was to windward, just out of gun-shot, during the whole action between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis. The Captain was a sensible man, and a good Officer.]
IV.
THESE are to certify, that I, Henry Lunt, Second Lieut. of the American ship of war, the late Bon Homme Richard, but now of the Serapis, commanded by the Honorable John Paul Jones, having, on the 23d day of Sept, 1779, been ordered in a pilot-boat, with a party of men, after a brig; but, some time after I set out from along-side, a signal was made for me to return back to the Bon Homme Richard, she being then in chace of two British ships of war, the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough; and before I could get on board the Bon Homme Richard, she commenced engagement with the British ship of war Serapis. It being night, I thought it not prudent to go along-side in the time of action. Being in this boat near, I had an opportunity of seeing some part of the Alliance's behaviour, above three quarters of an hour after the action began with the Richard and Serapis. The Alliance was to windward of them, and appeared to be lying to, about one mile distance. At the same time, the Pallas was engaging the Countess of Scarborough to leeward of the Alliance, out of my sight. Presently, after the Pallas and Countess of Scarborough had ceased firing, the Alliance bore down for them, and disappeared out of my sight. What she did there, I can't tell; but she was gone, as near as I can judge, one hour and three-quarters, and then appeared to me to be going up to assist the Bon Homme Richard, but was half-an-hour from that time before she fired; and, after she got up to the Richard and Serapis, she fired, and then stood off from them to the Eastward some ways and, as near as I can judge, was gone better than half an hour, then returned back to the Richard and Serapis, and fired again.
[This Certificate of Lieut. Lunt, who was a near spectator, is of great weight and importance; it being only in the power of this gentleman, or of Captain Ricot (who, in the Vengeance, was also a near spectator) to give a true account of the respective positions and manoeuvres of the ships engaged.]
V.
WE, the under-signed Officers on board the Tender La Vengeance, certify that, Oct. 1st, at eight at night, we received orders from the Commander of the Squadron, Commodore Paul Jones, to go and order the Frigare Alliance, which was to windward, to join the fleet, and to form the rear of the Squadron; at half past eight we communicated the Commodore's orders to the Alliance; and a voice, which we knew to be that of M. Landais, Captain of the said Frigate, answered us twice, bidding us tell the Commodore to go where he pleased; after which, without further answer we went to resume our station. In witness whereof we have signed these presents, to serve as a proof of the above.
- VINET.
- GAUGUET.
- FESNEAU.
No. VI.
I, THE under-signed, certify, that I was extremely surprised in the evening of the 23d of September, when I did not hear [Page 10] the Alliance begin the engagement, either with the Serapis or the Countess of Scarborough; having remarked, just before I went to the main-top (where I commanded a detachment during the action), that she appeared to me to be very near them. M. Landais had pressed sail, during the whole afternoon, without orders. M. Cottineau hailed us, and asked what station he should take during the action, and complained to M. Jones, that M. Landais, instead of forming the rear, as it had been agreed, took the van, which was his (M. Cottineau's), from him. M. Jones, however, made the signal for forming the line; and I well recollect that he caused a manoeuvre to be made, in order that the Alliance might clearly see his signal; but M. Landais, as usual, paid no attention to it; and we all thought the Alliance engaged a long time before us.
After taking my station in the main-top, I thought no more of the Alliance, because the main-top-sail hid her from me. A little while after the Serapis hailed us, and I then perceived the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough pretty nigh each other. We immediately began the engagement with the Serapis, and I did not perceive the Alliance till about two hours afterwards, when I saw her rake us with her whole broadside, a little to larboard of us; and, at the same time, I heard a hundred voices hailing the Alliance, and telling them, that it was on board the Bon Homme Richard that she was firing; a moment afterwards she passed us on our larboard side, and it was with difficulty, that I hindered the people whom I commanded from firing on her. I hailed M. Landais as loud as I could, saying to him, "I beg you will not sink us." I at the same time thought that M. Landais was taking the advantage of our circumstances to destroy M. Jones, and thereby save himself the trouble he must have expected for having disobeyed M. Jones, in chasing without orders, and in edging off, to shape a contrary course, when the signal was made to chase; and on several other occasions, such as refusing to come on board the Bon Homme Richard to consult on the necessary operations, &c.
The Alliance then came athwart our bow, and began afresh to cannonade us very smartly; I then had not the least doubt of his intention to sink us, and should have fired on the Alliance, in preference to the Serapis, but that the main-top-sail and other sails concealed her from us. At the instant when they cried that the Serapis had struck, I came down, and was informed that the Alliance had killed us a number of people, and, amongst others, an Officer who was on the forecastle. In my opinion, there was not a soul on board the Bon Homme Richard, who did not believe that M. Landais knew us before he fired, as we were higher out of water than the Serapis; that it was moon-light, and that we had made the signal by which we must have been known, during the action.
The First Lieutenant of the Countess of Scarborough told me, some days since, that he had remarked, during the action with the Pallas, that the Alliance was for some time athwart and to windward of them; that as soon as the Scarborough had struck, the Alliance came and hailed them, and asked them, what vessel that was, which was engaged? He was answered, that it was the Serapis. He asked her force, but they would not tell him; he then tacked and shaped his course, under his top-sails only, to join us.
[Mr. Stack had the distinguished advantage of commanding in the main-top, and that post was essentially useful in the engagement. His merit obtained such a certificate from his Commodore, as, being presented to the Minister of War, at Versailles, procured him promotion from Sub-Lieutenant to the rank of Captain, with a pecuniary gratification for the loss of his effects, when the Bon Homme Richard [Page 11] sunk; and, since the war, his Most Christian Majesty has, for his behaviour in the Bon Homme Richard, granted him an annuity of four hundred livres for life.]
No. VII.
WHEREAS since the campaign of 1779, there have been various and partial reports secretly spread against the private and social character of Commodore Paul Jones, formerly commanding the squadron of the Bon Homme Richard; and as, among other hearsays and groundless stories, I have sometimes heard that the above-mentioned Officer had formally given the Lie to M. Landais, formerly Captain of the Alliance, relating to the loss of a boat in sight of the coast of Ireland:— Therefore, I declare and affirm, that the aforesaid Commodore did not say to M. Landais, "You Lie," but no more than these very words, "It is an untruth;" which M. Landais was pleased to interpret as a formal giving the Lie; who was never able to overcome his peevish, obstinate, turbulent and ungovernable temper, which he constantly shewed during the whole of the campaign. Moreover, I certify, that Commodore Paul Jones, far from commanding with haughtiness or brutality, as certain persons have endeavored to circulate, was always (tho' very strict and sharp in the service) affable, genteel, and very indulgent, not only towards his Officers, but likewise towards the sailors and soldiers, whom he ever treated with humanity. —As I was a witness to the above-mentioned quarrel, I must in conscience confess, that M. Landais gave, at the time, great cause for it, by the arrogant manner which he assumed towards his Commander, [...]n answer to the peaceable, good and fair [...]easons, to which he would never yield; [...]o far to the contrary, that he (M. Landais) answered the Commodore (I and Lieutenant Colonel Chamillard both being present) in the most gross and insulting [...]erms—at first in English, which he immediately rendered in French, that M. Chamillard might not be ignorant of any thing that passed. The whole of the aforesaid quarrel happened in the round-house of the Bonne Homme Richard, the 23d or 25th of August, in the above-mentioned year. I conclude by saying, that M. Landais accompanied or affirmed his offensive and very scandalous discourse, by the most provoking gestures.
No. VIII.
Extract of a Letter from Captain Paul Jones, of the American Navy, to Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont
*, dated Brest,
Nov.
16, 1778.
"I thank you, with all my heart, for your promise of attention to my last, as well as for your assurance that the Indien is not to be armed before the spring. You know that I have remained in Europe on the faith of commanding that ship. I have on that account, and to shew my gratitude to France, lost so much time, and with it such opportunities as I cannot regain. Give me but an assurance that the Indien will be reserved for me, and bestowed on no other person, and I will say I am satisfied. This, I pledge myself, will be no loss to France: America is not ungrateful. The noble-minded Congress know not the little mean distinctions of climate, or place of nativity; nor have they adopted any rule, which can preclude them from encouraging and rewarding the merit of a stranger, by raising him even to the first posts of honor. In the army there are many instances of this. In the navy, young as it is, it gives me particular pleasure to inform [Page 12] you, that Congress have given the command of the best ship in the service to a French Officer, and called the ship the Alliance."
NOTE to No. VIII.
On the 9th of May, 1777, Mr. Paul Jones was directed to proceed to France (by the Marine Committee) and to obey the orders of the Secret Committee. Being arrived in Europe, it was the intention of Congress, "that he should be invested with the command of a fine fast-sailing Frigate or larger ship." In pursuance of this plan, the Secret Committee of Congress wrote to the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee, Esqrs. Commissioners, &c. at Paris, as follows, viz.
"This letter is intended to be delivered to you by John Paul Jones, Esq. an active and brave Commander in our navy, who has already performed signal services in vessels of little force; and, in reward for his zeal, we have directed him, &c."—"You will assign him some good house or agent to supply him with every thing necessary to get the ship speedily and well equipped and manned: somebody that will bestir themselves vigorously in the business, and never quit it until it is accomplished." The letter concluded thus:—"You see by this step how much dependence Congress place in your advices, and you must make it a point not to disappoint Capt. Paul Jones's wishes, and our expectations, on this occasion. We are, Honorable Gentlemen, your obedient humble servants,
The ship in question was the Indien, then on the stocks at Amsterdam, belonging to the United States. But this having been discovered to the British Minister by some of Mr. Arthur Lee's papers, of which they had got possession just before Mr. Paul Jones arrived at Paris, and the Treaty of Alliance being on the point to be concluded, he consented to their assigning over the property of that ship to the King of France. Among the political reasons which operated this arrangement, was the great opposition made to the equipment of the Indien, by the British Ambassador in Holland. The command of the Indien was, however, reserved for Mr. Paul Jones, till (subsequent to his campaign of 1779) he had made an arrangement of a plan with the Count de Maurepas, which promised much greater importance to the common cause, and required his immediate return to America. After this, his Majesty lent the use of the Indien to the Prince de Luxembourg for three years, and the Prince chartered her, for the term prescribed, to Mr. Gillon, of South-Carolina, under the commission of that State. This was the ship that Mr. Gillon came in to Philadelphia, under the name of the South-Carolina, in the year 1782.
No. IX.
Extract of a letter from Captain Paul Jones, of the American Navy, to the Honorable J. Adams
*, dated L'Orient,
May
13, 1779.
"You will confer a singular obligation on me, by favoring me with your opinion and advice respecting the unhappy misunderstanding, which I am told prevails on board the Alliance. I ask your advice, because, though I am determined to preserve order and discipline where I command, yet I wish to reprove with moderation, and never punish while there remains a good alternative.—It appears that there is a fault at least in one of the parties, and I wish much to know where the fault lies; for without harmony and general good will among the officers, I cannot proceed with a good prospect."
No. X.
Extract of a letter from the same to his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esq. dated on board the Bon Homme Richard, at anchor in the road Groix,
June
18, 1779.
"I have had a most disagreeable talk to [Page 13] compose affairs on board the Alliance. The two principal officers, Lieutenants Hill and Adams, have at last left her without a conge †, and I believe in consequence, that a better understanding will subsist between the officers that remain."
No. XI.
I The Subscriber, being sent for by the Commodore on the 23d day of September, to repair immediately on board his ship (the Bon Homme Richard) there to examine and find out the leaks of his ship; which was within an hour after the engagement with the Serapis, an English ship of war. I accordingly obeyed the Commodore's orders, and repaired on board his ship; when, after searching diligently without, and within the said ship, I found it was impracticable to stop the leaks, the ship's bottom being so much shattered. Therefore I solemnly protest, that the said ship's bottom was so much damaged, that I found it impossible to repair it in such a manner as that the said ship might be kept above water any considerable time.—The above I can attest to as a fact.
No. XII.
I The Subscriber, late Midshipman on board the American ship of war, the Bon Homme Richard; but now act in that capacity on board the ship of war Serapis, which ship was taken by the Bon Homme Richard, on the night of the 23d of September last, the same night I was stationed in the Bon Homme Richard's main-top the whole of the action. And about two hours after the engagement first commenced, I saw, to my great surprise, the Alliance come under the Bon Homme Richard's stern, and fire her whole broadside into the Bon Homme Richard; she then came along the off side of the Bon Homme Richard, and came under the Bon Homme Richard's bow, when she discharged another volley of both grape and round shot, which I heard strike the rigging, masts, &c. on board the Bon Homme Richard.
Though previous to the Alliance's firing the second time into the Bon Homme Richard, I heard some of our officers and men call to the Alliance (which was not then without hail) for God's sake not to fire into the Bon Homme Richard, for, said they, you have killed several of our men already. Notwithstanding all this, she fired a number of shot afterwards into the Bon Homme Richard. But as to the number of men the Alliance killed on board the Bon Homme Richard, I cannot ascertain; however, as to what I have written here, I can attest to as a fact.
No. XIII.
I, late Midshipman on board of the Bon Homme Richard, and Aid-du-Camp to the Honorable John Paul Jones, in the action of the 23d of September, off Flamborough Head, do certify, that an hour after the commencement of it, I was on the main deck, where there was a brisk firing kept up until a ship raked us, when I saw two men drop dead, and several running from their quarters, crying out that the Alliance is manned with Englishmen, and firing upon on us. I went up immediately, and saw [Page 14] her pass by us. She then, in about two hours' time, came under our stern, and while we were hailing her, she fired into our larboard quarter, and went a-head of us; then came before the wind, athwart our bows, when she was hailed, by Capt. Jones's orders, to lay the enemy on board; but they returning no answer, were hailed once or twice again, to which they answered ay, ay, and immediately fired several guns, but they being at too great a distance to damage the enemy, without hurting of us, when she might have come half as near again without any danger of running foul of us, or damaging us. But, previous to the above-mentioned engagement, a signal was hove out from the Bon Homme Richard, to form a line of battle, to which the Alliance paid no attention, but during the whole cruize, the Alliance very seldom attended to any of Capt. Jones's signals. It is my sincere opinion, on the conduct of the Commander of the said ship, together with her manoeuvres during the time of action, on the 23d of last September, that his motive must have been to kill Capt. Jones, and distress the Bon Homme Richard, so as to cause her to strike to the Serapis, that he might himself be able to take the Serapis, and honor himself with laurels of that day.
No. XIV.
I, late Midshipman on board of the American Ship of War, Le Bon Homme Richard, commanded by the honorable John Paul Jones, Esquire, at present on board of the Serapis, prize to the above Ship, do certify, that while at my station in the mizen-top, after we had engaged about two hours and a half, I saw, to my great surprize and astonishment, the Alliance Frigate fire several guns into our larboard quarter. Some time after, I being ordered from my station in the mizen-top on deck, I saw, from the forecastle, the Alliance standing athwart our bows before the wind; Mr. Linthwaite was then hailing her, by Captain Jones's orders, to lay the enemy on board, but hearing no answer to his repeated hail, I hailed her in the same words, "lay the enemy on board;" no answer being yet made, I asked them if they heard us, to which they replied ay, ay, and fired several guns at that distance, that part of her grape and cannister shot damaged us as well as the enemy; whereas, it is my opinion, had the Alliance came half the distance nearer the Serapis than she did, she might have cleared the enemy's decks, and not have raked the Bon Homme Richard.
Previous to the afore-mentioned engagement, a signal was hove out by Captain Jones's orders, to form a line of battle, to which no attention was paid on the part of the Alliance. If I may be allowed to give my opinion on the general conduct of the Commander, together with the manoeuvres of the said Ship during the action, it appears to me his motive must have been to have distressed the Bon Homme Richard, so as to have caused her to strike to the Serapis, and by boarding the Serapis, to retake the Bon Homme Richard, and thereby claim the laurels of that day.
No. XV.
I, late Midshipman on board the Bon Homme Richard, and Aid-du-Camp to the Honorable John Paul Jones, Esquire, in the action of 23d of September, off Flamborough Head, do certify, that about an [Page 15] hour after the commencement of it, I heard some of the men that were stationed on the forecastle cry out, the Alliance rakes us, and has wounded Mr. Caswell, the Master's Mate, with several men; this report was afterwards confirmed by Mr. Caswell, above-mentioned; and he declared in his last dying words, he received his wound from the Alliance. This Ship then disappeared, and did not return until an hour and a half; as soon as she was discovered, Captain Jones ordered the signal lanthorns of reconnoissance to be placed at proper distances from each other, on the larboard side, which order was obeyed by the Master, notwithstanding, she came up to our larboard quarter and fired into us, then shot a-head and stood athwart our bow, when I hailed, by order from Captain Jones, to lay the enemy on board, to which no answer was made: Mr. Coram also repeated the same order, then asked them if they heard us, their reply was ay, ay, the instant after, she raked without apparently drawing any nearer the distance than being only within the range of grape shot, and the two ships lying parallel with their sides touching each other, several of his shot were drove into the Bon Homme Richard. The conclusion I shall make, relative to Captain Landais' conduct on the 23d of Sept. and previous to that time, is, that his principal object was to kill Captain Jones, cause the Richard to strike, that he might step in and claim the honor of the day.
No. XVI.
BEING on board the Alliance on the 23d September, 1779, and stationed on the quarter-deck in the time of the action with the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough, do certify, that I saw the Countess of Scarborough rake † the Bon Homme Richard, but cannot say whether she raked her more than once.
No. XVII.
CAPTAIN Landais has oftentimes, in my presence, spoken disrespectfully and even impudently of Captain Jones. On one occasion, about the beginning of September last, on the coast of Scotland, I went on board the Alliance frigate, by desire of Captain Jones, and told Captain Landais, that he requested of him to be furnished with the names of the Officers and men he had, a day or two before that, put on board the prize ship the Union, Captain Johnston, that he (Captain Jones) might be enabled to dispatch her; or to be informed what directions he had given, if any, as well with respect to that vessel, as also with respect to the prize ship, the Betsey, Captain Fisher, which also had been manned from the Alliance. Captain Landais, in reply, told me very pertly, that Captain Jones had no business at all to give orders, or to concern himself with any of those vessels, for that both of them had already received proper instructions from him; and that the orders he had given were agreeable to the direction he had received from Captain Jones. I told him [Page 16] I was of opinion no Commander in the squadron, except Captain Jones, was authorised to send away a prize, or otherwise dispose of her, when in his presence, but by virtue of particular orders obtained from him for that purpose. Captain Landais, in a sneering manner, again replied, that he would let Captain Jones know, that he had as good a right to dispatch prizes as he had; that they were Captains of equal rank; and that the only difference between them was seniority on the part of Captain Jones, which he held of little consideration: and at last Colonel Wibert, who had accompanied me on board, and myself returned on board the Bon Homme Richard, totally unable to inform Captain Jones what Captain Landais had ordered with respect to those two ships. A short time after this, a signal was made on board the Commodore's ship, for the Captains of the squadron to come on board. Captain Cottineau and Captain Ricot accordingly came on board. Captain Landais not obeying, Captain Jones desired me to go again on board the Alliance, and deliver Captain Landais a letter which he then handed to me, and which I understood contained an order for him to come immediately on board; accordingly I went on board the Alliance, and delivered Captain Landais the letter, which he took with him to the cabin, and in a few minutes returned and delivered me another for Captain Jones: this I brought instantly on board, and delivered to him. It contained a second refusal on the part of Captain Landais, and very much offended the gentlemen who had politely obeyed the signal, and were then waiting for him. Captain Jones, chagrined by the obstinacy or that Officer, would have proceeded to the business he had in view, without paying any further attention to him; but being still anxious to have his opinion on and approbation of the measure, conjointly with the other Officers of the squadron, a further attempt to obtain his company was resolved on; for this purpose (at the desire of Captain Jones) Captain Cottineau, Mr. Chamillard and myself went on board the Alliance, to try the effect of persuasion upon Captain Landais; but in vain did those gentlemen represent to him the absolute necessity there was for his joining in consultation with his brother Officers; that the good of the service demanded his compliance, as an enterprize of some moment was to be deliberated on; but, alas! in vain did they waste an hour and more in arguments to this end; in vain did they attempt to persuade him; in vain did they entreat him; in vain did they tell him what he had to dread from the consequences of his obstinately persisting to disobey the orders of his Commanding Officer. Instead of paying polite attention to the advice given him, he, on the contrary, not only disregarded it, but gave himself the liberty to speak of Captain Jones in terms highly disrespectful and insolent, and said he would see him on shore, when they must kill one or other, &c.
On the 23d September last, when the signal for a general chase was given to pursue the Baltic fleet, the Alliance Frigate was the headmost ship of our squadron, and continued to keep a-head until she began to near the enemy, when Captain Landais very unexpectedly and agreeably surprised Capt. Jones by hauling his ship's wind, thereby politely leaving room for his commander to approach the largest ship, which he instantly engaged; Capt. Landais still keeping at a respectful distance from his commander, which respect he however continued to preserve, mal-a-propos, until very late in the engagement. The action had lasted more than an hour, and the Serapis and Bon Homme Richard had been made fast along-side each other by Captain Jones, head and stern together, for some time before I received the wound which obliged me to quit the deck, at which time the Bon Homme Richard still continued alone with a force much superior to herself; and altho' she had been most severely treated by her enemy, she nevertheless continued to hug her in close embrace. The [Page 17] behaviour of our consorts upon this day was very mysterious, but that of Captain Landais was of such a cast, as, in my opinion, must unavoidably announce him to the public a man devoid of conduct—a man of infamous principles—or, a rank coward.
[N. B. The Alliance having received no shot from the enemy, her Captain had the advantage to have none of his men either killed or wounded during the whole engagement. And it is highly worthy of remark, that before the Alliance raked the Bon Homme Richard by firing alternately into her head and stern, the enemy had been dislodged and driven from the tops and quarter-deck of the Serapis to her first and second batteries, where they were under cover; whereas, the discharge of the second battery aforesaid having beaten in one side of the Bon Homme Richard and blown out the other, so as to make a breach from before the main-mast to the stern, inclusive of the stern-post and rudder, which were cut off, had ferreted out and dislodged all the persons who had been there skulking: They had taken a new post for safety, on the forecastle of the Bon Homme Richard, where they could not be fired upon from the Serapis, but were exposed to the fire of the Alliance, as well as the officers and men who had behaved gallantly from the beginning.]
No. XVIII.
The following extract of a Letter from Dr. Franklin to Capt. Landais, dated Passy, March 12, 1780, and which he has published, will serve to give a further insight into his character:
‘NO one has ever learned the opinion I formed of you from the enquiry made into your conduct—I kept it entirely to myself—I have not even hinted it in my letters to America, because I would not hazard giving to any one a bias to your prejudice. By communicating a part of that opinion privately to you, I can do no harm, for you may burn it. I should not give you the pain of reading it, if your demand did not make it necessary: I think you then so imprudent, so litigious and quarrelsome a man, even with your best friends, that peace and good order, and consequently the quiet and regular subordination so necessary to success, are, where you preside, impossible; these are within my observation and apprehension:— Your military operations I leave to more capable judges. If, therefore, I had twenty ships of war in my disposition, I should not give one of them to Captain Landais: The same temper which excluded him from the French marine † would weigh equally with me; of course I shall not replace him in the Alliance.’