Nicholas Biddle began his naval career by being shipwrecked on a desert shoal at the age of thirteen. But being rescued, with his four companions, at the end of two months, his ardor3 was so little dampened that as soon as opportunity offered he immediately went forth4 in search of further adventures on the sea. A war between England and Spain being imminent5, he went to London, and succeeded in getting a midshipman’s warrant on the ship of Captain—afterwards Admiral—Sterling6.
But just before the declaration of independence[35] of his own country, a voyage of discovery to the North Pole was proposed by the Royal Geographical7 Society, and this opportunity seemed to hold forth infinitely8 more possibilities for advancement9 than the daily port routine of a British frigate10 of war.
So, Admiral Sterling refusing Biddle’s mild request to be transferred to one of the vessels12, the young man took it upon himself to doff13 his gold-laced uniform and present himself upon the “Carcase” in very shabby sailor clothes, upon which he was forthwith entered upon her books as a sailor before the mast. He was in glorious company, though, for Horatio Nelson—afterwards to be the greatest admiral England has ever known—shared his humble14 lot as a jacky, although his prospects15 in the service were more brilliant than Biddle’s. The expedition, having accomplished16 its purpose, returned to England in 1774, both young Nelson and Biddle having been appointed coxswains for meritorious18 service.
When hostilities19 in the United States began, Biddle, of course, resigned from the British navy and offered his services to the Continental20 Congress. His first commission was the command of the “Camden,” a galley21 fitted out by the State of Pennsylvania for the defence of the Delaware River. He was[36] then made a captain in the naval service, and took command of the “Andrew Doria,” of fourteen guns and one hundred and thirty men.
Just before Commodore Hopkins’s fleet hoisted22 anchor, Biddle had an opportunity to show his intrepidity23 in a very personal way. Two men who had deserted25 from his vessel11 had been taken and were placed in prison at Lewistown. Biddle sent an officer and a squad26 of men ashore27 to bring them off. But the officer returned to the ship and reported that the deserters had joined with the other prisoners, and barricaded28 the door, swearing that no man alive would take them. Biddle put on his side-arms and, taking only a young midshipman with him, went at once to the prison. The door was tightly barred from the inside, and the prisoners, led by one of the deserters named Green, shook their fists and pointed17 their weapons at him. Some of the more venturesome of the townsfolk, who only needed a resolute29 leader, now smashed down the door at the naval officer’s directions, and Biddle, drawing both his pistols, quickly stepped within the opening. Green stood in front of his ill-favored companions, his eye gleaming villanously down the barrel of his flint-lock. Without moving his eye from the[37] man, and planting himself squarely in the doorway30, Biddle said, steadily,—
“Now, Green, if you don’t take good aim, you are a dead man!”
There was a moment’s pause, after which the pistol fell a little, and finally, under the resolute attitude of his captain, the fellow broke down. He was completely awed31, and at Biddle’s command dropped his pistol to the floor and allowed himself to be conducted to the ship. Their leader cowed, the remainder of the prisoners permitted the Lewistown militia32, who had recovered from their fright, to come in and make them fast again.
This incident had its moral effect upon his men, and never again, when they learned to know him, was Biddle troubled with disaffection among his crew. The fury with which they went into the fights that followed showed how much he was a man after their own hearts.
After Commodore Esek Hopkins’s unsuccessful encounter with the British fleet, the “Andrew Doria” put to sea and cruised off the coast of Newfoundland. Biddle captured a prize laden33 with arms and ammunition34, which he carried to port, where they greatly strengthened Washington’s army, which was badly in need of supplies of all kinds. He captured a transport and four hundred British[38] soldiers, and made a great number of merchant prizes. He would have taken more, but he only had five men left aboard to take the “Doria” back to Philadelphia.
The Congress had authorized35 the building of several new frigates36, and one of these, the “Randolph,” of thirty-two guns, was just off the stocks. Biddle was made commander of her, and set immediately about finishing her and making her ready for sea. He had great difficulty in getting a crew, as privateering, where the prizes were greater and ship actions less frequent, proved more attractive to the adventurous37 spirits of the day. Congress, however, drafted a number of men from the army, and the crew was completed by the enlistment38 of volunteers from among the prisoners taken on prizes. After many difficulties with this motley crew, Biddle at last got to sea in February, 1777.
The men of his old crew were with him to a man, but many of the volunteers were shoal-water sailors, and his army recruits didn’t know a sheet from a buntline. So when he ran into a Hatteras gale39 a few days out, the “Randolph” carried away her masts, and was altogether so uncomfortable a wreck2 that the volunteers mutinied, and Biddle had a hard time getting into Charleston harbor. He succeeded[39] at last in refitting and in instilling40 some of the man-of-war spirit into his crew, sailing at last for the West Indies. Then his luck turned for the better, and he sighted the English ship “True Briton,” twenty guns, convoying three merchantmen. Without accident he succeeded in taking them and in bringing all four prizes safe and sound into Charleston harbor. This was the first capture of the navy in the South, and, as the prizes were again liberally supplied with arms, the capture was doubly welcome. So much did Congress appreciate this affair that they had a medal struck off in Biddle’s honor. The British hearing of this exploit of the “Randolph,” sent a fleet south, and succeeded in blockading her at Charleston for a time.
The State of South Carolina got ready a fleet in the hope of raising the blockade, but before they could get to sea the Englishmen had disappeared.
In February, 1778, Biddle went out with a little fleet composed of the “General Moultrie,” 18, the “Polly,” 16, and the “Fair American,” 14, in search of the British squadron. But missing them, they only succeeded in taking a few merchant vessels of the enemy. They boarded a number of Dutch and French ships, and Biddle knew that before[40] long they must fall in with some of the enemy. To Captain Blake, who was dining with him, he said, “I would not be surprised if my old ship should be out after us. As to anything that carries her guns upon one deck, I think myself a match for her.”
On the afternoon of the 7th of March, a sail was made out to windward, and they sailed up to examine her. As she came down with the wind she was made out to be square-rigged; but, bows on, she looked rather like a sloop41 than a frigate. A short time later she could be made out more plainly a man-of-war,—evidently of the enemy,—coming down speedily, and, from the way she was sailing, able to out-foot any of the squadron. Biddle could see that she stood well out of the water; but a small frigate might do that. And if she was only a frigate of forty guns or under, he promised himself a great battle that day. But if she were a ship of the line, not only the “Randolph” but the smaller vessels were in great danger, for nothing save a craft somewhere near her size could resist the broadsides of the two heavy gun-tiers.
He quickly made his resolution. Signalling to the fleet of cruisers and prizes to go about, he himself took the deck and sent the little “Randolph” boldly down towards the stranger.[41] On she came, bowing majestically42 over the water, never making a sign until nearing gunshot distance, when the sound of the pipes and the calls on her deck showed that she was clearing ship for action. Biddle had been prepared for an hour. Now, as she came a little closer to the wind, the American captain discovered what he had suspected—two long lines of muzzles43 running out of her leeward44 ports.
She was a line-of-battle-ship, then.
He clinched45 his jaws46 and looked over his shoulder to where the prizes were scurrying47 away in the gathering48 darkness. They at least would be safe. But he did not shift his course a point, sailing on until the canvas of the great ship seemed to tower far above the little spars of his own vessel. The men of the “Randolph” were aghast at the action of their captain. To them an English “Sixty-Four” was the epitome49 of all that was powerful upon the seas. Biddle thought so, too; but there was nothing of timidity in his voice as he bade his gunners stand by to train upon her. He knew that this battle would be his last, for he resolved in those few moments that he would not give up his ship while one plank50 of her remained above water. The enemy might blow him out of the water and send him to the bottom, but before she did it he would give[42] them such a lesson in patriotism51 that the world would not easily forget it.
His men guessed something of what was in his mind, and by the time the big ship hove close aboard they were keyed up to the fighting pitch, waiting with the utmost impatience52 for the first shot to be fired. The dusk had fallen, but the great loom53 of the sails of the English frigate showed plainly as she came closer. They were scarcely a pistol-shot apart when a figure on the Englishman mounted the hammock nettings aft, and a voice came clearly across the water,—
“Ahoy, the frigate!”
Biddle paused a moment to gain time, and then giving a word to his division officers, lifted his speaking-trumpet,—
“What ship is that?”
“His Britannic Majesty’s ship-of-the-line ‘Yarmouth,’ Captain Vincent. Who are you? Answer, or I will be compelled to fire.”
Another pause as Biddle directed the American colors to be run up to the mast, and then said,—
“This is the American Continental ship ‘Randolph,’ Captain Biddle!”
Without the pause of a second a tremendous broadside was poured into the Englishman, and in a moment the battle was on.
[43]
Biddle had gained a slight advantage in position by waiting as he did, and the “Randolph’s” broadsides did great execution on the crowded decks of her adversary54. But the “Yarmouth” men sprang to their guns, and in a few moments were firing their tremendous broadside of thirty guns as fast as they could be served and run out.
On the “Randolph” Biddle’s men were working well, but the crashing of the shot and the flying splinters were terrific. In fifteen minutes the decks were covered with the bodies of dead and dying men, and the surgeon and his mate below in the cockpit, covered with blood, were laboring55 to help such of those as could be aided, and the decks, in spite of the sand, were so slippery that as the ship rolled it was difficult to stand upright upon them. Many of the guns of one of the broadsides were disabled, and there was not a gun that had a full crew to man it.
Biddle walked to and fro from one battery to another, lending a word here and a hand there, acting56 as sponger or tackle or handspikeman, wherever he was most needed. The men fought with the energy of despair—the despair of the dying. If they were to die, they would die hard, and the guns were loaded as though they would fire as many times as[44] they could in the short time left them. The English aimed more deliberately57. But when the dreaded58 broadside came, it dealt a blow that shook the smaller ship from stem to stern.
Biddle, although badly wounded, refused to leave the deck, and, ordering a stool to be placed where he could best direct the firing, sat calmly down, though in great agony, and gave the orders to his officers, who repeated them to the men.
It has never been discovered just what happened on the “Randolph.” In spite of her losses, she was keeping up her fire wonderfully, when, with scarcely a warning of any kind, she blew up.
The force of the explosion was so great that the ship split in two, and sank immediately. The air was filled with guns, spars, and the blackened bodies of men, many of which fell upon the deck of the “Yarmouth.” An American ensign, neatly59 rolled in a ball, ready to be sent aloft on the “Randolph” if the others had been shot away, fell on the quarter-deck of the Englishman unsinged.
That national emblem60 was all, save a spar or two, that remained of the “Randolph.” Captain Biddle and three hundred and ten of her crew of three hundred and fifteen were[45] blown to pieces and drowned. Four days later the “Yarmouth,” cruising near the same place, discovered a piece of the wreck to which five men, more dead than alive, had managed to cling.
The “Randolph” was lost, but the “Yarmouth” was so badly cut up that she could not follow the chase, and was obliged to lay to for repairs. What, if any, difference there might have been had the “Randolph” not been destroyed by explosion from within it is not easy to say; but all authorities agree that the fight, while it lasted, was one of the most determined61 in history. Captain Biddle at the time of his death was but twenty-eight years old, and the infant navy and the colonies lost one of their most intrepid24 officers and gallant62 seamen63.
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1
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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doff
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| v.脱，丢弃，废除 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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16
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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meritorious
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| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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22
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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25
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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28
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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29
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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31
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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34
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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35
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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enlistment
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| n.应征入伍，获得，取得 | |
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39
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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instilling
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instil的现在分词 )；逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的现在分词 ) | |
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41
sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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43
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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44
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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45
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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46
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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47
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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49
epitome
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| n.典型，梗概 | |
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50
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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51
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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52
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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53
loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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54
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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56
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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57
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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58
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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59
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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60
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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61
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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62
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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63
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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