Mr. Hovey to Mr. Seward.
Sir: In my last despatch, No. 17, I had the honor to transmit the manifesto addressed to the diplomatic body in Peru by 0. Mendez Nunez, the admiral commanding the Spanish squadron.
In this he intimated that he would bombard the city of Callao on the 1st [Page 639] instant. For the purpose of viewing the combat and rendering all necessary aid to our countrymen, I went on board the Powhatan, flag ship of Admiral Pearson, on the night of the 30th ultimo.
The bombardment by the Spanish fleet commenced at 12 m. on the 2d instant.
Seven vessels, viz., the iron-clad Numancia, frigates Resolucion, Almanza, Villa de Madrid, Berenguela, Blanca, and the corvette Vencedora, advanced, upon the city and directed a very rapid fire at the forts, which were then some what more than a mile distant. The guns of the forts instantly replied with great vigor, and the action continued with spirit for four and a half hours, and ended by the withdrawal of the entire Spanish fleet to the island of San Lorenzo, in sight and about seven miles distant from Callao.
By the kindness of Commander Thomas M. Brasher, commanding United States store-ship Fredonia, I have full notes of the action, with a map of the position of the respective forts and of the Spanish fleet.
These brief notes are singularly accurate. He says:
“Precisely at 12 m. the Spanish fleet got under way and steamed into action, arranged in the form of a V, the forks toward the town.
“On the right, the flag-ship Numancia (iron-clad,) followed by the frigates Almanza and Resolucion. The line on the left was composed of the three frigates Berenguela, Villa de Madrid, and Blanca. The corvette Vencedora formed the apex of the pyramid.
“At 12.15 the Numancia got within range of the fort of Torre de Merced, and opened fire from her starboard battery. The Numancia’s fire was instantly returned from the fort, when the Almanza and Resolucion steamed up, and the action on the right became general. In a few minutes an explosion occurred in one of the batteries on shore, the firing from the turret was silenced, and it was thought that one of the Blakely guns had burst.
“Meanwhile the leading ship on the left had steamed up on the Peruvian right, and seemed searching for the batteries. A battery of small guns opened, and the Villa de Madrid ran in, rounded to, and was preparing to deliver her port broadside, when she was struck by a heavy shot amidships, and from the rush of steam through her hatches and ports, it was judged that she was severely injured. It was afterwards ascertained that this shot entered her steam-chest and penetrated to her furnace, killing sixteen men and wounding twenty. She at once made signals, and the Vencedora went alongside and towed her out of range, while the Berenguela ran down and received the fire from the batteries.
“In a few minutes this ship was seen backing, and shortly before one o’clock she withdrew from the action. As she passed the Wateree on her passage out, she was seen to be severely injured, and men were over the side endeavoring to stop shot-holes. She was evidently settling, and a small steamer coming to her assistance, she was run ashore at San Lorenzo. The Blanca and Vencedora again came within range, but being struck with heavy shot, withdrew. During the remainder of the day no ships were within range of the guns on the Peruvian right.
“By two o’clock p. m. four ships had retired from action; but the Resolucion and Blanca returned, and with the Numancia and Almanza again engaged Santa Rosa (the fort) with vigor. The fort returned the fire with spirit, and in twenty minutes the ships withdrew to long range and kept up the duel until fifteen minutes before five when they retired from action.
“It is impossible to estimate the injury done to the shipping, but from the show of ship timbers drifted on shore it is evident they suffered severely, while their position was so far from the batteries that most of their shot fell short. The Peruvian gunboats took but little part in the action; but the small ironclads engaged the enemy at short distance, and gallantly maintained their fire during the combat.”
[Page 640]The victory, on the part of Peru, has been signal and complete, and the result of this combat will exercise a very potent influence in South American politics.
1. It will teach Peruvians self-reliance; for, with but feeble preparation, they have repelled the grandest squadron that ever sailed the waters of the Pacific.
2. Its effect will probably be to change the current of Chilian politics—Chili with far superior forces—Valparaiso, with much greater facilities of defence, submitted to the castigation of the Spanish fleet without returning one gun. There is but little doubt that a strong opposition party will spring up in Chili from the success of Peru at Callao.
3. It will make the chance of future molestation here more remote. When the proud squadron of Spain left Valparaiso in ruins, and Chili humbled, the admiral advanced upon Callao with confidence and contempt, and with orders from his government (vide manifesto”) to “chastise” Peru. Within five hours from the commencement of the attack, this splendid fleet recoiled from the despised foe, discomfited and disabled.
Two causes conspired to help, if they did not really procure, the victory for Peru.
1. The fear of torpedoes sunken in the channel of the bay by an American, (a late rebel,) Captain Read. The presence of these torpedoes caused the fleet to fight the batteries at long range, beyond the distance for shell, canister, and grapeshot. This gave the land guns, which were Blakelys, Parrotts, and Armstrongs, (some of the calibre of 600 pounds,) a great advantage, as the largest in the fleet did not exceed 100 pounds. The number of guns on the fleet was 275. On the shore, in turreted forts and sand batteries, and gunboats, the Peruvians had mounted 50 guns. The Spanish fleet had the power of firing over 100 guns a minute. From want of practice, and because of the unwieldy size of the shore guns, the Peruvians could only return three or four shots in the same time. With close fighting this would have proved fatal to the Peruvians.
2. The chance shot which struck and disabled the Villa de Madrid at a very critical point in the action, and the severe injury to the Spanish admiral, who was wounded early in the engagement, no doubt greatly contributed to the final repulse.
The Peruvians had two of their largest guns disabled by a frightful accident. One of their principal works was a battery surrounded by an iron turret. This was commanded by Galvez, the secretary of war. The dropping of a heavy shell in loading the cannon exploded a quantity of ammunition, killing Galvez and twenty others, and severely wounding many more. The guns were dismounted and that fort silenced.
The Peruvian loss may be estimated at about 300 killed and wounded, and, from rumors, the Spanish losses are still greater, probably reaching three hundred and fifty.
Since writing the above, I have received a note from C. Mendez Nunez, the commandante general of her Catholic Majesty’s squadron in the Pacific. It is a peculiar production, and I enclose a translation herewith.
The truth is, his squadron was severely handled; one ship, the Almanza, receiving over eighty, and another, the Berenguela, over forty-five shots through hull and rigging. Every vessel engaged, except the Numancia, returned from the fight badly injured; two appeared to be in a sinking condition.
It is true that the batteries on shore were at length silenced, but that silence was produced by the remoteness of the Spanish fleet from the forts. The Peruvians fired the last shots. No single gun was dismounted by the Spanish fire, and more than forty-five were in good fighting condition when the fleet retired.
[Page 641]The injury to the city of Callao is trifling, caused by stray shots intended for the batteries, and the damage will not exceed two thousand dollars, as the Peruvian forts gave the fleet no time to fire upon the city.
On the 10th instant, at 11 p. m., the Spanish fleet left their moorings at San Lorenzo and sailed northward. It is believed that they now intend to attack the defenceless town of Guayaquil.
Prado is exceedingly popular, and will undoubtedly control Peru in any capacity he may think proper to assume.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.