Journal of HMS Bulldog for 1 January to 31 December 1865 by Edward L Moss, MD Assistant...

Journal of HMS Bulldog for 1 January to 31 December 1865 by Edward L Moss, MD Assistant Surgeon, during which time the said ship was on the West Indies Station. Contains accounts by the Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon of the loss of HMS Bulldog in action at Haiti.

Folio 1: Blank.

Folio 2: Printed instructions for Assistant Surgeons.

Folios 3-8: General Record. Since his notes and journal were destroyed with the ship on 23 October 1865, the surgeon has had to write from memory. The Bulldog began the year at Vera Cruz, where yellow fever was prevalent. The crew of 174 men and officers were generally healthy. In March there were a number of cases of remittent fever. On 4 June 1865, Richard Kimber, aged 19, Ordinary Seaman, was taken ill with yellow fever and died on the sixth day. George [Witcher], Leading Stoker, was taken ill ten days later with yellow fever and died on the fourth day. Joseph Smyth, Carpenter, was next to suffer yellow fever and died on the fourth day. The surgeon himself was then taken ill. Afterwards there were four cases of remittent fever. There are some comments on the attitude of the French authorities at Vera Cruz to yellow fever and their means of treating it. They sailed to Havana and then Port Royal, arriving there on 15 July. There were more cases of remittent fever and one near drowning of a Marine who was revived using artificial respiration but later died of bronchial pneumonia. In September they sailed to Cape Haitien on the north coast of San Domingo. The town is briefly described, the health of the remaining inhabitants, their shortage of food and treatment by the local doctors. The surgeon was requested by the British Consul to visit several cases on shore, which he did.

Folio 6: Joseph Pascoe, Leading Stoker, complained of a swelling in his left ham. He was treated using a 'compressing apparatus' to apply pressure to the femoral artery for periods of up to 5 hours. There is a drawing of the apparatus on folio 6.

Folios 6-7: Give an account of the wounds received when the Bulldog grounded in action off Cape Haitien on 23 October 1865 until her destruction that evening. Mr [Painter], Boatswain, struck by a round shot while standing on the port sponson, fracturing the left thigh and tearing the flesh off it. Amputation was performed immediately but he died about an hour later. A Marine called Glencross was killed when a shot struck the compressor of the 110 pounder and tore off his left leg at the hip, the compressor tearing off his right arm and entering the peritoneum. A Marine named McMahon was struck by a shot on his left leg, fracturing it and tearing the flesh and also injuring his hand and arm, the leg was amputated but he died within two hours. Several men were injured by grape shot while trying to get an anchor out astern. Benjamin Richardson, Able Seaman, a large wound of the left fore arm and fractured ulna. James Green, 2nd Captain of the Fore Top, a large flesh wound above the left knee and to his right arm. John Donnelly, 2nd Captain of the Main Top, a large lacerated wound dividing the posterior [scalun] muscles and entering the neck very deeply, his left eye destroyed by a splinter and several other wounds. A Meredith, Able Seaman, a number of small lacerated wounds of the lower back and buttocks. Samuel Boden, Leading Seaman, rifle bullet wound of the right knee. William Collins, Ordinary Seaman, contused his foot with a handspike. Colin McKenzie, Boy, had his left ear wounded by a rifle bullet. William Burton, Marine, wounded to the forehead with a handspike. One of the prisoners brought on board from the sunken [Voldiogne] was struck by a rifle bullet in the back. When Captain Wake resolved to destroy the ship the wounded were sent on board the United States Ship De Soto, the remainder of the crew left the ship at 11pm and rowed to Limonade, arriving at about 4am. They were taken on board the Haitien Ship Ving-deux De Decembre and taken to HMS Aboukir in Jamaica. From there they went to Halifax and then to England, arriving at Plymouth on 31 December 1865. Signed Edward Lawton Moss MD. HMS Royal Adelaide Devonport

Folios 8-9: A fragment of the journal of John Breaky MD Surgeon of HMS Bulldog, covering the period from the action of 23 October 1865 at Cape Haitien to the arrival at Plymouth on 31 December 1865 of the surviving crew. In less detail than Assistant Surgeon Moss' account. Benjamin Richardson, Able Seaman, was sent to hospital in Jamaica and then to Bermuda where the Admiral had given him a good appointment. Signed John Breaky MD, Surgeon late HMS Bulldog.

Folios 10-23: Blank.

Topics

Caribbean

Weapons

Disease

Food and drink

Navy

Americas

Armed Forces (General Administration)