Vindictive, 1813
Type: 3rd rate ; later razeed ; Armament 74
Launched : 23 Nov 1813 ; Disposal date or year : 1871
Disposal Details : Foundered and wreck sold
BM: 1758 tons
Notes:

Portsmouth 23 Nov 1813, was launched.

Jul 1830 Portsmouth.

7 Apr 1832 under repair, along with the Java, in the dockyard, creating the usual opportunity for rumour regarding their future ; in this instance as to whether they would then form a part of an experimental squadron to test their merits as sailing ships.

21 Jul 1832 it is reported that the Vindictive has been fitted with Mr. Blake's fortified bow, allowing a battery of six guns to be installed with a view to increasing the forward fire-power, following on from the improved fire-power now possible from the stern chasers of more modern vessels.

5 Oct 1832 taken out of dock.

17 Oct 1840 Portsmouth, It is reported that the Warspite, 50, razee, and the Vindictive, 50 razee will shortly be commissioned.

31 Oct 1840, Portsmouth, her masts and yards have been selected.

16 Dec 1840 Portsmouth, no orders have yet been received to hoist the pendant.

23 Dec 1840 Portsmouth was taken into dock to fit for commission ;

6 Feb 1841 Portsmouth, is being prepared for commissioning.

12 Mar 1841 Portsmouth, was undocked on Saturday.

19 Mar 1841. Portsmouth. has just been completed for the pendant.

6 Apr 1841 Portsmouth, taken out of the basin.

2 Oct 1841 Portsmouth, is to be commissioned ; her complement is to be 510.

2 Oct 1841 Captain J. Toup Nicolas (of the Belleisle) appointed to the Vindictive.

9 Oct 1841 Surgeon A. S. Allen ; Assistant Surgeons J. E. Sandys and D. R. Fulton ; Volunteers First Class J. Mackie, T. W. Pratt, T. W. Haydon, and C. Molesworth, appointed to the Vindictive."

7 Oct 1841 Portsmouth, was masted.

14 Oct 1841 Portsmouth, taken into dock to have her bottom cleaned.

16 Oct 1841 The following officers are appointed to the Vindictive from the Belleisle :- Lieutenants Washington Carr, F. Ellis, J. Gennys, and W. Luard ; Master C. Pope ; Surgeon Dr. A. Allen ; Purser J. Cole ; Midshipman D'Aguilar, Clerk, Thomas ; Volunteers 1st class Mackie, Haydon, Pratt, and Melmouth.

30 Oct 1841 Master George Grant appointed to the Vindictive.

30 Oct 1841 Portsmouth, Captain Scott, R.M., with First Lieutenant Bridge and a party of marines, embarked.

6 Nov 1841 Lieutenants F. A. Ellis ; Masters' Assistant C. C. Mitchell ; Mates H. Kinsman, W. Morton, and E. Hornby ; Surgeon A. Allen ; Midshipman H. F. M'Killop appointed to the Vindictive.

13 Nov 1841 Portsmouth, is having a 10-inch pivot gun fitted on the after part of her quarter-deck.

20 Nov 1841 Lieutenant G. B. Williams, appointed to the Vindictive, vice Luard.

17 Nov 1841 Portsmouth, was undocked, and hauled into the basin,

27 Nov 1841 Second Master G. Harwood, appointed to the Vindictive.

6 Dec 18414 Dec 1841 Mate H. M. Kinsman, of the Vindictive, promoted to Lieutenant.

4 Dec 1841 Chaplain Rev. F. O. Morgan ; Lieutenants H.M. Kinsman, and J. H. Gennys ; Chaplain Rev. F. O. Morgan, appointed to the Vindictive.

11 Dec 1841 Portsmouth, her fitting out is to be expidited with additional workmen being employed upon her.

25 Dec 1841 Lieutenants A. Lewis and Augustus Lavie, appointed to the Vindictive.

28 Dec 1841 was taken out of the basin at Portsmouth.

3 Jan 1842 the Volcano went down to Plymouth to pickup supernumeraries for the Vindictive.

4 Jan 1842 the Volcano departed Plymouth for Portsmouth with supernumeraries for the Vindictive.

15 Jan 1842 went out of harbour to Spithead.

15 Jan 1842 departed Spithead later in the day for the Downs to join the Formidable and Warspite, who, with the Vindictive, will sail for Ostend to escort the King of Prussia to England, with the steamers Firebrand and Sheawater, who are expected to join the squadron tomorrow.

20 Jan 1842 at anchor off the North Foreland, having, with the Warspite, touched the ground in the thick fog then prevailing.

25 Jan 1842 arrived St Helens, and the following morning attempted to sail up Spithead, but the weather being thick and blowing strong, she was caught by a squall and pushed towards the Deansand ; sail was shortened and her anchor let go, but she still drove as the gale increased and a second anchor was let go, but still tailed on the bank at low tide, and cut away her mizen mast. During the night the wind backed round to the NW and in the morning she was able to drop back down to the more sheltered anchorage at St Helens.
Her difficulties had been observed from shore and the Queen and Warspite at Spithead were warned of the problem, but the weather was found to be too bad for them to do anything. The following day the dockyard fitted out the Lively lighter with additional anchors and cables, with Mr Brown, the Second Master Attendant and Lieut. Boyd of the St. Vincent, a skillful pilot and foreman of riggers, and a number of riggers, but the weather delayed her departure from Portsmouth, along the amount of gear she was carrying, including a 71 cwt. anchor. When attempting to close the Vindictive she was unable to work up to her and lost her gib and mainsail, and bowsprit was carried away. She attempted to come to anchor, but the cable snapped and she had to make her way out to sea, and ended up along the coast, safely in the Downs on the 27th.
After the Lively went out of harbour the tug Echo followed with more cable and anchors, under the command of the Master Attendant, Mr Pardo, and kept the Vindictive company until she was safely at anchor at St Helens, when the Echo returned to Portsmouth. On the Thursday the Echo went back out to St Helens, and, after being joined by a steam vessel from the Peninsular Steam Co., from Southampton, they managed to tow the Vindictive into Portsmouth harbour, where she was docked late on the Thursday, with a view to taking stock of the damage she sustained when she went aground on the bank, and first looks suggested that it would be more serious than first expected, although some of her copper would probably need to be removed, in order to see the full picture.
In the first instance though the Vindictive must now be undocked, in order to be unloaded, and have her masts taken out, before she can be repaired.
The whole episode added fuel to the fire, for the calls for the Admiralty to fit out or build purpose built tugs, one at each of the home ports, and on call, which are not taken away for other purposes, such as moving stores and personnel etc., between the Home ports etc., as is often the case at the present time, or in this instance the Echo was not immediately available, having some minor repairs carried out, which meant she wasn't available until after dark.

28 Jan 1842 due to go into dock at Portsmouth in order to inspect her hull having got ashore when returning to St Helen's, for Spithead, following her duties looking after the King of Prussia, with the Warspite, and thus decide whether she will be Sir Thomas Cochrane's flag ship when he sails for Chinese waters, or needs to remain in dock for repair.

29 Jan 1842 a dockyard vessel has been sent out to attempt to retrieve the Vindictive's mizen mast.

1 Feb 1842 taken out of dock, into the basin to have her masts taken out, and back into dock on Wednesday. Her copper was removed Thursday.

19 Feb 1842 it was reported in the Hampshire Telegraph that Captain Nicolas and the ship's company were acquitted at a Court Martial held circa 26 Jan., following the grounding of the Vindictive off the Nab.

19 Feb 1842 is fitting out in the basin at Portsmouth, and has got her guns and water on board, and the topmast rigging is now being set up, and will soon be ready for sea.

19 Feb 1842 the Echo has been employed bringing in the mizen mast to Portsmouth harbour. In addition a fishing vessel brought her main and false keels in.

3 Mar 1842 towed out of Portsmouth harbour, to Spithead.

16 Mar 1842 departed Spithead for China, with a large number of men and boys for the squadron, touching at Madeira, Simon's Town and Calcutta.

21 Mar 1842 departed Torbay.

c 21-24 Mar 1842 departed down Channel, from Torbay, having been detained by contrary winds.

21 Mar 1842 arrived Madeira.

26 Mar 1842 arrived Madeira, in 5 days from Torbay, en route for the East Indies.

21 Mar 1842 arrived Porto Preya, St. Jago, departing after watering 2� days later.

8 Apr 1842 crossed the line.

5 Jun 1842 arrived Anjor.

16 Jun 1842 arrived Hong Kong.

5 Jul 1842 stationed at Canton River.

3 Dec 1842 news has reached Portsmouth to advise that the Vindictive will return to England via the Pacific and coasts of North and South America and Cape Horn.

11 Nov 1843 Capt J Toup Nicolas of the Vindictive reports the blockade of Arica, Peru, raised ; see Admiralty memo to Lloyds of 21 Feb 1844.

Feb 1844 at Callao, had a trial of sailing with the American frigates Constellation and United States. After a run of about 7 hours the Vindictive gained about 8 miles upon the United States and left the Constellation topsails down, astern.

1 May 1844 departed Valparaiso.

10 Jun 1844 arrived Rio de Janeiro.

14 Jun 1844 departed Rio de Janeiro for England.

28 July 1844 the Vindictive, 50, Captain J. Toup Nicolas, C.B., with South Seas Consul, Mr Pritchard arrived at Portsmouth on Friday morning from Valparaiso with a freight, estimated at a million and a quarter of dollars, on merchants' account.

28 July Inspected by CinC Portsmouth. Paid-off.

17 Aug 1844 See item for 14 Dec 1844.

28 Sep 1844 HMS Vindictive, having on board Mr Pritchard, Britannic Consul at Tahiti, was spoken off Cape Horn, on 24 May, on her way to England.

14 Dec 1844 HMS Vindictive, 50, has been taken into dock to be inspected and refitted for service ; there appears very little external damage ; some of the copper only being rubbed off the false keel ; she will be taken in hand forthwith, and fitted for the next flag ship for the North American and West India command, in the room of the Hastings, mentioned many months back. United Services Gazette. 17 Aug.

1846 West Indies and North America Station.

1848 See report from FO below.

20 Dec 1848 Portsmouth.

1860 Portsmouth.

1861 fitted out at Cowes as a Store and depot ship.

1870 Storeship. Bread and Coal Depot, Jellah Coffee. Bight of Benin.

15 Mar 1871 is to be moved to Lagos and sold.

The Expedition Against San Juan De Nicaragua.
Official Despatches.

Admiralty Despatches of April 28, 1848., which the following are extracts or copies, have been received at this office: -

Vindictive, at Jamaica, March 5, 1848. "Sir,- With reference to my letter, No 42, of the 1st instant, reporting the departure of her Majesty's ships Alarm and Vixen for Blewfields, to consult with her Majesty's Consul General and Agent, as to the best means of obtaining redress from the Nicaraguan Government for the insults and outrages therein mentioned, and to obtain the release of two British subjects, carried off from San Juan by Colonel Salas, of the Nicaraguan army, I have the honour to transmit herewith, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a despatch, dated the 21st February, which I have this day received from Captain G. G. Loch, of the Alarm, reporting that the ships arrived at Blewfields on the 5th of that month, and Mr. Walker having been embarked, according to his request. they proceeded on the 7th for San Juan, where they arrived on the following day.

As the nearest Nicaraguan settlement was at Serapaqui, about thirty miles up the river, which from the strength of the current and various rapids, is generally a four days' journey. Captain Loch, accompanied by Mr. Walker in his own boat, proceeded to that place at once, with a force of 260 men in twelve boats, and after a most fatiguing pull of seventy-two hours, anchored on the evening of the 11th near the spot.

It was here that the melancholy death of Mr. Walker occurred; he was unfortunately drowned, whilst attempting to save the life of a friend who had accompanied him in his boat, and had fallen overboard in the night. They both lost their lives.

On the morning of the 12th the expedition got under weigh, and proceeded towards the fort. where it had been ascertained Colonel Salas was commanding officer. On nearing it, Captain Loch and Commander Ryder pushed ahead in their gig, in order to state the object of Her Majesty's forces being in the river, but no sooner were they seen than they were fired at, both by cannon and small arms. As this act effectually prevented any peaceable arrangements, boats were at once brought up, and after an hour and a half's pull against the rapid tide to reach the landing place, during which the crews were exposed to a very heavy fire from both sides of the river, they effected their object, and the Nicaraguan troops fled at once, when Captain Loch totally destroyed the fort, and threw all the arms into the river.

The loss on our side amounted to two killed, and one officer and twelve seamen, marines, and soldiers, wounded, a list of which is inclosed [but, unfortunately, not included in the transcript].

I have to express my admiration of the great gallantry, zeal, and perseverance displayed by Captain Loch and the officers and men of both services employed under his orders on the occasion.-I have, &c.,

F. W. AUSTEN,
Vice-Admiral.


To the Secretary of the Admiralty.
Fort Saint Carlos, Nicaragua,
11 February 21, 1848.


Sir,-In pursuance of your instructions, and in accordance with the wishes of her Majesty's late agent and Consul-General, Mr. Walker, I have the honour to acquaint you that I proceeded up the river San Juan de Nicaragua, in command of her Majesty's combined forces, consisting of 260 officers and men, contained in twelve boats of her Majesty's ships Alarm and Vixen, and captured the post of Serapaqui, after a sharp action of one [hour] and forty minutes, with a loss of two killed and thirteen wounded.

The post is situated on a point projecting into the river very abruptly to the height of 50 feet, is protected in the rear by a dense forest, and in the front by an abattis, formed of large trees felled, with their head and branches reaching into the river. It was only to be approached by heading a rapid current of nearly five knots an hour in order to pass the fort and descend towards a steep and narrow landing place above the stockaded batteries.

On Friday, the 12th instant, Commander Ryder and myself (who were in advance in our gigs) hove in sight of Serapaqui, situated at the head of a straight reach of about a mile and a half long. No sooner did my boat appear, than she was fired upon by two guns, which effectually precluded the possibility of any peaceful arrangement.

I therefore waited to reconnoitre until the heavy boats arrived, when I led them up the river. A spare pinnace, commanded by Lieutenant Johnston, of H.M.S. Alarm, containing some of H.M. 38th Regiment ; the Alarm's barge, commanded by Lieutenant Ride, and First Lieutenant Boyle, of the Royal Marines, with a part of his detachment, and the Vixen's port paddle-box boat, with the head quarters of the detachment of that regiment, commanded by Captain Smith, owing to their fast pulling, took the lead after the gigs, and on we went, but the current was so strong, that one hour and forty minutes elapsed before we were enabled to pass the batteries sufficiently high to drop down to the landing place previously mentioned, by which time nearly all the boats were up. I then gave the order to land, which they did with an English cheer, and in ten minutes our flag was hoisted in the fort.

After a chase of thirty minutes into the thick woods, I ordered the recall to be sounded, destroyed the stockades, spiked the guns, broke their trunnions, and threw them into the river, together with muskets, ammunition; and, after embarking the force, set fire to the defences.

I was unable to ascertain accurately the loss of the enemy, owing to the density of the cover into which they retreated: twenty, however, were found dead, and I have reason to believe that about double the number were wounded. Their force consisted of about 200 soldiers, besides some boatmen, pressed by Colonel Salas into his service.

Nine prisoners were captured, amongst them two wounded officers ; these I sent to the ship ; the remainder I have distributed amongst the boats to act as pilots.

The defences of the post consisted of six angular stockaded entrenchments, formed of very tough timber, eight feet high and four feet thick, one side of each stockade looking across the river, and the other down the reach. The principal stockade commanded the landing. place, in which one of the guns was mounted at the time.

'It was with great satisfaction that I saw the cool and steady behaviour of the men, under the trying circumstances of crowded boats, exposed to a hot fire, from both sides of the river, from unseen marksmen, without the possibility of effectually returning it, while in almost a stationary position, owing to the current running like a mill-stream. And it is astonishing to me that a greater loss did not occur, as the boats were riddled with shot, and nearly half the oars broken.

To distinguish one brave officer from another, when all did their duty, is a difficult task ; but I may remark, that I found Captain Smith, commanding the detachment of her Majesty's 38th Regiment, by my side on landing ; Commander Ryder, at the head of his division, close by me ; Lieutenants Johnson and Ridge, of the Alarm, leading their men in gallant style ; and First Lieutenant Boyle, Royal Marines, of the same ship, leading his detachment as my guard, and showing an example which his marines could not but follow.

Mr. Martin, paymaster and purser of the Alarm, accompanied me in my gig, and was of the greatest value and assistance. Besides these officers, I beg to recommend to your favourable notice Mr. Collins, paymaster and purser of H. M. S. Vixen, who was a volunteer in the head quarter-port paddle-box boat ; the Hon. M. A. Moreton, mate of the Alarm, who commanded the pinnace, and did good execution ; Mr. Tyler, mate of the same ship ; Mr. N. E. B. Turnour, midshipman of Vixen, who was badly wounded ; and I beg to mention a seaman of the Vixen, named in the margin, who captured the colours.-
I have, &c.
Granville G. Loch G. LOCH,
Captain HMS Alarm, and, Senior Officer, &c.
P.S. Commander A. Rider has brought, under our notice the zeal and gallantry of Mr. F. A. Dewdney, midshipman of H.M.S. Vixen, commanding the S. P. B. boat.
I beg also to mention the zeal and activity of Lieutenant Scott, First of the Vixen, in forwarding the advance of the launches over the rapids, and his exertions in pushing on the slow boats of the force.
Vice Admiral Sir Francis Austen, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, &c., &c., &c.