Cochrane in the Pacific by Brian Vale

Author:Brian Vale [Vale, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Military History, South America, Naval, Pacific, History
ISBN: 9781845114466
Publisher: I.B.Tauris
Published: 2008-01-08T00:00:00+00:00

During the court martial proceedings the defendants tried to defend themselves, insisting that no disrespect had been intended, and complaining that Cochrane's entourage had pried into private conversations in order to try and prove the last charge. But their efforts were pointless. The five men freely admitted that they had written the letter, and the framing of the charge left no alternative but a guilty verdict. Purser Frew and Surgeon Michael were cashiered, while Lieutenants Bell and Freeman and Assistant Surgeon Kernan were severely reprimanded and dismissed from their ship.

But it was not over. John Tooker Spry had watched the moves against Guise with growing alarm, aware that Cochrane's antipathy made him the next target.9 So, on 22 February 1821, when Galvarino was ordered to sea, Spry accepted the inevitable and asked to be replaced in command. Cochrane demanded a further explanation. Spry obeyed and replied in writing that he had come to Chile under Guise's patronage, and that if Guise were forced to resign, he too would have to go.10 Cochrane promptly ordered a court martial and moved the Galvarino under the guns of the O'Higgins claiming that the ship was in a state of mutiny.11 In fact this was untrue. As his successor, Crosbie himself testified, Spry had handed his ship over in good order with no sign of any insubordination on board.12 Indeed, contemporary observers described Spry as 'a very skilful naval officer and a brave and zealous officer', adding 'there is no ship in the Chilean Navy in a better state of discipline than the Galvarino.'13 Cochrane had then boarded the brig and told the crew contemptuously from the quarterdeck that he did not want their services and that he could execute his plans without them and without their ship.14

Spry's court martial sat on 3 and 5 March. Lord Cochrane preferred three charges - one, that Spry had refused to put to sea when ordered; two, that he had threatened to resign in sympathy with Guise; and three, that he had incited his ship's company to protest. Spry objected to the appointment of Cochrane's follower Henry Dean as Judge Advocate on the grounds that his neutrality was compromised by attempts to pump the Galvarino's officers for complaints against him. But to no avail. Spry was found guilty of the second charge and part of the third, was dismissed from his command and put at the bottom of the list of captains.

Although to an impartial observer the whole affair was a storm in a teacup, Cochrane seemed genuinely to believe that there had been a conspiracy against him. He also felt that Guise had betrayed him. Cochrane told him bluntly that his elevation to command of Valdivia had been intended as a sign of favour, a compliment to Guise's qualities as a gentleman, and proof that he had drawn a veil over past disagreements. He ended the letter with the rueful reflection that 'these differences would never have existed had it not been for the evil influence of Captain Spry and the malevolent pen of Dr Michael.

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