PRESENTIMENTS OF DEATH

LIEUTENANT BISSET

The Infernal’s naval action at Algiers 1816

edited by Geert van Uythoven

“A still more remarkable instance was that of Lieut. Bisset, of the Royal Marine Artillery, who went out, in 1816, to Algiers, in His Majesty's bomb Infernal. He over and over again stated, even before the fleet got to Gibraltar, that he well knew he should "be one of the first ;" and after sailing from that place, passed his time principally in devotions, audible outside his cabin. Latterly he said but little to any one, and on the morning of the battle, he several times repeated that he knew he should "be one of the first." With the exception of this, he hardly spoke on that day, unless to give the necessary directions at the mortars. The action began at about two o'clock in the afternoon, and he was in the act of aiming either the fourth or fifth shell, when the fatal shot struck him!

Before this she had been a good deal cut up ; she had had her springs shot away, boats swamped, and was severely raked for some time. During all this, he seemed calmly waiting for death with the cool yet determined resolution of a gallant spirit who knows his last hour is come. I never could imagine what sort of a missile it was that ended his mortal career. He was cut in three pieces. One leg went forward on the gangway ; and the other, and part of his body, remained nearly where he had been standing ; and his upper works went overboard - certainly on that day the Algerians threw about some queer articles, such as crow-bars, iron bolts, hand-spikes, glass bottles, bags of nails, &c. &c. ad libitum.

A lance corporal, named Polter, fired all the other shells from the Infernal during that action. Where is he ? What has been done for that man ? They were well thrown, that every body allowed.

I was told too, that poor Bissett was the only support of his sisters and an aged mother. What has been done for them ? Where was our famed "Patriotic Fund," &c. in 1816 ? Alas ! How true it is, that not even half the horrors of war are confined to the field of battle.''

Footnotes:

1) Infernal, Bomb 6; 374 bm; 105 x 28 ½ ft. Build by Barkworth & Hawkes, North Barton; launched 26 July 1815; sold 13 April 1831 to a Mr. Snook.

Source: Anonymous, “Traits and Incidents, naval and military”, in ‘The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine’ Part I (London 1832) pp. 228.

© Geert van Uythoven