Broadside Gallery

The Battle of Pacocha'; Action between HMS Shah and Ameth

Engraving showing the battle between HMS Shah and Amethyst and the Peruvian Ironclad turret ship Huascar on the 29th May 1877. The Huascar had been taken over by some Peruvian revolutionaries and declared a pirate by the Peruvian government. The Shah and Amethyst were ordered to protect British Merchant Shipping and after the Huascar had stopped several British merchant ships, the Royal Navy decided to hunt down the Huascar'. In the action depicted, the 70 guns of the British ships were unable to do much damage to the Huascar as she was an heavily-built ironclad. In return the gunnery crew of the Huascar was not well drilled enough to hit the British ships much. In desperation the Shah launched a Whitehead torpedo at the Huascar, but the Peruvian ship was able to dodge it with some ease. The battle became a stalemate and the two sides slipped away after the fall of darkness. Reputedly this was the last action by a wooden warship, firing a broadside of muzzle-loading guns and the first use of a torpedo in anger

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10216938

An Act recognizing the existence of War between the United States and the Confederate States, and concerning letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods, 6 May 1861 (litho)

695984 An Act recognizing the existence of War between the United States and the Confederate States, and concerning letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods, 6 May 1861 (litho) by American School, (19th century); 21.2x27 cm; Gilder Lehrman Collection, New York, USA; (add.info.: Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, approved this act 6 May 1861. States "Whereas the earnest efforts made by this Government to establish friendly relations between the Government of the United States and the Confederate States, and to settle all questions of disagreement between the two Governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith, have proved unavailing by reason of the refusal of the Government of the United States to hold any intercourse with the Commissioners appointed by this Government for the purposes aforesaid... and whereas, by the acts and means aforesaid, war exists between the Confederate States and the Government of the United States..." Includes provisions empowering the President of the Confederacy to engage privateers. Includes provisions related to smuggling, prisoners on board privateers, duties imposed upon prizes of war, and other maritime topics. Includes President Davis's Instruction to Private Armed Vessels, printed on pages three and four, issued by Robert Toombs, Secretary of State. Contains a form of bond on the bottom of page four, with space for four signatures and seals.
Howell Cobb (1815-1868). Jefferson Davis (1808-1889). Robert Augustus Toombs (1810-1885).); © Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

© © Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History / Bridgeman Images

Spanish Blockade at Valparaiso

A Spanish squadron blockading the port at Valparaiso, Chile. Several Spanish ships sit broadside to the shore, incapacitating Chilean ships and port industry. This was in response to Chile's refusal to restock Spanish ships with coal during its seizure of Chincha Islands from Peru in 1864. Eventually Peru would form an alliance with Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia against the Spanish.
1866

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans