Captain Crozier's moody episode at Greenland in the summer of 1845 is a well-known motif. The causes seem obvious, apprehension, Antarctic after-effects, broken heart, but this clarity is deceptive. To better
understand Crozier's psychological state, one needs to rewind further
back.
"The nature
of the discipline of a Man of War"
In
1839 Crozier was preparing to command his first ship, the Terror. Even in the
earliest, most anxious letter to Ross the only thing that worries him is the possibility of being left behind. Once confirmed, he
oversaw much of the fitting-out and recruiting. The next important letter is the one Crozier wrote to his sister in early 1840 when the ships were approaching St Helena. The expedition had by then spent about four months
zigzagging through the Atlantic ocean. There are no serious
issues aboard Terror, apart from some provisions spoiling, and Crozier is learning
what the ship captain's life is like. And he's keenly
aware of some unexpected disadvantages.
The letter describes his routine in detail; he
expresses happiness that he was chosen as a second and jokes that Ross
"has not yet repented." He's also satisfied with his officers, and he frequently exchanges visits with
Erebus' Ross and Bird. Still, he finds himself feeling very lonely
"I
sometimes think of those things now many an hour I have for meditation,
messing by myself, I am much thrown upon my own resources, the nature
of the discipline of a Man of War would not admit of anything else, but
for my own part I must confess I wish it were otherwise, as I am rather
of the gregarious tribe of animals, but am fast getting reconciled to my
hermit kind of life_ I mean by that dinning [sic] and breakfasting
alone."
Generally, Crozier was a
disciplinarian. Over almost
thirty years, he'd seen a lot of examples how a
ship could be run. He served under numerous officers, and several of them hailed
from the old Royal Navy. Some were more humane, some believed it was
necessary to upbraid a child who'd nearly been killed. He'd have thought about all the approaches. And as an Irish junior captain he had his work cut out. Excessive distancing could've been seen as helpful in this context, and as a plus it also allowed him to save.
Meanwhile, James Clark Ross' experience and tactics were different. He had only served under two captains throughout
his career: his uncle John Ross, who looked after him when he first
joined, and W. Edward Parry, who adored him. As a captain, he chose to
balance the secretiveness he was prone to with a bit more relaxed atmosphere
among his officers and men. The fact is that there occurred more incidents on the Erebus than on the Terror throughout the voyage.
Crozier's feeling was also probably made stronger by contrast. Aboard a ship, one was normally part of a specific tight-knit group, and it was common to
value this experience highly. Crozier considered the second Parry expedition his halcyon days, where he made lifelong friends among other
midshipmen. His new position commanding a
ship had little in common with what he'd been used to, but he found a
lot of comfort and encouragement sailing once again with some of his Arctic
colleagues.
"All alone on board Terror"
After
that gruelling voyage, Ross stepped aside – and then despatched Crozier on yet another mission to the Arctic. Crozier joined the 1845 expedition preparations very late, and there are no
letters available similar to those from 1839. In one message
– written to his sister's husband just before leaving – he remarks
"Bird
has been with me pretty much and I have been within an hours walk to
Ross’s during my stay at Woolwich_ I am now however all alone on board
Terror hoping to sail on the morrow_"
It's
telling that Crozier was willing to walk two hours just to see his old
friend. Though a handful of the Antarctic men rejoined, among the new officers there was nobody he'd sailed with
before. The single lieutenant he was allowed to choose, Little, was Franklin's
recommendation. And so it wasn't long
before Crozier's feeling of isolation returned. Even though he had
positive things to say about both his 1st and 3rd lieutenants as well
as the doctor, in a later letter, to his former messmate Henderson,
Crozier almost quotes himself
"Living
alone is the great drawback to me, but I know well it cannot be
otherwise. I belong to the gregarious tribe of animals I believe but I
do not pine much when alone."
He
uses the same phrases as in 1840: here, 'gregarious tribe of animals,'
in another letter to Ross, 'a very hermitlike life,' and also repeats the point about inevitability. It would seem that it was these thoughts,
rather than any professional considerations, that provided nourishment for his doubt whether he's suited to be a leader.
Crozier
had some support towards becoming an expedition commander, but he was
very much against the idea. In one of his replies to Ross, he says, "I am in truth
still of opinion as to my own unfitness to lead," but
doesn't elaborate ("you on that subject as well as all others know my
whole mind"). As he at the same time readily accepted Ross and Franklin's proposal to go
as a second, Crozier must've been sure of his own qualities as a Polar
captain. He was clearly satisfied with how he functioned in a tandem,
commanding a support vessel. Perhaps he was even convinced that a
superior partner was a prerequisite. Hence the refusal of overall
command.
Behind that supposed enthusiasm, Crozier was wracked by indecision whether he should be part of the expedition at all (as testified by Loftie). And once they sailed, Crozier seemingly struggled to rediscover the necessary collaborative balance. Things might've even deteriorated beyond his usual discomfort at the top of the hierarchy. The technical side of the journey was ticking on normally. Irving,
Crozier's 3rd Lieutenant, mentions, "We are going to have a school for
the
men. Our Captain reads prayers on Sundays." There were some early
worries, with Crozier confessing to his sister, "Our progress has been
so slow I could not bear to sit down to write," but then their
situation improved, and the next letter shows his more usual mien. However, an anonymous
officer from the Terror claims that Crozier is "most unsociable" and explains that
"he hardly ever speaks
to us, none of us ever go into his cabin, and he likes solitude so much
that he even thinks going on board to dine with Sir John Franklin a
great bore. It is very unfortunate that he is so unsociable; for if
otherwise it would be far more agreeable, and we should all feel so much
more interest in our duties if he entered into them with us, or even
seemed pleased with what we did. He has, however, many good qualities,
and has great experience in the navigation of these seas; and though it
would be more agreeable if he mixed with us more, we all respect him,
and make every allowance for his peculiarities."
"No congenial Spirit as it were"
And yet Franklin
was no Ross. Franklin had decided to act as a manager and delegate all the
tasks, so he cultivated his officers and forged pseudo-intimate
friendships. He was very put out by Crozier's resistance and badly
needed to get him involved in the charade. While Crozier still thought
of Franklin as kind, he didn't trust him the way he trusted Ross, and,
consequently, doubted own decisions more. Thus the feeling of solitude
took hold. And there's no going to the Erebus for some respite as last time, or, more recently, meeting with his mates in London.
Franklin clutched at the excuse of adverse weather, but
Crozier lays his cards on the table in his final letter to Ross
"How I do miss you_ I cannot bear going on board Erebus_ Sir John is
very kind & would have me there dinning [sic] every day if I would
go_ he has Fitzjames and 2 officers every day. [...] All goes on
smoothly but James dear I am sadly alone, not a soul have I in either
ship that I can go and talk to. 'No congenial Spirit as it were' I am
generally busy but it is after all a very hermitlike life_ Except to
kick up a row with the helmsman or abuse Jobson [sic] at times I would
scarcely ever hear the sound of my own voice. [...] I feel that I am not
in spirits for writing but in truth I am sadly lonely & when I look
back to the last voyage I can see the cause and therefore no prospect
of having a more joyous feeling The bustle of the Season will however be
life to me and come what may I will endeavour to sit down at the end of
it content_"
It
wasn't just that Franklin had taken Ross' place on the Erebus.
Franklin's mind wouldn't refocus from the past events, and for Crozier
he was a constant, double reminder of both Tasmania and the whole
Antarctic expedition.
Franklin tells his wife Jane that Sophia Cracroft hasn't been
mentioned once, but also notes how Crozier – apropos of nothing –
brought up the events of
June 1841, his illness at Hobart (the
remark could've also been related to not feeling well). And Crozier tore up the letter
he'd been trying to write to Jane, as it would've shown that "he was not
in good spirits." Franklin even warns his wife not to
tell Sabine, Ross or Parry about Crozier's problems. It's clear that he had no understanding of the Antarctic captains' close bond. Hearing his second talk about his old
companion, Franklin notes only regular kindness, but doesn't catch – or won't admit – that
in their present situation it's Ross who Crozier desperately misses.
So
all in all, the complaint from Greenland had very deep roots that had
nothing to do with the post-Antarctic situation. It was all made worse by
Franklin's spin, and the overall evolution of dynamics among
the officers during the expedition, as well as Crozier's
knowledge that this here was his only option. The critical factor however was
that nobody had Crozier's back. That's what he was looking for, when
he emphasised that he'd only go second to the trio of captains he
thought he knew best.