25th September.
Captain Houston Stewart, commanding H.M.S. 'Benbow,' while watering
off the island of Ruad, in company with the 'Carysfort' and 'Zebra,'
was informed that a large quantity of provisions were stored in the
town of Tortosa, from whence the enemy's troops in the neighbourhood
received their supplies. Several deserters had come off; and all
agreed that if the proyisions were destroyed the troops must shift
their quarters, and thus leave open the communication with the
mountains, whose inhabitants were anxious for arms. The British were
informed that the chief store-houses were situated close to the sea;
that a breach might be made in the outer wall, and immediate access
obtained to them; also that there were no troops in the town, but
that the Egyptians were about to remove the provisions.
On this Captain Stewart ordered the 'Carysfort' and 'Zebra' to anchor
within five hundred yards of the town, and some large bags of powder,
with boxes and fusees, were prepared for blowing up the storehouses.
The space from the margin of the sea to the spot it was intended to
breach does not exceed sixteen yards, and as only a few loopholes
could be perceived commanding that space, it was supposed that even
should a fire be opened on the men, their advance from the boats
would be too rapid to allow of its being effective, and that, once
within the breach, they would easily make good their way.
At fifteen minutes past one P.M. the 'Carysfort' and 'Zebra'
commenced an admirably well-directed fire, and very soon opened a
large well-built-up archway in front of them, and which now showed a
considerable space within. The boats, which had rendezvoused on
board the 'Carysfort,' on this shoved off. Lieutenant Charlewood,
being prepared with the necessary means for blowing up stores,
buildings, &c., accompanied by Mr. Turner, gunner of the 'Benbow,'
with eight steady men as pioneers, embarked in the cutter, while a
portion of the marines serving on board the 'Benbow,' with those of
the 'Zebra,' and twenty seamen of the 'Benbow,' under Lieutenants
Maitland, R.N., and Harrison, R.M., immediately followed. It was
arranged that all the boats (after disembarkation) should lie off,
prepared to cover the landing-party with their guns and small-arms,
and to re-embark them. The beach under the town appeared so smooth
and deep that no one entertained a doubt that the heavy boats would
be able to reach it, but as they went in, a ledge of rocks or an
ancient building was found to extend itself across the bay at some
distance from the shore, with such deep water inside that no man
could land and keep his ammunition dry, while only the light boats,
of which there were but two, could pass over it. Thus the marines in
the launch, barge, and two pinnaces were unable to land. Lieut.
Charlewood, in the cutter, with the pioneers, powder, and three
deserters as guides, landed at once, and proceeding towards the
breach, had nearly reached it before a shot was fired; but the moment
the large boats touched the rocks they became exposed to a
destructive fire from every minute loophole and crevice, and even
from the holes which the cannon-shot had just made. Lieutenant
Maitland had succeeded in getting about fourteen of his men landed
with himself by another turn of the same cutter, and worked his way
up to the breach. As soon as the firing began, the guides fled to
the boats. Lieutenant Charlewood, proceeding with his pioneers,
broke open several stores, and at length reached one filled with rice
and another with corn, when he ran back to urge Lieutenant Maitland
to bring more hands up. During his absence his men had hewn open
another door, when, to their surprise, they found it entered upon a
place filled with infantry soldiers, and a struggle ensued. Two
soldiers were killed by the seamen; but having nothing but axes, they
were obliged to give way: Mr. Charlewood's return, however, checked
the enemy, and they did not venture to follow him.
Captain Stewart, fearing that something was wrong, and seeing
Lieutenant Maitland still in the breach, hastened towards him in his
gig, and hailing him, learned that as his ammunition was expended,
and much of that of the marines was wet, there was no longer any
prospect of success; he, therefore, ordered the party to retire, and
all got off, Lieutenant Charlewood even bringing his exploding
apparatus away.
Mr. J. C. Dalrymple Hay, midshipman of the 'Benbow,' who commanded
the first cutter, with his boat's crew, who were much exposed, gained
great credit for the spirited way in which they pulled backwards and
forwards under fire, as did also Mr. W. H. Stewart, who commanded the
jolly-boat of the 'Carysfort,' the only other light boat employed.
It was afterwards found that, on that morning before daylight, 200
infantry and 100 dismounted cavalry had entered the town, who were
opposed to the mere handful of British, who were able to land, though
the latter were much aided by the precision of the fire from the
ships during the whole of the attack.
The following is a list of the boats and officers employed, and the
men killed and wounded in the affair:--
'Benbow's' launch.--Mr. William King Hall, mate; Lieut. Harrison,
R.M. Killed, 4 marines, 1 seaman. Wounded, 4 marines, 2 seamen.
Barge.--Mr. G. F. Day, mate. Wounded, 4 seamen.
1st Gig.--Hon. A. Cochrane, volunteer 1st Class.
Pinnace.--Mr. A. G. West, midshipman. Wounded, 1 seaman.
1st Cutter--Mr. J. C. D. Hay, midshipman. Killed, 1 seaman.
Wounded, 2 seamen.
Landing party.--Mr. F. H. Stanfell, mate; Mr. J. P. Ross, midshipman.
Wounded, 1 seaman.
'Carysfort's' pinnace.--Lieut. Stephens; Hon. -- Douglas, midshipman.
None killed or wounded.
Barge.--Mr. Gennys, mate; Mr. Loney, second master.
Jolly-boat.--Mr. W. Houston Stewart, midshipman.
'Zebra's' pinnace.--Mr. J. Simpson, mate. Wounded, 3 marines.
'Benbow.'--Killed, 2 seamen, 3 royal marines. Wounded, 9 seamen, 3
royal marines, severely. Wounded, 1 seaman, 1 marine, slightly.
'Zebra.'--Wounded, 2 seamen, 1 marine, slightly. Total killed, 5;
total wounded, 17.
It is always melancholy to contemplate a heavy loss like the above
without any result: but such must constantly occur in the course of
warfare; and on the other hand we must remember that some of the most
brilliant and important exploits are performed with little or no
loss: nor must we refuse our meed of praise to those brave men who
are exposed to equal dangers in affairs which appear to be of little
consequence to the nation at large.
We must now turn to the final event of the war in Syria.