Capt. Knox,
---- Wolfe,
---- Torkinton,
---- Williams,
Lieut. Burford,
---- Bunce,
---- Adair,
---- Miller,
---- Davison,
---- M'Carthy,
Lieut. Jones,
---- Pearce,
---- Pogson,
---- Hodgkins,
---- Tyldesley, Adjutant,
---- Scobell, Quarter-Master.
On the 5th of September La Valette capitulated, of which the
Marines took possession. The indefatigable exertions of Captain
(now Sir A.) Ball, of the Royal Navy, did him much honor, and it
was partly owing to the seasonable arrival of Major General Pigott
with a reinforcement, as well as to the debarkation of the Marines,
that this important key to Egypt was so soon added to our dominion.
The steady vigilance of the Navy, during a blockade of two years,
had a pre-eminent share in this final event. The fortress of
Savona, reduced to famine, by the activity of Captain Downman and
his little squadron, surrendered also to him and the Austrian
General St. Julien, on the 16th of May.
The Genereux and Guillaume Tell, of 74 and 84 guns, were captured
by our cruizers in February and March. They were the only remnants
of the French fleet after the memorable battle of Aboukir.
This year abounds with many examples of inferior enterprize, in
which the subalterns of my corps gave very handsome pledges of what
may be expected from them upon every allotted opportunity.
The attack and bringing out the Spanish corvette, San Josef,
protected also by a heavy battery of five guns, from under the
fortress of Fangerolle, reflected the highest credit upon the
spirit of Lieutenants Beaufort and Huish, of the Pheaton, and
Duncan Campbell, of Marines. He and Mr. Beaufort were wounded.
The Seamen and Marines of the Mermaid, under Captain Oliver, merit
notice in having cut out and destroyed 9 vessels, under a fort near
Cape Corsette.
The conduct of Lieut. Yeo and his brave followers in the port of
Cecenatico, where they rendered 13 merchantmen unserviceable, was
most distinguished. Lieut. Jewell, of Marines, in a detachment of
this nature under Captain Hillyer, which gallantly brought out two
large corvettes from the road of Barcelona, amidst a shower of
shot and shells, behaved with much courage and conduct throughout
that service. These detailed exploits were performed on the
Mediterranean station during this year.
The Dutch island of Curacoa, in South America, when on the eve
of being possessed by a French force, claimed the protection of
Captain Watkins, of his Majesty's frigate Nereide, who landed his
Marines and some Seamen, who had the honor of deterring the enemy
from his attempt, and securing that settlement.
Goree, on the coast of Africa, surrendered to Sir Charles Hamilton,
of La Melpomene, when Captain M'Cleverty, with the Marines of the
squadron, were landed to garrison it.
A very gallant single action was fought off St. Domingo, between
La Seine, Captain Milne, and La Vengeance French frigate, which
terminated in the republican ship striking her flag. Captain Milne,
who had oftener than once approved himself a brave Officer, thus
speaks of Lieutenant Macdonald, who commanded the Marines of La
Seine: "I am indebted to the services of Mr. Macdonald, of Marines,
who was taken down wounded, and came up again when dressed, but was
obliged, from a second wound, to be taken below; but I am happy to
state, the life of this valuable Officer will be saved, to render
further services to his Majesty. The behaviour of the Marines was
such as does them the highest credit."
In the East, Lieutenant Owen, of my corps, volunteered from the
Adamant to assist in destroying the French frigate La Precieuse,
which had been run on shore by that ship and the Tremendous near
Fort Louis, on the Isle of France; a service that was spiritedly
executed under a heavy fire from the batteries, and they brought
off some of the Officers and men prisoners.
The achievements upon the home station in this style of warfare,
were both crouded and brilliant, and it is with a mixture of
exultation and of pride, that so many amongst the rising generation
of my brethren, appear upon those honorable annals.
Amongst the foremost stands the name of Lieutenant (now Adjutant)
Gerrard, of Marines, who volunteered from the Fisguard, to attack
a convoy at St. Croix, laden with provisions and stores for the
French fleet at Brest; which material object was in part effected,
in opposition to the fire from a strong battery, three armed
vessels they took, and a line of musquetry on the shore. Eight of
inferior note were captured, and twenty were run on the rocks.
Lieutenants Burke, Dean, Stamp, and Price, of the Royal Navy, also
gave shining patterns of valour.
Another attempt upon some of the enemy's vessels at the mouth
of the river Quimper on the 23d of June, although not equally
prosperous, was still alike glorious to Lieutenants Burke of the
Renown, and Parker of the Defence, as well as Lieutenant Gerrard.
After reaching the mouth of that river, the Marines were landed on
both its sides, under the command of Lieutenants Burke and Gerrard,
who were to protect the boats under Mr. Parker, in their approach
to the vessels of war and small craft. But the enemy had removed
them to an inaccessible distance, and this bold essay terminated in
the destruction of three strong batteries with their guns, by these
divisions.
The cutting out La Desiree, from the roads of Dunkirk, will be long
remembered, and must for ever establish the personal intrepidity of
Lieutenants M'Dermitt and Pierce, of the Royal Navy.
The vigilance of Sir John Warren and his flying squadron, afforded
another display of subordinate zeal on the 1st and 2d of July.
The scene of action was within the island of Noirmoutier, and
in the bay of Bourneuf, and the object was to attack some armed
vessels and a convoy bound for Brest, covered by 6 heavy batteries
on the South East part of the former, besides flanking guns on
every point. By 12 on the night of the 1st of July, they carried
5 armed ships, and 15 merchantmen, but on finding it impossible
to bring them out over the sand banks, they were all burnt. This
dashing business was achieved by 113 Seamen, and 61 Marines,
headed by Lieutenants Burke, Dean, and Garrett, of the Navy, 11
petty Officers, and Lieutenants Thompson, Ballingham, Gerrard, and
Hutton, of my corps. All the boats upon returning, grounded, and
in this situation they were exposed to an unceasing fire from the
forts, and from the platoons of 400 troops in their rear.
It was under this trying circumstance, that, with true British
intrepidity, they resolutely dragged their boats upwards of two
miles over the sands, until they floated, when they levelled all
their efforts against one vessel, sufficiently large to accomplish
their retreat. Four Officers and eighty-eight men, however, became
prisoners, while more than 100 secured their safety by unrelaxing
valour.
The capture of Le Cerbere gun-brig, made under the batteries
of Port Louis, the fire of some small craft, within a mile of
three French men of war, and against four times their numbers,
has immortalized the fame of Lieut. Coghlan, and Mr. Paddon, of
the Royal Navy, and all their associates. It can scarcely find a
parallel upon the registers of history.
Lieut. Burke, of the Renown, the Seamen and Marines under his
auspices, were again conspicuous in the assault of La Guipe French
privateer, of 22 guns and 161 men, which they took, after a
desperate resistance, near the Narrows of Rendonella, in the bay
of Vigo. That valuable Officer, Lieut. Burke, was badly wounded,
besides twelve Seamen and five Marines, and four of both classes
were killed.
It was in testimony of those repeated deeds that the Officers
and ship's company of the Fisguard, presented Lieut. Gerrard,
of Marines, with a sword, accompanied by the flattering tribute
I have already described. His Country, as I have said, has
recently attested her gratitude, by conferring upon him one of the
Adjutancies of his Corps, for which he is eminently qualified.
The determined spirit of Lieut. M'Cullen, of Marines, and his
little party of twenty-four men, in following up Captain Price's
orders, against the Victoire privateer, of Boulogne, near to
Issigny, is worthy of much commendation. He towed her off from the
shore under the discharge of some hundred musquetry, and brought
her a prize to the island of St. Marcou. Lieut. Steevens covered
him most gallantly in his gun-brig, the Sparkler.
Imitating this brilliant system, another blow to the enemy's
commerce was given by the boats of the Montague and Magnificent,
conducted by Lieuts. Blissett, Knight, Griffiths, and Dunlop,
of the Royal Navy, and in which Lieuts. Alexander, Montgomerie,
Mitchell, and Jordan, of Marines, bravely volunteered. The whole
proceeded against a convoy of fourteen sail in Port Danenne, near
to L'Orient, all of which were grounded under a battery, that fired
round and grape shot, as well as two of the vessels which were
armed, upon the boats as they approached.
This service was most completely executed, as they took eleven, and
burnt one; leaving only two behind which they were unable to bring
out. Captain Knight acknowledged the conduct of all to have been
most regular and bold.
These little details are powerful evidences of the spirit of the
times. Upon an aggregate scale they are certainly of national
moment, and sufficiently prove how much may be accomplished by
English intrepidity, when happily seconded by a well-regulated
discipline.