My officers and crew behaved with gallantry and coolness under trying
circumstances.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. S. T. RASHLEIGH,
Lieut. and Commander.
To Captain CHARLES E. LESTER, R.N.,
H.M.S. _Vigilant_,
Senior Officer, Chusan Archipelago.
It was no doubt written hurriedly and finished off abruptly after
sighting the _Vigilant_; but from what I learned afterwards, hardly gave
a correct, or rather fair account of the doings of his tenders.
I was rather amused by young Ford coming to my cabin next morning. He
had a boat’s ensign under his arm, looked very sheepish, and wanted to
know if he might keep it. "The signalman of the _Sally_ borrowed it,
sir, and hoisted it, without my knowing, whilst we were fighting those
junks—he didn’t know that it was against orders—and I do want to take it
home ’so badly’."