306 BOAT ENGAGEMENTS. [A.D. Bengal on the 2nd of November, when he came across the French frigate "La Bellevue," Captain Duperré, who forthwith chased her, and, after having mauled her considerably, obliged her to haul down her colours. On the 22nd the two vessels in company fell in with the Portuguese frigate "Minerva," 52, Captain Pinto, when an action ensued, and Captain Duperré had the skill and good fortune to capture her likewise, and with his two men-of-war prizes he anchored safely in Port Louis. 47. BOAT ENGAGEMENTS. On the 15th of March, the British frigate "Arethusa," 38, Captain Mends, cruising off the north coast of Spain, detached her boats under Lieutenants Pearson, first of the ship, and Octavius Scott of the Marines, into the little bay of Lequito, which was defended by a detachment of French soldiers; there they destroyed more than 20 heavy guns in battery, and brought away prisoners, a sergeant and 20 men, and a small chaloupe laden with brandy. On the 16th the same party again landed, and found two chasse-marées laden with brandy aground four miles up the river Andera, which they captured from the French and restored to the Spaniards. On the 20th a party of seamen and marines of the same ship, under Lieutenants Elms, Steele, and Fennell, destroyed the guns at Baigno and the signal-posts, the small French force stationed in charge retiring as the British approached. On the 23rd of April, Captain Jahleel Brenton, of the "Spartan," 38, having the British frigates "Amphion," 32, Captain William Hoste, and "Mercury," 28, Hon. Captain Duncan, under him, in the Gulf of Venice, observed a number of vessels lying within the mole of Pesaro. Deeming it practicable to get possession of them, he anchored his three frigates within half a mile of the town and harbour, when he sent in the boats of the squadron under the orders of Lieutenants Willes, Philcott, and Baumgardt, together with a flag of truce to the Commandant, demanding the surrender of all the vessels. Receiving no reply to this demand, Brenton fired a shot over the town to give warning to the women and children, and then opened fire from all three frigates, which continued a short time, when several flags of truce were exhibited in the town, and Brenton ceased firing, and signalled Lieutenant Willes to pull into the harbour. Before dark, 13 vessels, deeply laden, were surrendered and brought off; several others were scuttled and sunk, and some were left aground. The Commandant and all the military had made their escape, and accordingly the castle was mined and blown up. The only casualty which occurred to the assailants was the life of one man, who, through his own negligence, was buried in the ruins. On the 2nd of May the " Spartan " and "Mercury" chased two vessels into the port of Cesenatico, which was defended by a battery and a castle. The boats were lowered in order to lead the frigates as close as the shallow water would permit, and the frigates thus got within grapeshot, when 1809.] BOAT ENGAGEMENTS. 307 Lieutenant Willes pushed ahead, landed his boats' crews, and took possession of the battery, turning its guns upon the castle and town, which were very soon deserted. 22 vessels, laden with corn, hemp, and iron, were brought off, and one which had been scuttled, burned. The castle and magazine were destroyed, and the guns spiked. All this was effected without a casualty. Captain Brenton then proceeded to the Gulf of Fiume, where the French, he had heard, were fortifying the island of Lusin-piccolo. Colonel Pelharnie with a corps of Croatians, being in the vicinity, a proposal was made to them to co-operate in an attack, which being agreed to, the works were assaulted, and the enemy driven off, when an advance was immediately made on the castle, which, after enduring the fire of the "Spartan" all night, surrendered in the morning, and was delivered over to the troops of the Emperor of Austria. On the 14th of June the British brig-sloop "Scout," Captain Raitt, perceived a convoy of 14 or 15 sail of vessels coming round Cape Croisette. He immediately made sail in chase, but it falling calm he despatched the boats under Lieutenant Battersby. The vessels pushed for a harbour, into which they were followed by the boats, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry; but, notwithstanding, a party of men got to shore and immediately stormed and carried the battery, and attacked the enemy's ships, which got under the protection of some rocks. The guns were spiked, and seven vessels brought out. In the execution of this service, the British had 1 killed and 5 wounded. On the 14th of July the same officer, with a detachment of the "Scout's" seamen and marines, landed and attacked a strong battery which commanded the port of Carri, which he carried without any loss and spiked the guns. The British frigate "Topaze," 36, Captain Griffiths, observed on the 31st of May 9 vessels in the road of Demata, under the fortress of Sta Maura, and, placing the boats under the orders of Lieutenant Hammond the Captain, ordered him to take them round outside the reef, and capture or destroy the ships. Notwithstanding a very formidable opposition, Lieutenant Hammond boarded and brought out the whole 9 vessels with only the loss of 1 killed and 1 wounded. On the 24th of August the " Amphion," Captain Hoste, discovered lying in the port of Cortelazzo 6 Franco-Italian gun-boats with a convoy of merchant trabacculos. Captain Hoste having received from a fisherman a very correct account of the force and situation of the vessels and batteries, resolved to send in his boats. Crowding all sail the " Amphion stood in shore, and anchored off the entrance of the Piavè, when the boats, under the orders of Lieutenants Phillott, Jones, and Moore of the Marines, landed a detachment of 70 men, who attacked the fort with so much vigour, that although surrounded by a ditch and chevaux-de-frise, it was carried in ten minutes, when, at the concerted signal, the boats attacked and captured the 6 gun-boats. Two trabacculos with cargoes were taken, and 5 burned. One marine accidentally wounded by an explosion was the only casualty. On the 28th of July the "Excellent," 74, Captain West, being at 308 BOAT ENGAGEMENTS. [A.D. anchor off Trieste, discovered an enemy's convoy creeping along under the shore, but as soon as they saw that they had been perceived, they took shelter in the port of Duin. All the boats were immediately lowered and placed under the command of Lieutenant Harper, covered by the brig-sloops "Acorn," 18, Captain Clephane, and "Bustard," Captain Barkland. These pushed through a heavy fire into the harbour, when Lieutenant Harper gallantly boarded and burned 6 gun-boats, which he brought away, together with 10 trabacculos laden with produce. The total casualties in this exploit were the master and 7 seamen and marines wounded. The British frigate "Mercury," Hon. Captain Duncan, detached her boats upon several successful expeditions of the same kind. Lieutenant Watkin Owen Pell was sent on the 1st of April to cut out 2 gun-boats, from the port of Rovigno, moored close under some heavy batteries. In the encounter the gun-boat "Leda" was carried and brought away; but owing to a fog the other gunboat escaped, and the lieutenant, who had already lost a leg in the service, was severely wounded in two places. On the 15th of May the same frigate sent a boat's crew, under Lieutenant Gordon, into the town of Rotti, on the Gulf of Manfredonia, who landed and destroyed 7 trabacculos, but received some slight damage himself. On the 7th of September Lieutenants Pell, Gordon, and Whylock, of the Marines, went with the boats of the " Mercury into the harbour of Barletta, in the same gulf, and boarded and carried in very gallant style the French national schooner "La Pugliese," commanded by an Enseigne de Vaisseau. This was effected with such judgment and promptitude that it succeeded without any casualty, notwithstanding that the schooner nearly touched the mole, which was lined with musketry, and was under the fire of a castle mounting 8 guns, and of 2 armed feluccas. Some exceedingly brave and enterprising exploits with boats occurred this year against Danish craft, in the Baltic Sea. On the 11th of May the British frigate "Melpomene," Captain Peter Parker, chased a Danish man-of-war cutter of 6 guns on shore, at Hubio, in Jutland, and sent in her boats, under Lieutenants Plumridge and Rennie, to destroy her, which they did effectually, but with the casualties of Lieutenant Rennie and 5 men severely wounded. On the 15th the frigate "Tartar," 32, Captain Baker, chased on shore, on the coast of Courland, a Danish privateer of 4 guns, and sent in her boats, under Lieutenants Sykes and Parker, who boarded the privateer without loss, and with her guns dislodged a party posted on shore for her protection. But before the Danes quitted the ship the rascally crew placed a lighted candle over the magazine, where lay several hundredweight of gunpowder. This was fortunately perceived by one of the British seamen when the slowmatch had already burned down to within an inch of the powder, so that in another minute all on board would have been blown to destruction. With wonderful presence of mind the daring man grasped the candle in his hand and prevented the catastrophe. 1809.] BOAT ENGAGEMENTS. 309 On the 23rd, the " Melpomene," when off Omoe island, in the Great Belt, discovered after nightfall several large boats standing towards her. She immediately cleared for action, and in about half an hour was in hot conflict with 20 sail of gun-boats. The long guns of the Danes produced a very serious effect upon the matericl et personnel of the "Melpomene," and the darkness of the night hid from her view the individually small but collectively formidable antagonists. The gun-boats in the end, however, got all safely back to port; but the British frigate had lost 5 killed and 29 wounded, and was left in so shattered a state as to be obliged to be sent home and put out of commission. On the 19th of June the " Bellerophon," 74, Captain Warren, was with the "Minotaur," 74, Captain Barrett, off Hango, in Swedish Finland. Captain Warren, seeing a lugger and two other vessels apparently aground in the harbour, anchored, and despatched the boats, under the orders of Lieutenants Pilch, Sheridan, Bentham, and Carrington, of the Marines, who took possession of them; but finding themselves within gun-shot of four strong batteries, not before observed, the detachments dashed at the nearest battery, which was defended by four 24-pounders and 103 men, and carried it in the most gallant manner. The guns in it were spiked and the magazine destroyed; and the British returned to their ships with only 5 wounded. On the 7th of July, a British squadron, under Captain Byam Martin, consisting of "Implacable," 74, "Bellerophon," 74, " Melpomene," 38, and the ship-sloop "Prometheus," 18, Captain Forest, was cruising off the coast of Finland, when a Russian flotilla of gun-boats and merchantmen was observed at anchor under Pereola Point. The gun-boats were 8 in number, in a position betwixt two rocks of extraordinary height and escarpment, which prevented their being taken in flank, while they were able to pour a destructive fire of grape upon any boats which should approach them in front. The boats of the above four ships, 17 in number, under the command of Lieutenant Hawkey, of the "Implacable," regardless of the heavy fire opened upon them, proceeded to the attack. The British detachment did not fire a musket until they actually touched the sides of the gunboats, when the seamen and marines sprung upon them, sword in hand, and carried them all. Six were captured, 1 burned, and 1 escaped; and 12 merchant vessels, laden with powder and provisions for the Russian army, together with a large armed ship, which were lying behind them under their protection, were all captured. The leader of the expedition, Lieutenant Hawkey, was killed in the act of assaulting, and Lieutenant Risling mortally wounded. The entire loss was 17 killed and 36 wounded. The Russian loss was 63 killed and 127 taken prisoners, of whom 51 were wounded. On the 25th of July, Captain Pater, commanding a squadron, consisting of his own ship, the "Princess Carolina," 74,"Minotaur," 74, "Prometheus," 18, and " Cerberus," 18, Captain Whitby, sent Captain Forest with all the boats, 17 in number, to attack 4 Russian gun-boats and an armed brig lying at Fredericksham. As soon as it was dark the boats pushed off, and 310 REDUCTION OF ANHOLT. [A.D. after a most desperate and sanguinary conflict, captured and brought off all but one gun-boat. One of them was so obstinately defended, that every man of her crew, 44 in number, was either Ikilled or wounded before she surrendered. The killed alone on board this gun-boat amounted to 25. The British loss was 3 officers and 16 men killed, and Captain Forest himself, with 50 men, wounded. On the 12th of August, the brig-sloop " Lynx," 18, Captain Willoughby Marshall, and gun-brig "Monkey," Lieutenant Fitzgerald, discovered 3 Danish luggers off Daishead, which immediately hoisted their colours and anchored in line within a reef. Captain Marshall accordingly detached the "Monkey and the boats to make an attack upon them, but after the second broadside from the "Monkey" all three cut their cables and ran ashore, when the boats promptly boarded them and brought them all out without a single casualty. A cask of powder was timely discovered close to the fireplace of one of the captured luggers, evidently placed there in the hope of a cowardly revenge, as in the case already mentioned. Captain Lord George Stuart, in the "Aimable," 32, landed with the Captains of the " Musquito," "Briseis," and "Ephira,” and a party of marines and seamen, and dislodged the enemy from the town of Gessendorf, near the mouth of the Elbe and Weser, spiked their guns, and destroyed their works. On the 10th of September, off the bay of Amarang, in the Dutch island of Celebes, the British gun-brig "Diana," 10, Lieutenant Kempthorne, discovered the Dutch brig-of-war, "Zephyr," 14, commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Vanderveld, lying at anchor close under a fort. Kempthorne did not think it prudent to attack the brig in that position, but resolved to attempt to cut her out at night with his boats. As soon, therefore, as it became dark the boats were sent in, but after a fruitless search of two hours they returned without being able to find the brig, which had, in fact, slipped away. On the 11th, however, the “Diana” again discovered her, and the "Zephyr" came to the wind and stood out to meet her. They came into action in about four hours, and after a fight of about 40 minutes, the Dutch brig hauled down her colours. On the 17th of October, near Guadaloupe, the ship-sloop "Hazard," 18, Captain Cameron, and brig-sloop "Pelones," 18, Captain Huskisson, came upon a privateer, moored under the battery of St. Marie. Captain Cameron immediately despatched the boats under Lieutenants Robertson and Flinn, who were exposed to a heavy fire of grape from the battery as they approached the shore; but the ships soon silenced this, and the boats then pushed forward and gallantly boarded the vessel, when the crew abandoned her and formed on the beach, whence they opened such a heavy fire of musketry that Lieutenant Robertson found it impossible to get the vessel away, and therefore set fire to her and blew her up. In this service 6 seamen and marines were killed and 7 wounded. the 12th of December, in the same seas, the frigate "Thetis," 38, Captain Miller, in company with the brig-sloop "Pultusk," Captain Elliott," Achates," 10, Captain Pinto," Attentive," Lieutenant On |