CHAP. XLV.

CHAP. XLV.

Twenty thousand Marines were voted for the service of 1800.

Every revolving year seemed to add to the naval superiority of Great Britain. In each quarter the enemy's fleets were blockaded within their ports; the happy result of our reiterated victories.

In the Mediterranean, Lord Keith, by his cruizers, was highly instrumental in producing the fall of Genoa, to the Austrian General Melas, by cutting off its supplies, and occasional bombardments.

Early in 1800 a battalion of Marines was landed at Malta, which had withstood a tedious blockade, and still held out with uncommon perseverance. The occasion presented no opportunities of signalizing themselves, but by the most exemplary good conduct, under the following Officers:

Captain Weir, (Major Commandant.)

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.