the field) I saw equally gallantly and well served; we lost in the misfortune which occurred to the brigade commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Colborne (whom General Stewart reports to have acted, and was then acting, in a most noble manner, leading on the brigade in admirable order) one howitzer, which the enemy, before the arrival of the gallant General Hoghton's brigade, had time to carry off, with 200 or 300 prisoners of that brigade. After he had been beaten from this his principal attack, he still continued that near the village, on which he never could make any impression, or eross the rivulet, though I had been obliged to bring a very great proportion of the troops from it, to support the principal point of attack; but the enemy seeing his main attack defeated, relaxed in his attempt there also. The Portuguese division of Major-general Hamilton, in every instance, evinced the utmost steadiness and courage, and manœuvred equally well with the British.

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Brigadier-general Harvey's Portuguese brigade, belonging to General Cole's division, had an opportunity of distinguishing itself when marching in line across the plain, by repulsing, with the utmost steadiness, a charge of the enemy's cavalry.

"It is impossible to enumerate every instance of discipline and valour shewn on this severely contested day-but never were there troops that more valiantly or more gloriously maintained the honor of their respective countries. I have not been able to particularize the Spanish divisions, brigades, or regiments that were particularly engaged, because I am not acquainted with their denominations or names; but I have great pleasure in saying that their behaviour was most gallant and honorable; and though, from the superior number and weight of the enemy's force, that part of them that were in the position attacked were obliged to cede the ground, it was after a gallant resistance, and they continued in good order to support their allies; and I doubt not, his excellency General Blake will do ample justice on this head, by making honorable mention of the deserving.

"The battle commenced at nine o'clock, and continued without interruption till two in the afternoon, when the enemy having been driven over the Albuera, for the remainder of the day there was but cannonading and skirmishing.

"It is impossible by any description to do justice to the distinguished gallantry of the troops, but every individual most nobly did his duty, and which will be well proved by the great loss we have suffered through repulsing the enemy; and it was observed, that our dead, particularly the 57th regiment, were lying, as they had fought, in ranks, and every wound was in the front.

1811.

"The Honorable Major-general William Ste- BOOK IX. wart most particularly distinguished himself, and conduced much to the honor of the day; he re- CHAP. VIII. ceived two contusions, but would not quit the field. Major-general the Honorable G. L. Cole is also entitled to every praise; and I have to regret being deprived for some time of his services, by the wound he has received. The Hon. Lieutenant-colonel Abercromby, commanding the 2d brigade, 2d division, and Major L'Es trange, 31st regiment, deserve to be particularly mentioned; and nothing could exceed the conduct and gallantry of Colonel Inglis, at the head of his regiment. To the Hon. Major-general William Lumley, for the very able manner in which he opposed the numerous cavalry of the enemy, and foiled him in his object, I am particularly indebted. To Major-general Hamilton, who commanded in the left, during the severe attack upon our right, I am also much indebted; and the Portuguese brigade of Brigadier-generals Fouseca and Archibald Campbell deserve to be mentioned. To Major-general Allen, and: to the excellent brigade under his orders, I have much praise to give; and it is with great pleasure I assure your lordship, that the good and gallant conduct of every corps, and of every person, was in proportion to the opportunity that offered for distinguishing themselves. I know not an individual who did not do his duty.

"I have, I fear, to regret the loss to the service of Colonel Collins, commanding a Portuguesebrigade, his leg having been carried off by a cannon-shot. He is an officer of great merit; and I deeply lament the death of Major-general Hoghton, and of those two promising officers, Lieutenant-colonel Sir William Myers, and Lieutenant-colonel Duckworth.

"It is most pleasing to me to inform your lordship, not only of the steady and gallant conduct of our allies, the Spanish troops, under his excellency General Blake, but also to assure you that the most perfect harmony has subsisted between us; and that General Blake not only conformed in all things to the general line proposed by your lordship, but in the details; and in whatever I suggested to his excellency, I received the most immediate and cordial assent and co-operation; and nothing was omitted, on his part, to ensure the success of our united efforts; and during the battle he most essentially, by bis experience, knowledge, and zeal, contributed to its fortunate result.

"His excellency the Captain-general, Castanos, who had united the few troops he had in a state to be brought into the field, to those of General Blake, and placed them under his orders, assisted in person in the field; and not only on this, but on all occasions, I am much indebted to General Castanos, who is ever beforehand in

with round and grape-shot, and musketry. About twelve o'clock the enemy shot away our maintopmast, peak, halyards, and block, fore-geers, fore-halyards, and jib-tye; and two of our starboard guns disabled, by the stock of one and the carriage of the other being broken. The enemy seeing us in this disabled state, attempted to board us, but with the courage that every true Englishman is possessed with, we repulsed them; we now kept up a well-directed fire with the two foremost guns and musketry. The enemy made a second attempt, but with the usual courage was again repulsed. By this time one man was killed and four wounded. I then ordered the starboard-sweeps to he manned, and pulled the cutter's head round, it still being calm, and a swell from the S. W. We got our larboard guns to bear on them, and with two well-directed broadsides, and three cheers, three of them sheered off. I was now informed our canister and musket-ball was all expended; but, nevertheless, with two well-directed broadsides, double shotted, we carried away the largest of the two's fore-mast and bowsprit. At this moment they attempted to board a third time, but they were again repulsed, and that with great loss on their side; but by this exertion two of our larboard guns were dismounted. The enemy's fire began to slacken; we then gave three cheers, and with two of our guns double-shotted, raked them, which must have made great slaughter; and at half-past two the enemy was taken in tow by two row-beas, who towed them in-shore, we still firing on them with our two guns until three o'clock, when they were out of our reach; we then manned our sweeps, and towed the cutter's head towards the offing, and began to clear the wreck, and by five o'clock we had our main-sail, jib, and fore-sail set, but they were more like riddles than sails, after four hours hard-fought action. The enemy's force, which I learnt from a Danish vessel which had been laying alongside them in Almeria Bay, consisted of one with three latten sails, two long eighteen-pounders, six guns, and seventy-five men; another, three latten sails and jib, five guns, and forty-five men; two others, two sails, two guns, and twenty-five men each. I was short of my complement four men, and had the master's mate and six men away in a detained vessel, leaving the total number on-board thirty-three, out of which we had only one killed, and ten wounded." Much valour, though not attended with adequate success, was displayed in an attempt to destroy the convoy at Palamos. The following was the letter on this subject, from Captain Rogers, of his majesty's ship the Kent:

The Cambrian hove in sight, which immediately determined me to attempt the destruction of the convoy at Palamos. I had great reliance in Captain Fane's knowledge of the place;

1811.

and as the reinforcement the French had received BOOK ix. in Catalonia gave me no hope of assistance from General O'Donnell, who had full occupation for CHAP. IX. his troops, I felt that I should be deficient in my duty if I did not employ the means in my power with energy, to effect the important service of depriving Barcelona and the French army of the supplies which this convoy would convey to them. I gave it, Sir, every consideration, with the anxiety natural to responsibility, and the more I reflected the more my mind was fortified with hopes of success. I therefore formed my plan, and Captain Fane did me the favor to volunteer the command of 350 seamen, 250 marines, and two field-pieces, selected from the ships under my orders, and well-appointed for this desirable service. The enemy's vessels lay in the mole, and consisted of a very fine new national ketch, mounting fourteen guns, with sixty men, two xebecs of three guus each, aud thirty men, and there were eight merchant vessels under their convoy, all laden with provisions for Barcelona; they were protected by two 24-pounders, oue in a battery which stood high over the mole, and. the other with a 13-inch mortar in a battery, on a very commanding height; there were also, from the information I received, about 250 soldiers in the town. From light winds it was near oneo'clock in the afternoon of the 13th, before the ships could get far enough into the bay to put the men ashore, and they were soon after landed on the beach, in the finest order, under cover of the Sparrow-hawk and Minstrel sloops, without harm, the enemy having posted themselves in the town, supposing we should be injudicious enough to go into the mole without dislodging them; soon after, our men moved forward to take the town and batteries in the rear; the enemy withdrew to a windmill on the hill, where they remained almost quiet spectators of our people taking possession of the batteries and the vessels in the mole; the mortar was spiked,. and the cannon thrown down the heights into the sea; the magazine blown up the whole of the vessels burnt and totally destroyed, save two, which were brought out; in short, the object had succeeded to admiration, and at this time with the loss of no more than four or five men from occasional skirmishing: but I am sorry to relate, that in withdrawing our post from a bill, which we occupied to keep the enemy in check until the batteries and vessels were destroyed, I fear that our people retired with some disorder, which encouraged the enemy, who had received a reinforcement from St. Felice, to advance upon them, and, by some unhappy fatality, instead of directing their retreat to the beach where the Cambrian, Sparrow-hawk, and Minstrel lay, to cover their embarkation, the brave but thoughtless and unfortunate men came through the town

1811.

BOOK IX. down to the mole; the enemy immediately occupied the walls and houses, from which they kept CHAP. IX. up a severe fire upon the boats crowded with men, and dastardly fired upon and killed several who had been left on the mole, and were endeavoring to swim to the boats. Nothing could exceed the good conduct of Captain Pringle, of the Sparrow-hawk, Captain Campbell, of the Minstrel, and Lieutenant Conolly, first of the Cambrian, (who commanded that ship in the absence of Captain Fane,) both in the landing and withdrawing the men, and the officers in the launches with carronades, and the two mortar-boats of the Cambrian; indeed the officers and men of all the boats distinguished themselves beyond all praise in going to the mole to bring off the men who had been left behind. In performing this arduous service they suffered much, but I had the satisfaction to perceive the fire of their carronades and mortars upon the enemy was very destructive. I feel a delicacy in noticing the exertions and gallantry of an individual where most appear to have an equal claim, but it is due to Mr. George Godfrey, my first lieutenant, whose exertions both on shore and in the boats bringing off the men were conspicuous. Unfortunately, Captain Fane, as I am informed, was at the mole, giving directions to destroy the vessels, when our men were withdrawn from the post on the hill; he remained there with firmness to the last, and is among the missing, but I have received a satisfactory account that he is well. I feel, Sir, with unfeigned grief, that our loss has been severe, but had it not been for the indiscretion of the people straggling from their post and coming into the town, contrary to my caution, the enemy would not have dared to approach them, and the loss would have been very inconsiderable, compared with the importance of the service performed. The French had entered Catalonia with an army of 10,000 men, with little means of subsistence, and as I was ordered to this coast for the express purpose of depriving the enemy of their expected supplies, I considered that some energy and enterprise were necessary to accomplish it; the force I employed was fully adequate to this service, and I confided the execution of it to an officer of reputation; I therefore cannot reproach myself, as iny conduct would have been censured if I had not undertaken it, although I must ever deeply regret the severe loss. "I have, &c.

(Signed) "THOMAS ROGERS.", "Admiral Sir C. Cotton, Bart. Commander-inchief," &c.

The capture of eleven of the enemy's vessels was thus detailed by Captain Whitby:

His Majesty's Ship Cerberus, Feb. 13. "Having completed the water of his majesty's ships under my command at Lissa, on the 9th

inst. I proceeded to reconnoitre the coast of Italy with this ship and Active, in hopes of intercepting vessels which were reported to have sailed from Ancona for Corfu, and taken shelter in various harbours along the coast during the southerly winds just set in.

"On the morning of the 12th instant we discovered several vessels lying under the town of Ortano, and as the wind was light, the boats of both ships were dispatched, under the orders of Lieutenant Dickinson (first of the Cerberus) to bring them out if practicable. On the near approach of the boats to the vessels a fire of great guns and small arms was instantly opened from an armed trabaccolo (which was not till then observed), and soldiers posted on the beach and hills commanding the bay; our boats formed in close order, gave three hearty cheers, and in a few minutes cleared all before them, the men from the vessels and the troops on shore running in all directions.

"To prevent any annoyance whilst the prizes were bringing out, Lieutenant Dickinson landed with the marines under Lieutenant Mears, of that corps, embarked in the Active, and a division of small-arm men under Mr. James Rennie, master's mate of this ship, taking a strong position on the hills, and planting the British flag at the very gates of the town, whilst the launches, under Lieutenants Haye and Campston, with the barge of the Active, under Mr. James Gibson, master'smate of that ship, were employed in covering them with the carronades. This judicious and advantageous movement was of the greatest service to those employed at the sea-side, as it kept the soldiers and inhabitants who had collected in great force in check, and allowed the work which had been so ably undertaken to be most fully completed; as, in addition to the convoy, consisting of ten sail (under the vessel armed with six guns), which was found in the harbour laden with grain, oil, &c. two large magazines, filled with all sorts of naval and military stores, destined for the garrison of Corfu, (and which it is said they stand in much need of,) was most completely destroyed by fire; and I feel convinced the enemy will suffer most severely by this capture, as they must have been some time in making in making so large a collection. As I believe you are unacquainted with the situation of Ortano, I must beg leave to state it, and you will then be able to form your own opinion of the difficulties that existed, and to which our men and boats were necessarily exposed.

"The harbour is formed by a large pier running out into the sea, and connected with a range of hills leading to the town, which stands on the top of the highest, completely commanding the vessels in the bay and the road up to it, so that the marines, to gain the strong post they had, and

to prevent being exposed to the severe fire of musketry, were obliged to climb up the rocks by their hands, with a prospect of falling down a precipice every step they took.

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Having detailed to you, Sir, the particulars of this service, I have much pleasure in adding that our loss has been only four wounded; and when it is considered that they were exposed to a teazing fire from the bushes and houses, from ten in the morning until three in the afternoon, it will, I trust, be thought trifling in comparison with the annoyance the enemy have received by the capture and destruction of their magazines and vessels.

"I cannot speak too highly of the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Dickinson on this occasion; the style in which he boarded the trabaccolo, armed with six guns and full of men, with the gig of this ship, supported by the barge under Mr. Rennie, (of whom he speaks in the highest terms of praise,) forms only a small part of his merit; his arrangements being so well made and so promptly executed by those under him, were such as to have ensured the most complete success, could it have been possible for the enemy to have collected any additional regular force with that already opposed to them.

"No language I can make use of is strong enough to express the zeal and conduct of every person concerned.

"I feel particularly indebted to Captain Gordon for the judicious manner his ship was placed, by which means he prevented any body of the enemy from forming in the rear of our men, and the promptitude and zealous co-operation I have constantly experienced from him since we have been serving together.

"Enclosed is a list of the vessels captured and destroyed. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) " HENRY WHITBY, Captain. "To George Eyre, esq. captain of his majesty's ship Magnificent, senior officer," &c. Here followed a list of eleven vessels captured.

The French frigates (Emily, forty guns, Adrian, forty, and Dromedaire, twenty,) which had escaped from Toulon, were pursued by Captain Otway, of the Ajax, who succeeded in cutting off the Dromedaire, a very fine frigate ship of 800 tons. The other two frigates narrowly escaped from Captain Chamberlayne.

The French national brig, La Cannoniere, of ten 4-pounders, one 24-pound carronade, and four swivels, with a complement of seventy-seven men, was chased by Captain Atchison, of his Majesty's brig Scilla, who got possession of a sloop, one of her convoy.

The conquest of the Island of Ternate was effected by the Dover, Captain Tucker, having on board a detachment of troops from Amboyna,

under Captain Forbes. The reduction of this BOOK IX. island was boldly accomplished July 28.

1811.

The French frigate, Entreprenante, of thirty- CHAP. IX. two guns, after a gallant action, struck to the British sloop of war Atalanta, Captain Hickey. The Atalanta had one killed and four wounded; the Entreprenante had thirty killed and wounded. The capture of the five French privateers, and the destruction of a sixth, at Sidonia, deserves particular notice. Sidonia is about twenty miles from Cadiz, and well situated both for affording protection to this species of naval warfare, and facilitating the capture of any merchant-vessels going into Cadiz; in which service these privateers had been too successful. Their capture had also long been an object of desire, from a suspicion that their crews were principally deserters from the British ships lying in Cadiz bay, Americans, and others. They were small cutterrigged vessels, with sweeps; and when they undertook any considerable enterprise, seventy French dragoons (in garrison at Sidonia) were embarked on-board them. Captain Price, of the Sabine, provoked by their daring intrusions, anchored his ships as close as possible into the roadstead, and, in the night, dispatched the boats manned with volunteers to attack them, under the command of Lieutenant Usherwood, assisted by Lieutenant Finnucane and Mr. Settle, master. They succeeded most admirably: each boat took a privateer. The prisoners taken had been marched from Antwerp.

Captain Brisbane, of his majesty's ship Belle Poule, being off the coast of Istria, with his majesty's ship Alceste in company, at ten a. m. discovered and chased a large French brig of war of eighteen guns, which shortly afterwards hauled into the small harbour of Pasenza. Having received intelligence that such a vessel might be expected conveying supplies of all descriptions for the French frigates at Ragusa, which had escaped from the recent gallant action off Lissa, the captain left no means untried to capture or destroy her. After reconnoitering her position, and consulting the pilots and a most intelligent officer on-board, Mr. Thomas Boardman, actinglieutenant of the Acorn, who, from his general local knowledge of the Adriatic, had handsomely volunteered his services for the cruize, Captain Brisbane found it impracticable for the frigates to enter the harbour, there being only fifteen feet water in it, but that the brig might nevertheless be cannonaded with effect where she was then lying. Accordingly, at three p. m. both ships stood in, within a cable's length of the rocks at the entrance of the harbour, and opened an animated fire on her, and a battery under which she lay, and in an hour obliged her to haul ashore under the town out of reach of the shot. The ships were frequently hulled by the battery, but sustained no other damage but what could be