Captain Ussher’s next appointment was to the Hyacinth, a post sloop, mounting 26 guns; in which ship he escorted a fleet of merchantmen to the Mediterranean, and subsequently joined the squadron employed defending Cadiz.
From that station, Captain Ussher was sent by Rear-Admiral Legge to endeavour to put a stop to the depredations then almost daily committed upon, our trade by the privateers of Malaga, consisting of several fast-sailing, swift-rowing, and well-equipped vessels, commanded by Monsieur Barbastro, a daring and enterprising chief. Finding that the Hyacinth had no chance of overtaking any of these marauders, and that their leader was not to be deceived by the manner in which she was rigged and painted, Captain Ussher lost no time in requesting the senior officer at Gibraltar to place one or two small vessels under his orders, and soon had the pleasure of being joined by a force which he hoped would prove sufficient for effecting the service he was sent on – viz. the Goshawk of 16 guns. Captain James Lilburne; the Resolute gun-brig, Lieutenant John Keenan; and a gun-boat, commanded bv Lieutenant Culi.
On the arrival of this reinforcement, the enemy’s privateers being all in port, and previously well reconnoitred. Captain Ussher determined to strike a blow at them, for which purpose he directed the boats of his little squadron to be immediately prepared for service; and to prevent confusion or misapprehension of orders, the following plan of attack was communicated to every officer.
“Captain Ussher, in his gig, with 6 men; and Lieutenant Thomas Hastings, second of the Hyacinth, in that ship’s pinnace, with 20 men, to attack a battery of 15 long 24-pounders on the mole-head.
“Lieutenant Francis Brockell Spilsbury, first of the Hyacinth, in her barge, with Mr. John Elgar, purser, and 24 men, to attack a battery of 4 long 24-pounders, opposite to the above, and afterwards to assist in boarding the privateers.
“Captain Lilburne, with 40 of his men, in the gun-boat, to board Barbastro’s privateer, the Braave of 10 guns and 130 men. Lieutenant Cull afterwards to place his gun-vessel in the fair way between the mole-heads, to enable the prizes to haul out in case the wind should fail.
“All the other boats of the squadron, under the orders of Lieutenant Keenan, assisted by Lieutenants Otty and Arnold of the Goshawk, to board
