twenty-four-pounder carronades, with a complement of 202 men.
Captain Pechell’s post commission bears date June 16, 1808. We next find him employed blockading Basse Terre, Guadaloupe; and, on the 23d Jan. 1809, displaying very great gallantry in an action with a French frigate of the largest class, which had anchored under the protection of a battery to the southward of Point Noire, where she was secured with springs on her cable, and hawsers made fast to the shore.
The action commenced within half-musket shot, and continued for 40 minutes before the Cleopatra’s consorts (the Jason frigate, and Hazard sloop) could arrive to her assistance, when the enemy immediately surrendered, and proved to be the Topaze of 48 guns (long 18-pounders on the main-deck) and 330 men; having on board 1100 barrels of flour, and 100 troops originally intended as a reinforcement for the garrison of Cayenne.
The loss sustained by the Cleopatra was only 2 killed and 1 wounded, whereas the Topaze had 12 slain and 14 wounded. Many Frenchmen likewise lost their lives after the action, one-third of them having jumped overboard the moment her colours were hauled down; but the exact number that perished when attempting to reach the shore could not be ascertained. The following is an extract of Sir Alexander Cochrane’s official letter to the Admiralty, reporting the capture of that frigate:
“Captain Pechell placed his ship in a situation to attack with advantage and in such a manner as did credit to his intrepidity and judgment; it evinced also the high state of discipline and steadiness of his crew.”
In addition to this public testimony. Sir Alexander Cochrane offered Captain Pechell the command of the prize, as a token of his approbation; saying to him at the same time, “As you have won her, you shall wear her.” The high opinion entertained by the Admiralty of the Cleopatra’s action was marked by the subsequent promotion of her first Lieutenant, Mr. William Simpson.
A few days after this exploit, Captain Pechell, although still belonging to the Halifax squadron, joined the expedition
