Some time after that event, Lieutenant Fellowes made a gallant and successful attempt, with two boats, upon a French armed ship, lying in Bay Mahout, Guadaloupe; the prize proved to be l’Alert letter of marque, mounting 6 carriage guns and 4 swivels, with a complement of 40 men, besides several passengers: unfortunately, however, the captors were obliged to scuttle and abandon her, in consequence of getting a-ground under the enemy’s batteries, to the fire of which, and that of a large privateer, they were exposed for fourteen hours – their loss, notwithstanding, consisted of only one killed and two or three wounded; whereas the French had twelve slain, and several so badly wounded that they could not be removed, which alone prevented l’Alert from being set on fire.
While in the Swinger, Lieutenant Fellowes was often engaged with the batteries of Guadaloupe. From her he removed to the Unique brig of 14 guns and 75 men; in which vessel he was present at the capture of the Saintes, and most actively employed during the blockade of Basse Terre. A very gallant exploit performed by him in sight of that place, is thus described by his friend Captain Beaver, in an official letter to Sir Alexander Cochrane, dated May 22, 1809:–
“Yesterday, at seven o’clock, I discovered a schooner at anchor close under one of the enemy’s batteries, to the northward of Basse Terre, and immediately recognized her to be one that had been examined by and kept company with us for two days, under Swedish colours, from St. Bartholomew’s bound to Martinique, pretending to be leaky, and wishing to get into the Saintes; but who, under cover of the night. Lad run under one of the enemy’s forts.
“To punish such perfidy, I permitted, contrary to my usual custom, the Julia and Unique to run under several batteries, in order to bring her out; but she was found so fast on shore that we could not move her. Captain Dowers, a copy of whose letter I herewith transmit to you, sent Lieutenant Fellowes, who commands the Unique, on shore with twenty-four seamen, to storm the battery and spike the guns; which service he performed with great gallantry, bringing away the colours in the presence of five times his own number of the enemy’s regular troops, and not more than a mile from their hutted encampment.”
