and I am happy to say they succeeded in boarding her; but as she was moored to the shore with a chain from the mast-head and each quarter, finding it impossible to bring her out, they shortly after blew her up.
“In justice to the officers and men employed on this service, I cannot omit particularizing the very gallant manner in which they approached the schooner, under a very heavy fire of grape from the battery, until it was silenced by us, and of grape and musketry from the privateer till they were nearly alongside, when the enemy quitted her, and joined a long line of musketry on the beach, and two field pieces, to the fire of which they were exposed during the whole time they were preparing to blow her up, at a distance of not more than ten yards.
“The privateer had one long 18-pounder on a circular carriage, and two swivels; about 100 tons, and appeared to have from 80 to 100 men; she was coppered, appeared new, and left Point-à-Petre yesterday on a cruise. Our joint loss has been 15 killed and wounded[1]; that of the enemy must have been very considerable, as the shore was completely lined with musketeers, exposed to a heavy cannonade from both sloops, as well as from the small arms in the boats.
“I should be very deficient in my duty was I not to mention the very gallant style in which Captain Huskisson of the Pelorus supported me, in totally destroying the enemy’s battery by a joint fire.
“It is impossible for me to express my ideas of the very gallant manner in which Lieutenants Robertson and Flin conducted themselves on this occasion: they speak in the highest terms of Messrs. Brisbane and Hunter, midshipmen of this ship; Mr. Ferguson, boatswain, and Mr. Scott, mate, of the Pelorus; who, as well as every individual employed, were volunteers on the service. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Commodore Fahie.”
The Pelorus formed part of the naval force under Sir Alexander Cochrane, at the reduction of Guadaloupe, in 1810; after which conquest the subject of this memoir received an order from that officer to act as captain of the Blonde frigate, and directions to convoy home a valuable fleet of merchantmen.
Captain Huskisson put the Blonde out of commission, at Woolwich, in July, 1810; and rejoined the Pelorus in Nov. following; the Admiralty having refused to confirm his appointment to the frigate, in consequence of the death vacancy which occasioned it having occurred on the Halifax station, and the right of appointing an officer to fill it being claimed
- ↑ Pelorus – 2 killed, 1 mortally, 2 severely, and 3 slightly wounded.
