tacked, and, after a smart struggle, carried, although the whole of the privateers’ men were there to defend it.
A few minutes only elapsed before the British boat’s crew found themselves surrounded by 200 French soldiers, against whom they defended themselves till one of the heroes was killed, another severely wounded, and Mr. Dwyer himself shot through the shoulder: even then, how little intention they had of surrendering may be collected from the following anecdote:– “The man who had been wounded, who had lost his right eye, on recovering from his stupefaction, deliberately took a handkerchief from his neck, and binding it over the wound, said, ‘though I have lost one eye, I have still another left, and I’ll fight till I lose that too, I hope, Mr. Dwyer, you will never surrender.’” But their ammunition was now exhausted, and the enemy, emboldened by the cessation of their fire, rushed down upon them with their bayonets. Mr. Dwyer was too weak, from the loss of blood, to sustain a fight hand-to-hand; he and his men were borne down by such overwhelming numbers, and the enemy were soon in unresisted possession of the battery. In this assault, Mr. Dwyer received no less than seventeen bayonet wounds, and all his men, except one, were likewise most severely wounded. The admiration of the enemy at their invincible courage was without measure; the treatment they experienced from them was rather like that of grateful men to benefactors who have suffered for their sakes, than that of enemies to ^ hose who have fallen into their power: when they were conveyed to the head-quarters of the French General, Mons. Goudin, the same benevolence and solicitude, in acknowledgment of their bravery, were shewn to them by that officer and his suite. It was forgotten, in this instance, that men taken in war are prisoners: permission was given them to return to their ship, and the general sent an invitation to Captain Peyton to visit him on shore, that he might in person restore them, and congratulate him on having such brave men under his command: the invitation was given with candour, and accepted with confidence: Captain Peyton
