had given me notice of his intended return to Via Reggio, where he arrived on the morning of the 12th, and signified his intention to proceed in another direction. Not conceiving my stay with this ship any longer necessary, I had made arrangements for leaving the Edinburgh, Furieuse, and Termagant, under the orders of Captain Dundas, to keep up (if practicable) a communication with the troops, and purposed sailing to rejoin your flag as soon as it was dark; when, towards sunset, we perceived a firing at the town, and found that the troops were attacked by a force of about 600 cavalry and infantry, with a howitzer and 2 field pieces.
“They consisted of a detachment from the garrison of Leghorn, which had been joined on its march by some troops at Pisa. The LieutenantColonel completely routed them, with the loss of their guns and howitzer, and a considerable number of killed, wounded, and prisoners; the remainder retreated in much confusion towards Pisa. Information having been obtained from the prisoners of the weak state of the garrison at Leghorn, the Lieutenant-Colonel proposed to me to intercept the return of the routed troops, by proceeding immediately off Leghorn, in the hopes that by shewing ourselves in as much force as possible, the inhabitants, who it was supposed were inclined to receive us, might make some movement in our favour, and that we might avail ourselves of any practicable opening to force our way into the place.
“I acceded to this proposal, and the troops were immediately embarked in a number of country vessels, which were towsd off by the boats of the squadron; and the whole being taken in tow by the ships, we proceeded the same night for Leghorn Roads, where we anchored about three o’clock on the following day, to the northward of the town. The Imperieuse having previously reconnoitred the best spot for landing, the vessels were immediately towed in-shore, and the troops and field-pieces landed without opposition. The boats then proceeded to land the marines; but the weather, which had been hitherto favourable, in the course of the evening became so bad, that only a part could be got on shore; and I regret to state, that the pinnace of the America was swamped, and Lieutenant Moody (a most valuable officer) and two seamen were drowned. Early in the morning the remainder were landed, and proceeded to the positions assigned them. The corps of the enemy which had been defeated at Via Reggio, was a second time reinforced at Pisa, and at this period made an attack on our marines without the town. I beg to refer you to Captain Dundas’s report for the particulars of their defeat. The LieutenantColonel suggested, as a proper time after this advantage, to summon the commandant, which was accordingly done, but an answer returned that he would defend himself.
The gates of the town had been closely examined during this day and the preceding night, to ascertain the practicability of forcing an entrance; but that, or any other means of immediate attack, not being considered practicable against a place, so strong and regularly fortified, and there not appearing any movement of the inhabitants in our favour, the precarious and threatening state of the weather, a change of which
