The capture and destruction of the transports will be fully detailed under the head of Captain John Tailour. In the execution of the latter service the Volontaire had a Lieutenant[1] and 1 seaman killed; 2 supernumerary officers, and 13 of her own crew wounded. The assistance rendered by Captain Bullen in the preparation of fire materials, and providing his boats with every implement that contingency could require, was officially noticed by the commander-in-Chief.
In 1810 and 1811, Captain Bullen commanded a small squadron employed in active co-operation with the Spanish troops on the coast of Catalonia, as will be seen by the following letters, reporting his proceedings to Collingwood’s successor, the late Sir Charles Cotton:
“Sir,– Fearful my letter of the 22d inst. may not come to your hands so soon as this, I beg to repeat, that on the 5th inst. the Spanish army, under General O’Donnel, left Tarragona, and on the 13th got to Arens del Mar, at which place he divided his forces, himself taking the road to Besbal; and so rapid were his movements, the enemy was not apprised of his arrival till within a quarter of an hour of his entering the town. This happened on the 14th, when a smart action took place, but of very short duration; when the French General, Swartz, with 500 men, were taken prisoners. On the same day St. Felice, Palamos, and Begu, were severally attacked, and all surrendered; the total of French taken being about 1400 men, besides cannon, &c. &c.; so that this coast from Rosas, with the exception of the Modas islands, is again in the possession of the Spaniards.
“General O’Donnell, I am sorry to say, is badly wounded in the leg[2], but there are hopes of his doing well. The whole of the prisoners are at Tarragona, where the General now is, with only the inhabitants doing the duty of the garrison, which makes him anxious about their being removed.
“Upon the whole, there is every prospect of the enemy being soon driven out of this province. I was yesterday at Escala, in the bay of Rosas, where the French had a depot of corn, &c., all of which I have got on board this ship. 1 was gratified to hear that, on Monday last, the French were defeated at Bascarra, where they were attacked by 500 Spaniards, who took from them an immense convoy of provisions, (which- ↑ Lieutenant Dalhousie Tait, an excellent young officer, who had distinguished himself on many occasions.
- ↑ See Captain Francis William Fane.
