By eight o’clock the Spaniards had commenced the attack, and a spirited action ensued between them and the brig; but appearances were so greatly against the latter that the garrison almost gave her up, supposing it scarcely possible that the two gun-vessels under Captain Curtis would venture near enough to render her any material assistance: they however pushed on in a most gallant manner, and were placed so judiciously as to cover the brig, and greatly annoy the enemy. At length coolness and discipline prevailed over superior numbers: the steadiness and bravery with which the brig defended herself, aided by the well-directed fire from the Repulse and Vanguard, succeeded in obliging the flotilla to retreat, notwithstanding the approach of a formidable xebec to their assistance. She, finding her friends perfectly subdued, also hauled off, and left the British at liberty to tow the stranger into the New Mole, which she entered amidst the applauding shouts of all who had beheld the combat. The circumstance is thus alluded to by Governor Elliot, in a letter to the Secretary of State:
“I received your despatch of the 20th July, by H.M. sloop Helena, Captain Roberts, who arrived by dint of perseverance and bravery, with the assistance of our two gun-boats, the Vanguard and Repulse, posted by Captain Curtis himself. He personally conducted the attack in his barge, with distinguished success, notwithstanding a constant and heavy fire of round and grape from the enemy’s gun-boats for nearly two hours[1].”
After commanding the Repulse about thirteen months, during which he was often warmly engaged with the Spanish gun and mortar-boats, Mr. Crawford was ordered to act as first Lieutenant of the Brilliant; and on that ship being scuttled in the New Mole previous to the enemy’s grand attack, he joined the naval battalion encamped at Europa, under the command of Captain Curtis, to whom he served as Brigade-Major during the awful conflict of Sept. 13, 1782,
- ↑ Captain Roberts, the officer alluded to above, was promoted to the rank of Commander for his good conduct as first Lieutenant of the Quebec frigate, in a desperate action with the Surveillante, a French ship of 40 guns, which ended in the total destruction of the former by fire, and the loss of nearly all her crew, Oct. 6, 1779. He was deservedly advanced to post raiik for his gallant defence of the Helena.
