wound of Lieutenant (P. H.) Baker I rejoice to say, will only lay him by for a short time. * * * * We had only 1 man wounded on board; all the others were killed and wounded on the brig’s deck. The ship’s company behaved uncommonly well; and I trust the conduct of all will merit your approbation. I have the honor to be, &c.
“Vice Admiral J. R. Dacres,
&c. &c. &c.”
On the 1st Nov. in the same year, Captain Ross sent three boats to intercept a schooner, coming round the S.W. end of Porto Rico; but owing to a very heavy squall, with rain, they lost sight of her in the night. However, Lieutenant Bell, who commanded the detachment, pushed in for Cabaret bay, where he destroyed a battery of three guns, and captured a very fine Spanish brig, pierced for 12 guns. The next day, Lieutenant Baker, in the launch, after some skirmishing, drove a French privateer, of 2 guns and 26 men, upon the reef off Cape Roxo, where she was totally lost. Returning to join his ship, the same officer captured, after a very long chase, another privateer, of 1 gun and 20 men.
During the late contest between Great Britain and America, the subject of this sketch served as Flag-Captain to Rear-Admiral Cockburn in the Marlborough, Sceptre, arid Albion, third rates[1]. The particulars of the warfare in which he was engaged will be found in our memoirs of that officer, and those under his orders, who commanded in person on various occasions. We are not aware of Captain Ross himself having been detached on any service of greater importance than that of an expedition up St. Mary’s river, from whence he returned to Cumberland island, on the coast of Georgia, with a ship loaded with timber, and an English East Indiaman, which had been captured by an American privateer. He also embarked all the produce collected at the town of St. Mary’s in the vessels taken there by Captain Barrie, blew up the fort on Point Petre and another battery, and destroyed the barracks
- ↑ The Marlborough captured the Leonore French privateer, of 10 guns and 80 men, off Scilly, in Oct. 1812.
manding the Pique’s gig and yawl, by boarding and carrying the Santa Clara, a Spanish schooner of one 9-pounder and 28 men, completely equipped for war.
