“A successful attack was made upon the island of Santa Clara, at the mouth of the harbour of St. Sebastian, at three o’clock on the morning of the 27th, by the boats of the squadron under the command of Lieutenant the Hon. James Arbuthnot, of H.M.S. Surveillante. The boats were manned by the seamen and marines, and by a party of soldiers under the command of Captain Cameron, of the 9th regiment. The only landing place was under a flight of steps, commanded by a small entrenchment thrown up on the west point, and completely exposed to the fire from grape of the whole range of works on the west side of the rock and walls of St. Sebastian. These local circumstances enabled a very small garrison, of an officer and 24 men, to make a serious resistance, by which 2 of our men were killed, and 1 officer of the army, another of the marines, one Midshipman, and 14 seamen and marines were wounded.”
“Arrangements being made, as agreed upon by Lord Wellington, for a demonstration on the back of the rock of St. Sebastian, the two divisions of ships’ boats were placed under the command of Captain Gallwey, of the Dispatch, and Captain Bloye, of the Lyra; and I understand their appearance had the complete effect intended, by diverting a large proportion of the garrison from the defence of the breach; the boats were warmly fired on from the batteries at the back of St. Sebastian, but no lives were lost. The sloops of war weighed with a light breeze, and the Dispatch suffered in a trifling degree in her sails; the gun-boats, Nos. 14 and 16, were equipped in time to offer annoyance to the enemy, and to attract his attention.
"At 11 A.M., the tide having ebbed sufficiently, the assault by the breach took place; and if the resistance made by the enemy, considering the natural defences, as well as the artificial ones thrown up by him, is to be considered gallant and obstinate, the attack must be ranked still higher. Never perhaps was an affair more obstinately maintained, but British courage and perseverance ultimately succeeded; and. after a lodgment had been effected on the breach, the town was entered and possessed about 1h 30' P.M. in defiance of mines and every obstacle which the ingenuity of the governor could invent. A heavy firing was maintained tillwhich being practicable, the order was given for an assault. This was executed with great gallantry, and some of the troops penetrated into the town, but the defences raised by the enemy were so strong and numerous, and the fire of musketry and grape was so destructive, that the assailants were obliged to retreat with a heavy loss, especially in officers. Lord Wellington was upon the spot during part of the assault; but was soon called away in consequence of the advance of Marshal Soult, which gave occasion to the battles of Roncesvalles (or St. Jean Pied de Port) and the Pyrenees.
