three transports laden with powder, shells, and wine; two others in ballast; and destroyed three vessels laden with ammunition and provisions.
This enterprise was soon succeeded by another, which did not terminate quite so successfully. It is detailed in the following letter from Nelson to Viee-Admiral Hotham, dated Vado Bay, Aug. 30, 1795:
Sir,– Having received information that a ship laden with provisions was arrived at Oneglia, I yesterday afternoon manned the two small gallies taken on the 26th, with 44 officers and men from the Agamemnon, and 10 men belonging to the Southampton, under the command of Lieutenant George Andrews, arid Lieutenant Peter Spker of the Agamemnon; and ordered Lieutenant Andrews to proceed to Oneglia, and to endeavour to take the said ship. On his passage down, about nine at night, he fell in with three large vessels with lateen sails, which he engaged at ten o’clock. One of these was carried by boarding; but the men belonging to her retiring to the others, cut her adrift, the three vessels being made fast together. At half past ten the attack on the other two was renewed with the greatest spirit; but the number of men on board was too great, united with the height of their vessels, for our force; and my gallant officers and men, after a long contest, were obliged to retreat. It is with the greatest pain I have to render so long a list of killed and wounded. The spirited and officer-like conduct of Lieutenants Andrews and Spicer, I cannot sufficiently applaud; and every praise is due to each individual, for their exemplary bravery and good conduct. The vessels had no colours hoisted, but a Greek flag has been found on board the prize.”
In this unfortunate affair the gallant party had no less than 4 men killed and 13 wounded. The following additional information is extracted from a letter to Mrs. Nelson, dated Sept. 1, 1795.
“We have made a small expedition with the squadron, and taken a French corvette and some other vessels, in which affair I lost no men; but since, I have not been so successful. I detached Mr. Andrews[1] to cut off a ship from Oneglia. On his passage he fell in with three Turkish vessels, as it has since turned out, who killed and wounded 17 of my poor fellows. Seven are already dead, and more must be lost by the badness of their wounds. I am sorry to add that the Turks got into Genoa, with six millions of hard cash: however, they who play at bowls must expect rubs; and the worse success now, the better, I hope, another time.”
On the 31st May, 1796, Nelson’s squadron captured a
- ↑ Lieutenant Andrews was afterwards made a Post-Captain. He died at Tiverton, July 23, 1810.
