the enemy as to any meditated attack upon l’Isle de la Passe. To further the deception, it was now arranged by Captain Pym, the senior officer, that they should return by different routes; la Nereide taking the shortest, on account of her inferior sailing.
The Sirius arrived off the island while Captain Willoughby, who had volunteered to conduct the attack, was still at a great distance to leeward; and Captain Pym, fearing that the enemy might gain some intimation of his intention, as well as being eager to avail himself of the favorable state of the weather, resolved to despatch his own boats and the Iphigenia’s, without waiting for those of la Nereide. Accordingly, at 8-30 p.m. (Aug. 13th) two launches, two pinnaces, and two cutters, containing about 120 officers, seamen, and marines, pushed off from the Sirius, under the command of Lieutenant George R. Norman, and the guidance of a faithful black pilot, whose services had been secured by Captain Willoughby.
Fortunately for the assailants, just as they got abreast of the outer battery, the moon, which had been shining very brightly became suddenly obscured, and drizzling rain descended, thereby enabling them to reach the third battery before their approach was discovered. The enemy then challenged the leading boat, commanded by Lieutenant John Wyatt Watling, and opened a fire which proved rather destructive to her crew.
Dashing on, the whole of the boats soon reached the landing place, where the two French howitzers did considerable execution. Lieutenant Norman, after vainly attempting to scale a breast-work, and when in the act of turning round to try the chevaux-de-frise, was shot dead by a sentinel, who had scarcely discharged hia musket before he himself fell by the hands of a British sailor. The command of the storming party then devolved upon Lieutenant Chads, who soon had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy fly in every direction, at the point of the sword, pike, and bayonet. The total loss sustained by the British was five killed and twelve wounded.
Thus fell l’Isle de la Passe, the key, as we have before
