the Edinburgh 74, addressed to Captain (now Sir Josias) Rowley, Oct. 5th, 1813.
“In obedience to your directions, I put to sea, and joined Captain Duncan, of the Imperieuse, and the ships named in the margin[1], this morning, off D’Anzo, where he had been watching a convoy for some days, with the intention of attacking them the first favorable opportunity. the necessary arrangements having been made by that officer for the attack, I added the force of this ship to it, and made the signals that those arrangements would be adhered to, and to prepare for battle. The place was defended by two batteries on a mole, each mounting two heavy guns, a tower to the northward with one gun, and a battery to the southward with two guns, to cover the mole. Every thing being prepared, at 1-30 p.m., the ships bore up and took their stations; the Imperieuse and Resistance to the mole batteries; the Swallow to the; tower; and the Eclair and Pylades to the southern battery: the Edinburgh supported the last named vessels.
“Shortly after the ships opened their fire, which they did by signal together, the storming party, under Lieutenant Travers, of the Imperieuse, and marines, under Captain Mitchell, landed in the best order close under the battery to the southward, which Lieutenant Travers carried instantly, the enemy flying in all directions. Lieutenant Mapleton[2] having taken possession of the mole-head, the convoy, consisting of 29 vessels, was brought out without any loss, twenty of which arc laden with timber for the arsenal at Toulon. On leaving the place, all the works were blown ap, and most completely destroyed. I feel the destruction of the defences of this place to be of consequence, as it is a convenient port for shipping the very large quantity of timber the enemy now have on the adjacent coast. The captains, officers, and ships’ companies, deserve my warm acknowledgments for their exertions on this occasion. A few shot in the hulls and rigging of the ships is the only damage sustained.
“Captain Duncan informs me, that he gained much material and necessary information respecting this place, by a very gallant exploit performed a few nights ago by Lieutenant Travers, who stormed, with a boat’s crew, a martello tower of one gun, destroying it, and bringing the guard away.”
The tower destroyed by Lieutenant Travers mounted two guns; and the manner in which this service was performed is thus related by an eye-witness, in a letter addressed to the author:–
