seized the sentinel at the foot of the tower, and, though fired at by the sentinel on the top, mounted by a ladder, which had been fitted for the purpose, to a window thirty or forty feet high, and put in a congreve rocket, with the stick cut short off, but having quick match attached to it: the moment the rocket took fire it struck down into the barrack-room, set fire to the soldiers’ bedding, killed one man, and so alarmed the others, by its fire, smoke, and noise, that they let down their draw-bridge to escape, and were seized one by one as they descended. One officer and eighteen soldiers were thus taken prisoners; but as his little boat could not well receive so many persons in addition to her crew, Travers allowed four of the poor panic-struck fellows to go about their business, carrying off the others, but not until he had blown up the tower, the regular access to which was by a flight of stone steps, distant about twelve feet from it, and only to be reached from within by means of the draw-bridge. Aware of the danger and difficulty attending such an enterprise, it was not without considerable hesitation that Captain Duncan would consent to Travers going upon it, particularly as he knew that there was a strong force in the neighbourhood, collected purposely for the protection of the vessels at Port d’Anzo. Notwithstanding the darkness of the night, the whole business was done in about fifteen minutes; and had such an effect on the neighbouring batteries, that whenever the Imperieuse afterwards approached the shore, the Neapolitan soldiers invariably put on their knapsacks, ready for a start.”
In Dec. 1813, a descent was made upon the coast of Italy, near Via Reggio, on which occasion Lieutenant Travers again commanded the landing party, drove the enemy from a battery close to the beach, and brought off two long brass 12-pounders. His exemplary conduct during the subsequent operations against Leghorn was also officially reported, as will be seen by reference to p. 428 of Vol. II. Part I. In April 1814, he assisted at the reduction of Genoa and its dependencies; and, on the 15th June in the same year, we find him promoted to the rank of commander; but it appears that he continued to do duty as first lieutenant of the Imperieuse until that ship was paid off, in the month of September following[1].
- ↑ On the breaking out of the American war, fourteen seamen, possessing indisputable proofs of their being citizens of the United States, requested permission to continue in the Imperieuse and serve against the French, stating that they did not wish to fight against their country, but there
