ing; and conceiving, from our distance from Grao, that the boats of the Active (who was considerably in the offing) would not arrive in time, I wrote to Captain Gordon to request they might be sent immediately: I mention this, as it will account why that ship’s boats and marines were not in the station assigned them in the attack, and that no possible blame can be imputed to the officers and men employed in them for their not being present, as distance alone prevented them. Captain Whitby, of the Cerberus, very handsomely volunteered his services on this occasion; but I considered it as a fair opportunity for my second lieutenant (Slaughter), (the first lieutenant being absent, having been detached on other service in the barge the day before,) to distinguish himself, and he has fully in every way justified the confidence I had in him.
“The convoy were moored in a river above the town of Grao, and it was absolutely necessary to be first in possession of it. The defences of the town were two old castles, almost in ruins, with loopholes for musketry, and a deep ditch in their front, extending from one castle to the other. The boats from the Amphion and Cerberus put off from the ship about forty minutes past eleven, and the marines of both ships, under Lieutenants (Thomas) Moore and (Jeremiah) Brattle (of marines), and Lieutenant (James) Dickenson of the Cerberus, the whole under the command of Lieutenant Slaughter, landed without musket-shot to the right of the town before day-light, and instantly advanced to the attack, the launches with carronades under Lieutenant (Donat Henchy) O’Brien (third of the Amphion) accompanying them along shore. It had been intended that the Amphion’s and Active’s should have landed to the right of the town, and the Cerberus to the left; but the former boats not arriving. Lieutenant Slaughter very properly took the Cerberus’s with him, and left the gig to direct the Active’s to the left; of course they had much further to row, and, much to the regret of all, did not get on shore till after the place was taken. A very heavy firing commenced about dawn of day. The enemy considerably stronger than was imagined, and assisted by a numerous peasantry, kept up a very destructive fire upon our men whilst advancing, who purposely retired a little to the left, taking shelter under some hillocks, and what the unevenness of the ground afforded; they were followed by the French troops, who, conceiving this to be a retreat on the boats, quitted their advantageous position and charged with the bayonet. It no longer became a contest to be decided by musketry; they were received with the steadiness and bravery inherent in Englishmen. Both officers and men were personally engaged hand to hand, and out of the number killed of the enemy in this encounter, eight were bayonet wounds, which will convince you. Sir, of the nature of the attack.
“A struggle of this kind could not last long, and the French troops endeavoured, in great confusion, to regain their former position. They were closely pursued, and charged in their turn, which decided the business; and the whole detachment of the enemy, consisting of a lieutenant, serjeant,
