repeated discharges of musketry from the troops and militia, who poured down in numbers from the surrounding country.
“I should not have been thus particular in recounting a circumstance which was not attended with ultimate success, were it not to mark my admiration of the noble conduct of Lieutenant Oliver, in so gallantly attacking and carrying a fort which, with the men it contained, ought to have maintained itself against fifty times the number of the assailants: but nothing could withstand the prompt and manly steps taken by that officer and his gallant crew on this occasion: and as, in my humble judgment, the attempt was most daring and hazardous; and, had the privateers been there, I doubt not but success would have attended them; so I humbly solicit the honor of notice to this most gallant officer. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Rear-Admiral Dacres,
&c. &c. &c.”
The credit of this truly gallant exploit has been given, by Mr. James, to the present Commander Thomas Oliver; and that author follows up his error by observing, that his nominee was promoted in the course of the same year, for his brave and meritorious conduct[1]. Lieutenant James Oliver was placed by Lord Mulgrave upon the Admiralty list for promotion, and presented with a sword by the Committee of the Patriotic Fund; but, in consequence of the Commander-in-chief at Jamaica placing his young nephew in a vacancy to which this gallant officer ought to have been appointed, and the retirement of his lordship from office, he did not obtain a commander’s commission until Dec. 4th, 1813; when, instead of being continued in active service, he had the mortification to be placed upon the half-pay list.
On the 14th May, 1805, the subject of this memoir assisted at the capture of a Spanish letter of marque, laden with coffee and bees’ wax, from the Havannah bound to Vera Cruz[2]. He subsequently followed Captain Dashwood into la Franchise 36, and was first lieutenant of that frigate at the siege of Copenhagen, in 1807[3]; also at the capture of Samana, in the island of St. Domingo, Nov. 11th, 1808[4].
- ↑ See Nav. Hist. 2d edit. vol. iv. p. 187, et seq.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 457.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part I. p. 79 et seq.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 458.
