“After a very resolute defence, two breaches having been made in the tower, it surrendered, and a lieutenant and 33 soldiers were made prisoners. The enemy had one killed and three wounded; but I have the satisfaction to say, that only one man belonging to this ship was wounded. The Spaniards had two killed.
“At Ampolla, two small privateers fell into our hands, which had been employed in communicating with Tarragona, and intercepting the trade passing the mouth of the Ebro. The post appears to have been established chiefly for the protection of this description of vessels and their prizes. By the taking of Perello, the enemy’s communication with the Col de Balageur is very much straitened, as it is on the high road from that place to Tortosa.
“The Baron D’Eroles speaks in the highest terms of the assistance afforded him by Lieutenant Corbyn, and the officers and men under his directions; and I have great satisfaction in reporting it to you. I have the honor to be, &c.
Lieutenant Corbyn was next employed on shore at the siege of the fort of Col de Balageur, situated in a most difficult pass, through which the high road from Tortosa to Tarragona winds, and the key of the only road by which cannon could be brought into Catalonia from the westward, without going round by Lerida. This fort had twelve pieces of ordnance mounted, including two 10-inch mortars and two howitzers; and the surrounding heights were found so difficult of access, that it was a work of the greatest labour to establish the necessary batteries before it. One of these, mounting two 12-pounders, two field-pieces, and a howitzer, was placed under the command of Lieutenant Corbyn, who kept up an admirable fire, diverting the attention of the enemy from another party of the besiegers employed in the construction of a breaching battery. In his official letter to Rear-Admiral Hallowell, reporting the surrender of the fort, June 7th, 1813, Captain Adam says:
“I cannot conclude without calling to your notice the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant Corbyn, both in getting the guns up to the battery he commanded, and the excellent fire he kept from them afterwards; and I feel highly gratified in noticing the conduct of so old and excellent an officer, with whose value I am well acquainted, from a service of many years together[1]."
