twelve or thirteen gun-boats were moored under the walls, each carrying a long 24-pounder and one smaller gun; its garrison consisted of 2000 veteran troops, commanded by Baron Roisé, an experienced French general.
“Preparations were soon made for landing seventeen of the Havannah’s guns, viz., eight long 18-pounders, seven long 12’s, and two 32-pounder carronades; a sledge was constructed on board for the purpose of transporting them from the beach to the spot chosen for the batteries, which was within a short distance of the enemy’s works; three mud batteries were thrown up, and the guns, taken to them, with ammunition, shot, &c. The country was extremely bad for trap porting cannon, with such means as we possessed: we had to drag them across swamps, ditches, &c., a distance of three miles; and were obliged to perform this service by night, to avoid being discovered. Every thing being ready, the command of the batteries was given to Lieutenant Hamley, whose whole force consisted of only sixty men: the officers under his orders were. Lieutenant Michael Quin, of the Weazle; Lieutenant Hockley, p.m.; and Messrs. Stewart and Hamilton, master’s-mates of the Havannah.
“On the 23d November, 1813, the union-jack was hoisted on each battery, the mask thrown off, and our fire opened; which was quickly returned by the enemy. Our works were much cut up at first, and we were obliged to be constantly filling up the breaches with sand-bags; the gunboats proving very mischievous, one long 18-pounder and the carronades were directed on them, and in half an hour not one remained afloat; many of their crews, in attempting to get into the fortress, were killed by our fire. An incessant cannonade was kept up on both sides for thirteen days and nights, when at length, on the 6th December, the enemy sent out a flag of truce, and surrendered by capitulation. At this moment we had but one round of shot left.
“During the siege it ruined almost incessantly, and we were never once under shelter: frequently in the mornings the water was over the trucks of the guns. The only assistance we received was from two howitzers worked by Austrians.
“After taking possession of the fortress, we weighed all the gun-boats, and loaded a large ship, in the harbour, with different military stores, intending to take the whole to Trieste; but, when under weigh with our prizes, an order arrived to give them up to the Austrian general; and, although the value of the guns, stores, and vessels, was estimated at 300,000l. sterling, we have never yet received one farthing as compensation for our services.”
Captain Cadogan’s detailed account of the operations against Zara, addressed to Rear-Admiral Fremantle, was never published, owing to the great length of time that
