Finisterre. In his official report of this dashing enterprise. Captain Maitland says, “the loss on board the lugger,[1] cannot be ascertained. When the crew of the felucca was mustered, nineteen out of fifty were missing; some of whom had jumped overboard, but the greatest part were killed by the pike and sabre, there being no other weapons used. When we call to mind the inequality of force, there being not more than 35 of the Loire’s, officers included, opposed to 82 Spaniards, with their vessels moored to the walls of a heavy battery, it must be allowed to confer the greatest credit on the officers and men employed on this service,” – in the performance of which the British had not a man slain, and only three wounded.
On the 3d of the same month. Lieutenant Yeo was sent in the captured felucca, with Mr. Herbert and about thirty men, to reconnoitre the Spanish coast. In the performance of this duty, he was attacked by seven armed luggers, which had come out from Finisterre for the express purpose of taking him; but, after a sharp action, this very superior force sheered off, and sought protection under the land batteries.
On the following day, Mr. Herbert assisted at the capture of the French privateers Confiance and Belière; the former a very long corvette, pierced for 26 guns; the latter a brig with 20 ports; both lying in Muros Road, protected by a fort mounting 12 long Spanish 18-pounders, on travelling carriages, and a 2-gun battery. In the execution of this service, and in partially destroying the fort, the Loire had two officers and 13 men wounded; the enemy twelve killed and 30 wounded,[2] The Confiance was taken into the British service, and Lieutenant Yeo promoted to the command of her as a sloop of war.
On the 24th Dec. 1805, the Loire, in company with the Egyptienne frigate, captured off Rochefort, after an action
- ↑ Boarded by Mr. Clinch, but abandoned by order of Lieutenant Yeo, in order to secure the felucca.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. pp. 389–391.
