1799 - Speedy and Spanish vessels


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1799 Capture of Spanish Vessels 339

formation from the British lugger-privateer Ph�nix, Captain Hammond, belonging to Jersey, of several vessels being in the port of Vivero, on the north-west coast of Spain, the Alcmène, at sunset, stood into the harbour, and, running between two Spanish vessels distant from each other about 500 yards, sent Lieutenants Charles Gayton Warren and William Sandford Oliver, with armed parties to board them ; a service which .these officers executed in a spirited and becoming manner.

One of the prizes was the Felicidad, a ship between 700 and 800 tons, "pierced for 22 guns," but, we believe, mounting none, and laden with a cargo of hemp, lower masts, and ship-timber, bound to the arsenal at Ferrol : the other prize was the Bisano, a brig of "400 tons," also unarmed, and laden with ship-timber and iron, for the same destination.

As soon as the prizes began to get under sail, two forts and a detached gun opened upon them and the frigate ; but the smoke from the guns of the Alcmène, and the gathering shades of night, prevented the enemy from directing his guns with effect. Thus favoured, and assisted, also, by the Ph�nix lugger, whose commander had gallantly followed the Alcmène into the harbour, the two prizes were brought safe off without, as far as the accounts go, the slightest casualty to any of the parties concerned.

On the 9th of August the British 14-gun brig-sloop Speedy (4-pounders, with 80 men and boys), Captain Jahleel Brenton, and 14-gun brig-privateer Defender, of Gibraltar, gave chase to three Spanish armed vessels, one of four 6-pounders, another of six, and the third of ten, 8 and 6 pounders ; all of which ran for shelter into a small sandy bay, about five leagues to the eastward of Cape de Gata. There they moored themselves in a close line, within a boat's length of the beach. The two brigs soon opened their fire, and engaged the Spaniards for an hour and three quarters, under sail, being unable to get soundings, although not more than a cable's length distant from the rocks.

Finding that to keep under sail and in motion was giving an advantage to the enemy, the Speedy pushed for and obtained an anchorage, within pistol-shot of the centre vessel. The Defender, meanwhile; having but 22 men of her crew on board, had stood out to meet one of her boats in the offing. After three quarters of an hour's cannonade by the Speedy, the Spanish crews took to their boats, having first cut the cables of two of their vessels, which, in consequence, drove on shore. These and the vessel still afloat were, however, brought off by the Speedy's boats, and that under a constant fire of musketry from the hills. In this well-conducted little enterprise, the Speedy had two seamen wounded, and the Defender one, but neither dangerously. On board the Spanish vessels two dead men were found, The wounded, if any, must have been carried on shore.

On the 11th of August the British 16-gun ship-sloop Pylades,

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