1812	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	74

were moored head and stern to the beach, between two batteries of two 24-pounders and two mortars, with a strong garrison in the Grao, and had their sails unbent and rudders unshipped, Lieutenant Thomas and his party gallantly succeeded in bringing out four of them. A fifth was also in the possession of the British ; but, owing to the wind suddenly shifting round to the south-east with a heavy squall, this vessel grounded, and was retaken with three men in her. With that exception, the loss sustained by the British amounted to only one seaman severely wounded.

On the 31st of August, as the British 38-gun frigate Bacchante, Captain William Hoste, lay at anchor off Rovigno on the southwest coast of Istria, information arrived, that several vessels, laden with ship-timber for the Venetian government, were at Port-Lemo. Captain Hoste, on the same evening, despatched the Bacchante's boats, five in number, containing 62 officers and men, under first Lieutenant Donat Henchy O'Brien, assisted by Lieutenant Frank Gostling, Lieutenant of marines William Haig, master's mate George Powell, and midshipmen James Leonard Few and Thomas William Langton.

Having captured two merchant vessels at the entrance of the port, Lieutenant O'Brien received information, that the vessels, which he was going to cut out, lay under the protection of a French xebec of three guns, and two gun-boats. Notwithstanding this unexpected force, he left his two prizes in charge of Mr. Langton and six seamen, and, with the remaining 55 men, dashed on to the attack. The skill and gallantry of the commanding officer and his party carried all before them ; and the British captured, without the loss of a man, as well the timber-vessels, seven in number, as the French xebec Tisiphone, of one 6 and two 3 pounders and 28 men, a gun-boat of one 8 and two 3 pounders and 24 men, and another of one 8-pounder and 20 men, intended for the protection of the trade on the coast of Istria, from Pola to Triest.

On the 3d September, off the mouth of the river Mignone near Civita Vecchia, the Menelaus, Captain Sir Peter Parker perceived a large letter of masque at anchor, pierced for 14 guns and protected by two strong batteries. As soon as it was dark, two boats were despatched, the crew of which succeeded in boarding and bringing out the St.-Juan, and notwithstanding the heavy fire not a man was killed or wounded. The following day the Menelaus drove three sloops of war into Port Hercule, and on the 5th at the mouth of the lake of Orbitello, Sir Peter cut out, in the most gallant and masterly style under a very heavy fire, a large French ship, strongly defended by a tower, having previously anchored the Menelaus under the fire of the latter. In this last occasion the Menelaus lost one seaman killed, and Sir Peter Parker was wounded by a splinter which struck him on the breast.

^ back to top ^