1813	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	170

Assisted by a corporal's detachment of the rocket corps, the British troops charged the height in the most determined manner, and succeeded only after as determined a resistance, the French colonel-commandant, Roche, and most of his officers, being killed or made prisoners, and the height literally covered with dead. The division of the flotilla under Captain Imbert had by this time commenced a most destructive cannonade on the batteries ; which held out with such obstinacy, that Captain Hall was obliged to order them to be successively stormed. This service was performed by Lieutenant Le Hunte, with a party of seamen, in a very gallant style. At 8 a.m. every thing was in the possession of the assailants ; the most valuable of the enemy's vessels and timber launched, and the rest on fire. Upwards of 150 French were killed and wounded, and 163 made prisoners including several of the principal officers. Major Stewart, whose behaviour is highly praised by Captain Hall, fell by a musket-shot while, in company with the latter, pushing from the shore after the troops had embarked. The loss on the part of the navy amounted to only one boatswain and one seaman killed and seven seamen wounded.

On the 6th of January, at daybreak, as the British 38-gun frigate Bacchante, Captain William Hoste, and 18-gun brig-sloop Weasel, Captain James Black, were lying becalmed about five leagues to the south-east of Cape Otranto, at the mouth of the Adriatic, five gun-vessels were discovered ; three in the south-west, steering towards Otranto, and two in the south-east, steering to the eastward. Ordering, by signal, the Weasel to attend to the latter, Captain Hoste sent the Bacchante's boats, under the command of Lieutenant Donat Henchy O'Brien, assisted by Lieutenants Silas Thomas Hood and Frank Gostling, Lieutenant of marines William Haig, master's mates George Powell and James M`Kean, and midshipmen the Honourable Henry I. Rous and William Waldegrave, Thomas Edward Hoste, James Leonard Few, and Edward O. Pocock, in pursuit of the division in the south-west. At 8 a.m. Lieutenant O'Brien in the barge captured the sternmost gun-boat, mounting two guns, one French 12, and one 6-pounder, both on pivots, and manned with 36 men, commanded by the senior French officer of the three, all of whom were enseignes de vaisseau.

Leaving, to take possession of the prize, the first gig, commanded by midshipman Thomas Edward Hoste, Lieutenant O'Brien pushed on after the two remaining gun-vessels, then, sweeping with all their strength towards the coast of Calabria. Sending his prisoners below, and fastening the hatches over them, young Hoste, with his seven men, in the most gallant manner, loaded and fired the bow-gun at the retreating gunboats ; which, in a little time, were also captured. This dashing enterprise, with Lieutenant O'Brien's usual good fortune, was achieved without any loss, although the shot from the gun

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