Our ships were in a very compact line ahead, the Amphion, Active, Cerberus, and Volage, having every sail still set, that we might close as soon as possible. When nearly within gun-shot, Captain Hoste telegraphed “Remember Nelson!” which was answered by three loud cheers from the crews of our squadron, who manned the rigging on the occasion.
At nine, now reduced to top and top-gallant sails, on the starboard tack, in such close order as to make it impossible for any vessel to pass between, decorated with union-jacks and ensigns at the different mast-heads and stays, independent of the regular red ensigns at the mizen peaks, we hoisted a commodore’s pendant at the Amphion’s main, at the going up of which our gallant commander cried out most emphatically, “There goes the pride of my heart!”
Every preparation made, there was a pause or a profound silence throughout the ship, both squadrons approaching fast, when Captain Hoste called to me to “try a single shot from one of the main-deck guns at Dubourdieu’s ship.” This done, it fell immediately under her bows, which convinced us that we should hit her with guns double-shotted in a very few minutes.
In that time a most tremendous fire was opened, and became general on both sides: ours was so well directed, and our ships so close in line, that the French commodore, who evinced great gallantry, was completely foiled in the attempt to board us on the starboard quarter. This sealed his destruction; for at the moment that his jib-boom had nearly plombed our taffrail, his bowsprit and forecastle being crowded with boarders, himself in full uniform amongst the foremost, displaying great intrepidity, and animating his men, a brass five-and-a-half inch howitzer, which had been previously loaded with between seven and eight hundred musket-balls, and well pointed, was discharged right at them. The carnage occasioned by this, together with an incessant fire of small arms from the marines and seamen, as well as round, grape, and canister, from every great gun that could be brought to bear, was truly dreadful. Numbers of the poor wretches were swept away; and amongst the fallen was distinctly observed their gallant leader.
The Favorite’s fire now became irregular and languid, and she appeared unmanageable. Our squadron being already too near the shore, it was deemed indispensable to get their heads off to sea; and therefore the signal was made to wear together. Our opponent, attempting the same evolution, failed, and, in great confusion, went plump on Lissa rocks. We had also, in the Amphion, a narrow escape from sharing the same fate; and for our safety we were, under Providence, mainly indebted to the extraordinary efforts and presence of mind of William Thomas, captain of the fore-top, stationed there, who, at the critical moment of wearing (the rocks not half pistol-shot distant under our lee), perceiving the jib-stay and halliards shot away, the halliards unrove from the mast-head block, and consequently the sail rendered useless, on which the performance of this evolution principally depended, caught the end of the halliards on its way down, and, with the swiftness of a hind, and the agility of a monkey, was at the mast-head block, through which they were instantly rove, and carried down by him with the utmost rapidity, by the top-mast stay to the bowsprit end, where, in a twinkling, they were again bent, and the jib set flying, to the admiration of all who witnessed this intrepid, “indeed, almost superhuman” exploit, as it was since termed by Captain Sir David Dunn, who was then first lieutenant, and an eye-witness of the affair.[40] The ship happily, I might have said miraculously, wore clear of the danger, and renewed the action on the larboard tack.
The Volage, previously the rear-ship, of course now led on the larboard tack, and gallantly did she perform her part.
The Flore now evinced a determination to execute, by boarding the Amphion, the intention of her fallen chief; and certainly made a most gallant attempt, but was frustrated.[41] However, she succeeded in passing under the stern, and poured in a raking fire, which would have proved most destructive to the men on the main-deck, had I not ordered them to lie down between the guns, as by standing they were uselessly exposed, it being impossible to bring a gun to bear on the enemy at the moment. Many of the Flore’s shot rattled along the decks without doing injury to the men thus protected by lying close between the guns, one of which had its pomillion knocked off.
The Flore, now to leeward on the same tack, hauled up on our lee-quarter; the Bellona did the same on the weather-quarter; so that we were warmly handled between them.
The lee-division of the enemy at this time was also on the larboard tack, and the captain of the Danaë, carefully avoiding the larger frigates, stuck close to the Volage, who plied him so well from her thirty-two pound carronades, that he was obliged to haul off to a more respectful distance; this manœuvre compelled the Volage to increase the quantity of powder, in the hope of reaching her wily antagonist, to whom, unfortunately, the effort proved favourable.
The breechings having given way in consequence of the increased charges, the carronades were upset, leaving the gallant Hornby but one six-pounder to keep up the unequal contest. The Volage was nearly cut to pieces, when the Active came opportunely to her relief; at sight of which, the Danaë made all sail to escape to Lessina, as did the Carolina, and the small craft scampered off in various directions.