The conduct of Captain Bowen, his Seamen and Marines, in the Terpsichore, was twice most gallantly evinced by the capture of El Mahonesa and La Vertale, in the months of October and December.
Returning homewards, the Naval incidents of the year were repeated and animated.
On the 17th of March, Sir Sidney Smith, with that intrepidity in hazard so natural to him, destroyed a small convoy within the port of Herqui; which was not accomplished however, without landing some Seamen, under Lieut. Pine, and the Marines of the Diamond, under Lieut. Carter, who, in spite of a body of troops, pushed ashore, climbed the precipice in front of their batteries, and re-embarked, after having spiked the guns. Lieut. Pine was wounded, and Lieut. Carter mortally, of which he soon died, leaving behind him the merited character of a most excellent Officer and amiable man.
On the 20th, Sir John Warren, with his little squadron, engaged a very superior force, taking one frigate and four of a convoy.
Lieut. Williams, of Marines, appears mentioned by Sir Edward Pellew as having rendered essential service on board the Indefatigable, in capturing La Virginie upon the 21st of April.
The fortunate contest between the Unicorn, Captain Sir Thomas Williams, and La Tribune, began under an obvious disadvantage, and while it has fully established the fame of that Officer, it was likewise most honourable to Lieut. Hart of my Corps. The Seamen and Marines of La Margaretta were also much distinguished in Captain Martin's official dispatch, announcing the capture of La Tamise.
Captain Trollope, in the Glatton, of 54, armed with heavy carronades, stands most highly on the records of this year, by his having encountered and beat a squadron carrying upwards of 200 guns, and in every respect nearly thrice his force. While the circumstances of the battle reflect a lustre upon all who fought, the unsubdued spirit of Captain Strangeways, of Marines, was truly heroic, and demands the grateful sympathy of his Country and his Corps. After having received a ball in his thigh, he was necessarily carried below, and on a tourniquet having been applied by the Surgeon, he insisted upon going again to his quarters, where he continued to animate his men until he fainted from loss of blood, when Captain Trollope was obliged to interpose his authority for his removal from danger. He afterwards fevered and died, forsaking by destiny a distressed widow and family to deplore his fall, to the tutelar care of Providence and the British nation. William Hall, Corporal of Marines, was, besides, the only one wounded in this memorable action.
Sir John Warren, by his reiterated exploits through the year, has very meritedly founded a name for spirit and zeal.
Towards the close of 1796 the French fleet put to sea from Brest, with the direct aim of invading the sister kingdom of Ireland. To it an army of 15,000 men was united under General Hoche. Heaven again stepped forth to thwart their schemes, whose elementary agents were employed to overthrow them. Scarcely had they set sail, when the winds began to blow with violence, which burst into a storm after gaining sight of the wished for land. Their armament was finally scattered, and while a part of it, was buried in the ocean, others were doomed to augment the British Navy, and the remains to hasten back, in disappointment and in terror, towards their own ports.
Judging, from external evidences, their reception would have been worthy of Irishmen, had their invaders reached their shores.