The vigilance of Sir John Warren and his flying squadron, afforded another display of subordinate zeal on the 1st and 2d of July.
The scene of action was within the island of Noirmoutier, and in the bay of Bourneuf, and the object was to attack some armed vessels and a convoy bound for Brest, covered by 6 heavy batteries on the South East part of the former, besides flanking guns on every point. By 12 on the night of the 1st of July, they carried 5 armed ships, and 15 merchantmen, but on finding it impossible to bring them out over the sand banks, they were all burnt. This dashing business was achieved by 113 Seamen, and 61 Marines, headed by Lieutenants Burke, Dean, and Garrett, of the Navy, 11 petty Officers, and Lieutenants Thompson, Ballingham, Gerrard, and Hutton, of my corps. All the boats upon returning, grounded, and in this situation they were exposed to an unceasing fire from the forts, and from the platoons of 400 troops in their rear.
It was under this trying circumstance, that, with true British intrepidity, they resolutely dragged their boats upwards of two miles over the sands, until they floated, when they levelled all their efforts against one vessel, sufficiently large to accomplish their retreat. Four Officers and eighty-eight men, however, became prisoners, while more than 100 secured their safety by unrelaxing valour.
The capture of Le Cerbere gun-brig, made under the batteries of Port Louis, the fire of some small craft, within a mile of three French men of war, and against four times their numbers, has immortalized the fame of Lieut. Coghlan, and Mr. Paddon, of the Royal Navy, and all their associates. It can scarcely find a parallel upon the registers of history.
Lieut. Burke, of the Renown, the Seamen and Marines under his auspices, were again conspicuous in the assault of La Guipe French privateer, of 22 guns and 161 men, which they took, after a desperate resistance, near the Narrows of Rendonella, in the bay of Vigo. That valuable Officer, Lieut. Burke, was badly wounded, besides twelve Seamen and five Marines, and four of both classes were killed.
It was in testimony of those repeated deeds that the Officers and ship's company of the Fisguard, presented Lieut. Gerrard, of Marines, with a sword, accompanied by the flattering tribute I have already described. His Country, as I have said, has recently attested her gratitude, by conferring upon him one of the Adjutancies of his Corps, for which he is eminently qualified.
The determined spirit of Lieut. M'Cullen, of Marines, and his little party of twenty-four men, in following up Captain Price's orders, against the Victoire privateer, of Boulogne, near to Issigny, is worthy of much commendation. He towed her off from the shore under the discharge of some hundred musquetry, and brought her a prize to the island of St. Marcou. Lieut. Steevens covered him most gallantly in his gun-brig, the Sparkler.
Imitating this brilliant system, another blow to the enemy's commerce was given by the boats of the Montague and Magnificent, conducted by Lieuts. Blissett, Knight, Griffiths, and Dunlop, of the Royal Navy, and in which Lieuts. Alexander, Montgomerie, Mitchell, and Jordan, of Marines, bravely volunteered. The whole proceeded against a convoy of fourteen sail in Port Danenne, near to L'Orient, all of which were grounded under a battery, that fired round and grape shot, as well as two of the vessels which were armed, upon the boats as they approached.
This service was most completely executed, as they took eleven, and burnt one; leaving only two behind which they were unable to bring out. Captain Knight acknowledged the conduct of all to have been most regular and bold.
These little details are powerful evidences of the spirit of the times. Upon an aggregate scale they are certainly of national moment, and sufficiently prove how much may be accomplished by English intrepidity, when happily seconded by a well-regulated discipline.