POST-CAPTAINS OF 1806.
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After conducting El Gamo in triumph to Port Mahon, the Speedy returned to her station off Barcelona, where she joined company with the Kangaroo, an 18-gun brig, commanded by the late Captain George Christopher Pulling, who thus describes the next service of importance in which Mr. Archibald Cochrane was engaged:–
“On the 1st instant (June 1801) we spoke a Minorquin privateer, who gave information that a Spanish convoy, consisting of five armed vessels and twelve sail of merchantmen, had passed to the westward three days before: Lord Cochrane agreeing with me as to the practicability of our overtaking them, we went in pursuit, and yesterday morning (the 9th) got sight of them, at anchor under the battery of Oropesa. Having so able and gallant an officer as his lordship to lead into the bay, I hesitated not a moment to make the attack: we approached within half gun shot of the enemy by noon, and came to an anchor, though opposed by the battery, which is a large square tower, and appears to have 12 guns, a xebec of 20 guns, and three gun-boats, all of which kept up a brisk fire until two o’clock, when it considerably decreased, but again recommenced, encouraged by a felucca of 12 guns, and two gun-boats, that came to their assistance: by half-past three, the xebec and one of the gun-boats sunk, and shortly after another gun-boat shared the same fate. The tower, with the remaining gun-boats, assisted by the felucca, continued to annoy us on both sides till about half-past six, when the fire of the whole slackened, and on the Kangaroo cutting her cables, and running nearer to the tower, the gun-boats in the offing fled, and by seven the tower was silenced. We were annoyed by a heavy fire of musketry in different directions till midnight, during which time the boats of both brigs were employed in cutting out the vessels that were found afloat, under the direction of Mr. Thomas Foulerton, the first Lieutenant of the Kangaroo, assisted by Lieutenant (Benjamin) Warburton, of the Speedy, the Hon. Archibald Cochrane, and Messrs. Dean and Taylor, Midshipmen: they succeeded in bringing out three brigs, laden with wine, rice, and bread; the remainder were either sunk or driven on shore. I have here to lament the loss of Mr. Thomas Taylor, Midshipman, a valuable young man, who was killed by a musketball while on this service. I cannot express myself sufficiently grateful to Lord Cochrane for his assistance during this long contest, as well as on the day before, when we found it necessary, for the honor of his Britannic Majesty’s arms, to blow up the tower of Almanara, mounting 2 brass 4-pounders, which would not surrender, though repeatedly summoned. Enclosed is a list of the killed and wounded on board the
musketry and the sword; but he did not obtain promotion to the rank of Commander until Aug. 15, 1800.
