boldness of the gallant marines, led on by Captain Coghlan, who surmounted every obstacle opposed to them (and of whom Captain Coghlan speaks in the highest terms of praise) – they literally drove the French before them at the point of the bayonet, pursuing them through the batteries to the heights that command the town, leaving it entirely at our mercy. The boats, under the direction of Sir John Sinclair, then entered the mole, and in less than two hours brought off the vessels[1].
“I feel very greatly indebted to Captain Coghlan, for his able advice, and for the zeal and ability manifested by him; likewise to Sir John Sinclair and the Hon. Captain Spencer, for their perseverance in sweeping their vessels in, under a heavy fire from the batteries, and placing them in the most judicious position to cover the marines, and to which I attribute, in a great degree, our small loss[2].
“Lieutenant Tozer, I lament, is most severely wounded; his gallantry I have often noticed[3]. Lieutenant Hunt, of the marines, was the first who entered the citadel battery, by a ladder, under a galling fire; his conduct on this, as on all former occasions, was very gallant[4]. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Sir Edward Pellew. Bart. &c. &c. &c.”
Previous to the debarkation at Cassis, a general order was issued, directing that if any man was seen to enter a house, under whatever pretence, he was instantly to be shot. Whilst Sir John Sinclair was employed getting the vessels out of the mole, Captain Ussher landed in company with Captain Spencer, and had the satisfaction to find that his wishes were most implicitly complied with, not an article of private property being touched, not any of the houses entered, and not a single peaceable inhabitant molested. This rigid propriety of conduct was afterwards most gratefully acknowledged by a flag of truce, sent off to the Mulgrave 74, the bearer of which told her Cap-
- ↑ The re-embarkation of the marines was covered by a party under Captain Spencer, posted at a windmill in the rear of the town; a position chosen by him, and admirably adapted for keeping in check any troops that might have been sent either from Toulon or Marseilles.
- ↑ The Redwing and Espoir were placed one at each side of the molehead, within 50 yards of the town, in order to cover the marines, had any unforeseen circumstance rendered retreat necessary.
- ↑ The total loss sustained was 4 killed and 16 wounded.
- ↑ The scaling ladder broke before any other person could reach the parapet, and Lieutenant Hunt was consequently left alone to defend himself against the whole of the French soldiers in that battery, until some marines could ascend to his assistance by means of another ladder.
