atoms[1]. We should here observe, that Lieutenant Willoughby, instead of being unwarrantably reckless of his person, had good reasons for exposing himself in the way he did:– the novelty of serving against an enemy ashore having soon worn off, the severe duties to be performed by the handful of men at the advanced post, the great privations every one suffered, the extraordinary large proportion of killed and wounded, the numbers taken sick, and the utter hopelessness of ultimate success, all combined to depress the spirits of his party, and rendered it highly necessary that he should set a more than common example of cheerfulness and daring. We must here add, that he always obliged the seamen and marines to take their meals under cover of the rampart.
On the 14th Mar. 1804, we find Lieutenant Willoughby commanding the Hercule’s launch, and with two light boats under his orders, capturing la Felicity French privateer, which vessel had sailed from one of the Spanish ports in St. Domingo for the express purpose of intercepting two valuable homeward bound merchantmen, then about to sail from Port Royal, and of whose approaching departure her commander had been apprised by the master of a neutral vessel. On this occasion, the weather being perfectly calm, and the launch having an 18-pounder carronade mounted. Lieutenant Willoughby directed the other boats to tow him within grapeshot distance of the enemy, and then to lay off on his beam whilst he engaged and rowed up to her. In the action which ensued the launch had a midshipman (Mr. George Lawrence Belli) and two men severely wounded: her consorts, commanded by Lieutenant Russel and Mr. Travers, were not fired upon, and consequently sustained no loss, the enemy having struck without waiting to be boarded.
In consequence of his gallant and excellent conduct on so many occasions, Mr. Willoughby was, about this period, ordered by Sir J. T. Duckworth to take upon himself the office of first Lieutenant; and in that capacity we find him setting another example of intrepidity to those about him.
- ↑ James, v. iii, p. 418.
