La Nereide had the honourable station assigned her of leading in, which was done in the most masterly style, receiving the enemy’s raking fire in silence, until we had taken our station on the bow of the French commodore, and quarter of the corvette, within half-pistol-shot, when we opened an effective fire, and with the greatest confidence of success, anxiously looking for the support and assistance of the rest of our squadron, who we now perceived had grounded in rotation, leaving us in this most desperate situation, exposed to the very unequal and destructive fire of the whole French squadron[1]. The Sirius had grounded nearly out of gun-shot, and the other ships were in a position which would allow very few of their guns to bear: had any of our squadron floated, and come to our assistance, the contest must very soon have terminated in our favour. We afterwards learned that the decks of our principal opponent had been thrice cleared, and that the French, from Port Louis, refusing to go on board, the ship had been partly re-manned by Irish traitors, previously taken by the enemy, and enlisted into their service[2]. We continued this unequal conflict until nearly all on board were killed or wounded: Captain Willoughby lost an eye, and the sight of the other was much impaired; the first Lieutenant was killed; aud the second wounded in the throat, breast, legs, and arms. Finding there was no possibility of obtaining any relief, we were under the painful necessity of striking, which the enemy did not regard, but continued firing through and through us the whole of the night, during which we were in momentary expectation of being blown up by their red-hot shot, which more than once set us on fire: we were also in imminent danger of sinking; but the latter disaster was fortunately prevented by the cables and spring being shot away, and the ship running aground. We were then in the most dreadful state of carnage ever witnessed – 92 dead bodies lying on the deck, many of the crew dying, and most of the remainder severely wounded: words cannot express the horrors of the scene. I have only to add, that this action was the most severe ever recorded in history, and that it was prolonged in the full hope and expectation, that some of the squadron would be able to come to our assistance; for had we sooner yielded, all chance of success would then have been destroyed, owing to the unfortunate situation of our consorts.”
The disastrous events of Aug. 22 and 23, and the noble conduct of Captain Willoughby on the latter day, are still more minutely described by Mr. James, who has, however, made several material mistakes, which it is now our business to correct. He says:–
- ↑ Captain Pym’s letter proves that, although the Iphigenia did not actually get aground, she was unable to give la Nereide any effectual support: another officer informs us, that when bringing up, la Nereide’s flying jib-boom scarcely cleared la Bellone!!
- ↑ See p. 179, last par. of the text.
