The subject of this memoir was made commander, Mar. 4, 1811; but he did not hear of his promotion until his arrival at the Admiralty, on the 24th of that month. In June following, he succeeded Captain Fellowes in the chief command of the Cadiz flotilla, which then consisted of twenty-five vessels, mounting in all 50 guns, manned with 650 sailors and marines, and each commanded by a lieutenant: the first division, under his immediate directions was stationed within range of the enemy’s batteries on the Trocadero, for the purpose of protecting l’Isla de Leon from invasion, and the numerous shipping in the bay from fire-rafts; the second division, under Captain Frederick Jennings Thomas, was employed in guarding the entrance of the harbour, and watching and harassing the enemy at Rota and San Lucar.
On the 5th Dec. 1811, Captain Carroll was sent with several gun-boats to the assistance of the British troops at Tariffa, then besieged by 10,000 of Marshal Victor’s army[1]. After contributing to the safety of that place, he resumed his former station, and continued to annoy the enemy and protect the suburbs of Cadiz, until the whole of the French lines were abandoned, in Aug. 1812[2].
We next find this officer commanding the Volcano bomb, on the coast of Catalonia, where he again highly distinguished himself, as will be seen by the following official letter, addressed to Rear-Admiral Hallowell:–
“H.M.S. Invincible, off the Col de Balageur, June 8, 1813.
“Sir,– In pursuance of your directions to take the ships and vessels named in the margin[3], under my orders, and co-operate with Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost in the siege of the fort of Col de Balageur, I have the honor to inform you, that the troops wore landed about noon of the 3d instant, and the Lieutenant-Colonel immediately invested the fort, the riflemen of De Roll’s regiment, and other light troops, being pushed close up to the walls.
“The fort is situated in a most difficult pass, through which the high road from Tortosa to Tarragona winds, and it is absolutely the key of the only road for cannon into this province, from the westward, without going- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 298.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. pp. 442–444.
- ↑ Thames, Volcano, Strombolo, Brune, and eight gun-boats.
