in which that force was employed after the arrival of Captain Arthur Farquhar, to succeed the above officer, will be seen by reference See Vol. II. Part II. p. 966.
The following are extracts of Captain Farquhar’s official letter to Admiral Young, reporting the capture of the enemy’s batteries at Cuxhaven: –
“H.M.S. Desirée, Dec. 1, 1813.
“I have the honor to acquaint you, that the French batteries of Phare[1] and Napoleon, have this morning surrendered to a detachment of his Imperial Majesty’s troops, commanded by Colonel Alexander Radinger, and his Britannic Majesty’s squadron, as per margin, under my command[2].
“On the 28th ultimo, I arrived here from Bremer-lehe, and found that Captain Green, of the Shamrock, had collected the Squadron, to co-operate with the Russian troops. On the same evening, I ordered the gunboats to take a position above Napoleon, to cannonade that battery in concert with the Russians, and advanced the squadron ready to attack Phare.
“On the 29th, a brisk and well-directed hre was kept up on fort Napoleon by the gun-boats, and from field-pieces on the Russian line, with considerable effect; and their tirailleurs annoyed the enemy in both batteries, by a constant fire of musketry, which was returned with vigour; and, from the battery of Phare, red-hot shot were fired, which burnt several houses in the town. During this time, we were employed in landing guns from the squadron, and erecting a battery within 400 yards of the works of Phare. On the morning of the 30th it was completed, and presented to the enemy a formidable appearance, consisting of six 18-pounders, two 32-pounders, and two 6-pounders. The morning was quite thick, and obscured our works; but as soon as it cleared, and we were ready to commence our attack, the enemy threw out a truce, which has ended in the surrender of these two extremely strong batteries, consisting of 26 heavy guns, two 13-inch mortars, and a blockhouse, with a garrison of 300 officers and men, who have been made prisoners of war.
“The expedition with which Captains Green and Danks, who had the direction of forming and completing the seamen’s battery, performed that service, I trust will speak for itself. Lieutenant Haultain, whom I had oc-- ↑ Cuxhaven.
- ↑ Desirée, and Shamrock; Blazer brig, Captain Francis Banks; Piercer gun brig, Lieutenant Joshua Kneeshaw; Redbreast ditto. Lieutenant Sir George Mouat Keith, Bart.; 5 gun-boats, Nos. 1, 3, 4, 8, and 10, commanded by Lieutenants Job Hanmer, Charles Henry Seale, Andrew Tullock, Richard Soper, and Francis Darby Romney; and 2 ditto, Nos. 2 and 5, under the command of Messrs. Thomas Riches and John Hallowes, petty officers.
