afforded “an opportunity to distinguish themselves particularly, by a very gallant action with an enemy greatly exceeding their force," The Dane was got sight of at 6 a.m. on the 14th Aug., and at 8 p.m. she was only 6 or 7 miles distant: the Defence, owing to her inferior sailing in light winds, was then about 5 leagues astern of her consort.
Just at this moment, the Comus caught a fine leading breeze off the land, and after a further run of 30 miles, and a chase of 34 hours, arrived within hail of the fugitive, who peremptorily refused to bring to, and to the menacing announcement of “This is an English frigate,” very pithily replied, “And this is a Danish frigate!” A musket-shot from the Comus was answered by a stern-chase gun, and the gallant Dane instantly bore round up to rake his assailant, but was fortunately foiled in the manoeuvre. The Comus then ranged up under his lee within half-pistol-shot, and so deadly was the effect of her first broadside, the guns being double-breeched and treble-shotted, that the enemy never recovered his equilibrium during the whole of the action, which continued with great animation on both sides about 45 minutes, when the two ships came in contact, and the boarders, headed by Lieutenants Watts and Knight, soon succeeded in carrying her. She proved to be the Frederickswoern, mounting 26 Danish long 12-pounders, 4 sixes, and 6 carronades, with a complement of 226 men, of whom 12 were killed and 20 wounded – several mortally. The Comus mounted 22 long nines and 10 carronades, with 145 officers, men, and boys, not one of whom was slain, and only 1 wounded. Admiral Gambier, in his official letter respecting this capture, says, “when the inequality of force between the two ships is considered, with the trifling injury sustained by the Comus, it will appear unnecessary for me to make any comment on the bravery and skill which must have been displayed by Captain Heywood, his officers, and crew[1].”
- ↑ Captain Heywood joined the Comus in a debilitated state of health, and was not well at the time of the action. Her superior firing and manoeuvring, which amply compensated for her disparity of force, was in no small degree attributable to the previous diligence and exertions of Lieutenant Watts. Captain Heywood died at Milford, South Wales, in 1822.
