In Dec. 1809, Captain Shepheard received an appointment to the Thunder bomb; and from April until Nov. 1810, he appears to have been the senior commander of four vessels of that description, employed in the defence of Cadiz: during a considerable part of that time the Thunder was at anchor almost within point-blank shot of the enemy’s formidable batteries. On the 2d of the latter month, when the French gun-vessels, proceeding from Rota to Port Santa Maria, were attacked by the British flotilla[1], he hastened with his boats to the support of Captain Kittoe, and conducted himself in such a manner as to obtain the most flattering approbation of his gallant and discerning admiral. We should here remark, that Captain Shepheard had the sole arrangement of the different bombardments which took place, and that he rowed guard himself every fourth night during his continuance in Cadiz bay.
On the 11th Nov. 1810, Captain Shepheard was appointed to the Columbine brig, of 18 guns, attached to the squadron under Sir Richard G. Keats, by whom he was subsequently ordered to act as captain of the Alfred 74. After commanding that ship about three months, during which she was kept cruising between Capes Trafalgar and Spartel, he returned to the Columbine, and served under the orders of Rear-Admiral Legge, on the Cadiz station, until the close of 1811. The Columbine formed part of a detachment sent to make a diversion in favour of the Spanish General Ballasteros, by landing 1000 British infantry and a detachment of artillery at Tariffa, which service was performed during the prevalence of a strong easterly gale, Oct. 18, in the latter year; her commander’s exertions on that occasion were warmly acknowledged by his senior officer, Captain Edward S. Dickson.
Captain Shepheard returned to England in the Comet sloop of war; and obtained post rank Feb. 1, 1812. His next appointment was May 14, 1813, to the Fylla of 22 guns, on the Guernsey station. In Jan. 1814, he captured, after a slight resistance, l’Inconnu French lugger privateer, of 16 guns and 109 men; the largest vessel of that class belonging to St. Maloes. On this occasion, the enemy had 6 men killed and
