and Wizard; there being but little wind, I directed the brig to be towed in to cover them, and by great exertion they soon brought her close to the vessels, when it was found impossible to bring them out without landing, most of them being fastened to the shore by ropes from their keels and mastheads; the boats therefore pulled to the beach with great resolution, exposed to the fire of two guns in the bow of the armed vessel, two field-pieces placed in a grove which flanked the beach, a heavy gun in front of the town, and a continued fire of musketry from the houses; but these were no check to the ardour and intrepidity of British seamen and marines, who leaped from the boats, and rushed upon the enemy with a fearless zeal that was not to be resisted. The gun in front of the town was soon taken and spiked by Lieutenant Chasman, second of the Kent, who commanded the seamen; and the enemy, who had drawn up a considerable force of regular troops in the grove, to defend the two field-pieces, was dislodged by Captain Rea, commanding the royal marines, and Lieutenant Grant of that corps, who took possession of the field-pieces, and brought them off. In the meantime. Lieutenants Lindsey and Moresby of the Kent, and Lieutenant Bissett of the Wizard, who had equally distinguished themselves in driving the enemy from the beach, were actively employed in taking possession of the gun-boat, and freeing the other vessels from their fasts to the shore; and I had soon the satisfaction to see our people embark, and the whole of the vessels coming out under the protecting fire of the Wizard, which, by the judicious conduct of Captain Ferris, contributed very essentially to keep the enemy in check, both in the advance and retreat of the boats. One seaman killed and one mortally wounded (both of the Kent) is all the loss we sustained. The enemy left many dead on the ground.
“The gun-boat was a national vessel, called la Vigilante, commanded by an enseigne de vaisseau, with a complement of 45 men. I have the honor to, &c.
(Signed)“Thomas Rogers.”
“To Vice-Admiral Thornbrough &c. &c. &c.”
The boats of the Kent and Wizard (brig) subsequently brought out, from under the guns of a fort near Leghorn, three laden vessels, and burnt a fourth, which was aground and could not be got afloat: this service was performed without the slightest loss.
On the 3d April, 1812, Captain Moresby, then commanding the Wizard, in the Archipelago, captured the Corcira, a xebec privateer belonging to Corfu, of eight guns and 60 men. On the 18th Aug. 1813, the batteries at the entrance of Boco di Cattaro, in the Adriatic, were stormed and destroyed by a detachment under his immediate directions; the official account of this gallant exploit will be found at p. 337 et seq.
