in the Cattegat, forming a very important point of communication between Great Britain and the continent,and then threatened with an attack by a formidable Danish force under the orders of Major Melsteat. The following are extracts of his official letter to Captain Joseph Baker, reporting the capture of two heavy gunboats, mention of which has been made at p. 449 of Suppl. Part 1.:–
“H.M. sloop Sheldrake, Anholt, Mar. 28, 1811.
“Sir,– In obedience to your signal yesterday to keep on the north side of the island, my attention was particularly occupied in preventing the escape of the enemy’s flotilla to leeward, hoping by so doing I anticipated your wishes.
“At 2 P.M. observing the Tartar to windward of the island, and the gun-boats endeavouring to push through the passage inside the reef, I endeavoured to place myself in such a situation as to turn them, or to render an action unavoidable. About 4 P.M. we closed within long range of shot, their force consisting of sixteen gun-boats and armed vessels, in close and compact order, formed in line, steering down with the apparent determination of supporting each other; but they, finding us equally determined to bring them to close action, began to disperse, just when we were in hopes of placing ourselves in such a situation as must have annihilated the whole of them in a short time. Five of them keeping in one direction, I stood after them, and I have the pleasure to inform you that we brought then) to close action at half-past four, when one immediately struck; – she mounts 2 long eighteen-pounders and 4 brass howitzers, had on board 65 men, and was commanded by a lieutenant of repute in the Danish navy. Immediately the prisoners were removed, we made all sail after the largest lugger, which we captured about 8 P.M. after exchanging a few shot: she proved to be gun-vessel No. I., mounting 2 long twenty-four-pounders and 4 howitzers, complement 70 men, only 60 of whom were found on board: from the number of shot she received, I am convinced she must have lost many of her crew; her commander is also a lieutenant in the Danish navy. I am extremely rejoiced to say we have no person hurt; our sails and rigging a little cut, and a few grape-shot in the hull, is the extent of our damage. * * * *. Night coming on, and we having on board 40 more prisoners than our own people, I am sorry to say we could not succeed in capturing any more of them, as they separated after the first had struck; but several that escaped were under our fire, and appeared to have suffered much, – so much so, that some of the people say one sunk.”
Captain Baker, when reporting his proceedings to Sir James Saumarez, says, “I cannot sufficiently praise the intrepidity and skill with which” Captain Stewart “attacked a force so superior to his own;” and the commander-in-chief
