miles of the place, they hoisted Spanish colours and stood towards the anchorage; but unfortunately the former ship took the ground, and the wind dying away prevented the latter approaching sufficiently near to the fort, the strength of which proved to be much greater than had been anticipated. Captain Malcolm, however, brought up, and sustained the enemy’s fire for a considerable time. At 10 A.M. a breeze came fresh from the land, and drove the Fox off the bank on which she had anchored. The Sybille had previously floated, but owing to the tide, could not gain her station. About noon the wind became more favourable, and both ships stood for the anchorage, Captain Cooke leading and firing on two batteries to the westward, as he passed on to the attack of the fort. The Fox was on this occasion opposed to the westernmost battery, mounting about 14 guns, from which the enemy returned a well-directed fire. Captain Malcolm at length perceiving that the ships, in persevering to silence the forts, must inevitably receive considerable damage, and knowing it was Captain Cooke’s intention that the small-arm men and marines should land under his directions, ordered the boats of the Fox to be manned, and being joined by those of the Sybille, pulled towards the shore for the purpose of storming the enemy’s works. Unfortunately his own boat was swamped by a shot; but being in shoal water, he got the men out of her, and after forming his party on a sand bank, endeavoured to push to the main land. This attempt, however, was found to be impracticable, in consequence of the great depth of water inside the bank, and a strong body of the enemy being drawn up ready to oppose him. He therefore reluctantly re-embarked, and was towed back to the ships by the gun-vessels, commanded by Lieutenants Kennedy and Elphinstone, which had been sent in to cover the landing[1].
On his return to the Fox, Captain Malcolm found her still in action with the enemy, whose fire continued brisk and well-directed; and being certain that the Commodore would
- ↑ Lieutenant Elphinstone of the Fox, was the same officer who afterwards commanded the Greyhound frigate, and distinguished himself in an action with a Dutch squadron, the particulars of which will be given under the head of Sir E. Thomas Troubridge, in our next volume.
