and galled the enemy’s rear through several miles of their retreat.
On the morning of Oct. 28, in the same year, the Phäeton’s barge and two cutters, under the directions of Lieutenant Francis Beaufort, boarded, and after an obstinate resistance, carried the Spanish polacre-rigged ship San Josef, mounting 14 brass guns, and having on board 34 seamen and 22 soldiers, moored under the protection of a 5-gun battery, near Malaga, and flanked by a French privateer. In this dashing affair the assailants had 1 man killed and 4, including their brave leader, wounded[1]. Of the San Josef’s crew, 6 were found badly, and 13 slightly wounded.
On the night of May 16, 1801, the boats of the Phaeton and Naiad, manned with volunteers, under the direction of Lieutenant Marshall of the latter frigate, captured l’Alcudia, and destroyed El Raposo Spanish armed packets, in the port of Marin, near the town of Pontevedra, under the protection of a battery mounting five 24-pounders, prepared to receive them. In the execution of this service, four men only belonging to the two ships were wounded.
Early in the following year, Captain Morris arrived at Portsmouth with despatches from Lord Keith, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet. On the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, he was nominated to the command of the Sea Fencibles between Blackwater and the Stour; and towards the latter end of the same year we find him in the Leopard of 50 guns, from whence he went to the Colossus, 74, the command of which ship he retained until the autumn of 1808.
The Colossus formed part of Lord Nelson’s fleet in the sanguinary combat off Cape Trafalgar; and on that memorable occasion sustained a far greater loss than any other British ship, having had 40 killed and 160 wounded; among the latter were her gallant Commander, two Lieutenants, a Marine officer, and nine Midshipmen. For his distinguished conduct on that memorable day, Captain Morris, in common with his brother officers, received a gold medal, and the thanks of both Houses of Parliament[2].
- ↑ Lieutenant Beaufort was first wounded in the head, and afterwards received several slugs through his left arm and in his body.
- ↑ For an account of the battle, see p. 202, et seq.
