394
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.
On the 28th Nov. following, Captain Maitland was appointed to the Emerald, a 36-gun frigate; and in April 1807, we find him capturing the Austerlitz French privateer, of 14 guns and 96 men; and a Spanish polacre from la Guira, laden with cocoa, bark, indigo, &c. He also recaptured the Zulema, an American ship, which had been taken by a French privateer. In July of the same year he took an American brig, having on board 90 men belonging to the French ships in the Chesapeake.
The following extracts from a letter addressed by Captain Maitland to Admiral Lord Gardner, dated March 14, 1808, contain an account of a gallant exploit, which reflects credit on all concerned, for their undaunted spirit and perseverance:
“My Lord, I beg to state that, having fulfilled the first part of your Lordship’s order, bearing date the 13th ult., I was proceeding to communicate with the commanding officer off Ferrol, when, in running along shore about 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon, a very large schooner was discovered at anchor in Vivero harbour, with a French ensign and pendant flying. Though I had never been in that port, from its appearance, and the place laid down in Tofino’s chart, it seemed to me not a very difficult matter either to bring her out or destroy her. It was late in the day for such an undertaking; but as we had a full moon, and alarm guns were firing from the forts and schooner, I without hesitation decided on putting it instantly into execution, as they would doubtless have been better prepared for our reception had it been deferred till morning. At about 5h 30' P.M. the first fort on the right going in, mounting eight 24-pounders, opened on the ship, as did the other, containing five of the same calibre, on the left, as soon as she was within range. As I saw it was impossible to place the ship in a situation to act upon both batteries at the same time, I sent the first Lieutenant, Mr. Bertram, accompanied by Lieutenants Meek and Husband, of the marines, and Messrs. Mildridge and Saurin, Master’s-Mates, to storm the outer fort, and proceeded with the ship as near the other, which was about a mite farther in, as the depth of water would allow, where she was placed, the sails furled, &c. I sent Mr. W. Smith, the third Lieutenant, with another party, to endeavour to spike the guns of the fort, then engaged with the Emerald; Mr. Bertram having happily succeeded in driving the Spaniards out of the battery he had been sent to attack, and spiked the guns. Lieutenant Smith, almost immediately on landing, was opposed by a party of soldiers, most of whom fell, and their officer among the number; but before they were completely subdued they had ted him a considerable distance into the country, being by that time quite dark, and from the nature of the ground, having been obliged to land nearly a mile from the fort, he was
