days we were joined, as had been previously arranged, by the Spartan from Malta; and the Magnificent, Belle Poule, and Kingsfisher, from Corfu; and anchored that night in the bay of Xante, just without reach of the nearest battery.
“At day-light on the following morning, the boats assembled alongside the Warrior, and under cover of the Spartan, Belle Poule, and gun-boats, who soon silenced the batteries, landed a division of the army, in the most perfect order, about three miles from the town; and whilst General Oswald was advancing, Captains Brenton and Brisbane, and the gun-boats conducted by Mr. Cole, my first Lieutenant, were actively employed in keeping the enemy, who had re-manned their batteries, in check, and covering the second disembarkation; when the whole army moved forward, and closely invested the castle, to which the French had retired from every direction. A proclamation was in the mean time distributed among the inhabitants, explanatory of our views; and finding, as was expected, that they rejoiced in the expulsion of these common disturbers of mankind, I forbore attacking with the ships a strong battery on the mole-head, which could not be taken without destroying a great part of the town; and I have the satisfaction of adding, that in the course of the day the enemy, though advantageously situated in a most important and commanding position, thought proper to capitulate.
“No time was lost after the surrender of Zante, in establishing a provisional government, re-embarking the troops, and proceeding on the 4th inst. with the squadron, augmented by the arrival of the Leonidas, to Cephalonia, the port of which was entered with the men of war formed in two columns, and the transports in the rear, and taken possession of without any opposition on the part of the enemy; which, indeed, from the formidable force I had the honor to command, would have been perfectly useless: and having landed the advance the same evening, the General summoned the fort of St. George, situated on a steep hill, two leagues frora the town, which immediately surrendered on the same terms as those granted to the garrison at Zante; both islands were fortunately occupied by his Majesty’s forces without any loss whatever, and the Septinsular flag, together with the British, to the great joy of the inhabitants, displayed at each[1].
“To Rear-Admiral George Martin.”
In the spring of 1810, Captain Brisbane assisted at the reduction of St. Maura; and during part of the siege had the sole charge of the naval arrangements, as will be seen by the following letter from Captain Eyre to Rear-Admiral Martin:
- ↑ The island of Ithaca was taken by the Philomel sloop of war, and a detachment of troops, Oct. 8; and Cerigo by the Spartan, and a party of soldiers under Major Clarke, on the 12th of the same month.
