POST-CAPTAINS OF 1801.
453
Lieutenant Dashwood having rejoined the Magnanime, continued to be actively employed in that ship (and assisted at the capture of several privateers) till Aug. 2, 1799, on which day he was made a Commander, and appointed to the Sylph of 18 guns, attached to the Channel fleet.
The following modest narrative contains the particulars of a very gallant action fought by Captain Dashwood, July 31, 1801:
“Sylph, Aug. 1, 1801.
“Sir,– I have the honor of acquainting you, that being off St. Andero with his Majesty’s brig under my command, I last evening gave chase to an armed schooner, then standing to the N.E.; but before there was a possibility of arriving up with her, a large frigate was discovered close under the land, standing towards us, to whom the schooner fled for refuge. Unwilling to quit the station you assigned me, I stood towards them; but as the night approached, and observing them to be undismayed by the appearance of the Sylph, with no probability of gaining the wind, at a little after sun-set I shortened sail, hove to, and prepared for battle. At this time the hull of the frigate was clearly discernible. The light airs from the southward did not permit her to arrive up till eleven o’clock; at which period, from her not answering the private signal, and being within half gun-shot, I gave directions to commence the action; the enemy bearing down in a silent and most masterly manner, soon came within hail. At this distance, and precisely abreast of each other, the battle continued with equal vigour for one hour and twenty minutes; when finding the sails, standing, and almost all the running rigging cut to pieces, one gun dismounted, several shot between wind and water, and the brig in an unmanageable state, I conceived it most advisable to edge away a little to repair the damages we had sustained. I was the more inclined to act thus, not from any advantage the enemy had gained over us, but from her position, which was admirably calculated for boarding, and which I was naturally anxious to avoid. I soon, however, perceived she was not in a situation even to follow us, and consequently hove to. The remaining part of the night we were busily employed putting the Sylph in a situation to maintain her station. At day-light the enemy was seen six or seven miles to windward, with her fore-yard on deck, and apparently otherwise damaged. Seeing her in this situation, I conceived it my duty to endeavour to renew the action, and therefore made all sail possible, wearing occasionally (as I dared not venture to tack) for that purpose; but before I could accomplish it, the enemy’s ship swayed up her fore-yard, wore, and made all sail for the land. The wind having changed in a violent squall during the night to N.W., with every appearance of blowing, and a rising sea, and finding the main-mast severely wounded, with the momentary expectation of its going over the side, the brig making a foot and a half water in an hour, together with the enemy’s great superiority, she having 14 ports on each side of her main-deck, exclusive of the bridle, and evi-