The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-29 00:00:00

OFFICIAL • DESPATCHES

FROM

ADMIRAL DUNDAS.

[FROM LA ST . NIGHT'S, • GAZETTE.
ADMIRALTY, JULY 27, 1854.
Despatches, of which the following are copies,, have been.
received froni Vice-Admiral Dundas, C. 8., Comniander-
in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and vessels in the Mediter-
ranean and Black Sea
DESTRUCTION OF BATTERIES, Sco., AT THE SIILINA. DRIA.TLI
OF CAPTAIN HYDE PARKER, OF THE FIREBRAfiD.
No. 330. Britannia, off Baljik, July 40_854.
SIR,—I have the honour to enclose for the inThrmation
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of
the reports of Commander Powell and other officers, who,
on the Bth instant, attacked and completely. destroyed the
inner batteries, stockades, and buildings, at the Salina
Mouth of the Danube.
2. The satisfaction I feel at the perfect success of this
gallant exploit, is much diminished by the death of Cap-
lain Hyde Parker, who fell when leading his men.
The service has lost in him a most promising young
officer, who was always zealous to do his duty, and never
made a difficulty.
3. Acting Lieutenant Lyons, after the fall of his gallant
captain, commanded the Firebrand's boats, and most ad-
mirably did his duty, suffering a loss in his own boat of
five men wounded.—l have, Sr.c.
_ • J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice-Admiral.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.

Enclosure No. 1, in the Mediterranean Letter No. 333.
Her Majesty's ship Vesuvius, off Salina,
July 8, 1854.
Sir,—lt is with great grief that I have to report to you
that Captain Hyde Parker, of her Majesty's steam-frigate
Firebrand, has been this day killed whilst in the act of
leading his men to take a stockade battery on the Danube.
The loss of this gallant officer is but ill compensated by
the complete success with which his attack was attended.
The circumstances are as follows—Captain Hyde Parker
directed a strong party of boats from the Firebrand and
Vesuvius to accompany him up the Danube for the pur-
pose of destroying some works which were occupied by the
Russians. At two p.m. the boats entered the Danube,
Captain Parker's gig in advance ; at the bend of the river,
opposite a number of houses on the right bank and a large
stockade on the left, a sharp fire was opened upon him,
and his boat was nearly riddled ; some of his men were
wounded.

The heavy boats were coming up and Captain Parker at
once pulled back to them, hailing me to land the marines
and be ready to storm. This order was executed by the
marines and a detachment of seamen in the same gallant
spirit with which it was given. Captain Parker then
dashed on shore in his gig, and at once advanced with a
few men, he was in front and greatly exposed. A tremen-
dous fire was opened by the enemy upon them, and a few
minutes after landing a bullet passed through their leader's
heart, and in a moment this gallant sailor ceased to live.
Thus died an officer whose merits, sir, aro well known to
yourself. His conduct on this occasion leaves an example
of valour that never can be, erased from the memory of
those who were present.
_ _ _

The command of the force then devolved upon myself.
I directed the gun-boats, and rocket-boats to be brought
to the front ; the storming party was formed by Lieut.
Jull, R.M.A, the gun-boats commenced a most effective
fire upon the houses and battery, and in a short time the
enemy's fire was silenced.

I directed the storming party to advance, and the place
was entered at a run by a detachment of marines and
sailors, headed by Lieutenant Jull, R.M.A., and Lieutenant
Hawkey, R.M.

We froilnd that the enemy had already retreated at the
rear, and so thick was the cover, that pursuit was in vain.
The work that we had taken was a gabien battery, the
guns of which had been taken away and the embrasures
filled up. It consisted of a front along the river raised
about 15 feet high, and 400 yards in extent; in the rear
was a morass, and the two flanks, which were not 30 yards
in length, were defended as in front ; this work enclosed
about fifty Government houses, stables, store-houses, and a
magazine. The works have been entirely demolished, the
houses destroyed, and nothing now marks the spot but a
heap of ruins. Part of the town of Sulina, from whence
the enemy had opened fire, has been burnt ; the principal
street I have thought it proper to spare.
There was no means of computing the enemy's loss, al-
though they were seep to fall inside the intrenchments. I
am disposed to think that they were assisted in carrying
off their wounded, and even defending the place, by some
Greeks, as men in the dress of that country were seen in-
termixed with the Russian troops.
From the heavy fire that was opened upon us, and from
the number that were seen afterwards 'collected at a dis-
tance, the enemy must have been in great force before they
retreated.

It becomes my duty to report to you the extreme good
conduct of all employed on this occasion. The gun-boats
were most skilfully managed under circumstances of great
difficulty. They were commanded by Lieutenant Sullivan,
Acting-Lieutenant Lyons, and Messrs. GooldenandKerby,
mates.

Mr. Carey, second master, has, I regret to say, been
badly wounded ; he behaved most creditably.
It fell to Lieutenant Jull's lot to have an opportunity of
particularly distinguishing himself by his coolness and
gallantry whilst in command of the marines, and be speaks
most highly of Lieutenant Hawkey, the non-commissioned
officers and men that were with him.
The medical officers have merited our best thanks. Dr.
O'Hagan, in the execution of his duty, was in the midst of
the fire, and his clothes were pierced with bullets.
I must claim your indulgence for the hasty manner in
which this despatch has been written, as I wish the Fire-
brand to join your flag immediately, with the body of the
late well-loved and gallant Captain Hyde Parker.—l
have, &c.

(Signed) RICHARD A. POWELL,
Commander.
Vice-Admiral J. W. D. Dundas, C.B.

Enclosure No. 2, in Mediterranean Letter No. 333.
Her Majesty's steam-frigate Firebrand,
off Sulina, July 8, 1854.
Sir,—l beg leave to inclose the accompanying letter from
Mr. Lyons (Acting-Lieutenant), who commanded the boats
of this ship in the attack and destruction of the stockaded
battery at the Sulina Mouth of the Danube. He speaks
highly of the officers and men under his command, espe-
cially James Shade, able seaman; but as you were per-
unally present, it only remains for me to state, that Mr.
Lyons has displayed much courage and ability, on more
than this occasion, since joining the ship.
The death, ever and deeply to be lamented, of our much-
loved Captain, Hyde Parker, has thrown a deep gloom on
all who had the fortune to serve under him ; but he died,
leaving an example to all who survive him, of heroic gal-
lantry and ability.—l have, &c.
(Signed) War. GORE JONES,
Senior Lieutenant Commanding her
Majesty's ship Firebrand.
To Commander R. Powell, RN.,
H.M.'s steam-sloop, Vesuvius.

Sub• Enclosure No. 1, in Enclosure No. 2, in the Ilediter-

ranean Letter, No. 330.

Her Majesty's Steam-frigate Firebrand,
off Sulina, July 8, 1854.
Sir,—l have the honour to forward the returns of the
boats employed and the number of men killed and wounded
at the attack and capture, this clay, of a stockade on the
left bank of the Danube.

The command of one division of the boats, after the
lamented death of Capt. Hyde Parker, devolved on me;
the pinnace under my immediate command being in ad-
vance of the other boats, caused the principal part of the
enemy's fire to be directed upon her, and I regret to say
that 5 men in that boat were wounded (three severely.)
I have, sir, to speak in the highest terms of the good
conduct and steadiness of the whole of the officers and
men under my command under the galling fire of the ene-
my, and I would beg to bring them strongly before your
notice. Where all behaved so well it is almost invidious
to particularise, but I beg particularly to mention James
Shade, able seaman, who, I regret to say, after much dis-
tinguishing himself, was severely wounded.
Lieutenant Jull, R.M.A., speaks in equally high terms
of the marines under his command.

As you have already been made acquainted with the
circumstances under which his country has to mourn the
death of Captain Hyde Parker, and the total defeat of
the enemy and destruction of their works, which followed,
yet scarcely avenged it, it will not be necessary for me to
enter into any details of the engagement.—l have, Ste.
(Signed) ALGERNON LYONS, Acting Lieutenant.
To Lieut. W. G. Jones, R.N., 11.31.5. Firebrand.

Sub-Enclosure No. 2, in Enclosure No. 2, in Mediter-
ranean Letter, No. 330.
A list of the boats, officers, and men belonging to her
Majesty's ship Firebrand, at the destruction of the bat-
teries at the Sulina mouth of the Danube.
Pinnace, 12-pound howitzer.
Mr. A. Lyons, acting lieutenant.
Lieutenant Hawkey, R.M.
Crew, 17 men and 8 marines.
Ist Cutter, Rocket-boat—
Mr. Mallet, midshipman.
Crew, 11 men and 8 marines.
'ort Paddlebox-boat, 24-pounder howitzer—
Mr. Denny, midshipman.
Crew, 18 men.

Gig—
Mr. Everard, naval cadet.
Rev. P. Rogers, in attendance witb.-mea;
Crew, 4 men and 4 marines. cabers.
Galley—
Captain Hyde Parker.
Dr, oliksiw, 41i1Pon.