The Sun.
London, England, 1809-12-04 00:00:00

__ ~•~

Frani the .LONDON GAZETTE, Dec. 2, 1809.

Admiralty-011tce, Dec. 1 809.
Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood,
Cornmander'its Chief of Eli's Majesty's ships and v.estrels in
the Mediterranjan. addre'ssed to the lion. W. W. Pole,
dated on board the, Vint& Paris, off iVlinorca, October 12,
,12k7:9. •

,SIR, • *
I have great pleasure in transmitting to you a Let-
ter from Captain Hoste, of •his. Majesty's ship the
Amphion, Living an account of a ,very gallant and
w 11-- oldurted attack made on the enemy's fort and
vessels' at Cortelazzo, between Venice and TtiesLe.
by the seamen and marines landed from that ship,
which so completely succeeded, that the fort Was
taken,.and.blown up; and alt the vessels which were
in the port captured or destroyed without the loss
of a man, one onlrbeing wounded by accident, when
employed in destroying the works.
• I have on many occasions had to represent the
zeal, the bravery, and the nice concert of measures
that are necessary to success, Which have distinguish-
ed the servicfs of Captain Hoste ; and 'this law at-
tack of the enemy is not inferior to those many
instances which have before obtained for him praise
and admiration:
The manner in which he speaks of Lientenant
Phillott, who commanded the party, and of, the
other officers and men, is highly honourable. to
them; but the Amphion's officersandmen follow—
ing the example of their Captain could not well be
otherwise than they are.
'l also transmit a list of the officers who were em-
plOyed on this service, and of the captures made.
Within a month two divisions of the Enemy's gun-
boats have been taken, consisting of six each.

I am, &c.
(Signed) -COLLINGWOOD.

His Majesty's Ship Amphion, off the Coast
of Friul, Aug. zB, 1809.

SIR,

1 bee leave to inform you of a most gallant and
successful attack made by the beats of this ship, and
a detachment of seamen' and marines, on the ene-
my's force at Cortelazzo, consisting of six gen-boats,
and a convoy of merchant Trabactslos, moored in a
strong position under a- battery of tour twenty-four
pounders, at the mouth of the Piavie, and in sight
'of the Italian squadron at Venice.
I had reconnoitred them on the 24th instant, and
found it impracticable, from the shallowness of the
water to get the ship in, but I conceived they
might be cut out by the boats, peoxided I could
carry the battery ; and this opinion was confirmed
by a fisherman I detained the aame evening, who
gave are a very correct account of their force and
situation,; -to prevent. any suspicion of my design.'
I kept out of sight of the land till the evening of
the 26t1), when I crowded all possible sail, and we
anchbred off the entrance of the Piavie, at one on
the morning of the 27the At, three a detach-
ment at-seat-nen and mariees, Cornmandeciby Lieu-
tenant Philtott, First Lientenant, assisted by Lieute-
nant Jones (2), and Moore of the Marines, in
.all
70 men, were landed about a mile below the battery
to the southward, and advanced immediately to
storm it, leaving Lieutenant Slaughter, Third Lieu-
tenant, with the command of the boats, to push for
the river the instant the fort was carried ; at a Oars
ter past three the alarm was given, the attack was.
made the same instant, and such vigour in the as-
sault, that in ten minutes the fort was completely in
our possession, and the concerted Signal made, the
guns were instantly turned on the gun-boats, the
fire on which, and musketry from the Marines,
whom Lieutenant Moore had placed in a most ex-
aellent situation, .compelled tliern to instant surren-
der, and our boats took possession of the gun-boats
and vessels, as per inclosed list ; two of the former
are of the latgeat dimensions.. • .
The battery was a complete work, with a ditch, ,
and chevaux de frize round it, and our men entered
it
.first by scaling ladderi the Commandant of
the Fort made his escape with some of his men,
'two were found dead, and one wounded,. the rest,
consistig of sixteen of the 3d regiment
.of Light .In-
fantly, were made prisoners. Haying' spiked the
guns, and totally destroyed the Battery;and Bariack,
the kx hole detachment was re-embarked by one
P. M. • -
Thave -now, Sir, the additional pleasure of saying,
.that this service wa) performed without the loss of
a man on our part. One marine alone was.wound-
ed by an explosion of powder. atter we had posses-
sion,. but he is. doing well.
The gallantly and good conduit of the corn-
mending Lieutenant, Mr. Phillott; in the excels-
Irian of this attack, speaks for itself ; I have • only
to say, be had the,entire conduaing of it, and on
this, and on many other occasions, fully justified the
eoufidence I placed in him. He 'speaks in the,
warmest terms of Lieutenant Jones' and Moore, and
the officers and men under his orders ; the prompt
manner in which I„itutenant Jones turned the guns
on the Enemy's' s'esselse and the judicious disposi-
tion of the marioes by Lieutenant Moore, is highly
praise-worthy. In she variety of boat service we
have had, these officers have particularly distinguish-
ed themselveS, and some months back were both .
severely wounded. The silence and regularity of
the seamen and marines in their advance to the fort,
and their bravery in the attack, is equally deserving'
of praise, and truly charaaelistic of British seamen.
Inclosed is a list of the officers and Midshipmen em-
ployed on shore and in the boass.
The surrender of the gun-boats was so quick,
that our beats had not time to join in the attack'
on them, but were most aaively employed after-
wards in getting the prizesout, 'under the dirtaion
of Lieutenant Slaughter. The above vessels were
stationed at Cortelazzo for the express purpose of
proteaing the trade between Venice and Trieste, and
were commanded ;by a Commandant de Division,
Mons. Villeneuve, who is made prisoner.
I have, &c.
(Signed). H. HOST E, Captain.
Captain Hargood, his Majesty's ship Northum-
berland, &c. &c. &c. ill the Adriatic.