The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-06-25 00:00:00

Filen THE LONDON GAZETTE, June 23.

Dorening.strost, Jane ^_S.

Dispatchet have been received at the Mire of she Earl of
Liverpool, from Liemenaot-Goneral Sir John Snort, doled
Messina 14th April, 1810, transmitting she (wiry a a Di,
patch and Enclomre from Brig:alio...Genet* Oswald, of
which the following are copies,
Itead-quarters, Camp, before Itt. Mora,
March 21, tem
Sin,--I have the honour to report to yqine Ex.
cellency, that the troops, with the naval font/111
under the orders of Captain .Eyre, of his Ss-
jesty's ship Magnificent, as pee ma • .
from Zante on the morning of as
reacher) 'Ahura d the Island of St. the sire g.
116111
Early the next clay, toe army disembarked .
the southward of the toten. The enemy retiring
from the batteries, on the approach of his Mo.
jesty's ship Imogene and gun-boats, the tea"'
immediately moved forward, .Licutenant.Colonel
Lowe, commanding the advance, a portion of
which (Greek light infantry), under Major
Church, was kept upon the flank, and drove a
party of Albanians from the adjacent heights.
The town was found to be evacuated, General
Camus having, with his whole forma (amounting
to above 1000 men), retired into the fortress and
strong field.works contingent thereto;
,as the same
time acquainting the Civil Administratioasoith kis
inability any longer to protect thorn.
The fortress of St. Maur& is situated upon i
narrow sandy isthmus, of three miles in length,
which joins it to the Island, and 'it has, besides,
a direct communication with the town by..asingh,,
lady narrow causeway, nearly a mile in length.
The neck of land is defended by tat, strong re.
doubts, and as entrenchment regtilarly constrtict.
ed, and capable of such a resistance as led the
enemy to declare they would arrest our progress!
fur a month at least. Lieut.-Col. Lowe being left to
watch the enemy's movements from the to ern, sup-
ported by Colonel Wilder and two battalions, I
proceeded with a portion of Light Infantry to re.
connoitre the isthmus. Nlaj or Church, I found, had
already, with four companies of the Greek light
infantry, gallantly carried the first redoubt ; the
enemy retiring upon his next entrenchments, where
he remaintfl in force, assiduously employed in
completing its defence. It was obvious that no
time ought to be lust iii carrying this work ; ac-
cordingly the battalion of detachniou)s under Ma-
jor Clarke, 35th regiment, was called from the
town to support the attack, which previous sue.
etas, and the • best apparent disposition, induced
me to confide to the Greek light infantry. Cap.
tain Eyre, who did me the honour to land with
the troops, directed his Majesty's ship Leonidas
to be placed so as to favour the assault. Captain
Brisbane, It. N. who was also on shore, convey.
ed this order and our intentions to Capt, Gratin.
The line to be attacked extended from sea to
sea, mounted with four pieces of cannon well
flanked; had a wet ditch and ohattls '
manned by about five hundred infair - was
so defiled from the sea as to r Oat
secure from the fire of the chi • is
jesty's ship Leonidas came to an or as close
as the water would admit of ; meanwhile the
troops formed in columns approached, and were to
a iTetain distance covered by the ground.. On
opening the front of thwreork (bay became ex,
posed to a heavy and well-directed fire of grape
and musketry. 'rlie Greeks resorted to their ac.
eustntned, Mid in many situations appropriate,
mode of fighting ; nor could the most gallant ef.
forts of Major Church, Captain 'Puffin (Inspect.
ors), and Others of their Officers, snake thent.ad.
vance with that celerity o hich, on similar ocea.
sions, usually commands both safety and success.
I ant unequal to do justice to the exertions of my
Staff, to the Officers of the Royal Artillery, and
Royal Engineers, who accompanied me upon this
trying occasion. Captains Eyre and Steplieus, of
the Royal Nail, were amongst the'most animated
in the combat, and were both woundijd in the dis.
play of profcsslunal characteristic valour. Upon
finding the head of the column could not .be
brought to the assault, I immediately directed Ma-
jor Clarke to bring up the. battalion of detach.
meats, consisting of two companies of the Royal
"Marines, under Captains Snow and Stuart, two
companies of the Roll's under Major do Russet,
and two companies Calabrian Free Corps under
Major Oswald. The Royal Marines, led by Ma-
jot Clarke, and headed by their Officers, broke
through the abattis and charged into the entrench.
tnents ; they were nobly supported by the Roll's,
under Major Basset ; and nu delicacy tan t
me from notidog the gallant exertiots .11",iitio
Oswald, in bringing forward his opts. TN
contest was not of tong duration ; the esedlip fled
at all points, pursued with the bayonet from work
to work ; and such was his precipitation that ho
;sot oily abandoned the camp and cannon of the
attacked line, but left hes remaining strong posi-
tion, followed by Major Clarke's command even
to the gates of the fortress. llis flight 'was acce.,
tented by a previously concerted and extremely
well executed movement of Lieuteivant-Col. Lowe,
with the rifles of kis corps, supported by a com-
pany of the 35th and two companies of the Royal
Comeau hangers. The party, beaded by the
Lieutenant.Colooet, pushed along the narrow and
perfectly exposed causeway,. which connects the
tows with the fortress. This unexpected advance
led upon the enemy's rear, and contributed to his
so quickly abandoning the strong redoubts, which
a front attack alone could with difficulty effect.
The Lieutenant-Colonel in his report speitlis high.
ly of the good conduct of the Officers and men,
and states, that Lieutenant Budcheciampo singular.
ly distinguished himself by remaining, after recciv.
aug a severe wound, to curer the retreat of a part
of the riflemen, whom the enemy's Gee compelled
to retire; some of whom, driven from the dyke
We the water, were isissing.• Thus concluded
suciessfully operations of the highest import to
our future progress in the island ; and r trust that
the conduct of the troops its storming the works
will be deemed worthy of your Excellency's ap.
probation. These advantages have nut been
cheaply obtained ; for I bast: been deprived of the
aid of sooloof she moat distinguished amongst us :
Captain erd, Asoldtset Adjutant-General ;
..
• illelleeet 1* Node, each 'maw.
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