Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-08-17
LONDON, June, "a.
Els mgesty's ship Lire, at anchor,
.Aiur0S Rad, Spain, 1une 4, 1905

! 9f7iS 1705esty IS SAf6 LII G, sGt aHcjLof,
Muros Road, Span, .51une 4, 1895
SIR,
!. Being informed that therewa French
privateer, of 90 guns. fitting out at Mu 4.
ros, and nearly ready for sea, it struck me,
from my recollection Of the bay (hav.ng
been there when lieutenant of the King
fishery as being practicable either to bring
her out, or destroy her with the shi?
have the honor 10 com mand. / according
" prepared yesterday evening for engaging
at anchor, and appointed Mr.. Yoe. hrst
lieutenant, with heutenants Nallocks and
Douglass, of the marines, and Mr.. Clinch,
masters mate, TO head the boarders and
marines, amounting, officers included, TO
SO meH (being all that could be spared
|. from anchoring the ship and working the
guus} in landing and storining the fort,
though / had no idea It's strength was so
| great as II has proved. AT this morning,
on tie sea-breeae setting IN, stood for
The bay IN the ship, the men previously
prepared being In the boats ready to shove
off. On hauling close round the point OF
the road, small battery of TWO guns open
ed fire on the ship; few shor were re-
turned, but perceiying 1t would annoy us
considerably, from its situation, | desired
Mr. Yeo to push on shore and spike the
guns, reminding the men of its being the
anniversary of their soveteign's birth, and
that for his sake, as well as their OVID Gre
Git, their utmost exertlons must be used,
Though such aa injunction was unnecesa-
Try. it had great effect in animat,ng and
raising the spirits of the people. RS the
ship drew in, and more fully opened he
bay, ! perceived very long corvette of
twensy-slx ports, apparently nearly ready
for sea, and large brig of twenty. guns il
state OF fitting, but neither OF them fl
ing, led rae to conclude they had not their
guns on beard, and left no Other object TO
occupy my attention but heavy fort,
which, az this moment, opened 20 our
view, within less than quarter OF mile,
I. and began wonderful well directed fire,
almost every shot taking place Ii the hall
Pereeivng that by standing further on,
more guns would be Brought to bear upon
us, wlthout.our being enabled to near the
fort SO much as wished, ordered the
helm 70 be pue down, and when: from the
way she had, we had gained an advantage.
Gus position, anchored with spring, ara
commenced firing. Although we have bay
lit,le doubt that, b@fore long, we shout;
have silenced tho fort, yet from the spec,-
men they gave rs, and being completely
/ emb9azured, il must have cost Us MANY
lives, andsreat injury to the ship, had no,
Mr.Yeo's galiantrY and great conduct soon
put an end 70 thclF FIRE. | must nos re,
vert to him and the party Under his cona-
rnand; having landed under the small bat.
terry under The poirt, iFwas instantly "bta
daHed but hardly had be time to~spike the
2uns. when al.5he distance of aqasrt~r of
annie ne perceived regular fort, diched
and with gate which the ,enca,v Corfu
nateiy ne9er suspecting our ianding) had
neglected 10 secure, open q FIRE upon the
ship: without waiting for orders he pushed
forward, and was opposed at the inper
| gate by the governor. with such troops as
were in the town, and the crews Of The
| French privatecrss From the testimony
| OF the prisoners as well as our own men,
/ itappears that Mr.. Z 60 was the first that
| entered tine fort, with one blow laid the
governor dead at his feet. aud Broke his
/ own sabre IN two; the ot:.er officers were
dispatched by such offcrseand men of ours
| as were@most advanced, and the narrow
ness of the gate would permit, 10 push
forward; the remainder Instantly fed to
the further end of tie fort, where from the
snip we could perceive many of them leap
! from The eEnbrazures upon the rocks Ca
height OF about IS ieeO such as laid dowa
! their arms received quarter.