Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-11-01
Paris. Aurus. 9

SllS tNAaleSl} ttfS EIthssS'oi /" 49, -. !,
repcr, Of the engagements t the 2s1h ana
$ 2eth Of Messidor. These advices have m
spired such an interest that We are certain
of conferring pleasure TO our readers bv
laying all the circumstancss.ot the glorious
events before them.
u To his lNajcsty Napoleon / Emperor Of the
French, and King Of haly.
stSIR,
CT. was impossible, IN the first report
s, bseh Ihad the honor of laying befotc your
Majesty. 10 include all the details Of the
advices of the 28th and 29th Messidor, be-
tween q part of the Imperial Batav'an Flo
lila and squadron Of the English Navy ;
aud not doubling that our Majesty WISHES
20 be informed of all the circumstances OF
shese engagements, as well as the conducs
of ,ha brave men who had share IN them,
have thought il my dasy TO submitea new
report 10 your Imperial: aud Royal MaJles-
ty- rss, - !,
caused The squadron 70 range IN two Cos
slumns, so asto keep the tire of.bosh tree;
y ordered the Commanders of thepraafas,
The brave Capt. Larnbour, TO leai the outer
line. and 70 place two praams In the centre,
and one IN the rear sess 60 keep rae ex-
terror line more compact.
"Cap,ain Gerbtands commanded the adj
vanciag guard, Capt. CarPeatlef. the rear
guard, aud | commanded IN person me
ceaye. on board of thesgu boat No, 49,
The GUN boats went under an easy sail, ia
order 10 give the praams, which did not
sail So well, an opportunity OF preserving
thesorder of The battle.
.t4iaving arrived off Graveiines towards
nine O'Clock at night, ,he.enemy's DIVISION
90, nnd4r weigh; they remained at anchor
untii.they foual themselves abreast OF the
Aatiia. although they might have attacked
Ms much soon.r, since the tide. was sull
flowing. and they could consequently make
tue east: at quarter pastnine, the Lug
lish division commenced les ire atieng
cannon shot distance; did otreturn their
sho. until they came nearer ns the action
then became very warm, the enemy direct
ing their principal attack against oCf centre
and rear. La each of the, English ships
theirs was FIRE atthe main mast, apparent"
" in order not TO confound our vessels with
theirs; but as we rcoks the Precanton to
extinruish our fires, we had the advantage
of aiming with much more cerraoty
I" Towards ten o'clock, the enemy direct
ed theirWhole at ack againstthe rear guards
rby which means three of our gun boats
were mach damaged aud Becoming unso'
vernable. were run ashore. Il was Ike
wise BY the same means that the praam,
IaVIlfe de Gence, was baaed in her ma
noeavres, 81 grounded during an hour, de-
Tending herself vigorously, Until the enemy
were Obliged to abandon her, spcn ner De-
ing got off. she proceeded on ief.voyage'
and was again 'a,tacked; and although her
main mast was damaged, by the dexter'y
and-bravcry Of Lieut.. Baissey, her COM
mander, she opened for herself aPassage,
and rejoined the Aotilla- -
"Tow5rds eleven O'Clock, the enemy LEFT
us the Geld of battle free, and stood 10 sea,
al hoagb nothing prevented their c1ntinu-
ing the combat. having arrived OFT Caials,
i made the signal to prepare TO anchor, ana
soon afterwards to anchor.
ssFlmmediately landed and mounted on
horseback IN order to ride along the. coast
and examine the situation of the gun boats
that.yere ashore. | saw with satisfaction
,hsssne position Of the formidable light ar
tillery, commanded by general ooroier' i
protected the fvex stranded gun boats; tt00
Others were also obliged>eo run ashore, ow'
inp to the loss of tlelr ru1ders. At DAY
bresk on The COR, n .nce ment of the fl rod
tide, three of these gun boats aoated oil,
and proceeded on their passage; they were
Immediately seen BIZ the enemy, & attack
ed by two sloops Of war and TWO origs'
I observee with infinite satisfaction. taa!
one Of the gun boats, commanded by heat
MISCHIEF, fred three broadsldes, before