Year: 1861

the banks of the Ganges where the enemy had
place of considerable strength, called Bougee
Fort, which it was necessary to secure before
he proceeded any farther in the expedition
The action was begun by brisk cannonade
from the squadron, which soon silenced the
cannon of the fort but the garrison not offer
ing to surrender, and continuing to discharge
fire arrows and small arms, it was determined
in council of sea and land officers, that Col.
Give should endeavor to take it by assault
For this purpose, at five in the evening, the
Admiral landed an officer, two midshipmen,
and about forty sailors from each ship, unde
the command of Capt. King, to assist the
Colonel in storming the fort, which he intend
ed doing just before daylight, under cover of
two twenty-four Founders mounted close to the
ditch. In the meantime, the Colonel had
given directions that the whole army 1.-THE ne
cessary guards excepted and the detachment
from the ships, should rest on the ground, in
order TO recover themselves as much as posi-
bic from the fatigues they had undergone in
the preceding day service


All was now quiet in the camp and we on
board the ships, which lay at their anchors but
small distance from the shore, had entertain
ed thoughts of making use of this interval to
refresh ourselves with an hour or two of sleep ::
but suddenly a loud and universal exclamation
was heard from the shore, and soon after an
account was brought to the Admiral that the
fort had been taken by storm. This was
joyful piece of news, and the more so as it was
quite unexpected; but when the particular
circumstances that ushered in this success were
related, our exultation was greatly abated, be-
cause we found that the rules so indispensibly
necessary in all military exploits had been
entirely disregarded in the present instance,
and therefore could not help looking upon the
person who had the principal hand in this vic
tory rather as an object of chastisement than
of applause. The case was this:


During the tranquil state of the camp, one
Strahan, a common sailor belonging to the
Kent, having just been served with quantity
of grog (arrack mixed with water,) had his
spirits too much elated to think of taking any
rest he therefore strayed by himself towards
the fort, and imperceptibly got under the walls
Being advanced thus far without interruption,
he took it into his head to scale at a breach
that had been made by the cannon of the Ships
and having luckily gotten upon the bastion, he
there discovered several Moor men sitting upon
the platform, at whom he flourished his cutass,
and fired his pistol, and then, having given
three loud huzzas cried out f: The place IS
nine" The Moorish soldiers Immediately at
tackled him, and he defended himself with in
credible resolutions, but in the encounter had
the misfortune to have the blade of his cutlass
cut in two about foot from the hilt this
mischance, however, did not happen till he was
near being supported by two or three other
Sailors who had accidently struggled to the
same part of the fort Oh which the other had
mounted. They, hearing Strains cries, imme-
diately scaled the breach likewise, and echoing
the triumphant sound, reused the whole army,
who, taking the ALARM fell on pell nell, with
out order and without discipline, following the
example of the sailors. This attack, although
made in such confusion, was followed with no
ill consequence but the death of the worthy
Capt Dougal Campbell, who was unfortunate
ly killed by musket ball from one of our own
pieces in the general confusion. Capt Coote
commanded the fort for that night and at day
light the fort saluted the Admiral. 1t was
never exactly known what number of Moors
there were in the fort when our people first
entered. We took in the fort eighteen cannons,
from twenty-four Founders downwards, and
forty barrels of powder.


Strahan, the hero of this adventurous ac-
ton, was soon before the Admiral, who, not
withstanding the success that had attended it,
thought it necessary to show himself displeased
with measure in which the want of all mill
tary discipline so VIGOROUSLY appeared He
therefore angrily inquired into the desperate
step which he had taken. "Mr Strahan,
what is this that you have been doing ?' The
fellow, after having made his bow, scratched
his head, with one hand, and twirling his hat
upon the other, replied % Why, to be sure,
sir, it was who tool; the fort, but hope there
was no harm in it." The Admiral with diff
Guilty was prevented from smiling at the sim
plicity of Strahan's answer; and the whole
company were exceedingly diverted with his
awkward appearance, and bis language and
manner in recounting the several particulars of
his mad exploit. Mr.. Watson expatiated
largely on the fatal consequences that might
have attended his irregular conduct, and then
with severe rebuke, dismissed him but not
before be had given the fellow some distant
hints that at proper opportunity he would
be certainly punished for his temerity Stra-
han, amazed to find himself blamed where he
expected praise, had no sooner gone from the
Admirals cabin, than he muttered these words !:
:" # I am fogged for this ere action, arM
nerer take another fort BY myself as long as /
lire BY Cdr


The novelty of the case, the success of the
enterprise, and the courageous spirit which he
had displayed, pleaded strongly with the Ad-
miral in behalf of the offender and vet, at