by John Marshall

“ Frequently, when the ship was putting to sea, and the sailors’ wives were ordered out of her, has he directed his steward to give them a guinea each. On all occasions he has sacrificed his own interests to those of his officers and crew. To Captain Barrie I am indebted for my advancement ”

“ I am sensible my narrative is already too prolix; but I cannot conclude without assuring you that the officers and crews of the ships behaved with the greatest courage and coolness. The Pomone, from being enabled to choose her station, was of course exposed to the brupt of the action, and has consequently suffered most; though considering the enemy’s fire and position, our ships have escaped much better than could have been expected. When all conspicuously distinguish themselves, it is impossible to select individuals ”

“ Arrangements were immediately made for attacking the frigate at Hamden; and the General having proffered every military assistance, six hundred picked men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John, of the 60th regiment, were embarked the same afternoon, on board his Majesty’s sloops Peruvian and Sylph, and a small transport. To this force were added the marines of the Dragon, and as many armed boats from the squadron as was thought necessary for disembarking the troops and covering their landing, and the whole placed under the command of Captain Barrie, of the Dragon ”

“ On the following morning the enemy hove in sight; and in the course of the day, Captain Barrie being far to windward of the British squadron, succeeded in coming up with and destroying five transports, laden with provisions for the relief of the French army in Spain. The men of war were in the mean time pursued by a detachment under Rear-Admiral George Martin, who obliged three line-of-battle ships and a frigate to run a-shore between Cette and Frontignan, where two of the former were burnt by their crews ”

“ Sir R. J. Strachan, enraptured with the boldness of the above enterprise, and rejoicing at the success attending it, on seeing the prizes come out, telegraphed to his squadron “The Pomone has great merit;” and again expressed his admiration of her conduct when transmitting the foregoing letter to Captain Barrie’s uncle, the late Admiral Lord Gardner, who then commanded the Channel fleet. Captain Barrie’s boats, in company with those of the Hazard sloop, had a few weeks before cut four luggers laden with wine, brandy, &c., out of a harbour in Isle Rhé. ”

“ When we have put into a port where the rate of exchange was against us, he has told the Midshipmen not to draw bills upon home, but come into his cabin, where there was a bag of dollars at their service. ”

“ So soon as the boats got within gun-shot, the enemy opened his fire upon them from the hill and wharf, which was warmly returned. Our rockets were generally well-directed, and evidently threw the enemy into confusion. Meantime our troops stormed the hill with the utmost gallantry.Before the boats got within good grape-shot of the wharf battery, the enemy set fire to the Adams, and he ran from his guns the moment our troops carried the hill. ”

“ Enclosed I have the honor to forward you lists of the vessels we have captured or destroyed, and other necessary reports [13] . I am happy to inform you our loss consists only of 1 seaman, belonging to the Dragon, killed; Captain Gell, of the 29th, and 7 privates, wounded; 1 rank and file missing. * * * * * *. I can form no estimate of the enemy’s absolute loss. From different stragglers I learn that, exclusive of killed and missing, upwards of 30 lay wounded in the woods. I have the honor to be, &c. ”

“ This service he performed with great judgment and gallantry, and fortunately without loss, though the grape from the shore and armed brigs passed through and through his boat. One of the gun-brigs making a show of sweeping out, I sent Lieutenant James Wallace Gabriel, first of this ship, with three boats, to meet her; but as she retreated under the protection of the land batteries, and also within musket-shot of the numerous soldiery which lined the beach, I would not allow my gallant friend to make the attack under such great disadvantage, but directed him to proceed with the boat towards St. ”

“ Destroyed by the British at Bangor, One ship, one brig, three schooners, and one sloop. Burnt by the enemy at Hamden, The Adams of twenty-six 18-pounders, and two ships, one of them armed. ↑ See Vol. I, p. 527. ↑ Captain W. S. Badcock, of the Brune troop-ship, accompanied Captain Barrie in his expeditions to Rappahanock river and St. Mary’s, and displayed great gallantry on every occasion that offered. ”

“ I, pp. 283 and 483. ↑ The former a 36-gun frigate, and the latter an 18-gun brig, commanded by Captains Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, and Alexander Renton Sharpe. ↑ See p. 403. ↑ The enemy having observed the British frigates on the 30th April, had made every preparation to give them a warm reception. The regular troops posted on the heights were more than 200 strong, exclusive of the marines from the ships, and a body of armed peasantry. The quarterdeck guns of la Nourrice had also been landed, and were used on the occasion. ”

“ The ships destroyed were of the following tonnage: la Nourrice 1100, la Giraffe 900, and the armed merchantman 500 tons. The crews of the two former consisted of 300 men. ↑ See p. 702 et seq. ↑ The Adams frigate. She was afterwards destroyed by a force under his orders. ↑ See Vol. I, p. 524 et seq. ↑ Captain Barrie had been sent with the schooner and boats to act against the flotilla fitted out at Baltimore, under the orders of Commodore Barney. ↑ Dragon 74, Endymion and Bacchante frigates, and Sylph sloop of war. ↑ “Peruvian and Sylph sloops of war, Dragon’s tender, and Harmony transport. ”