by John Marshall

“ Lieutenant Oliver, the senior officer, being in the headmost boat, finding himself discovered, and as not a moment was to be lost at such a critical period, most nobly advanced, without waiting for his friend, landed in the face, and in opposition to a most tremendous fire, without condescending to return the salutation, mounted the fort by a ladder, which he had previously provided, and fairly carried it by a coup-de-main with thirteen men (leaving Mr. De Courcy, with three others, to guard the boat) , with an accident to only one brave man, George Allison, wounded. ”

“ Sir,– I have the honor to acquaint you, that on the 3d instant, H.M. ship under my command captured, off the Havannah, His Catholic Majesty’s schooner Elizabeth, of 10 guns and 47 men, charged with despatches from the governor of Pensacola, which were thrown overboard previous to her surrendering. ”

“ He next joined Sir Edward Pellew, on the Mediterranean station, and was by him appointed to the command of the Carlotta brig, in which vessel he had the misfortune to be wrecked upon the coast of Sicily, where he again lost the sight of his eye, through exertion and fatigue, in saving a quantity of specie. His last appointment was, in 1813, to be first of the Sultan 74, Captain John West, stationed off Toulon. His son, William Brown Oliver, is a lieutenant in the navy, seniority Aug. ”