by John Marshall

“ On landing at Marseilles, Captains Ussher and Napier were received in the most enthusiastic manner by the populace, the air resounding with cries of “Vivent les Anglois!” a circumstance which so provoked Marshal Massena, the commander-in-chief at Toulon, that he sent the governor a severe reprimand, threatened to supersede him if they were not immediately ordered away, and also to march several thousand men against the inhabitants in case of their evincing a spirit of insubordination. ”

“ Previous to the debarkation at Cassis, a general order was issued, directing that if any man was seen to enter a house, under whatever pretence, he was instantly to be shot. Whilst Sir John Sinclair was employed getting the vessels out of the mole, Captain Ussher landed in company with Captain Spencer, and had the satisfaction to find that his wishes were most implicitly complied with, not an article of private property being touched, not any of the houses entered, and not a single peaceable inhabitant molested. ”

“ I beg you will be pleased to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that when I rejoined the Pelican, Lieutenant Ussher did his duty on board, although his wound was open and very troublesome; and I afterwards sent him on a similar service (to that on which he received his wound) in the boats of the Pelican, in the bight of Leogone, when he shewed his usual gallantry, and destroyed the French privateer. – I therefore beg leave to recommend his case to their Lordships, as that of a brave and deserving officer. I have the honor to be. ”

“ I am happy to find that it is Burbastro’s own vessel which you have captured, and that you possess the eagle presented to him by Buonaparte as an honorable trophy. The presentation of eagles to the slaves of a tyrant cannot enable them to withstand the invincible energy of British seamen.
“I shall enclose copies of your letter to me to the Commander-in-Chief and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, with my testimony of approbation of your conduct, and to enable them to see the names of the officers you recommend, and the gallantry with which the enemy’s batteries and privateers were carried. ”

“ Lieutenant Ussher and his men retreated into the barge; the Spaniards left their place of confinement, mounted the rigging, and shewed by their signals and gestures the sinking state of the ship, thereby drawing off the attention of the headmost gun-boats, which had already commenced firing grape at the British, who were thus enabled to effect their escape without further annoyance, although they did not fall in with the Trent for many hours afterwards. ”

“ Captain Ussher wore round, hauled down the flag of truce and the Bourbon standard, and was in the act of making sail to rejoin his consort, when a second gun was fired. This insulting conduct he felt himself justified in punishing. The Undaunted accordingly tacked, stood in within point-blank range, discharged her broadside, and soon obliged the Frenchmen to desert their guns. Captain Ussher then proceeded towards the next battery, and was about to open his fire when he observed a flag of truce coming out of the harbour. ”

“ A hawser fast on deck, and another at the mast-head, were then successively cut; the schooner swung with her stern to the battery, and a well-directed fire instantaneously swept her deck, killing and wounding almost every one of the barge’s crew. Several of the prisoners were also wounded by a 24-pound shot entering the cabin, to which place they had retreated. ”

“ The castle was keeping up a furious cannonade upon the boats and prizes, which were likewise exposed to a tremendous fire of musketry from the mole-wall, at only a few yards distance: this latter annoyance was answered in the most spirited manner by the gun-boat, until the fall of Captain Lilburne, who received a mortal wound at the moment that Captain Ussher resumed the command afloat. To add to this misfortune, the heavy firing on both sides caused the wind to die totally away ”

“ I know that you were put to considerable expence, and much greater trouble; and I was glad to hear you contradict a report very prevalent on my landing, that Buonaparte had made you great returns in wines and other articles of value. I am very ready to give my sentiments to their lordships if desired, or you are at liberty to make use of those I send you. Your merit as an officer stands highly distinguished; but no where can it be more highly valued and respected than by, my dear Ussher, your very faithfully attached, and most sincere friend,
(Signed) ⁠“Exmouth.” ”

“ To contend against such a superior force in broad day-light would have been madness; to carry off the prize without fighting was totally impossible, there being no wind, and the Trent’s fine fellows having scarcely strength enough left to keep the tow-rope taut. Captain Otway therefore recommended Lieutenant Ussher, who had taken charge of the ship, to place double centinels over the prisoners, to point two of the guns (Spanish 12-pounders) , treble-shotted, down the main-hatchway, and upon the arrival of the flotilla within grape-range to fire them through her bottom. ”

“ I found in the castle 2 brass 24-pounders, 6 iron 18-pounders, one 6-pounder, and a howitzer, the whole of which were spiked by the enemy. He has left a number of deserters, principally Germans and Flemings, who inform me that they were the whole of the foreigners in this battalion of the 32d regiment; they likewise say that they have long looked for an opportunity to desert, as they were dragged from their families, and forced into the French service: one of them has been eight years from his country. ”

“ The Boreas soon shared a similar fate; and by nine o’clock two other vessels had also disappeared, they having pushed into a heavy surf, whereby all their wounded men were sacrificed. Four of the merchantmen, following their example, were likewise sunk; and seven, together with the armed mistico, taken by the Redwing – only the felucca, one gun-boat, and one merchant vessel effected their escape, which they would not have done had the British brig been in a condition to carry sail; but, fortunately for them, her foremast was crippled by two shot (24-pounders) ”

“ Finding the schooner still fast, a diver, who fortunately had escaped, went down and cut a rope which he found attached to the heel of the rudder. At this critical moment, Mr. M‘Cleverty came up and took the prize in tow: a light air off the land aided him very greatly, and he soon gained an offing. When out of range. Lieutenant Ussher left the schooner and barge in his charge, returning himself in the cutter to Aguada bay, from whence he brought out the felucca without any additional loss. ”

“ Captain Ussher was next employed as senior officer of the squadron left by Sir Edward Pellew to watch the enemy’s fleet at Toulon, during the severe winter of 1813; and it is scarcely necessary to add, that that important trust could not have been confided to a more zealous and vigilant oflicer [39] .
During the night of April 21st, 1814, being then a few leagues to the southward of Marseilles, with the Euryalus frigate in company, Captain Ussher perceived an extraordinary light in the direction of and over that town. ”

“ During the time that Captain Ussher commanded the Redwing, he was principally employed protecting our trade from the depredations of the Spanish gun-boats and privateers in the vicinity of Gibraltar, on which station he gave many additional proofs of his skill and intrepidity.
In Mar. 1807, Captain Ussher joined Lord Collingwood off Cadiz, and was ordered by him to convoy a fleet of merchantmen through the Straits. When passing Tariffa, the enemy’s flotilla came out ”

“ We very much regret that it is not in our power to place upon record the name of so magnanimous a fellow; that of his vessel was le Moulin à Café: his crew consisted of 83 men.
Lieutenant Ussher was obliged to use crutches for several months after his return to the Pelican; and his wound had not healed when he volunteered to attack another privateer schooner, lying in Artibonite river, at the west end of St. Domingo [9] . This enterprise was undertaken in Jan. 1799. The force intended to be employed consisted of 50 men, placed on board a detained merchant schooner ”

“ You, and your indefatigable companion. Captain Raitt, of the Scout [20] , have done infinite service by the annoyance you have given to the enemy’s privateers, &c. I return you the letters, and am, Sir, with great esteem, your faithful humble servant,
(Signed) ⁠“Collingwood.” On his return from the Balearic islands, Captain Ussher resumed his station in the Gut of Gibraltar, where we find him continually engaged in pursuit of the enemy’s gun-boats and privateers for a period of nine months, during which he also was often under the fire of some of their numerous batteries. ”

“ Captain Spencer, I am entirely indebted for the success that attended an enterprise, which for gallantry has seldom been surpassed. Four batteries defended the entrance of the bay, and two gun-boats were moored across the entrance of the mole. ”

“ Next day (May 3, 1813) , the Undaunted chased a ship into the bay of Marseilles; and Captain Ussher having information that she was valuably laden for the Musée Napoléon, took advantage of a fine breeze, pursued her past the batteries which protected the anchorage, and was only prevented from capturing her by a sudden shift of wind which enabled her to reach the harbour. ”

“ I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) ⁠“Thos. Ussher.” Almuñecar castle was, from its position, invaluable to the enemy, as it gave security to their parties sent to raise contributions and rations on that part of the coast, afforded shelter to privateers, and in the hands of the French might have been made impregnable. By evacuating that fortress, and retreating frdm Salobreña and Motril, they left open the whole line of coast between Malaga and Cape de Gata.
The Hyacinth was refitting at Gibraltar when intelligence arrived of America having declared war against Great Britain. ”

“ As soon as I arrived at my anchorage, I sent Lieutenant Spilsbury and a guerilla officer to hoist the British and Spanish flags on the castle; and immediately began to demolish the works, which are exceedingly strong, as it is built on a peninsula of high rock, scarped all round the sea-face, with a wall 30 feet high. At the land-side the rock is excavated nearly 30 feet deep and 60 wide, with a narrow draw-bridge, which is the only entrance into the castle. I intend to fill up us much of the ditch as possible, by springing mines under each bastion. ”

“ About 2 A.M. the schooner was perceived lying under the muzzles of the guns in the largest battery; and her crew being all asleep on the quarter-deck, she was soon afterwards silently boarded on the bow, from whence Lieutenant Ussher and his men walked aft without their shoes, and kneeling down with the points of their swords against the breasts of the Spaniards, threatened them with instant death if they gave the least alarm. ”

“ Captain Spencer, for their perseverance in sweeping their vessels in, under a heavy fire from the batteries, and placing them in the most judicious position to cover the marines, and to which I attribute, in a great degree, our small loss [35] .
“Lieutenant Tozer, I lament, is most severely wounded; his gallantry I have often noticed [36] . Lieutenant Hunt, of the marines, was the first who entered the citadel battery, by a ladder, under a galling fire; his conduct on this, as on all former occasions, was very gallant [37] . I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) ⁠“Thos. Ussher.” ”

“ The Espoir brig was then in company with the Undaunted, and her commander, the Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer, having suggested the possibility of carrying the enemy’s works by a coup-de-main, Captain Ussher left him to blockade the vessels, whilst he proceeded off Cape Sicie, to communicate with Sir Edward Pellew, by whom the Redwing (Captain Sir John Gordon Sinclair) , 200 marines, and a detachment of boats, belonging to the Caledonia, Hibernia, Barfleur, and Prince of Wales, were immediately placed at his disposal ”

“ The survivors had the good fortune to be picked up by the Pelican, at ten o’clock that night.
On the following day, the Pelican chased a French privateer schooner, mounting 7 guns, into the river Augusta, near Cumberland harbour. Lieutenant Ussher instantly volunteered to attack her; but his commander [8] , wishing first to reconnoitre the enemy’s position, sent only two boats, containing 19 men, for the latter purpose. ”

“ The enemy appeared desirous of trying their strength with the Redwing, and he immediately made all sail to close with them, and to cut off their retreat to leeward. the wind being very light and variable, he did not get within point-blank shot before seven o’clock, at which time they opened their fire, handed their sails, formed a line abreast, and swept towards the Redwing, displaying more than their usual confidence, and indicating an intention to board. That the enemy had good reason to hope for success is proved by Captain Ussher’s description of their force, viz. ”

“ Hea is situated in a deep ravine, and the river leading to it is so narrow that two boats cannot row up abreast. Lieutenant Ussher endeavoured to effect a landing before he arrived at the battery in front of the town, but found it impossible to mount the rocks, which were inaccessible at both sides. Himself and the boatswain of the Colpoys were the two first that sprang through the embrasures ”

“ Captain Ussher (then sojourning at the hotel de Ville) immediately waited upon Colonel Campbell, and found that he was required to assist in conveying Napoleon Buonaparte from the shores of France to Elba. He accordingly left the Euryalus a, Marseilles, and proceeded himself to Frejus, the appointed place of embarkation, where he arrived and was introduced to the fallen chief, on the 23d April.
“While preparing to embark,” says Captain Brenton [40] , “the Dryad, a French frigate, arrived. Captain Moncabret waited on Napoleon, supposing the Emperor would prefer his ship for the voyage ”