by John Marshall

“ The squadron then hove-to, and Captain Downie, accompanied by the master, went in his gig to reconnoitre the enemy’s position. At the expiration of half an hour, the boat having returned, the signal was immediately made to ‘bear up and sail large;’ the top-sails of the Confiance were hoisted, and top-gallant-sails set: under this sail, with the jib and spanker, she went into action; hauling close round Cumberland Head, on the larboard tack.
“The Linnet, supported by the Chubb, was directed to attack the enemy’s brig, the Eagle (the van and weathermost of his line) ”

“ She had always been accustomed to carry sixty-five men, is a fine vessel, and has been out five weeks, but made only one capture, a Swedish sloop in ballast. She sustained a loss of three men killed and four dangerously wounded: I am happy to say, this truly gallant exploit has been achieved without any loss on our part, except two men wounded – a seaman severely, and a marine dangerously. ”

“ James Robertson was strongly recommended by Captain Conn to Lord Nelson, who most kindly received him on board the Victory, in which ship he had the honor of serving as forecastle-mate at the glorious battle of Trafalgar. On her being put out of commission he obtained a warm recommendation from Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy to Captain Brydges W. Taylor, who immediately consented to his joining the Thames 32, a new frigate, then fitting out at Chatham. ”

“ Captain Downie, with many of the best men of the Confiance, having most unfortunately fallen early in the action, the remaining part, with some exceptions, required the utmost exertion on the part of the surviving officers, to encourage and induce them to withstand the effect of so destructive a fire. About the middle of the action, the Eagle was compelled to cut, when she made sail, with an evident intention of quitting the action altogether; but passing close inside the Saratoga, and being hailed hy her, she again anchored between that ship and the Ticonderago. ”

“ At the moment of the explosion, the boats, with the exception of the Hazard’s pinnace, were quitting the schooner; the latter was waiting under the bow for Lieutenant Robertson (who was thrown by the concussion into her, but not much hurt) and Mr. Ferguson, whom he had, but an instant before, called to down the main-hatchway. These, we believe, were the only casualties occasioned by the blowing up of the vessel; six valuable men, however, were killed by the enemy’s shot, and eight others wounded ”

“ Pole and Madden, James Black (coxswain) , and every individual of the boat’s crew. Mr. Pole has passed his examination; Mr. Madden, who was the first on the enemy’s deck, has a few months of his time to serve; and James Black, to whose coolness and steadiness in steering and managing the boat in the various critical situations in which they were placed. Lieutenant Robertson, in a considerable degree, attributes his success, has been upwards of thirty years in H.M. service, and is a most exemplary and meritorious character. ”

“ Sir Alexander Cochrane, who had been a distant observer of this action, was likewise pleased to approve of Lieutenant Robertson’s conduct, and to give him an order to command the Hazard, until the arrival of Captain Cameron’s intended successor, who was then at Halifax, refitting the brig he commanded, and not expected to return from thence for some months: at the same time, the vice-admiral kindly said, he would request Lord Mulgrave to give him rank as lieutenant from the date of his first acting appointment. ”

“ Robertson was appointed by Sir Alexander Cochrane acting first lieutenant of the Hazard ship-sloop, Captain Hugh Cameron, under whom he assisted at the capture of the French frigate Topaze, lying under a battery in the island of Guadaloupe, Jan. 22d, 1809 [2] . This fine and valuable prize was entrusted to his charge for some time, during the absence of the senior officer’s first lieutenant.
The Hazard was actively employed at the subsequent reduction of Martinique, by the forces under Lieutenant-Geueral Beckwith and Sir Alexander Cochrane [3] ”

“ Lieutenant Robertson and his intrepid crew entered pell mell along with them; and in a few minutes, with irresistible impetuosity, drove every man below. She proved.to be the Danish privateer schooner Eleanor, fitted for sixteen guns, but having only one long 9-pounder (on a pivot) , two short 18-pounders, and two swivels mounted, with a quantity of small-arms, and a complement of thirty-seven men, twenty-two of whom had been selected from the King’s boats. ”

“ Scott, mate of the Polarus; who, as well as every individual employed, were volunteers on the service.”
The Hazard was one of the ships which bore the brunt of an attack made by the squadron under Captain Samuel James Ballard, upon two large French frigates, and the batteries of Ance la Barque, Guadaloupe, Dec. 18th, 1800 [4] ; on which day her gallant and lamented commander was killed, while returning to his ship from a fort, out of which the enemy had been driven:– his boat’s crew represented that he fell by a grape shot from one of the British ships then firing upon the enemy’s troops ”

“ A considerable time elapsed before the enemy was in a condition to take possession of the Confiance, during which time every effort was made to keep her from sinking, by pumping and bailing at the hatchways, for the preservation of the wounded, it being necessary to elevate their heads to prevent them drowning. ”

“ Pole and Madden, midshipmen, fifteen seamen, and four marines, the whole having volunteered their services. The enterprise set out successfully, the boat being enabled to gain an eligible situation before the weather cleared up.
“When the convoy anchored, the enemy’s armed boats did the same, under the batteries of Rodby, as did also close to them Lieutenant Robertson, with the intention of attacking them, so soon as it should be dark. At 5 p.m., he observed a large armed schooner three miles distant, having a lugger-rigged boat towing astern. ”

“ On the 7th, at daylight, hauled off from the wharf, and by dint of towing, warping, and sweeping during the whole day, against wind and current, we anchored late in the evening a little below the frontier, in company with H.M. brig Linnet. ”

“ On the 9th, we remained at anchor the whole day, employed in setting up the rigging, scraping the decks, manning and arranging the gun-boats, and exercising great guns. Artificers employed as yesterday. Armourers at the forge all day, fitting carronade locks to the long guns. After dark, we received a subaltern officer and ten men of the 39th regiment, and a Serjeant and ten men of the royal marine artillery, to complete the complement. ”

“ On the 8th, we weighed in company with the Linnet, and by sailing, towing, sweeping, and warping, we got up to Chagy, where we anchored in the afternoon, and were joined by H.M. cutters Chubb and Finch, and the gun-boats. Quartered the ship’s company, and cleared the decks. Artificers employed in fitting chocks, beds, and coins for the guns ”