Page:Geographical description of Algiers and Tunis.pdf/7

 effect of their fire upon the walls and battieres to which they were opposed.

I had, about this time, the satisfaction of seeing Vice-Admiral Van Cappellen’s flag in the station I assigned to him, and soon after, at intervals, the remainder of his frigates, keeping up a well supported fire on the flanking batteries he had offered to cover us from, as it had not been in my power, for want of room, to bring him in the front of the mole.

About sun-set, I received a message from Rear-Admiral Milne, conveying to me the severe loss the Impregnable was sustaining, having then 150 killed and wounded, and requesting I would, if possible, send him a frigate to divert some of the fire he was under.

There was awful moments during the conflict, which I cannot attempt to describe, occasioned by firing the ships so near us, and I had long resisted the eager entreaties of several around me, to make the attempt upon the outer frigate, distant about one hundred yards, which at length I gave unto, and Major Gossett, by my side, who had been eager to land his corps of miners, pressed me most anxiously for permission to accompany Lieutenant Richards in this ship's barge. The frigate was instantly boarded, and in ten minutes in a perfect blaze; a gallant young midshipman, in a rocket boat, No. 8 although forbidden, was led by his ardent spirit, to follow in support of the barge, in which he was desperately wounded, his brother officer killed, and nine of his crew. The barge, by rowing more rapidly, had suffered less, and lost but two.

Total killed and wonnded—128 killed, 690 wounded.

The enemy’s loss in killed and wounded is between 6000 and 7000

Algiers Bay, 28ih Aug. 1816. S—For your atrocities at Bona, on defenceless Christians, and your unbecoming disregard to the demands I made yesterday, in the name of the Prince