Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/245

 the good effect of inspiring them with additional energy and confidence.

By 9 o’clock, the Sally’s larboard guns were all disabled; her masts, sails, and rigging much damaged; and half her crew, including Mr. James Edwards Eastman, the first Lieutenant, wounded. To bring her starboard broadside to bear, and at the same time to maintain her position, was impossible; there being then no wind, and the current running with great rapidity. Captain Chetham was consequently obliged to drop down to his former station, where he had the satisfaction of receiving a handsome letter from General Kalereuth, of which the following is a copy:

“Sir,– I return you hearty thanks for your endeavours the day before yesterday to re-establish the communication; and although they were not completely successful, owing to the wind not favoring, I feel myself nevertheless much indebted to you for them, as well as for the station you have taken in Fairwater, to protect that fort, which I consider perfectly safe while you are there; and I trust in your praiseworthy zeal and attachment to the good cause, that, when circumstances and the weather permits, without exposing your ships, you will not discontinue to make such attempts as may re-establish the communication which is so necessary. The interruption to it is so much the more painful, as it deprives me of the pleasure of seeing you, and repeating the perfect regard with which I remain. Sir, your most obedient servant,

(Signed)“.”

“Dantzic, 19th April, 1807.”

Some idea may be formed of the close nature of this conflict when we state, that more than 1000 musket-balls were found sticking in the Sally’s larboard side; and that the enemy’s loss, according to information received a day or two afterwards, amounted to upwards of 400 killed and wounded. Captain George Sanders, of the Falcon sloop, then lying outside the Fairwater, his first Lieutenant and Purser, served under Captain Chetham as volunteers on the above occasion.

