Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/375

 1813, when he sailed for Trieste, to blockade that city. On the following day. Captains Markland and Black volunteered their services to attack the dock-yard, which, although strongly fortified, and within point-blank shot of the citadel, they thought might be taken by surprise: their offer was accepted, and after dark they obtained complete possession of the arsenal and every person in it, the whole of whom, with a quantity of stores, were brought off in triumph; they also having first rendered all the guns unserviceable, and sawed the keel and stern-post of a large frigate into many pieces. This daring exploit was performed without the slightest loss, the surprise being so complete that fighting was unnecessary.

About noon on the 10th Oct. the enemy endeavoured to retaliate by opening a masked battery upon the Milford, as she lay with her stern towards the shore; but Captain Markland instantly got a spring upon his cable, hove his broadside round, and in a quarter of an hour demolished it. The shell exploded on the poop of the 74, but did no damage. The Frenchmen had several killed and wounded.

Immediately after this little affair, the marines of the squadron and two field-pieces were landed under the command of Captain Markland, to assist at the siege of Trieste, which was commenced on the 11th, and terminated on the 29th of the same month. “I have to thank him,” says Rear-Admiral Freemantle, “for exerting himself in every way; particularly in the arrangements of stores and provisions. We have at times had 1200 men on shore, at work and in the batteries; and the general good conduct of the officers, seamen, and marines, with the harmony that has invariably subsisted between the Austrian troops and our people, is quite gratifying to me. When we opened against the citadel it contained 800 Frenchmen, 45 large guns, 4 mortars, and 4 howitzers. The consequences of the taking this place will be felt throughout the country.” About 50 sail of vessels were taken in the port.

During the operations against Trieste, the Milford had 3 men killed and 10 wounded; the total loss sustained by her