Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/140

 description from the eastward, which at first anchored outside the Weazle, and consequently obliged her to engage on both sides; but they shortly after ran in and joined the others, then behind a point of land, where their masts only could be seen from the brig’s deck: on forming a junction, the whole began a most destructive fire, their grape-shot striking the Weazle, over the land, in every part, while she could with difficulty man four guns, and at the same time keep the marines and a few sailors at small arms, several of her men being away in prizes, and two boats absent; added to this all her grape was expended. At 3 P.M. the enemy discontinued their fire; but after a silence of 40 minutes they once more commenced, and kept it up, without intermission, till 6-30, when the action entirely ceased for that day.

The Weazle was now in a most critical situation, being but a very few yards from a lee-shore, almost a complete wreck, the whole of her running and greater part of the standing rigging gone, most of the sails cut from the yards, the masts shot through in several places, many shot in the hull (5 between wind and water), 5 men killed and 20 wounded: both her pumps being shot away between decks, it was with great difficulty she could be kept free by constantly baling at the hatchways.

At dark, the Weazle’s boats succeeded in destroying the gun-vessels that had struck; also those on shore, and eight sail of merchantmen; bringing away their anchors to supply the place of her own, all of which were rendered unserviceable by shot.

The next morning, at day-light, having then warped a short distance from the land, the Weazle was attacked by the remaining eight gunboats, and again assailed with a heavy fire of musketry from the heights; this was most annoying, the enemy having taken up a raking position, her last cable being half shot through, and the wind blowing strong into the bay, so that she could not venture to bring her broadside to bear upon them. All this day and night she was employed in warping out, but made very little progress, her crew being so greatly reduced in number, und almost exhausted with fatigue.

