Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/369

 , and told him, in case of resistance, I should destroy the town. By half-past six, 13 vessels deeply laden were brought off; several others had been scuttled by the inhabitants, and sunk; some were still aground and dismantled; there were besides a few in ballast, and a number of fishing boats. I should have burnt the merchant vessels, but was apprehensive of setting fire to the town, and destroying the fishing-boats; I therefore directed Lieutenant Willes to blow up the castle at the entrance of the harbour, and bring off his people, which he did at 7 o’clock.

“I am happy to say we did not hear of any lives being lost in the town, although many of the houses were much damaged; one man only was killed by the explosion of the castle; after the match had been lighted, and our people retreated, he approached it; a musket was fired to drive him away, but he sought refuge behind the walls, and was buried in the ruins.”

“As the enemy made no active resistance, I can only express my admiration of the zeal and promptitude with which Captain Hoste and the Hon. Henry Duncan executed the orders they received, and the manner in which they placed their ships. Lieutenant Willes upon this, as upon every other occasion, displayed the greatest energy, skill, and judgment; the arrangements he made for the defence of his party, whilst in the harbour, and the expedition he used in sending out the prizes, do him the highest credit. The conduct of Lieutenants Phillott and Baumgardt, in the command of their respective divisions, and Lieutenant Moore, in that of the marines, was also exemplary.

(Signed)“.”

On the 2d May, 1809, the Spartan and Mercury chased two vessels into the port of Cesenatico, the entrance of which is very narrow, and was defended by a battery of 2 long 24-pounders, and a castle. Observing that several other vessels were lying there. Captain Brenton determined to attack them; the result is thus stated by him, in a letter to Lord Collingwood, dated off Rovigno:–

“This coast is so shoal, that we had only 4 fathoms considerably out of gun-shot of the town; I was therefore under the necessity of sending the boats a-head, and on each bow, to lead us in, with directions to make a signal when in 3 fathoms. We were by this means enabled to anchor, at noon, in a-quarter-three, within range of grape of the battery, and very soon silenced it, when the boats, under the command of Lieutenant Willes, pushed in, and took possession of it, turning the guns upon the castle and town, which were soon after deserted. We captured in the port 12 vessels, some laden with corn for Venice, and the others in ballast. We filled the