Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/412

 guns only were in battery, which were intended to flunk the pier-head and enemy’s gun-boats: from the extreme badness of the roads, the officer in command of the engineers did not prepare for more, conceiving that those, in a joint attack, might prove sufficient.

“There was not water to enable the Desirée to approach within gunshot of the fortress: to obviate this misfortune as much as possible, I deemed it expedient to strengthen our attack, by putting two long 18-pounders from this ship into each brig. On the evening of the 25th, I ordered the gun-boats to cannonade the town. On the following morning, a general attack was made by the brigs and gun-boats, under the immediate direction of Captain Marshall, which was kept up with great spirit the principal part of the day, and did the enemy considerable injury in the fortress, as well as sinking one of his gun-boats.

“On the 27th, the attack was renewed with equal spirit and effect, and continued on the morning of the 28th. Finding, however, the fire from the fortress still continued extremely heavy, and well-directed, both to the sea and land, it was resolved, without delay, to strengthen our batteries; and, for that purpose, I lost no time in landing two long 1 8-pounders from this ship, and two mortars taken from the enemy at Cuxhaven.

“Having, on the 31st, completed our batteries, consisting, the first of two long 18-pounders, served with red-hot shot; the second of four 32-pounders, and the third of two mortars, exclusive of those of the co-operating land force; on the morning of the 1st instant, a most tremendous attack was made on the enemy’s works, both by sea and land, and continued until this night; but, notwithstanding the town was fired in several places, the garrison still returned a very spirited and determined opposition.

“January 6, 1814.

“On the 4th, the garrison was summoned; but the governor’s answer (requesting that he might be allowed time to send to his sovereign at Copenhagen) being inadmissible, I again ordered the squadron to advance to the attack. Negociations were then happily set on foot, and yesterday this extremely strong fortress, which has been several times besieged by powerful armies, but never carried, was, at length, after an investment of sixteen days, and a most effectual bombardment of six, surrendered to a division of the Crown Prince of Sweden’s army, under the command of Baron de Boyé, and that of his Britannic Majesty’s squadron under my command, as per margin. But in justice to the governor and garrison of Gluckstadt, I beg to state, that they defended their post as brave men, and that the cause of humanity appears to have determined the governor to surrender.

