Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp4.djvu/447

 accompanied Nelson’s squadron to the West Indies, in pursuit of the combined fleets of France and Spain. His next appointment was, about the close of 1806, to the Pylades ship-sloop, then commanded by Captain George Miller Bligh, but subsequently by Captains William Henry Whorwood and George Ferguson; under which officers he served five years as first lieutenant, most actively employed in various parts of the Mediterranean, where he assisted at the capture of many vessels, including le Grand Napoleon and l‘Aigle, French privateers, the latter mounting 10 guns, with a complement of 80 men.

Early in 1811, the Pylades being then stationed in the Archipelago, Lieutenant Branch was directed by Captain Ferguson to take charge of the Gleaner hired armed ketch, of 12 small carronades and 30 men (during the temporary absence of her proper commander); and sent on a cruise, with positive orders to examine strictly every Greek vessel he might see, as the French had monopolized almost the whole of the Levant trade, in neutral bottoms, and under the Greek flag. In the execution of this service, he had a most severe action with a large polacre ship, carrying 12 long guns and 70 men, which ended in her capture. Unfortunately, however, just before she surrendered, he had the misfortune to be struck by a twelve-pound shot, which shattered his right thigh to atoms, and slightly injured the left. In this dreadfully mutilated state, he lay five days without any surgical or medical assistance, consequently suffering indescribable torment. On his arrival at Smyrna, where the Pylades was then lying, he underwent amputation a few inches from the groin. His subsequent sufferings were excessively great, and of long duration ; but the moment he could move about upon crutches even, he returned to his ship, and continued to perform the duty of senior lieutenant until her arrival in England, about the close of 1811.

The captured polacre was claimed by the Sublime Porte, as belonging to an Ottoman subject; and although the British