Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/384

354  rejoined the grand fleet, and on the 7th June following assisted at the capture of eight vessels laden with wine and naval stores from Bourdeaux; in effecting which service and endeavouring to bring out a corvette that had sought refuge under a battery on the south end of Belleisle, the Phaeton had 1 man killed, 7 others wounded, and 2 guns dismounted.

Nine days after this event, the detachment commanded by Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, of which the Phaeton formed a part, fell in with a French fleet, consisting of one 3-decker, twelve 74’s, fourteen frigates, and three smaller vessels, from which the British squadron with difficulty escapedVice-Admiral Cornwallis, with one 3-decker, four 74’s, two frigates and a sloop, on his return from the pursuit of a French convoy, fell in with the above fleet near the Penmarks, and by a series of masterly manoeuvres effected a retreat which reflects as much honor on those concerned, as would the achievement of the most brilliant victory. The late Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, who died at Plymouth Feb. 23, 1812, commanded the Mars on this occasion, and sustained the brunt of the enemy’s attack. Nothing can be more expressive than the Vice-Admiral’s own words in his official despatch, wherein he speaks of the very meritorious conduct of the officers and men whom lie commanded on the occasion:–

“Indeed, I shall ever feel the impression which the good conduct of the Captains, Officers, Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers in the squadron, has made on my mind; and it was the greatest pleasure I ever received, to see the spirit manifested by the men, who, instead of being cast down at seeing thirty sail of the enemy’s ships attacking our little squadron, were in the highest spirits imaginable. I do not mean the Royal Sovereign alone; the same spirit was shown in all the ships, as they came near me; and although (circumstanced as we were) we had no great reason to complain of the conduct of the enemy, yet our men could not help repeatedly expressing their contempt of them. Could common prudence have allowed me to let loose their valour, I hardly know what might not have been accomplished by such men.”

The squadron under Vice-Admiral consisted of the Royal Sovereign, 110 guns; Mars, Bellerophon, Triumph, and Brunswick, 74’s; Phaeton and Pallas frigates; and Kingfisher sloop. The damage the ships received was very inconsiderable, excepting in their stern frames, which were much shaken by the repeated firing of the. Captain 