Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/22

 war, in 1793, we find this officer serving as first Lieutenant of the Blanche frigate, commanded by the late Captain Faulknor, and employed on the Leeward Islands station.

On the 4th Jan. 1795, that heroic Commander, being on a cruise off Point-à-Pêtre, at 7 A.M., observed a large republican frigate coming out of the harbour, with a schooner in company. Captain Faulknor immediately stood towards the enemy, and continued to do so until nearly within gun-shot of Fort Fleur d’Epée, the scene of his former glory, when he tacked, hove to, and filled occasionally. Finding the French frigate disinclined to venture out from under the batteries, he made sail to examine a schooner which was coming down along shore; she proved to be an American from Bourdeaux, and appearing suspicious, was detained and taken in tow, the Blanche proceeding under easy sail, first towards Mariegalante, and afterwards stretching over for Dominica. At 8$h$ 30' P.M., the French frigate was seen about two leagues astern; upon which the schooner was cast off, and the Blanche made sail to meet the enemy. At half past twelve o’clock, after some manoeuvring and an exchange of broadsides, when passing on opposite tacks, a most bloody and desperate action was commenced within pistol-shot; and at one A.M., Captain Faulknor ran the Blanche across the enemy’s bows, and lashed the bowsprit of the latter to the capstern of his own ship. A brisk fire was now kept up from such guns as could be brought to bear, and musketry, which the enemy returned from his quarterdeck guns, run in a-midships and pointed fore and aft, also from small arms in his tops and elsewhere. At this period the main and mizen-masts of the Blanche were shot away; and the French made an attempt to board her, but were repulsed with great loss. At a quarter past two, his antagonist having dropped astern, Captain Faulknor ordered another hawser to be got up, with which he lashed the French frigate to his quarter, and whilst in the act of doing so, was shot through the heart by a musket-ball. On his death, the command naturally devolved on Lieutenant Watkins, who continued the action in a manner that did him immortal honor.

