Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/116

 from both ships, under Lieutenant Travers, the whole commanded by Captain Napier, were disembarked from the Thames at the back of the harbour, and immediately ascended and carried the heights in a very gallant style, under a heavy fire from the enemy, who were assembled in force to oppose them, and who, soon after dark, endeavoured to retake their position. One volley, however, induced them instantly to retire. The Imperieuse had, in the mean time, been endeavouring to occupy the attention of the gun-boats and battery in front 5 but the light and baffling winds prevented her getting any nearer than long range during the evening. Next morning, finding that nothing could be done on the land side against the battery and a strong tower which protected the vessels on the beach, and within pistol-shot of which the gun-boats were moored. Captain Duncan ordered the Thames to close, directed Captain Napier to return on board his own ship, and, taking advantage of the sea-breeze at its commencement, ran along the line of gun-boats, within half-musket shot. Two were soon sunk, and the others immediately afterwards surrendered. The frigates then anchored close to the fort, which in about fifteen minutes was completely silenced, and in a quarter of an hour more the Neapolitan flag came down. The tower was immediately taken possession of by Lieutenant Travers, who, on seeing the Imperieuse and her consort stand in, had “most gallantly, rushed down the hill with a party of seamen and marines, and was waiting almost under the walls of the fort, ready to take advantage of any superiority the ships might have over it.” The guns, 24-pounders, were then thrown into the sea, and the crews of both frigates sent to launch the merchant vessels and spars, which could not be completed till after noon next day; when the troops, who had all this time remained in undisputed possession of the heights, were re-embarked, the marines withdrawn from the tower which they had occupied, and which, together with two batteries and a signal-station, soon lay in ruins. One of the gun-vessels mounted two long 18-pounders, and had on board a complement of 50 men; the other nine were each armed with one