Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/89

 Jan. 2d, 1825; removed to the Wasp sloop, on the 13th May following; and advanced to the rank of captain, Feb. 17th, 1829.



 made a lieutenant in Aug. 1808; and commanded the barges of the Cerberus and Active frigates, at the capture of four Venetian trabaccolos, under a heavy fire of musketry from the soldiers quartered at Pestichi, on the N.E. coast of Italy, Feb. 3d, 1811. A few days afterwards he commanded the launch of the Active in another gallant affair, under the town of Ortano, as will be seen by the following extracts of an official letter written by Captain Henry Whitby, of the Cerberus:–

“Feb. 13th, 1811.

“On the morning of the 12th instant we discovered several vessels lying under the town of Ortano; and as the wind was light, the boats of both ships were despatched, under the orders of Lieutenant (James) Dickinson, first of the Cerberus, to bring them out if practicable. On the near approach of the boats to the vessels, a fire of great guns and small arms was instantly opened from an armed trabaccolo, and soldiers posted on the beach and hills commanding the bay; our boats formed in close order, gave three hearty cheers, and in a few minutes cleared all before them, the men from the vessels and the troops on shore running in all directions.

“To prevent any annoyance whilst the prizes were bringing out, Lieutenant Dickinson landed with the marines embarked in the Active, and a division of small-arm men, taking a strong position on the hills, and planting the British flag at the very gates of the town, whilst the launches, under Lieutenants Haye and Campston, with the barge of the Active, under Mr. James Gibson, master’s-mate, were employed in covering them with the carronades. This judicious and advantageous movement was of the greatest service to those employed at the sea-side, as it kept the soldiers and inhabitants, who had collected in great force, in check, and allowed the work which had been so ably undertaken, to be most fully completed; as in addition to the convoy, consisting of ten sail, (under the trabaccolo armed with six guns) which was found in the harbour, laden with grain, oil, &c. two large magazines filled with all sorts of naval and military stores, destined for the garrison of Corfu, was most completely 