Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p1.djvu/281

 “H.M.S. Havannah, at sea, June 29th, 1813.

“Sir,– I have the honor to report the capture of an armed convoy of the enemy’s, consisting of ten sail (laden with oil) under the town of Vasto, on the morning of the 27th instant, by the boats of this ship, commanded by my first lieutenant, William Hamley.

“The enemy being apprised of our approach the preceding day, had assembled in force, and taken every possible precaution to prevent our getting their vessels off; but having landed to the right, and forced them from their guns, eight in number, we remained masters of the spot the whole day, until the vessels were rigged and got afloat. This little service has been performed with the spirit ever manifest in Lieutenant Hamley, my officers, and ship’s company generally; and with only three men slightly wounded, while the enemy acknowledged six killed and seven wounded. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)“.”

“To Rear-Admiral Fremantle.”

Oil this occasion, Lieutenant Hamley was most gallantly supported by the present Captain George Gosling.

On the morning of the 18th July, 1813, the Havannah, with the Partridge sloop in company, captured and destroyed two Neapolitan gun-boats, each mounting along l8-pounder; one pinnace, armed with a 6-pounder; and four trabacolos laden with salt, each mounting three guns; lying under a martello tower, on the N.W. coast of Manfredonia. For these and other services, in the Adriatic, Lieutenant Hamley was presented with an Austrian gold medal.

Since the publication of our memoir of Captain Cadogan’s services, we have been favoured with the following authentic account of the siege of Zara; by the reduction of which important fortress the allies obtained complete possession of Dalmatia.

“At the time Rear-Admiral Fremantle, with all his squadron, was attacking Trieste, the Havannah and Weazle (sloop) were sent to blockade Zara, for the purpose of preventing supplies from being thrown into that fortress. On their arrival off Zara, however, they found that the place contained an abundance of provisions and stores of every description; and that, consequently, it would have been a work of some time to starve the enemy out. Captain Cadogan, therefore, determined upon attacking it.

“Zara is a regular and very strong fortification. It had no less than 110 pieces of brass cannon, 7 large mortars, and 11 howitzers mounted;