An Historical Review of the Royal Marine Corps, from its Original Institution down to the Present Era, 1803Gillespie, Alexander, Major
History
An Historical Review of the Royal Marine Corps, from its Original Institution down to the Present Era, 1803
Gillespie, Alexander, Major
Great Britain. Royal Marines -- History
The ravelins upon which the Marines worked, within ten yards of
the enemy's approaches, were in a progress of completion between
the 2d and 8th of May, and were each night assailed by the French,
who were as often repulsed, in nine different attempts to storm,
with immense slaughter. The gallantry of my Corps, in all, exceeds
praise. Many sorties were made to incommode their covering works,
and most unprecedented were the bodily fatigues and mental anxiety
of all.
The republicans had some time past opened with heavy guns,
which they had received from Jaffa, and from which a serious
impression was made upon the works of the garrison. Resorting to
fresh expedients, Buonaparte tried to effect a new breach in the
eastern curtain, by a sap and mine; but the unremitting activity
of the brave defenders of Acre, by making approaches under ground,
destroyed the frame-work and his hopes. Again directing his attacks
upon the Tower, an effort to establish a lodgment in the glacis was
once more unavailing.
Fifty-one days of vindictive and unceasing contest, save those
short intervals necessary to recruit exhausted nature, had elapsed,
when the garrison beheld their long-expected reinforcements under
Hassan Bey.
Foiled in every essay to carry the place, Buonaparte saw with
grief and disappointment this flotilla, which was to blast all
his ambitious schemes, and to relieve his now almost worn-out
opponents. With a desperate ardour, impelled by wounded pride,
he lost not a moment to prepare and advance to the assault, in
the sanguine idea that by one bold effort he might consummate his
ardent wishes before Hassan's troops could land. At ten, on the
night of the 7th of May, the carnage began. Mr. Scroder, Master's
Mate of the Theseus, from an 18 pounder in the Light House Castle;
a 24, under Mr. Jones, Midshipman of the Theseus, mounted in the
north ravelin, and two 68 pound carronades, under the direction
of Mr. Bray, carpenter of the latter ship, which threw shells
from two germes in the Mole, added to the Turkish musquetry,
committed dreadful havoc amongst the French columns in moving on
to the attack. Much might be said were I to diverge upon the many
chequered events of the night and the following day. The morning's
dawn displayed the enemy's standard flying on the outer angle of
the Tower, which their intrepidity had carried, having ascended on
its ruins. Here they made a lodgment by two traverses across the
ditch, constructed and filled with sand bags, and the bodies of
their dead.
Feeble is my panegyric of the unsurpassed heroism, the decisive
resources, the conciliating address, and bold expedients of Sir
Sidney Smith, during 25 hours of almost constant action. They have
been but rarely equalled, and will never be outdone. He was well
seconded by his able coadjutor Sir John Douglas, who combines a
natural perseverance of character with the most manly judgment.
Their virtues transcended to every subordinate rank, and animated
all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account