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 scene of action was within the island of Noirmoutier, and
in the bay of Bourneuf, and the object was to attack some armed
vessels and a convoy bound for Brest, covered by 6 heavy batteries
on the South East part of the former, besides flanking guns on
every point. By 12 on the night of the 1st of July, they carried
5 armed ships, and 15 merchantmen, but on finding it impossible
to bring them out over the sand banks, they were all burnt. This
dashing business was achieved by 113 Seamen, and 61 Marines,
headed by Lieutenants Burke, Dean, and Garrett, of the Navy, 11
petty Officers, and Lieutenants Thompson, Ballingham, Gerrard, and
Hutton, of my corps. All the boats upon returning, grounded, and
in this situation they were exposed to an unceasing fire from the
forts, and from the platoons of 400 troops in their rear.
It was under this trying circumstance, that, with true British
intrepidity, they resolutely dragged their boats upwards of two
miles over the sands, until they floated, when they levelled all
their efforts against one vessel, sufficiently large to accomplish
their retreat. Four Officers and eighty-eight men, however, became
prisoners, while more than 100 secured their safety by unrelaxing
valour.
The capture of Le Cerbere gun-brig, made under the batteries
of Port Louis, the fire of some small craft, within a mile of
three French men of war, and against four times their numbers,
has immortalized the fame of Lieut. Coghlan, and Mr. Paddon, of
the Royal Navy, and all their associates. It can scarcely find a
parallel upon the registers of history.
Lieut. Burke, of the Renown, the Seamen and Marines under his
auspices, were again conspicuous in the assault of La Guipe French
privateer, of 22 guns and 161 men, which they took, after a
desperate resistance, near the Narrows of Rendonella, in the bay
of Vigo. That valuable Officer, Lieut. Burke, was badly wounded,
besides twelve Seamen and five Marines, and four of both classes
were killed.
It was in testimony of those repeated deeds that the Officers
and ship's company of the Fisguard, presented Lieut. Gerrard,
of Marines, with a sword, accompanied by the flattering tribute
I have already described. His Country, as I have said, has
recently attested her gratitude, by conferring upon him one of the
Adjutancies of his Corps, for which he is eminently qualified.
The determined spirit of Lieut. M'Cullen, of Marines, and his
little party of twenty-four men, in following up Captain Price's
orders, against the Victoire privateer, of Boulogne, near to
Issigny, is worthy of much commendation. He towed her off from the
shore under the discharge of some hundred musquetry, and brought
her a prize to the island of St. Marcou. Lieut. Steevens covered
him most gallantly in his gun-brig, the Sparkler.
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