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
Upon this occasion a woman fought in the Marine Ranks of the name
of Hannah Snell, a native of Worcester, who, after many chequered
destinies, inlisted at Portsmouth in Colonel Frazer's regiment,
from whence she was embarked with a detachment on board the Swallow
sloop, one of Admiral Boscawen's squadron. In this affair she
behaved with distinguished courage, having fired 37 rounds, and
received a ball in the groin, which, two days afterwards, she
herself extracted, and likewise dressed the wound. Eleven others in
both legs, but of inferior consequence also, rendered her removal
to the Hospital, at Cuddalore, absolutely necessary, where she
continued three months.
When recovered she was ordered on board the Eltham frigate, in
which she continued till that ship returned home and was paid
off. After receiving her discharge from the Marine Service, in
company with many of her companions, she set out for London. The
time arrived when they were to bid each other a long adieu; this
moment she chose to discover her sex, in order to attest the truth
of her adventures. One of her friends tendered his hand, which
was declined. She afterwards wore the Marine Dress, and having
presented a petition to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland,
he, with a princely spirit, attended to her prayer, and placed
her on the King's list for a pension of thirty pounds a year for
life. This she enjoyed until a few years ago, when, after a long
residence at Walsall, in Staffordshire, her days were closed.
It was not until the 25th of September that the batteries were
completed, when they began to play. Owing to a general ignorance
of the plan of Pondicherry, our first attack was directed against
its strongest quarter, and after different approaches, it was
discovered that a deep and intervening morass prevented their
being carried within a distance near enough to produce effect.
Notwithstanding a combined cannonade on the part of the squadron,
against the town, it was found that the enemy's fire rather gained
an ascendency. Sickness becoming prevalent, from the fatigues
endured by the troops, often up to the middle in water; the rainy
season being daily expected, which would inundate the country
and cut off their retreat to Fort St. David's, and the army
rapidly diminishing in its numbers, afforded strong grounds for
immediately abandoning the siege. A Council of War, held on the
30th of September, determined upon this measure, after which period
the only objects to be accomplished were reimbarking the men and
stores, and setting fire to the batteries, all which were effected
upon the 5th of October, and the whole were in motion upon the
morning of the 6th.
They had happily chosen the critical moment for retreat, as the
rains which fell upon the same evening, had nearly rendered the
rivers impassible; however they reached Fort St. David's upon
the evening of the 7th, after having demolished the Fort of
Arian-Coupan on their way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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