the gauntlet to the westward, keeping close to the beach, under the protection of the batteries.
“Having found a passage for the Antelope within the Stroom sand, she was enabled to bring her broadside to bear on the headmost schooners, before they got the length of Ostend. The leader struck immediately, and her crew deserted her: she was, however, recovered by the followers. The artillery from the town and camp, and the rowing gunboats from the pier, kept up a constant and well directed fire for their support[1]: our shot, however, which went over the schooners, going ashore among the horse-artillery, interrupted it in a degree; but still it was from the shore we received the greatest annoyance: for the schooners and schuyts crowding along could not bring their prow-guns to bear, without altering their course towards us, which they could not venture; and their side-guns, though numerous and well-served, were very light. In this manner the Penelope and Antelope engaged every part of their long line from 4 till 8 o’clock, while the Aimable, Cruiser, and Rattler, continued to press their rear. Since 2 P.M., the stem-most praam struck her colours and ran on shore; but the artillery-men from the army got on board, and she renewed her fire on the Aimable with the precision of a land battery, from which that ship suffered much: Captain Bolton speaks much in praise of Lieutenant (William) Mather, who is wounded[2].
- ↑ The rowing gun-boats alluded to above were those which had anchored to the westward of Ostend light-house. See note * at p. 13.
- ↑ The praams were la Ville-d’Anvers and la Ville-d’Aix, each mounting 12 or 14 long 24-pounders, besides howitzers: the former bore the flag of Rear-Admiral Verhuell, whom Captain Hancock engaged with great effect, being within a few yards of his lee-quarter until 2-40, when the Dutchman struck his colours and ran upon the beach. The Cruiser being then in only two and a half fathoms water, and she drawing 14 feet, Captain Hancock was reluctantly obliged to sheer off and leave his beaten antagonist. Ah soon as the smoke cleared away, the Cruiser was observed to be surrounded by 8 or 10 schooners, two of which attempted to board her, but were driven back with great loss. The bowsprit of one schooner lay on the Cruiser’s main channel; and although it was three times cleared by the British marines and small-arm men, still fresh hands rushed to the as-
