In October 1804, we find Captain Hancock employed as senior officer off Ostend, where he had a general action with a division of French flotilla, as appears by his official report to Lord Keith, dated on the 24th of that month.
“I beg to acquaint your Lordship, that part of the enemy’s flotilla, consisting of two praams, one hearing the flag of a Chief-of-Division, and both under French colours, with 18 schuyts, put to sea yesterday afternoon from Ostend, to run to the westward, just at the moment H.M. sloop under my command, with the gun-brigs and cutters named in the margin, were standing in to reconnoitre that port[1].
“As soon as I could give the necessary directions to the gun-brigs, &c. I made sail in pursuit of the headmost praam, which I brought to close action at 5-15 P.M., in which I was very handsomely supported by the gun-brigs and cutters, and continued it with great apparent effect till 6-35, the enemy’s fire being entirely silenced, and for the last half hour he only kept up a faint fire of musketry. The tide was, however, falling so rapidly, and the enemy kept in such shoal water, that it was not possible to close with him, to take that advantage which, by our fire, we had so manifestly over him. It falling also dark, and being in less than three fathoms water, I considered it proper to haul off and anchor, having no person on board acquainted with the shoals to the westward of Ostend[2].
“It is with extreme concern I acquaint your Lordship, that in Lieutenant Ormsby’s gallant zeal to close with the enemy, agreeably to my orders, the Conflict took the ground, and the tide left her so rapidly, that every endeavour he used to get her afloat was unsuccessful, and he was therefore under the necessity of quitting her with his people. The darkness that came on before the close of the action, prevented me from being aware of this unfortunate accident till Lieutenant Ormsby came on board the Cruiser, after we had anchored.”
In this action, and whilst making an attempt to recover the Conflict, Captain Hancock’s little squadron sustained a loss of 1 man killed, and 1 officer[3] and 10 men wounded: none of the gun-brigs or cutters suffered in their masts, &c, nor did the Cruiser receive any material injury, except in her
- ↑ Blazer, Conflict, Tigress, Escort, Admiral Mitchell, and Griffin; commanded by Lieutenants John Hinton, Charles C. Ormsby, Edward Greensword, Joseph G. Garland, Richard Williams, and James Dillon.
- ↑ We have been given to understand that the French Commodore actually hailed the Cruiser, in token of submission; and that he was dishonorable enough to fire two shot at her as she was hauling off with the intention of sending in a gun-brig to bring him out.
- ↑ Mr. Abraham Garland, acting Lieutenant of the Cruiser, right leg amputated very high up.
