On the 19th April following, the Colpoys then cruising between the Glenans and l’Orient, in company with the Attack gun-brig, Lieutenant Ussher perceived two chasse-marées at the entrance of the river Douillan, which vessels soon quitted their anchorage and ran up the river. Finding it necessary to silence a battery of 2 long 12-pounders before the boats could get to them, he landed with 12 men from each brig, and, after a short skirmish, got possession of, and nailed up the guns: he then brought the vessels down the river, and destroyed the signal post at Douillan, accomplishing the whole of this daring service without the slightest loss, or any material damage.
We next find Lieutenant Ussher volunteering to cut out a French frigate, lying at St. Sebastian, for which purpose the Haughty gun-brig and Frisk cutter were placed under his orders: contrary winds, however, prevented him from arriving off that place in time to make the attempt, the enemy’s ship having sailed two days before he got there.
From thence Lieutenant Ussher’s little squadron, reinforced by the Felix schooner, proceeded along the north coast of Spain, and destroyed several batteries at St. Antonio, Avillas, Bermeo, and Hea. His proceedings at the latter place are thus described by him in an official letter to Earl St. Vincent, dated Aug. 6, 1806:
