him engaged with the enemy. In addition to the dangers of this most arduous and harassing service, he was exposed to very great privations in his little vessel, the Watchful, whose cabin for himself and a midshipman was only 7 feet long and 3 high, out of which he never slept from Sept. 1810 until June 1811!
An attack made upon the French gun-boats at Port Santa Maria, Nov. 23, 1810, is thus described by Sir Richard G. Keats, in a letter to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton:–
“Observing the enemy to have collected several gun-boats in the river of Santa Maria, in a situation subject to bombardment; at a proper time of the tide yesterday, I placed the mortar and howitzer boats, under the able direction of Captain Hall, which (whilst the Devastation, Thunder, and;Etna bombs, with one division of Spanish, and two divisions of English gunboats, under the zealous command of Captain Thomas Fellowes and Lieutenant William Fairbrother Carroll, successfully drew the attention and fire of fort Catalina) threw, seemingly with considerable effect, some hundred shells amongst the gun-boats and about the place of construction, until the wind coming in from the westward made it necessary to move them out. We have not yet ascertained what has been the damage or loss ou the part of the enemy; but we have unfortunately to lament the death of two highly esteemed and respectable young officers. Lieutenants Thomas Worth and John Buckland, of the royal marine artillery, whose loss is the theme of universal regret. Mr. Samuel Hawkins, midshipman of the Norge, also fell gallantly, which, with 4 Spanish and 4 English seamen wounded, constitutes our whole loss on a service, the execution of which merits my warmest praise.”
On the above occasion. Captain Fellowes was engaged with fort Catalina from 2-30 P.M. until 10 o’clock at night. Towards the close of the following month, a combined attack was likewise made upon the enemy’s flotilla below Puerto Real; the castle of Puntales at the same time engaging the forts on the opposite tongue of land, and the bombs keeping Catalina in play. The action commenced at 1 P.M. and did not cease until all the French vessels there, seventeen in number, were completely disabled.
On the day after the glorious battle of Barrosa, Captain Fellowes greatly distinguished himself by his gallantry in storming a 4-gun battery, surrounded by a ditch and spiked stockade, at the entrance of Port Sauta Maria, under a
