convoys from Hamburgh, Gluckstadt, and Altona, to Tonningen and Kiel. In July, 1809, he assisted in expelling the French from the towns of Cuxhaven and Ritzbuttle, as will be seen by reference to p. 38 of Suppl. Part II.
This was the prelude to a more important and equally successful enterprise by the seamen and marines of the squadron under Lord George Stuart, which led to the expulsion of the French from Gessendorf, and the destruction of an important battery commanding the mouth of the Weser. The principal part of his lordship’s official letter on that occasion is inserted at p. 870 of Vol. II. Part II. After giving all due credit to the senior commanders present[1], for their “zeal, ability, punctuality, &c.” he says:–
“But I beg leave particularly to mention Captain Watts, of the Ephira, who in the most gallant and active manner advanced intrepidly in front of the attacking party, amid the enemy’s galling fire, and rendered himself equally conspicuous afterwards, by his unremitting exertion in the complete demolition of the battery; in the execution of which service, I am concerned to say, he received a wound in the leg, but which from its nature will in no shape incapacitate him for future service.”
The following interesting narrative of the circumstances which led to the attack of the French troops in Hanover is contained in a letter from Captain Watts to one of his private correspondents.
“Captain Goate, assisted by myself, as already stated, having expelled the French force from Cuxhaven and Ritzbuttle, was superseded shortly after in the command of the squadron by Lord George Stuart, and we have, under his lordship’s auspices, just performed an exploit, with that promptitude and decision which exalt English sailors in the estimation of the world, and which will, if I mistake not, form one of the adornments of our naval annals. The circumstances which preceded and finally led to this enterprise, as respects both Lord George Stuart and myself, are in themselves so interesting and peculiar, and it may be added ludicrous, that I cannot forego the gratification of fully detailing them.
“Gallantry in ‘love and war,’ in ‘ladies bower and tented field’, are with the warrior one and indivisible. So sang the immortal troubadours, those chroniclers of the ‘deeds of days of other years.’ We had obtained the ascendancy over
- ↑ William Goate and Robert Pettet.
