to end her career. Guided by an old chart taken out of a prize, and with look-out men at the mast-heads, he persevered till she ran on shore under the protection of a battery and several field-pieces on the island of Lassoe, from whence the enemy were soon driven by the Woodlark’s fire. The boats were then despatched under the direction of the first lieutenant, Mr. Thomas Crawford, who was instructed, if he found the cutter scuttled, which proved to be the case, to turn her own guns and blow her stem and stern-post out. This service was effectually executed, and all her sails, stores, rigging, &c. were brought away. An arduous task, however, remained to be performed. The Woodlark, in running in to cover her boats, struck upon a shoal; and to lighten, warp, and force her back again, was the work of 5 or 6 hours; but fortunately, the whole service was accomplished without any loss, or the slightest damage. The privateer proved to be the Swan, mounting six 24-pounders, with a complement of 35 men.
In June, 1810, having been despatched to reconnoitre the island of Bornholm, Captain Watts discovered a ship in the port of Ronne, which he learnt from a neutral vessel just out, had been condemned as prize to a Danish privateer. He instantly resolved to attempt her recapture, and placed the boats under the command of Lieutenant Crawford for that purpose. The attack was unavoidably delayed till the following morning at daybreak, notwithstanding which it fully succeeded. The ship was boarded, cut adrift, and towed out amid a heavy and incessant fire from the batteries and two privateers, the latter of which were beaten back with the loss of 15 men killed and wounded. She proved to be the Success, a new ship, laden with wheat and linen.
An instance of the celerity of British sailors was evinced on this occasion. At 8 o’clock, the prize had only her lower masts standing; before 12, she was fully rigged, with all sail set, and in tow of the Woodlark.
Many other instances of successful enterprise on the part of Captain Watts might be quoted; but the above will suffice to show the nature of the services he performed in the Woodlark, and afford the presumption, that if an arena for more
