soldiers; in short the conduct of the whole was such as to make me feel confident, that had the force opposed been considerably greater, it would have met the same fate. Enclosed I transmit a list of the wounded on this occasion[1]. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Captain George Sayer, H.M.S. Leda.”
On the same day, Captain Maunsell received a letter from Commodore Broughton, then the senior officer off Java, of which the following is a transcript:–
“Sir,– T have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of your letter of this date, addressed to Captain Sayer, giving an account of the capture of five, and destruction of one, of the enemy’s gun-boats, off the mouth of Indramayo river, in the boats of H.M. sloop Procris, under your command.
“I cannot too highly applaud the meritorious conduct of yourself, the officers, petty officers, seamen, and soldiers, employed in this gallant attack; and I beg you will express to them the sense I entertain of their zeal and meritorious conduct, so well displayed on this occasion. I shall have great pleasure in laying the same before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, by the earliest opportunity; and I request you will accept my best thanks for the skill and ability you have so fully evinced, in leading your boats to the attack in person. I am, &c.
In addition to this letter of thanks, Captain Maunsell’s gallantry was immediately rewarded by an appointment to command the Illustrious 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Broughton; and during the subsequent operations against Batavia, &c. we find him bearing a very distinguished part on shore, under the orders of Captain Sayer; particularly at the assault of Meester Cornelis, Aug. 26, 1811[2]. The high estimation in which his conduct was held by the military and naval commanders-in-chief, will be seen by reference to the official documents inserted at p. 356 of Vol. II. Part I.
On the 10th of the following month, Commodore Broughton joined Rear-Admiral Stopford, off Samarang; and in the course of the ensuing night, several of the enemy’s gun vessels, lying in-shore, were attacked and destroyed by the boats of the squadron, under the directions of Captain Maunsell;
- ↑ 1 dangerously, 2 severely, and 8, including Mr. William Randall, slightly.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. pp. 354 and 355.
