tives, and the whole convoy taken possession of; 21, including the gun-vessels, were brought out, and all the others burnt. In the performance of this dashing service, the British had not a man killed, and only four wounded. Captain Gordon, in his official account of the enterprise, says:
“Lieutenant Henderson, whose gallant conduct on this and many other occasions since the ship has been employed in the Adriatic, makes it a duty incumbent upon me to recommend him in the strongest manner to the commander-in-chief, speaks in the highest terms of the assistance he received from Lieutenant George Haye, who, though an invalid, very handsomely volunteered. Lieutenant Mears, R.M. and Mr. Charles Friend, master’s-mate, who landed with him. Lieutenant Gibson, who gallantly led the boats to the attack, speaks in praise of every officer, whose names I beg leave to state to you, as I trust you will recommend them to the notice of the commander-in-chief:– Messrs. Henry Padon Lew, Redmond Moriarty, Norwich Duff, William Simpkins, Joseph Cammilleri, Nathaniel Barwell, Charles Bentham, George Moore, William Wood, and William Todd Robinson, all midshipmen.
“I am informed by the prisoners, and several persons I have just seen, that the convoy arrived at Ragosniza the evening before, chiefly laden with grain for the garrison at Ragusa, and were defended on shore by 300 armed men, which, considering the force opposed to a ship’s boats, is a proof that every officer and man did his duty, like a British seaman.”
On leaving the Active, Captain Henderson proceeded to Malta, from whence he sailed for England, in the Pomone frigate. Captain Robert Barrie: he was consequently wrecked in that ship, on a sunken rock, near the Needles Point, Oct. 14, 1811.[1]
This officer’s next appointment was in April 1812, to the command of the Rosario brig, on the Downs station. In May 1813, he conveyed the heroic Duke of Brunswick Oels from Harwich to the Elbe, and was recommended by his Serene Highness to the favorable notice of the Admiralty. On the 7th of the ensuing month, Captain Henderson was removed to the Dasher sloop; and in October following he accompanied the outward bound trade to the Leeward Islands, Surinam, Berbice, and Demerara.
The Dasher formed part of the squadron under Sir Philip
