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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1817.
the place an importance which I had not before attached to it; and I therefore determined on attacking it after the completion of our business at the Island. Having sounded in the direction towards it, and found that the shallowness of water would only admit of its being approached by boats, I directed their assembling under Lieutenant Westphal, first of the Marlborough, last night at 12 o’clock, alongside the Fantome, when our detachments of marines, consisting of about 150 men, under Captains Wyborn and Carter, with a small party of artillery-men, under Lieutenant Robertson, embarked in them, and the whole being under the immediate direction of Captain Lawrence, of the Fantome, who with much zeal and readiness took upon himself, at my request, the conducting of this service, proceeded towards Havre, to take up, under cover of the night, the necessary positions for commencing the attack at dawn of day. The Dolphin and Highflyer tenders, commanded by Lieutenants Hutchinson and Lewis, followed for the support of the boats, but the shoalness of the water prevented their getting within 6 miles of the place. Captain Lawrence, however, having got up with the boats, and very ably and judiciously placed them during the dark, a warm fire was opened on the place at daylight from our launches and rocket-boats, which was smartly returned from the battery for a short time; but the launches constantly closing with it, and their fire rather increasing than decreasing, that from the battery soon began to slacken; and Captain Lawrence observing this, very judiciously directed the landing of the marines on the left, which movement, added to the hot fire they were under, induced the Americans to commence withdrawing from the battery, to take shelter in the town. Lieutenant G. A. Westphal, who had taken his station in the rocket-boat close to the battery, therefore now judging the moment to be favourable, pulled directly up under the work, and landing his boat’s crew, got immediate possession of it, turned their own guns on them, and thereby soon obliged them to retreat with their whole force to the furthest extremity of the town, whither (the marines having by this time landed) they were closely pursued, and no longer feeling themselves equal to a manly and open resistance, they commenced a teazing and irritating fire from behind the houses, walls, trees, &c. from which I am sorry to say, my gallant first lieutenant received a shot through his hand whilst leading the pursuing party; he, however, continued to head the advance, with which he soon succeeded in dislodging the whole of the enemy from their lurking places, and driving them from shelter to the neighbouring woods, and whilst performing which service, he had the satisfaction to overtake, and with his remaining hand to make prisoner, and bring in, a captain of their militia. We also took an ensign and some armed individuals; but the rest of the force which had been opposed to us, having penetrated into the woods, I did not judge it prudent to allow of their being further followed with our small numbers; therefore after setting fire to some of the houses, to cause the proprietors (who had deserted them, and formed part of the militia who had
