of merchant trabacolos, moored in a strong position under a battery of four 24-pounders, at the mouth of the Piavie, and in sight of the Italian squadron at Venice.
“I had reconnoitred them on the 24th inst., and found it impracticable, from the shallowness of the water, to get the ship in; but I conceived they might be cut out by the boats, provided I could carry the battery; and this opinion was confirmed by a fisherman I detained the same evening, who gave me a very correct account of their force and situation. To prevent any suspicion of my design, I kept out of sight of the land till the evening of the 26th, when I crowded all possible sail, and we anchored off the entrance of the Piavie, at one on the morning of the 27th. At three, a detachment of seamen and marines, commanded by Mr. Phillott, first lieutenant, assisted by Lieutenant (George Matthew) Jones, in all 70 men, were landed about a mile below the battery to the southward, and advanced immediately to storm it, leaving Mr. (William) Slaughter, third lieutenant, with the command of the boats, to push for the river the instant the fort was carried: at a quarter past three the alarm was given; the attack was made at the same moment, and the assault so vigorous, that in ten minutes the fort was completely in our possession, and the concerted signal made. The guns were instantly turned on the gun-boats, the fire on which, and musketry from the marines, whom Lieutenant (Thomas) Moore, of that corps, had placed in a most excellent situation, compelled them to instant surrender, and our boats took possession of the gun-boats and vessels, as per enclosed list ; two of the former are of the largest dimensions.
“The battery was a complete work, with a ditch, and chevaux de frise round it, and our men entered it first by scaling ladders: the commandant made his escape with some of his men; two were found dead, and one wounded; the rest, 16, were made prisoners. Having spiked the guns, and totally destroyed the battery and barrack, the whole detachment was re-embarked by 1 p.m.
“I have now. Sir, the additional pleasure of saying, that this service was performed without the loss of a man on our part. One marine alone was wounded by an explosion of powder after we had possession; but he is doing well.
“The gallantry and good conduct of the commanding lieutenant, Mr. Phillott, in the execution of this attack, speaks for itself; I have only to say, he had the entire conducting of It, and on this, as on many other occasions, he fully justified the confidence I placed in him. He speaks in the warmest terms of Lieutenants Jones and Moore, and the petty officers and men under his orders. The prompt manner in which Lieutenant Jones turned the guns of the battery on the enemy’s vessels, and the judicious disposition of the marines by Lieutenant Moore, is highly praiseworthy. In the variety of boat-service we have had, these officers have particularly distinguished themselves, and some months back were both