tion of eighteen deeply laden settees, under the town and batteries of Languilla, in the Gulf of Genoa[1]: the Leviathan’s loss on this occasion consisted of two men slain and eight wounded. The destruction of another French convoy is thus described by Captain Campbell, in a letter to his senior officer Captain Josias Rowley, dated June 27, 1812:
“Sir,– Eighteen sail of square and latino-rigged vessels having assembled at Languilla and Alassio, and the Curaçoa having joined, which, with the Impérieuse and l’Eclair, made our force, I conceived, sufficient to attack both places, this morning, about an hour before day-break, the marines were landed between the towns, under the command of Captain Owen, R.M., of this ship, covered by l’Eclair. They had hardly formed on the beach, before they were attacked by treble their number. Prisoners report they had upwards of 500 men in the two towns, a company having come to each in the evening, independent of one in each as its garrison; but nothing could withstand our brave fellows; they dashed at them with the bayonet, and drove them from their batteries into the towns, killing a great many, and taking fourteen prisoners. After spiking the guns (nine in number) and a mortar, and destroying the carriages, they were embarked; but, though the ships were anchored within less than musket-shot of the towns, and l’Eclair on her sweeps, going where she could be of most effect, the launches, and other boats with carronades, keeping up a heavy fire, we could not effectually drive them from the houses, so as to enable our boats to bring the vessels off, which were made fast in all manner of ways, with sails unbent, rudders unshipt. &c. without risk of great loss – we therefore destroyed them with our guns.
“I want words sufficiently to express my admiration of the conduct and gallantry of Captain Owen, and the officers, &c. of royal marines, as also of the officers and seamen employed in the boats. I feel much indebted to Lieutenant Dobbs, first of this ship, for his judicious arrangement in disembarking, embarking, and covering the marines, as they advanced to the different batteries. It is most painful to me to add, we have suffered severely[2] . I have the honor to be, &c.
In 1813, Lieutenant Dobbs went out with Sir James L. Yeo to the Canadian Lakes, and on his arrival there was appointed an acting commander; in which capacity we find him
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 633.
- ↑ Leviathan, 2 men killed, and 17 wounded. The total loss in the squadron was 9 slain and 31, including Lieutenant William Walpole, of the Imperieuse, wounded.
