while employed in sounding a deep bay near Studtland, on the coast of Norway. Their subsequent capture and destruction was thus reported by Captain Byron, in an official letter to the Admiralty:
“On the following morning, the launch, barge, and two cutters of the Belvidera, well manned and armed, under the command of Lieutenants Nisbett and Bruce; and the launch, pinnace, and yawl of the Nemesis (28), under Lieutenants Hodgskins and Smith; rapidly advanced to attack the enemy, who soon began to cannonade them. Our boats firing their bow guns with great effect, the DanisL; colours were soon struck, and the schooners. Bolder and Thor, each carrying two long 24-pounders, six howitzers, and 45 men, speedily in our possession; the sloop, mounting one 24-pounder with 25 men, was chased up a creek, abandoned by her crew, and blown up by our people, whose excellent fire, and resolution to close, threw the enemy in confusion, and, notwithstanding the firmness of the Danish commanders. Lieutenants Dahlreup and Rasmusen, caused their fire to be ineffective; they had four men killed. I cannot sufficiently praise the conduct of all the officers, masters’-mates, midshipmen, and every seaman and marine of the Belvidera. Captain Ferris has expressed to me his perfect approbation of all belonging to the Nemesis[1].”
The vessels thus gallantly captured were conducted to Sheerness by Lieutenant Bruce, who was also very highly praised by Captain Byron, for his able direction of the Belvidera’s main-deck stern-chasers, in her memorable retreat from an American squadron, under Commodore Rodgers, June 23, 1812[2]. On this occasion, one man was killed at Mr. Bruce’s quarters ; and another mortally, two severely, and himself and two men slightly wounded, by the splinters of a shot which struck an 18-pounder while he was in the act of pointing it.
We next find this gallant officer assisting at the capture of an American armed schooner, by the boats of a squadron under the orders of Captain George Burdett, whose official report was as follows:
“H.M.S. Maidstone, Lyn-Haven Bay, 9th Feb. 1813.
- ↑ Lieutenant Samuel Nisbett, who conducted this enterprise, was afterwards appointed to the command of the Chubb schooner, in which vessel he perished, with all his crew, on the Halifax station, Aug. 14, 1812.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part II. pp. 622–626.
