and Statira’s signal. No. 239, with the N.W. compass signal. As the stranger approached the squadron, I perceived her to be a vessel of considerable force; Captain Byron at the same time made the signal for her being superior to the boats in chase, but not to those of the squadron united. I immediately made the signal for all barges, cutters, &c. to proceed in the same direction, upon which the schooner made all sail in the direction from whence she came, and I had the satisfaction to see she was quite becalmed. At one p.m., the stranger opened a well-directed fire upon the headmost of our boats from his stern-chase guns, and I was happy to find those in advance rested on their oars until they all came up, when a vigorous and gallant attack was made by all of them, nine in number, under the orders of Lieutenant (Kelly) Nazer, second of H.M.S. under my command, who happened to be senior officer, through a very heavy fire from all the enemy’s guns, when he was boarded and carried, sword in hand, after a most obstinate resistance, which was maintained upon the deck of the enemy for a few minutes. She proves to be the Lottery, of 210 tons, mounting six 12-pounder carronades (but pierced for 16;, with a complement of 28 men, from Baltimore bound to Bourdeaux, with a cargo of coffee, sugar, and logwood: she is coppered and copper fastened[1].
“I also have the honor to enclose a list of the killed and wounded in the different boats of the squadron, which, I am happy to add, is trifling, when compared to the obstinate resistance made by the enemy, whose loss was very great, the captain and 18 men dangerously wounded.”
The British had one man mortally, one dangerously, two severely, and two slightly wounded. A few days afterwards, the boats of the Maidstone, Belvidera, Junon, and Statira, captured the schooner Cora, of 8 guns and 40 men, laden with brandy, wine, silks, flints, &c. &c.
In addition to the above mentioned services. Lieutenant Bruce assisted at the capture of the Bunker’s Hill schooner, of 7 guns and 72 men; and at the destruction, by the Belvidera’s boats alone, of the Mars, another privateer mounting 15 guns, with a complement of 70 men. His first commission as commander bears date May 27, 1814.
In August following, Captain Bruce, then commanding the Manly brig, accompanied Rear-Admiral Cockburn up the Patuxent river, as far as Nottingham, where he continued with the flotilla under Captain Nourse, until the return of the British army from Washington[2]. The Manly then hoisted the flag of Rear-Admiral Cockburn, received on board several sick and wounded officers, and supplied the whole of the
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part II, pp. 576 and 627.
- ↑ See p. 14.
