enemy at Via Reggio and in the suburbs of Leghorn, and a great number slain and wounded[1].
Early in the following year, Captain Rowley sailed from Palermo, with his squadron and a large fleet of transports, having on board the army under Lord William Bentinck, destined for the reduction of Genoa. The advanced guard having been landed considerably to the eastward, moved forward, supported by the shipping, dismantling the batteries as the enemy retired on their approach. On the 30th March, the forces of Santa Maria, with the forts and defences in the gulph of Spezzia, capitulated, after considerable resistance, to a party of seamen under the orders of Captain Dundas, of the Edinburgh.
On the 13th April, the main body of the army was landed at Recce, in the gulph of Genoa, and immediately pushed on towards that city, accompanied by the flotilla. On the 17th, every preparation being made for the attack, at day-light the troops moved forwards to drive the enemy from their positions without the town. The gun and mortar-vessels, with the ships’ boats, armed with carronades, were advanced along the sea-line to attack the batteries; the greater part of the marines of the squadron were also embarked in the transports’ boats, ready to land as occasion might require. As soon as the troops advanced, the whole of the flotilla opened their fire with such effect, that on the landing of the seamen and marines, and preparing to storm, the enemy deserted their batteries, and the whole of the sea-line without the walls, which were instantly taken possession of, and soon turned on the place, by this means drawing off a considerable portion of the enemy’s fire.
At this moment, and greatly to the regret of the squadron, Sir Edward Pellew, with several line-of-battle ships, appeared in sight, which increased the alarm of the inhabitants, and induced the French Commandant to enter into a capitulation. On the following morning, the British troops were put in possession of the works, whilst the ships entered the Mole, where they found four fine brigs of war, besides a number of merchantmen. The capture of Savona by a detachment of the
- ↑ See Hon. Captain Dundas, in our next volume.
