either completely destroyed, or unfit to swim, Mr. Milne, then second Lieutenant, swam to la Pique, after her surrender, with 10 men, and took possession; the present Rear-Admiral Watkins was first Lieutenant; and so highly was the conduct of both appreciated, that they were immediately advanced to the rank of Commander[1].
As he was employed in a part of the world where much active service was still going on, Captain Milne soon after had the good fortune to obtain the command of the Alarm frigate, in which he destroyed the French corvette Liberte, of 20 guns, off Porto Rico, May 30, 1795. His post commission bears date Oct. 2d, in the same year.
Our officer’s next appointment was to la Pique; and in the spring of 1796, we find him assisting at the reduction of Demerara, Issiquibo, and Berbice, by the forces under the orders of Commodore Parr and Major-General White. About the same period he captured the Lacedemonian French brig, of 16 guns.
On the 29th June, 1798, Captain Milne being on a cruize off the coast of France, in company with the Jason and Mermaid, gave chace to a French frigate, which, after a running fight of about five hours was captured, and proved to be la Seine, of 42 guns and 610 men (including soldiers), 170 of whom were killed, and 100 wounded. The brunt of the action was borne by la Pique; the Mermaid could not get up in time to share in the contest. The loss sustained by the former and the Jason, amounted to 8 men killed, and 18, including Captain Stirling of the latter ship, wounded[2]. Previous to the surrender of la Seine, the whole of the combatants took the ground near Pointe de la Trenche, and la Pique unfortunately bilged, so that it became necessary to destroy her. Captain Milne therefore removed with his officers and crew into the prize, to the command of which he was afterwards appointed by the Admiralty[3].
We next find him convoying the outward bound trade to
- ↑ For particulars of the action, see Superannuated Rear-Admiral Frederick Watkins, in our next volume.
- ↑ See p. 403.
- ↑ La Seine’s armament was increased to 48 guns, and her complement of men fixed at 281.
