the present Sir Charles Brisbane at the capture of Curaçoa, Jan. 1, 1807; and, together with the Arethusa, commanded by that distinguished officer, bore the principal part in the transactions of that memorable day. Those ships, as we have already stated at p. 740, entered the harbour in close order of battle, some time before the rest of the squadron; and whilst the latter engaged Fort Republique, Captain Wood, who had taken up a most excellent position, soon silenced the fire of all that part of the enemy’s force opposed to him; namely, Fort Amsterdam, the opposite batteries, a frigate and other armed vessels. He was afterwards ordered to warp his ship against Fort Republique; but before the others which lay in in his way, could be got afloat, the capitulation for the surrender of the island was agreed to.
Upon this honorable and glorious service, Captain Wood was second in command; and to the credit of all concerned, it is but fair to remark, that an enterprise more wisely planned, or more gallantly executed, is not to be found in our naval annals. The Commodore, in his official despatches, bore ample testimony to the merits of all employed in the undertaking; and, as a testimony of the King’s high approbation of their conduct, the respective commanders were each presented with a gold medal on the occasion[1].
Subsequent to the conquest of Curaçoa, Captain Wood was entrusted by Sir Alexander Cochrane, who had succeeded to the chief command on that station, with the blockade of the Danish islands, which terminated in their surrender, at the latter end of 1807[2]. He afterwards removed to the Captain, of 74 guns, and in her was present at the reduction of Martinique[3]. His next appointment was to the Neptune, a second-rate, in which he continued to be actively employed till the summer of 1810, when he joined the Pompée, of 74 guns; and after serving for some time on the Lisbon and Channel stations, proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he remained till the conclusion of the war. He received the honor of knighthood on his return from the West Indies, as a
- ↑ The Committee of the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s, voted a sword or vase (at his option) of the value of 200l. to Captain Brisbane, and swords or vases value 100l. each, to the Captains Wood, Lydiard, and Bolton.
- ↑ See p. 263.
- ↑ See p. 264.
