often employed in cutting out vessels from under the enemy’s batteries.
On the 8th Feb. 1805, the Curieux, then commanded by Captain G. E. B. Bettesworth, captured, after a very severe action, la Madame Ernouf brig, of 16 long sixes and 120 men, of whom thirty were killed and forty wounded. “His Majesty’s brig” (says that officer) “had five killed and three wounded, besides myself: of the former, I have to regret the loss of Mr. Maddox, the purser, who, on account of Mr. Boss, first lieutenant, having been left behind on leave, from the hurry of our sailing, volunteered his services, and was killed, gallantly fighting at the head of the small-arm men. * * * * * * Lieutenant Boss having been left behind, deprived me of the services of an able and gallant officer.[1]”
On this occasion. Captain Bettesworth (who had received three wounds in capturing the Curieux) was again severely wounded by a musket-ball in the head; and previous to his recovery. Lieutenant Boss, acting as commander during his absence from duty, cut several schooners out of Cumana Gut, and a brig from St. Eustatia, under a destructive fire.
On the 7th July, 1805, the Curieux arrived at Plymouth, with despatches from Lord Nelson, then in pursuit of the combined fleets of France and Spain. After refitting, she was sent to the Lisbon station, where her boats, under the command of Lieutenant Boss, captured and destroyed the Spanish privateers Brilliano and Baltidore, the former of five guns and fifty-five men, Nov. 25th, 1805; the latter of six guns and forty-seven men, Feb. 5th, 1806.
This officer’s next appointment was to one of the line-of-battle ships stationed at Cadiz, during the siege of that important place by the French army under Marshal Victor:– whilst there he appears to have been alternately employed in the gun and mortar boats, and almost daily engaged with the enemy[2]. He obtained his present rank on the 26th
