| Naval history of Great Britain
by
William James |
| 1807 |
Admiral Seniavin in the Archipelago |
315 |
Dardanells. After a running fight of two hours, the Turkish admiral succeeded in sheltering himself under the guns of the castles that guard the straits, but not without, it appears, losing three of his ships by stranding upon Cape Janizary.
Owing to this disaster, it was not until the 22d of June that the Turks were again able to make their appearance outside the Dardanells. On that day 10 sail of the line, including one three-decker, with six frigates and five smaller vessels, anchored off the island of Imbro. They shortly afterwards steered for Tenedos, and, disembarking a strong body of Turks, retook the island. On the 1st of July the Russian fleet descried the Turkish fleet off the island of Lemnos. An engagement ensued, which lasted all day, and terminated in the alleged loss to the Turks of three ships of the line and three frigates. The latter and two of the former were driven on shore. The other was captured, and proved to be the ship of the captain bey, mounting 80 brass guns, and manned with 774 men ; of whom, exclusive of the loss on board the other ships, 230 were killed and 160 wounded: a sufficient proof of the obstinate manner in which the Turks had defended themselves. That they were by no means so skilful as they were brave, is evident from the small loss sustained by the Russians ; which amounted, on board of all their ships, to only 135 killed and 409 wounded. It was a circumstance as singular as it was fortunate, that, on board the captured Turkish ship, were found young Harwell and his four fellow-prisoners. A short time afterwards, falling in with the Kent 74, Captain Edward Oliver Osborn, the Russian admiral sent them on board that ship.
Having completely defeated the Turks, and compelled them a second time to retire to the Dardanells, Vice-admiral Seniavin took measures to recover possession of Tenedos. On the 9th he appeared off this island with his fleet, and summoned the Turkish general to surrender upon a capitulation. This the latter did ; and on the 10th the Turkish garrison, numbering 4600 men, was transported to the coast of Asia. The treaty of Tilsit, of which we have already given some account, having effected a total change in the politics of Alexander, Vice-admiral Seniavin, on the 24th of August, concluded an armistice with the Porte. He then, after detaching Rear-admiral Greig, with the Moscow, St.-Petro, and some smaller vessels, to take possession of the island of Corfu, ceded to Russia by France under the treaty above-named, hastened, with the remaining nine sail of the line and one frigate, to get out of the Mediterranean and into the Baltic, before the expected rupture between Russia and England should render that a difficult undertaking.
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