1812     BOATS OF BACCHANTE AT PORT-LEMO, &c.     75

On the 18th of September, at daybreak, cruising off the coast of Apulia, the Bacchante discovered and chased an enemy's convoy between the islands of Tremitti and Vasto, standing alongshore to the north-west. Baffling winds and calm weather preventing the frigate from closing, Captain Hoste despatched his boats, six in number, containing 72 officers and men, under the command, as before, of his first lieutenant, assisted by Lieutenant Silas Thomson Hood, second of the Bacchante, instead of Lieutenant Gostling. On the approach of the boats, the 18 merchant vessels anchored, and hauled themselves aground, leaving outside for their protection eight armed vessels, each mounting one long 12-pounder, three of them with three swivels each and 16 men, the remainder with 12 men ; making in all, eight long 12-pounders, six swivels, and 104 men. Besides these, there were the crews of the merchant vessels, who, having disembarked, lined a thick wood, well adapted for bush-fighting and completely commanding the coast.

In this situation, the convoy and vessels of war confidently awaited the British boats ; but the officers and men in these, led on as they were, were not to be so daunted. Pushing through a heavy fire of grape and musketry, the seamen rushed like lions to the attack, boarding and carrying the vessels, and driving their crews over the sides in every direction ; while the marines, headed by their intrepid leader, Lieutenant Haig, landing, forced the fugitives from the wood, and secured the possession of the whole convoy and the armed vessels protecting it. To enhance the valour of this second exploit of Lieutenant O'Brien and his brave associates, it was achieved with so trifling a loss on their part, as two seamen wounded, and those not dangerously.

On the 16th of September, in the evening, the British 74-gun ship Eagle, Captain Charles Rowley, having authored off Cape Maestro near Ancona, the latter despatched Lieutenant Augustus Cannon, with the three barges, to intercept the enemy's coasting trade. On the morning of the 17th Lieutenant Cannon perceived a convoy of 23 sail, protected by two gun-boats, standing towards Goro. As the barges intrepidly advanced, the convoy, each vessel of which was armed with a 6 or an 8 pounder, drew up in line of battle, under cover of a 4-gun battery and the beach lined with armed people, having also the two gun-boats advanced in front.

The British in the most gallant manner, and notwithstanding that their boats, owing to the shallowness of the channel, grounded frequently in their advance, attacked and carried the largest gunboat ; and then, turning her guns upon the second gun-boat, captured her and all the convoy but two, which effected their escape. Not being able to man all his prizes, Lieutenant Thomas Colson Festing, who had succeeded to the command in consequence of Lieutenant Cannon having been mortally wounded, burnt six

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