La Victoire

Posted by Robert Boon on Monday 13th of February 2017 13:00

Admiralty-Office, September 20, 1800.
Copy of a Letter from Captain Price, of His Majesty's Sloop Badger, to Evan Nepean, Esq; dated at St. Marcou, September 16, 1800.

SIR,

I Beg Leave to represent to you for the Information of their Lordships, the Account of a very gallant Action performed Yesterday by Two of the Boats belonging to His Majesty's Gun Vessel, within Four Miles of the West Island, under the Command of Lieutenant McCullen, of the Marines.

About Two P.M. of the 15th, I observed a long Lugger between Issegney and us, and thought I could cut her off from La Hogue; I directed Lieutenant McCullen, with twenty-four picked Men in my Ten-Oared Galley and Six-Oared Cutter, to endeavour to board her, and directed Lieutenant Stevens (by Signal) to slip and cover the Boats with His Majesty's Gun Brig Sparkler, then for all
Boats manned and armed to support the leading Boats.

The Service was so well performed, that the Sparkler took the Fire of Two Batteries of Two Twenty-four Pounders and Two Twelve-Pounders, which prevented its being directed against the Boats: The Lugger perceiving the Boats determined, lowered her Sails, rowed on Shore, cut away all her Masts and Rigging, and got on Shore; our Cutter immediately boarded her under the Fire of several Hundred Musketry, and towed her off. She proves to be La Victoire Privateer (Row Boat), Captain Barier, belonging to Boulogne, mounting Four Swivels, rows Twenty-six Oars, quite New, from Appearance had at least Forty Men on board; she is Sixty Feet long, Nine Feet Beam., and the
completest Boat for the Service of the Islands that possibly could be constructed.

In performing this, I beg you will mention the gallant Manner Lieutenant Stevens ran the Gun Brig into Two Fathom Water; kept up a continual Fire for One Hour under the Batteries, which diverted their Fire from the Boats; Lieutenant McCullen of the Marines, who so determinedly led the Boats; and the good Conduct of the Twenty-four Men who so well performed the Service; and from the continual Fire of Musketry, I am happy to find so small a Loss as my Gunner's Mate, (Joseph Silk) wounded by a Musket Ball in the Shoulder. The Sparkler has received no other Damage than a few Shot through her Sails, and
some of her Rigging cut.

I am, &c. CHARLES P. PRICE.

London Gazette Publication date: 16 September 1800 Issue: 15294 Page: 1063