The Cumberland Pacquet 28 September 1813 28 September 1813 War Dept., Downing Street

28 September 1813 War Dept., Downing Street

WAR DEPARTMENT. Downing Street, September 18, 1813               A Dispatch, of which the following is a copy, has been received at Earl BATHURST's Office, from Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, K. G.                                                   Lazaca, September 4, 1813.        My Lord - I write just to correct an error in my dispatch of the 2d inst. : the number of prisoners taken at St. Sebastian's is 670, and not 270 as I supposed.        The Governor has had a communication with Lieutenant General Sir Thomas GRAHAM, the object of which certainly was to commence a negociation for the surrender of the place. Advantage was taken of this communication to send him a summons, but he demanded a suspension of hostilities for a fortnight; then to surrender unless relieved, but to march his garrison into France, with arms and baggage, without being prisoners of war. These conditions were rejected, and the fire which had ceased for some time yesterday, was re-commenced in the evening. I have the honour to be, &c.                   (Signed)  WELLINGTON. ***** LONDON GAZETTE WAR DEPARTMENT. Downing Street, September 18, 1813. To Earl BATHURST, &c., &c.        The Gazette contains a letter from Capt. Sir George COLLIER, dated from on board the Surveillante, September 1, off St. Sebastian, stated the assistance afforded by the navy in the siege of St. Sebastian, particularly by two divisions of the ships boats making their appearance to divert a large proportion of the enemy from the defence of the breach. Two gun boats were likewise equipped to annoy the enemy.        A proportion of seamen were also sent from each ship in the squadron to serve in the batteries, and they uniformly behaved well. The opportunity afforded the navy to evince the zeal and goodwill of the British seamen, was nevertheless necessarily confined to a few individuals. Three or four seamen forms the total naval loss. The officers in command of the vessels are highly spoken of by Sir G. COLLIER. ****** LONDON GAZETTE WAR DEPARTMENT. Downing Street, September 18, 1813.        Captain FLIN, of the Cephalus sloop, reports the capture of La Petit Chasseur, French Privateer, of two long guns, and 45 men, in the Mediterranean. **        Captain GRANT, of the Armada, states, so long ago as July last, that being driven by the current, with other vessels under his command, near to the point of Boudighero, he was fired on from the batteries, in retaliation for which he sent a party of marines, &c. who landed  and spiked the guns. The ship likewise fired on the town, to punish the inhabitants for wantonly assisting the enemy in the batteries. **        The Gazette contains copies of letters from a number of officers commanding vessels in the Mediterranean, addressed to Vice-Admiral Sir Edward PELLEW, Commander in Chief on that station, describing a variety of operations and captures performed by them, their officers and crews, and of which the following is a summary:        -Five armed merchant vessels, laden with oil, taken, and two others destroyed, off Goro, by the boats of the Eagle and Elizabeth.        -The French privateer xebec Le Colombe, four guns and forty men, taken off Alicata, by the Nautilus, Captain DENT.        -A convoy of six vessels, laden with grain, taken or destroyed by the Milford, Weazle and Haughty, while on their passage from Stagus to Cattoro.        -Six vessels taken and three destroyed, laden with grain and wine, for Ragusa, by the Kingfisher, Captain TRITTON.        -The French armed brig, Hart, of six guns with a valuable cargo from Marseilles to Tunis, captured by the sloop Pilot, Captain NICHOLAS.        -A convoy of the enemy, consisting of fourteen merchant vessels, most gallantly attacked off Gala Nova, on the coast of Abruzza, by the boats of the Bacchante, under direction of the First Lieutenant HOOD,  not withstanding it was defended by seven large gun-boats, three smaller gun vessels, and 100 troops on the beach, having with them a field piece; the enemy were driven from their vessels, and our boats got possession of the convoy, but not without experiencing the loss of two seamen and one marine wounded.        -A French gun-boat, mounting two long guns, a 12 and 6 pounder, convoying four vessels laden with grain, engaged and captured by the boats of the Apollo, at the north end of Corfu. On board the gun boat was Mons. BAUDRAND, Colonel and Chief of Engineers of Corfu, reported of very great abilities. Our boats being afterwards attacked by six gun boats, and two other vessels, all full of troops, Mr. NARES was compelled to run the barge and jolly boat ashore, on the French territory, and one man, W. ROBERTSON was lost.

 

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