[70] APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. London Gazette, June 22. Admiralty Office. Extract of a Letter from Captain Sir William Sidney Smith, to Mr. Nepean, dated Tigre, off Tripoly, in Syria, the 2d of April. Beg leave to tranfmit, for the information of my fords commiffioners of the admiralty, a copy of my report to the the right hon. earl St. Vincent, of the late events in this quarter. Tigreoff St. Johnd' Acre, 23d March, My lord, I have the honour to inform you that, in confequence of information from Ghezar Pacha, governor of Syria, of the incurfion of general Buonaparte's army into that province, and approach to its capital, Acre, I haftened, with a portion of the naval force under my orders, to its relief, and had the fatisfaction to arrive there two days before the enemy made his appear ance. Much was done in this interval under the direction of captain Miller, of the Thefeus, and colonel Pelypeaux, towards putting the place in a better state of defence, to refift the attack of an European army; and the prefence of a British naval force appeared to encourage and decide the Pacha and his troops to make a vigorous resistance, The enemy's advanced guard was discovered at the foot of mount Carmel, in the night of the 17th, by the Tigre's guard-bo:ats: thefe troops, not expecting to find a naval force of any defcription in Syria, took up their ground clafe to the water-fide, and were confequently expofed to the fire of grape fhot from the boats, which put them to the rout the inftant it opened upon them, and obliged them to retire precipitately up the fide of the mount. The main body of the army finding the road between the sea and mount Carmel thus exposed, came in by that of Nazereth, and invefted the town of Acre to the eaft, but not without being much haraffed by the Samaritan Arabs, who are even more inimical to the French than the Egyptians, and better armed. As the enemy returned our fire by mufketry only, it was evident they had not brought cannon with them, which were therefore to be expected by fea, and measures were taken accordingly for intercepting them; the Thefeus was already detached off Jaffa (Joppa.) The enemy's flotilla, which came in from fea, fell in with and captured the Torride, and was coming round mount Carmel, when it was dif covered from the Tigre, confifting of a corvette and nine fail of gun-vellels, on feeing us they hauled off off. The alacrity of the ship's company in making fail after them was highly praiseworthy: our guns foon reached them, and feven, as per enclosed lift, ftruck; the corvette, containing Buonaparte's private property, and two mall veffels, efcaped, fince it became an object to secure the prizes without chafing farther; their cargoes, confifting of the battering train of artillery, ammunition, platforms, &c. deftined for the fiege of Acre, being much wanted for its defence. The prizes were accordingly anchored off the town, manned from the fhips, and immediately employed in haraffing the enemy's pofts, impeding his approaches, and covering the fhip's boats fent farther in fhore to cut off his fupplies and provifions conveyed coaftwife. They have been conftantly occupied in these services for thefe five days and nights paft; and fuch has been the zeal of their crews, that they requefted not to be relieved, after many hours exceffive labour at their guns and oars. I am forry to fay we have met with fome lofs, as per enclofed lift, which, however, is balanced by greater on the part of the enemy, by the encouragement given to the Turkish troops from our example, and by the time that is gained for the arrival of a fufficient force to render Buonaparte's whole project abortive. I have had reason to be perfectly fatisfied with the gallantry and perfeverance of lieutenants Buthby, Inglefield, Knight, Stokes, and lieutenant Burton of the marines, and of the petty officers and men under their orders. Lift of the Gun-vessels compofing the French Flotilla, bound from Alexandria and Damietta to St. John d'Acre, taken off Cape Carmel by his Majesty's Ship Tigre, Commo❤ dore Sir Sidney Smith, K. S. the 18th March, after a Chafe of three Hours. men; La Negreffe, of 6 guns and 53 men; La Fondre, of 8 guns and 52 La Dangereufe, of 6 and guns 23 men; La Maria Rofe, of 4 guns and 22 men; La Dame de Grace, of 4 guns and 35 men; Les Deux Freres, of 4 guns and 23 men; La Torride, taken in the morning of that day, and retaken, of 2 guns and 30 men. Total-7 gun-boats, 34 guns, and Acre, March 23. N. B. The Marianne gun-boat was taken previously, and the transport, No. 1, fubfequently, by the Tigre. Return of the killed and wounded in I have the honour to be, &c. &c. Right hon. earl St. Vincent, commander-in-chief. March 23. W. S. Smith. London Gazetic, August 3, 1799. Admiralty-Office. Copy of a Letter from Sir William I have the honour to enclofe you copies of my letters to earl St. Vincent, of the 7th of April and 2d inftant, for the information of my lords commiffioners of the admiralty; as also a sketch of the pofition of the forces. The enemy have made two attempts fince yefterday morning to force the two English ravelines, but were repulfed with lofs. The works have now cannon mounted on them, and are nearly completed. We have thus the fatisfaction of finding, ourtelves, on the 46th day of the fiege, in a better ftate of defence than we were the first day the enemy opened their trenches, notwithstanding the increase of the breach, which they continue to batter with effect; and the garrifon, having occafionally clofed with the enemy, in feveral forties, feel greater confidence that they fhall be able to refift an affault, for which they are prepared. I have the honour to he, &c. &c. Tigre, St. Jean d'Acre Bay, April 7. I have the honour to inform your lordship, that as foon as the return of fine weather, after the equinoctia! gale, allowed me to approach this unfheltered anchorage, I refumed my ftation in the bay with the fquadron under my orders. I. found the enemy had profited, by our forced abfence, to push their approaches to the counterfcarp, and even in the ditch of the N. E. angle of the town-wall, where they were employed in mining the tower, to increase a breach they had already made in it, and which had been found impracticable when they attempted to ftorm on the 1ft inftant. The Alliance and prize gun-boats, which had been caught in the gale, had fortunately rode it out except one; and captain Wilmot had been fo indefatigable in mounting the prize-guns, under the direction of an able officer of engineers, colonel Phelipeaux, that the fire therefrom had already flackened that of the enemy; ftill, however, much was to be apprehended from the effect of the mine, and a fortie was determined on, in which the British marines and feamen were to force their way into it, while the Turkish troops attacked the enemy's trenches on the right and left. The fally took place this morning, juft before daylight; the impetuofity and noife of the Turks rendered the attempt to furprife the enemy abortive, thought in other refpects they did their part well. Lieutenant Wright, who commanded the feamen pioneers, notwithstanding he received two fhots in his right arm, as he advanced, entered the mine with the pikemen, and proceeded to the bottom of it, where he verified its direction, and deftroyed all that could be deftrøyed in its then state, by pulling down its fupporters. Colonel Douglas, to whom I had given the neceflary step of rank to enable him to command the Turkish colonels, fupported the feamen in this defperate fervice with his ufual gallantry, under the increased fire of the enemy, bringing off lieutenant Wright, who had fcarcely ftrength left to get out of the enemy's trench, from which they were not diflodged, as alfo Mr. Janverin, midshipman of the Tigre, and the rest of the wounded. The action, altogether, fpeaks for itself, and fays more than could be faid by me in praife of all concerned. I feel doubly indebted to colonel Douglas for having preferved my gallant friend, lieutenant Wright, whofe life, I am happy to fay, is not defpaired of by the furgeon. We have, however, to lament the lofs of a brave and tried officer, major Oldfield, who commanded the Thefeus's marines, and fell gloriously on this occafion, with two of the men under his command. Our lofs in wounded is 23, among which is lieutenant Beatty, of the marines, flightly. The Turks brought in above 60 heads, a greater number of mufkets, and fome intrenching tools, much wanted in the garrifon. A farther attack on the enemy's fecond parallel was not to be attempted without a greater number of regular troops. The return of the detachment was well covered by the Thefeus's fire, captain Miller having taken an excellent pofition to that effect. The refult of our day's work is, that we have taught the befiegers to refpect the enemy they have to deal with, fo as to keep at a greater diftance. The apprehenfions of the garrifon are quieted as to the effect of the mine, which we have befides learnt how to countermine with advantage, and more time is gained for the arrival of the reinforcements daily expected. I have the honour to be, &c. Right hon. earl St. Vincent, Tigre, moored under the Walls of Acre, May 2. My lord, The enemy continue to make the most vigorous efforts to overcome our refiftance in the defence of this place. The garrifon has made occafional forties, protected by our fmall boats, on their flank, with fieldpieces, in which the most effential fervice has been pèrformed by lieutenant Brodie and Mr. Atkinson, of the Thefeus, and Mr. Joes, master of the Tigre, who commanded them. Yefterday the enemy, after many hours heavy cannonade from thirty pieces of artillery brought from Jaffa, made a fourth attempt to mount the breach, now much widened, but were repulfed, with lofs. The Tigre moored on one fide, and the Thefeus on the other, flank the town walls; the gun-boats, launches, and other rowing-boats, continue to flank the enemy's trenches, to their great annoyance. Nothing but defperation can induce them to make the fort of attempts they do to mount a breach practicable only by the means of fcaling-ladders, under fuch a fire as we pour in upon them; and it is impoffible to fee the lives even of our enemies thus facrificed, and fo much bravery misapplied, without regret. Our lofs is as per lift enclofed; and we have therein to lament fome of the bravest and best among us. Captain Wilmot was fhot on the 8th ult. by a rifleman, as he was mounting a howitzer on the breach: his lofs is feverely felt. We have run out a ravelin on each fide of the enemy's nearest approach, in which the marines of the Tigre and Thefeus have worked under a heavy and inceflant fire from the enemy, in a way that commands the the admiration and gratitude of the Turks, as it is evident the flanking fire produced from them contributed much to fave the place yefterday. Colonel Phelipeaux, of the engineers, who projected and fuperin tended the execution, has fallen a facrifice to his zeal for this fervice; want of reft and expofure to the fun having given him a fever, of which he died this morning: our grief for this lofs is exceffive on every ac count. Colonel Douglas fupplies his place, having hitherto carried on the work under his direction, and is indefatigable in completing it for the reception of cannon. I muft hot omit to mention, to the credit of the Turks, that they fetch the gabions, fafcines, and thofe mateFials which the garrifon does not afford, from the face of the enemy's works, fetting fire to what they cannot bring away. The enemy repair in one night all the mifchief we do them in the day, and continue within half piftol-fhot of the walls, in fpite of the conftant fire kept up from the ramparts, under the direction of lieutenant Knight. I hope I need not aflure your lordthip that we fhall continue to do our duty to the utmost of our power, in fpite of all obftacles; among which, climate, as it affects health, and the expofed nature of our rocky anchorage, are the moft formidable, fince they are not to be overcome, which I truft the enemy are by our exertions. I am, &c. W. Sidney Smith. The right hon. earl St. Vincent, commander-in-chief, &c. &c. Return of the killed and wounded belonging to his Majesty's Ships Tigre, Thefeus, and Alliance, at the Sortie rines, and 2 private marines, killed; Thefeus-Major Oldfield, of malieutenant Beatty,. of marines, Mr. James M. B. Forbes, midshipman (flightly), fergeant Cavanagh, and 4 private marines, wounded. Alliance-One feaman and 2 marines, wounded. marines, killed; 1 lieutenant, 1 lieu- . Total-One major and 2 private tenant of marines, 2 midshipmen, 1 fergeant, 6 private marines, and 12 feamen, wounded. On-board his majesty's ship Tigre, W. Sidney Smith. off Acre, April 8. Return of the Casualties, killed, and wounded, belonging to his Majesty's Ships Tigre, Thefeus, and Alliance, between the 8th of April and the 2d of May following, employed in the Defence of Acre. Tigre-Mr. Edward Morris, midfhipman, and James Maugham, Andrew Wall, and Robert Bennet, feamen, killed; lieutenant Knight, a contufion on his breaft; John Bolton, boatfwain's mate, William Hutchinfon, William Pickard, James Bailey, Jofeph Hudfon, Jofeph Vincquez, and William Price, feamen, wounded. Thefeus-John Rich, feaman, killed; John Chidlow, marine, wounded. Alliance-Captain Wilmot, killed by a rifle-shot, as he was mounting a howitzer on the breach. Total-One captain, 1 midfhipman, and 4 feamen, killed; 1 lieu tenant, |