fidential Officer, which I have done. He has not yet returned. Captain Clarkes of the 69th Regiment, having the charge of the Regimental accounts, has asked my leave to go to Fiorenzo, which I have permitted. He is the Officer I mentioned to your Lordship, and will be the bearer of this letter. The Enemy have just begun a battery in the Town, just to the Northward of the Mole, at the place I conceived our troops might have landed. The Romney has joined me. I hope very soon to see your Lordship and the Troops, and that Bastia will be in our possession. I am your Lordship's most faithful, HORATIO NELSON. My Lord, TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [Autograph, in the Hood Papers.] Agamemnon, off Bustia, March 6th, 1794. 4 P.M. The Vanneau has just joined; and I have ordered Captain Paget to proceed to St. Fiorenzo. I have just received a letter from Mons. J. de Frediani, to say, that their Camp will be lost, unless I can either destroy a battery which the Enemy made yesterday on the North of the Town, or land two eighteen-pounders, with men, ammunition, &c. I shall do either one or the other, or both, if possible. Bastia will be lost, if we are not active. I trust you will approve of my intentions: I see the necessity of something being done directly. The Ragusa which I took on Tuesday morning has, I suspected, and have just received accounts, money and other valuable effects on board, besides a cargo of cotton, dyes, &c. I am anxious to see our troops over the Hill. Believe me, Your most faithful, HORATIO NELSON. 5 Captain-Lieutenant John Clarke of the 69th Regiment, who was severely wounded on the 12th of April. Vide p. 383. In the Romney. VOL. I. B B JOURNAL B. March 5th.-Close off Bastia. March 6th.-Close off Bastia; the Enemy adding strong posts for the defence of the place. At this moment Bastia is stronger than when our troops retired from it; how that has hurt me. Received a letter from M. de Frediani, to request an interview, provisions, powder, shot, flints, and, if possible, two cannon. Sent an Officer overland to Lord Hood, with my opinion that it was yet possible to take Bastia with 500 Regulars and two or three Ships. Received a letter from Lord Hood, to say he would send me two Gun-boats, according to my desire. When I get them, the inhabitants of Bastia sleep no more. Sent the Romney to Lord Hood. March 7th.-Close off Bastia. March 9th.-Went on shore to Erbalonga, and from thence to the Corsican camp; had a good view of all the Enemy's posts and the Town. I am yet of opinion that Bastia may be taken by our troops, although it is certainly stronger than when our troops retired, and every day adds strength to the place. March 10th.-Got to my Ship. March 11th.-Romney joined me from Lord Hood: brought me letters to say that General Dundas was going Home, and that he hoped and trusted the troops would once more move over the Hill. Sent the Rose Cutter to lay off Caprera for a day or two. TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 156.] My Lord, Agamemnon, March 11th, 1794. You may be assured I shall undertake nothing, but what I have moral certainty of succeeding in: had this day been fine, it was my intention to have towed the Agamemnon inshore, and to have destroyed the house which the Enemy has fortified for musketry, and also the new battery which is nearly finished: I think we should have been out of the range of shot from the Town. When the Gun-boats arrive, they may perhaps do it better; certainly with less risk than ourselves. It must be destroyed, or the Corsicans will be obliged to give up a post which the Enemy would immediately possess; and of course throw us on that side at a greater distance from Bastia. I hope our troops will soon join. If the Corsicans can, without them, keep the Enemy from quitting their posts, and advancing into the Country, what may we not expect when ours act with them? The poor Corsicans know nothing, but how to fire a musket; yet certainly a good use may be made of them. Bastia may be easily bombarded from the North side, as also Fort St. Croix, which is the post commanding Bastia. I am, &c. HORATIO NELSON. JOURNAL B. March 12th.-Off Erbalonga, five miles from Bastia, getting off a little water. We are absolutely without water, provisions, or stores of any kind, not a piece of canvas, rope, twine, or a nail in the Ship; but we cheerfully submit to it all, if it but turns out for the advantage and credit of our Country. March 13th.-Blowing strong the whole day: the Vigilant Gun-boat joined me. March 14th.-A strong gale all day with thick weather. with difficulty cleared the shore towards Cape Corse. March 15th. More moderate: got up with Cape Corse. March 16th.-Got off Bastia. Found that one small boat with fifty-six sacks of corn had got in; that the inhabitants are in the greatest distress for provisions, a small loaf selling for three livres. The Petite Victoire having started a plank was obliged to run on shore, and is hauled up; the Vigilant and Fortunée Gun-boats not joined. The Romney, Tartar, Vanneau, Fox, and Rose, with me. Sent off an express to Lord Hood to tell him we have nothing to eat. My Lord, TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [Autograph, in the Hood Papers.] Agamemnon, off Bastia, 16th March, 1794. The gale of the 14th came on at East, backing to the N.E. which obliged me to carry a press of sail to clear the shore towards Cape Corse; and so thick as to prevent our seeing a Ship's length. I send this over-land, and shall thank your Lordship to signify your wishes by the bearer of my letter. We are really without firing, wine, beef, pork, flour, and almost without water: not a rope, canvas, twine, or nail in the Ship. The Ship is so light, she cannot hold her side to the wind yet if your Lordship thinks or wishes me to remain off Bastia, I can, by going to Porto Ferrajo, get water and stores, and twenty-four hours at Leghorn will give us provisions; and our refitting, which will take some time, can be put off a little. My wish is to be present at the attack of Bastia; and if your Lordship intends me to command the Seamen who may be landed, I assure you I shall have the greatest pleasure in doing it, or any other service where you may think I can do most good: even if my Ship goes into Port to refit, I am ready to remain. We are certainly in a bad plight at present, not a man has slept dry for many months. The two Gun-boats joined me in the gale. I hope all my small Vessels are safe. JOURNAL B. March 17th.-Lieutenant Duncan,7 of the Artillery, and a Mr. De Butts, Engineer, came over to examine the ground I had thought eligible for erecting batteries to bombard the Citadel. March 18th.-Went on shore with Mr. D. and Mr. D. to examine the ground. They both thought it an eligible situation for erecting a mortar battery: found a most convenient place for landing cannon and stores. At noon the Officers returned to St. Fiorenzo. At 4 P. M. received a letter from Lord Hood, desiring me to come to Fiorenzo; left the command with Captain Paget. My Lord, TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. Agamemnon, off Bastia, 18th March, 1794. Lieutenant Duncan of the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant De Butts of the Royal Engineers, arrived on board last night; and this morning early I went on shore with them, and am sure their report will much please you. Bastia to the North is certainly not a place of strength: guns may be landed at scarcely a mile's distance from the spot where the battery will be erected, and I am sure that with ease they can be conveyed into it in twenty-four hours at farthest. I never understood the force in Bastia to be more than eight hundred or a thousand Regulars, and twelve or fifteen hundred Irregulars, Corsicans: ours are much better than those with the Enemy, whom they do not trust, knowing their wish to desert. With fine weather, if necessary, I am certain 7 John Duncan, First Lieutenant of the Royal Artillery, who is frequently mentioned. He was promoted to a Company for his services during the Siege, and was spoken of in the most flattering terms in Lord Hood's Despatches announcing the surtender of Bastia and Calvi, as well as in those of General Stuart, on the latter occasion. He was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1798 on the 30th December 1800, he was appointed Deputy Quarter-MasterGeneral to the Forces under General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and died in 1803. 8 Now Lieutenant-General Sir Augustus De Butts, K.C.H. |