Madona, about two miles and a half from the landing-place, ready to act against Monachesco: the road for the first three quarters of mile led up a steep mountain, and the other part was not very easy. The weather became rather moderate in the night, but still with thunder, lightning, and rain. TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [From a Copy, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Lord, Agamemnon, near Calvi, 19th June 1794. Believing that what I should do would be of service to our Country, and of course meet with your Lordship's approbation, I have the honour to acquaint you that on my arrival in Mortella Bay, on the 15th instant, General Stuart was anxious to proceed on our expedition against Calvi, in which I own I most heartily concurred with him, believing ourselves safe under your Lordship's wing. I sailed on the 16th, in the evening, from Mortella Bay, and anchored here on the 17th, at night. Yesterday was taken up in looking at the Enemy, and this morning at daylight, the troops, 1,450 were landed, together with seventy volunteers from the Transports, thirty men which I took out of the Inflexible, and one hundred Seamen from the Agamemnon. I was obliged to use every effort to forward the service. The General, after looking at Calvi, wished to have some additional force; therefore I sent the Fox to Fiorenzo, with orders to Captain Wallis to proceed to Bastia, for such troops as General Stuart wished to have. As the Gorgon had not men enough left her by your Lordship to take care of her, I was obliged to solicit volunteers from the Transports to bring her round with me, and therefore was under the necessity of desiring Inflexible to lend twenty men to assist in navigating the Ship. The Fox is to bring 150 of the Royal Louis. If the Victory does not join us before the Lutine is cleared I Captain James Wallis who served with Nelson as First Lieutenant of the Boreas. He then commanded the Gorgon, Store-ship. must send her for guns from the Commerce de Marseilles,9 which are much wanted. Captain Cook, who I found at Fiorenzo, with a zeal which will ever do him credit, wished to accompany me on the present Expedition. I not only have the greatest pleasure in having him with me, but his assistance to me has been very great, and as he is anxious to remain, I hope he will be allowed by your Lordship to stay with me till the Siege is over. I have much to say, but wish not to keep the Scout. Believe me, with the highest respect, Your Lordship's most faithful, General Stuart requests me to say that nothing particular has happened since our landing, and that he is really so busy that he cannot find time to write to your Lordship; but begs to refer you to the particulars which I have given in my letter. TO MAJOR-GENERAL STUART. Camp, June 20th, 1794. Sir, The Shipping which sailed from hence this morning for Mortella Bay,' are the division under Lieutenant Harrison, who has landed as many Seamen as he could spare at present, and I was to send to Fiorenzo for more men as soon as the Fox Cutter returns to me. I was in the greater hurry to 9 The Commerce de Marseilles of 120 guns, was one of the Ships brought from Toulon by Lord Hood in December 1793. On the 20th of June General Stuart wrote to Captain Nelson, saying, "that as he understood several Transports were sent from thence to Mortella Bay, he was under the necessity of asking how many Transports he meant to detain for the use of the Army in case of necessity, and what number he thought proper for its immediate protection, stating that in consequence of Lord Hood's absence, the Army was deprived of a powerful aid; that it was of the utmost consequence he should know how far he might depend upon Nelson's co-operation; that a tent was wanted for the Hospital; that 150 Seamen were unequal to the task of hauling up great guns in a short space of time; and wishing him to increase the number of men.-Autograph, in the Nelson Papers. send these Vessels away, as their cables were much cut by the rocks, and it had the appearance of blowing weather. The others, which are under sail, are going to work up to a safer anchorage. If the weather put on a better appearance, abundance of Shipping will remain here to hold the troops in case any unforeseen event should render re-embarkation necessary. It is right to inform you, Sir, that if the present weather continue, it will, I think, be necessary for every Vessel here to put to sea. I can only assure you that every exertion of mine shall be made to comply with your wishes on every occasion, for I am, with the highest esteem, Your most faithful Servant, HORATIO NELSON. I wished to have paid my respects to you this morning, but really have been so anxious to get a twenty-four pounder in the road, that I trust you will excuse me. The work of the day over, I shall do myself the honour of seeing you in the evening. HORATIO NELSON. TO LIEUTENANT RICHARD SAINTHILL, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS. [From the "Memoir of Captain Richard Sainthill." That Officer was superannuated with the rank of Commander in 1814, and died in June 1829.] You are hereby required and directed to land out of the Transports under your directions what studding-sail booms or other spars they can conveniently part with, to erect tents for stores, provisions, &c. for which this shall be your order. Given under my hand, at the Camp before Calvi, this 20th of June 1794. HORATIO NELSON. My Lord, TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 173.] June 21st, 1794. You will know from my letters to Captain Tyler2 and Captain Wallis, what I thought it right to order, in consequence of General Stuart's finding this place much stronger than he expected. Our landing-place is very bad; the rocks break in this weather very far from the shore, and the mountain we have to drag the guns up is so long and so steep, that the whole of yesterday we were only able to get one gun up, and then we have at least a mile and a half to drag them: I hope before long we shall be able to land some to the eastward of Cape Revellata. Your Lordship so well knows our want of Seamen here, that I am sure I need not mention it: we shall have more than forty pieces of ordnance to drag over these mountains, and my numbers are two hundred, barely sufficient to move a twenty-four pounder. Had not the weather been bad, I am sure one battery against Monachesco would have opened to-morrow morning. Twenty-four hours will, I think, put us in possession of it. We seem here determined to act with vigour, and it is the only thing to get us on. The Enemy are hard at work making batteries. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON.S 2 Captain Tyler of the Meleager of 32 guns. This gallant Officer, who was severely wounded in command of Le Tonnant at the Battle of Trafalgar, died Admiral Sir Charles Tyler, G.C.B., in September 1835. 3 On the 21st of June Lord Hood wrote officially to Captain Nelson from the Victory in Mortella Bay : "Sir, I am waiting with great impatience to hear from you, not knowing what Stores you took with you, and what more may be wanted. The additional troops General Stuart ordered from Bastia embarked this morning, and I expect to see the Ariadne and Transports to-morrow, when I shall join and proceed with him. In addition to the men from this Ship already on the expedition, I have sent fifty more under the command of Captain Hallowell, who is accompanied by Captain Serocold, both very able, willing, and zealous Officers, from whom you will have much assistance, and they are directed to follow your orders, which I am confident they will both do with great alacrity, and that all will go on with equal cordiality and good humour as at Bastia. I am, Sir, with great regard, &c., HooD. P.S. I tremble for what may have happened from last night's wind."-From a Copy certified by Nelson, in the Hood Papers. My Lord, TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [From a Copy, in the Nelson Papers.] Camp, June 23rd, 1794. The Agamemnon, who put to sea in the evening of the 21st, is, I hope, at Fiorenzo, and hope very soon to see her again with the Store-ships, which put to sea the day before. Not one Ship is returned to us. The General this morning sent Captain Stephens of the Artillery to ask me, as more French twenty-pound shot could not be got, to give him my opinion what other guns could best be spared, and shot for them, to make up the original demand, all of which I am told will certainly be wanted. I endeavoured to fix on those sizes which I thought most likely to be obtained; and as the General wishes to write your Lordship, I send the Fox Cutter. The Lutine, if the weather moderates, will be cleared tomorrow, when I shall immediately send her to your Lordship at Fiorenzo, for these guns, &c. No more guns have been able to be landed, the swell has been so great: therefore the battery against Monachesco cannot be opened till another battery of four twenty-four pounders is erected to drive off the Enemy's fire. Twelve guns are judged necessary for the first parallel. If we cannot get on faster, we shall be a long while in getting possession, if the Enemy make an obstinate resistance. The Vessels with the powder having gone to sea, I have been obliged to order the Dolphin and Lutine to land powder, and Wolseley having twenty-four barrels of prize powder, that is bought of him. I am, with the highest respest, Your most faithful Servant, HORATIO NELSON. Captain Cook desires to present his respectful compli ments. 4 Captain Edward Stephens of the Artillery, was the Senior Officer of that Corps at the Siege: he became a Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1794, and a Lieutenant-General in June 1813, 5 Captain of the Lowestoffe, vide p. 350, ante. |