JOURNAL B. 8 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 surrender 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. • Now Lieutenant-General Sir Augustus De Butts, K.C.H. we could starve Bastia. I am sure my hearty endeavours shall not be wanting to get it some way or other; for I consider it would be a National disgrace to give it up, without a trial. I am making the best of my way to St. Fiorenzo, when I hope twenty-four hours will fit me for Sea; I am truly anxious to get off Bastia again. I am, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO WILLIAM SUCKLING, ESQ. My dear Sir, [From "the Athenæum."] Agamemnon, off Bastia, March 18th, 1794. I shall begin by saying what has given me pleasure, and I am sure will you, that Lord Hood has made Suckling a Lieutenant: I trust he will be confirmed. We are still blocking up Bastia, the attack of which has been given up in a most extraordinary manner; what might, if it had not now have met the sanction of men of science, have been deemed a most impertinent observation, viz. that Bastia, from a place I had found on a much closer examination than our General Dundas, could be attacked to great advantage. I wrote Lord Hood requesting an Engineer and Artillery Oficer might be sent to examine. To-day I have been with them, and their report is most favourable for an attack. Our weather is now but indifferent; but hitherto I have so close blocked up the place, that one pound of coarse bread sells for three livres. If the Army will not take it, we must, by some way or other. General Dundas has quitted the command, differing in opinion with Lord Hood. I have really nothing new to tell you: day after day we remain in the same state. Pray remember me to Mrs. Suckling, and kindly to Miss Suckling and all your family; and don't forget me to Mr. Rumsey and family. Believe me Your most affectionate HORATIO NELSON. He was succeeded by Brigadier General Abraham D'Aubant, who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General, and Colonel Commandant in the Royal Engineers, in 1802. JOURNAL B. March 19th.-At 8 A.M. got into Fiorenzo. Gave Lord Hood my free opinion that 800 troops, with 400 seamen, would take Bastia, and that not attacking it I could not but consider as a National disgrace. Found all the Army against an attack, and declaring the impossibility of taking Bastia, even if all the force was united. Getting water, provisions, and stores on board. March 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th.-Ditto employed. The General absolutely refused to attack Bastia; but, wonderful to tell, he refused Lord Hood a single soldier, cannon, or stores, to assist in the Siege. March 25th.-Sailed from St. Fiorenzo with Lieutenant Duncan, R.A. TO THE REVEREND MR. NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Brother, Agamemnon, off Bastia, March 26th, 1794. Our General D'Aubant, with 2,000 as fine troops as ever marched, has thought it improper to attack Bastia, which has only 800 Frenchmen to defend it, and that as to taking it, that is impossible. As I had examined the ground, perhaps more than the General, Sir James Erskine St. Clair,1 Major Koehler, Colonel Moore, or any other, I ventured to give my opinion very freely to Lord Hood, and that not to attack our Enemy I should consider as a National disgrace. An Artillery Officer of great merit, Lieutenant Duncan, I requested his Lordship would ask the General to permit to come to me. He came with Mr. De Butts, a young Engineer. They agreed with me in opinion the place might be attacked, probably with success. Lord Hood sent for me to Fiorenzo Then Adjutant-General to the Forces and a Lieutenant-Colonel; afterwards General Earl of Rosslyn, G.C.B.: he died in January 1837. * Major George Frederick Koehler of the Artillery: he obtained the rank of Colonel in January 1800, and appears to have been the General Koebler who was sent to discipline the Turkish Army, and who died of the plague in Syria in 1801. 3 Afterwards Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, K.B., who fell at the Battle of Corunna in 1809. to concert measures. The General has refused us a single soldier, and scarcely any stores. We have only about 700 men to land, troops who are embarked to serve as Marines, whilst the General has 1,300 Troops and Artillery, &c., to defend St. Fiorenzo. I am to command the Seamen landed from the Fleet. I feel for the honour of my Country, and had rather be beat than not make the attack. If we do not try we never can be successful. I own I have no fears for the final issue: it will be conquest, certain we will deserve it. You will naturally be anxious about me. My reputation depends on the opinion I have given; but I feel an honest consciousness that I have done right. I am just sending a Ship to Naples, for mortars, shells, &c. We propose making on one point our attack with six mortars of thirteen-inch, and ten 24 pounders from my lower-deck to be landed. We must, we will have it, or some of our heads will be laid low. I glory in the attempt. I have not heard from you this age. Why don't you write? Pray remember me to my Brother at Burnham, and kindly to Mrs. Nelson, my Aunt, and the Children. Compliments at Swaffham. Believe me ever Your most affectionate brother, HORATIO NELSON. TO THE HONOURAPLE WILLIAM PAGET, CAPTAIN OF H. M. SHIP ROMNEY. Sir, [From a Copy, in the Nelson Papers.] Agamemnon, off Bastia, March 27th, 1794. You will herewith receive two letters for His Excellency Sir William Hamilton, his Majesty's Minister to the Court of Naples, containing a request for mortars, shells, and Artillerystores, from the King of Naples. You will also receive on board Lieutenant Duncan of the Royal Artillery, who is sent to see that all the necessary stores are embarked; and as his • Younger brother of the present Marquis of Anglesea. On the 17th of June 1794, the Romney captured La Sybille of 46 guns, after a severe action. Captain Paget died soon after, off Minorca: "he was a young officer of infinite merit in his profession, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him, and a public loss to his country."-Naval Chronology, vol. ii. p. 294. service is of the greatest importance, the Commander-in-Chief, placing the highest confidence in your zeal and activity, has directed me to send the Romney to Naples. On this [service] I am sure it is unnecessary for me to acquaint you, that the taking of Bastia may probably depend upon your expedition. It is possible the mortars may be shipped on board a Neapolitan Ship-of-War with shells, &c, : even should that be the case you will take the proper measures to have them removed to the Romney, unless you should meet her on her passage, when you will desire her to join me off Bastia, proceeding yourself to Naples, for the other stores. I hope that a very short time will be sufficient to embark everything. If Craft are not lent you to bring off the stores, &c., I desire that you will hire what is necessary, and consider that expedition is to us invaluable. Having received the mortars, shells, stores, &c., you will join me off Bastia. I am, Sir, &c. HORATIO NElson. TO SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B., MINISTER AT NAPLES. [Autograph draught, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Sir, Agamemnon, off Bastia, March 27th, 1794. Lord Hood having determined on attacking Bastia (contrary to the opinion of General D'Aubant,) from the reports of Officers in whom his Lordship is pleased to place confidence, he becomes in want of many things which I am rather inclined to believe could have been supplied from the stores at St. Fiorenzo. As to the final issue of taking Bastia I have no doubt, although only with a small proportion of the Troops which were at Fiorenzo, (those who are embarked to serve as Marines,) the General thinking it right not to grant his Lordship a single Soldier, and only a few Artillery-men. The General declares the impropriety of even attacking Bastia, and that as to the conquest it is impossible. But, my dear Sir, when was a place ever yet taken without an attempt ?5 We must en Nelson originally wrote, "But, my dear Sir, we are to try; a place was never yet taken," &c. |