164 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



of my military secretary, captain 

 Ball, 81st regiment. The enemy 

 opened a sharp fire of musketry 

 from their lines, as also from the 

 windows and doors of the houses, 

 and endeavoured to bring an 18- 

 pounder into one of the towers of 

 the town wall, to bear on our po- 

 sition,, which we prevented, by a 

 well-directed fire from the how- 

 itzer, 6-pounder, and musketry. 



Captain Taylor, in order to ac- 

 celerate the surrender of the town, 

 undertook to silence the sea-bat- 

 teries, which he accomplished in 

 the most brilliant and effectual 

 manner, after a continued firing of 

 three hours, during which the 

 Apollo was always within range of 

 grape-shot from the batteries. This 

 point being effected, capt. Taylor 

 and myself judged it expedient to 

 send major Slessor with a flag of 

 truce into the town, proposing that 

 the women and children should be 

 allowed to quit it before we erected 

 our mortar batteries ; the enemy 

 availed himself of this opportunity 

 to offer to capitulate on terms 

 which with certain tnodifications, 

 we agreed to; in consequence of 

 which the garrison, consisting of a 

 lieutenant-colonel, and about 100 

 men, marched out of the town, 

 which we immediately occupied. 



We found, on taking possession 

 of the town, that the French had 

 packed up the church plate and 

 bells of Lagosta and Curzola, for 

 the purpose of sending them to 

 the continent, and capt. Taylor 

 and myself experienced the most 

 heartfelt satisfactic n in restoring 

 them to the oppressed inhabitants. 



I have the honour to transmit 

 your lordship returns of the ord- 

 nance, stores, and ammunition 



which we got possession of at Cur- 

 zola. I have also the honour to 

 enclose your lordship a copy of the 

 terms of capitulation, which were 

 signed at the moment that the 

 expected French corps intended to 

 reinforce the menaced islands ap- 

 peared on the peninsula of Sabion- 

 cello, only a mile distant from the 

 town of Curzola. 



To express my approbation of 

 the conduct of captain Taylor 

 throughout the whole of the expe- 

 dition, I fulfil a duty which is 

 peculiarly grateful to my feelings. 

 He unremittingly aided me with 

 his advice, and promoted vory con- 

 siderably the success of the expe- 

 dition by his personal exertions on 

 shore with the troops. I have the 

 fullest reason to be satisfied with 

 the support which I experienced 

 from major Slessor, of the 55th, 

 and the whole of the officers. 

 Lieutenant Rains, who had the 

 direction of the artillery, perform- 

 ed the service allotted him with 

 the greatest zeal. The services of 

 lieutenant M'Donald, of the 35th 

 who had the direction of the gun- 

 boats which accompanied the ex- 

 pedition, were found of great uti- 

 lity. 



I feel great satisfaction in com- 

 municating to your lordship, that 

 during the whole of this service, 

 which was rather severe, owing to 

 the unusual coldness of the wea- 

 ther, the conduct of the troops 

 was highly praiseworthy, and they 

 were ably supported by the sea- 

 men and marines who acted with 

 us on shore. I have the honour 

 to be, &c. (Signed) 



G. D. Robertson, Lieut-col. 

 To his excellency, Lieut-gen. 



Lord Wm. Bentinck, &c. 



