150 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



1 acceded to this proposal, and 

 the troops were immediately em- 

 barked in a number of country 

 vessels, which were towed off by 

 the boats of the squadron, and 

 the whole being taken in tow by 

 the shi|is, we proceeded the same 

 night for Leghorn roads, where 

 we anchored about three o'clock 

 on the following day, to the 

 northward of the town. The im- 

 perieuse having previously recon- 

 noitered the best spot for landing, 

 the vessels were immediately towed 

 in shore, and the troops and field- 

 pieces landed without opposition. 

 The boats then proceeded to land 

 the marines ; but the weather, 

 which had been hitherto favoura- 

 ble, in the course of the evening 

 became so bad, that only a part 

 could be got on shore ; and I 

 regret to state, that the pinnance 

 of the America was swamped, 

 and Lieut. Moody (a most valuable 

 officer), and two seamen, were 

 drowned. Early in the morning 

 the remainder were landed, and 

 proceeded to the positions assigned 

 them. 



The corps of the enemy, which 

 had been defeated at Via Reggio, 

 was a second time reinforced at 

 Pisa, and at this period made an 

 attack on our marines without the 

 tower. I beg to refer you to Cap- 

 tain Dundas's report, for the par- 

 ticulars of their defeat : the Lieu- 

 tenant Colonel suggested, as a 

 ' proper time after this advantage, 

 to summons the Commandant, 

 which was accordingly done, but 

 an answer returned that he would 

 defend hin)self. The gates of the 

 town had been closely examined 

 during this day and the preceding 

 night to ascertain the practica- 

 bility of forcing an entrance ; bnt 



that or any other means of imme- 

 diate attack not being considered 

 practicable against a place so strong^ 

 and regularly fortified, and there 

 not appearing any movement of 

 the inhabitants in our favour, the 

 precarious and threatening state of 

 the weather, a change of which 

 would have prevented all commu- 

 nication with the ships, rendered 

 it expedient to re-embark the 

 whole without delay : by very 

 great exertions this was effected 

 in the best order during the night, 

 and early the following morning, 

 in very severe weather, without 

 any molestation from the enemy. 



On returning from the shore to 

 the America at sun-set, I found a 

 deputation from the Mayor and 

 inhabitants of the town, who had 

 been permitted by the Command- 

 ant to come off with a flag of 

 truce, to petition us to cease our 

 fire from the houses, he having 

 threatened to dislodge us by setting 

 fire to the suburbs. As arrange- 

 ments were already made for re- 

 embarking, I consented to a ces- 

 sation of firing on both sides till 

 eight the next morning : a fa- ^ 

 vourable circumstance for us, the 

 troops on their march to the boats 

 being exposed to a fire from the 

 ramparts. 



I have very great satisfaction in 

 reporting to you the zeal and good 

 conduct of all the officers, seamen, 

 and marines employed on the 

 above-mentioned services. 



To Lient-Col. Catanelli every 

 praise is due for his able and in- 

 defatigable exertions, and I feel 

 thankful for his cordial co-opeia- 

 tion. The conduct of the troops 

 of the Italian levy, both for bra- 

 very and discipline in the field, 

 and the cheerfulness with which 



