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ATTACK (14) Gun-brig Built in 1804, Chapel.
Lost in 1812.

  • 1808 Lieut. Thos. SWAIN, Channel.
    Off Brest, at daylight on the 28 January 1806, ATTACK and GROWLER captured the French privateer lugger VOLTIGEUR with six 9-pounders on board. With 66 men she was one day out of St. Malo.
    They learnt from her that another lugger in sight was also a privateer and ATTACK made all sail towards the enemy. She was captured after a circular chase of nine hours during which 10 of her 14 guns were thrown overboard. She proved to be the SORCIER, also from St. Malo, commanded by Guillaume Francoise Neele and provisioned for a two month cruise.
  • 1811 Lieut. Charles WALKER, 11/1811.
  • 1812 Lieut. Richard SIMMONDS, Channel Baltic.
    In July 1812 ATTACK was under orders to cruise in the Straits of Dover and, from 4 miles off Calais at 6 PM on the 4th., Lieut. SIMMONDS saw a transport galliot, a sloop and a privateer coming out of the harbour. They ran along the shore and he knew that if he tried to attack them too soon they would turn back, so he made sail to windward hoping to lure them out.
    At half past eight, ATTACK being becalmed, her gig was sent away with 6 men under Mr COUNEY, the second master, and at midnight, while they were under fire from batteries ashore, they discovered the galliot being towed by the privateer. Mr COUNEY and his men boarded the galliot on one side at the same time as the privateer's men boarded her on the other but, when Mr COUNEY killed one of them as they came over the side, they thought it prudent to sheer off and leave the transport in the hands of the boat's crew. She was the transport No. 637 of 256 tons, manned with 16 men armed with muskets.
    The privateer was armed with a 6-pounder, swivels and muskets and had a complement of 30 men commanded by Lieut. Grothe. ATTACK was unable to close to assist them otherwise, given a breeze, they might have captured the whole. The boat crew escaped unhurt.
  • Capt. CHETHAM of HAMADRYAD sent ATTACK to Randers Fjord in Denmark on Sunday 16 August to recall WRANGLER and HAMADRYAD's barge. She took the barge in tow and set out to return to the squadron off Sejero. At 11 o'clock in the evening of Tuesday the 18th. they were about six miles E. S. E. off Foreness when two boats were seen. Lieut. SIMMONDS cleared for action and, twenty minutes later he came under heavy fire. Because of the darkness he could not determine their number but guessed that they were being engaged by 10 12 gunboats. A couple of hours later the Danes stopped firing and he saw that another division of gunboats had come up and were firing on WRANGLER. At that moment a light breeze sprang up so he got out the sweeps and ordered the barge to take ATTACK in tow to try and get close to WRANGLER but he was frustrated by a strong current. Shortly after he lost sight of WRANGLER.
    ATTACK had received a lot of damage. The rigging and sails had been cut to pieces and most of her masts and spars had been shot away. Two guns had been dismounted and she had received a large number of shot between wind and water.
    A little later 14 gunboats formed into a crescent and, keeping ATTACK between them and the shore, commenced an action within pistol shot using round, grape and grenades until the brig was a complete wreck. After two of her men were killed and twelve wounded, Lieut. SIMMONDS felt that further sacrifice was pointless and agreed to surrender.
    ATTACK had been opposed by 14 gunboats each armed with two 24-pounders and two howitzers and having 65 to 70 men. There were also four rowboats with swivels and howitzers. By contrast ATTACK had only 49 men including the barge's crew. Mr COUNEY and eight men had been captured previously while they were rowing guard off Hielam and another officer and six men had been sent in a prize to England. The two killed were: William DAVIDSON, gunner's mate, and William SHROWDER, seaman from HAMADRYAD. The pilot, Mr George HARPER was wounded early in the action but kept his station to the end.
    Lieut. SIMMONDS was honourably acquitted by a court martial held on board CRESSY in Wingo Sound on 19 September which enquired into the loss of ATTACK. Lieut. SIMMONDS had experienced a similar fate the previous season when he commanded MANLY.


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