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GOSHAWK
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(16) |
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Built in 1806, Blackwall (built of fir).
Lost in 1813. |
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- 1808 Alex.
INNES, cruising in Channel. - 1811 James LILBURNE, Channel.
The BERWICK (74) gave chase to a large French frigate on 24 March 1811 and obliged her to shelter in a small rocky bay about a mile to the westward of Barfleur lighthouse.
The strong lee tide forced BERWICK to anchor about 2 miles north of the enemy in order to avoid the shoals so she called in the AMELIA frigate and the GOSHAWK and HAWK sloops to blockade the bay.
Later the NIOBE joined and, when flood made, the squadron went as close as they could to bombard the enemy.
The next morning when they went in to repeat the attack they found that the French had set fire to their frigate and burnt her to the waterline. She was the 40-gun AMAZONE. - On 7 September 1811, while cruising in the Baie de la Seine with BARBADOES (28), they fell in with seven French gunboats coming from Boulogne, each mounting three long 28 pdr guns and a mortar.
They chased the French vessels into Calvados and drove one ashore.
The following day the HOTSPUR frigate sunk another and drove two more on to the rocks but then grounded herself and lost five killed and twenty-two wounded. - In April 1812 Capt. USSHER of HYACINTH was ordered to stop the depredations caused to British trade by the privateers of Malaga, several fast, well-equipped vessels commanded by one Barbastro.
The senior officer at Gibraltar provided him with GOSHAWK; the RESOLUTE gun-brig, Lieut. John KEENAN; and a gunboat commanded by Lieut. CULL. - The attack was launched on the evening of 29 April when all the privateers were in port.
The plan was as follows: -
Capt. USSHER in his gig, with 6 men; and Lieut. Thomas HASTINGS in the pinnace, with 20 men, to attack a battery of fifteen long 24-pounders on the mole head.
Lieut. Francis SPILSBURY in HYACINTH's barge with the purser and 24 men to attack a battery pounders opposite the above.
Capt. LILBURNE, with 40 of his men in the gunboat, to board Barbastro's privateer the BRAAVE, of 10 guns and 130 men.
All the other boats under Lieut. KEENAN, assisted by Lieuts. OTTY and ARNOLD of GOSHAWK, to board the other privateers.
Each to be provided with coils of rope to be laid of as warps to the gunboat.
- Capt. USSHER and Lieut. HASTINGS dashed on ahead and took possession of the principal battery less than five minutes after they touched the shore.
A rocket was fired and the gunboat and her companions came up, and boarded and carried the privateers, while Capt. USSHER turned the guns on the castle of Gibralfaro until he had used all the powder he could find.
He then rowed up the harbour to join the boats.
BRAAVE was attacked by HYACINTH's cutter under Mr PIERCE, midshipman, Capt. LILBURNE having pushed in among the other privateers.
Barbastro and most of his crew escaped ashore by jumping overboard but 33 prisoners were taken by only 13 English.
The moon was now rising and the gunboat with a privateer in tow, was in clear sight of troops from the 57th. regiment who had come down to attack the captured battery.
The other privateers were also under tow and came under a cannonade from the castle and musket fire from the mole wall, only a few yards distant.
Capt. LILBURNE received a mortal wound and many others were killed or wounded.
To add to their troubles, the heavy firing caused the wind to drop, and it was only with great difficulty that they managed to bring out two privateers, BRAAVE and NAPOLEON.
The gunboat received so much damage that she sank while returning to Gibraltar.
0f 149 officers and men, 15 were killed and 53 wounded.
The remains of Capt. LILBURNE were buried in the garrison cemetery on 4 May with full naval honours. - 1812 Cdr. CLOWES (act), Mediterranean.
- 1813 Hon. William John NAPIER, Mediterranean.
GOSHAWK was wrecked on the evening of 21 September 1813 when she got aground about two and a half miles to the eastward of the mole-head of Barcelona. She had been standing inshore to intercept some light-draft vessels that were expected to bring in provisions for the French army.
As she attempted to return to her usual soundings the wind became baffling and died away and a heavy swell drove her ashore.
All the crew were saved.
Captain NAPIER, his officers and the crew were fully acquitted.
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