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TUSCAN
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The Italian RONCO taken by UNITE,40, Capt. Pat. CAMPBELL, off Cape Promontoro in the Gulf of Venice on 2 May 1808.
Sold in 1818. |
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- 1809 Capt.
WILSON, Mediterranean On the 21 October 1809 an enemy squadron with a large convoy left Toulon with supplies for the French army in Spain. - The warships were disposed of off the Rhone by Rear-Ad. MARTIN but the transports took refuge in the Bay of Rosas and a squadron (TIGRE, CUMBERLAND, VOLUNTAIRE, APOLLO, TOPAZE, PHILOMEL.
SCOUT and TUSCAN) under Capt. HALLOWELL was ordered to bring them out or destroy them.
On the night of 31 October the ships anchored five miles off the bay where the 11 enemy vessels were under the protection of the castle of Rosas, Trinity Fort and several new batteries The three brigs kept under weigh and moved in as close as the light winds would allow to give assistance at daylight if needed. - The boats of the squadron in separate divisions all under the orders of Lieut. TAILOUR of TIGRE went in to the attack.
They were expected and the losses were high but all 11 enemy vessels were taken or burnt.
The total British losses were 15 killed and 55 wounded.
Two were wounded in TUSCAN, Lieut. Pascoe DUNN, slightly, and ordinary seaman James LAMB, dangerously. - 1811 Capt. COX, Mediterranean.
On the 20 February 1811 more than 3,000 troops including cavalry were embarked on naval vessels, including TUSCAN, and transports (ST. ALBANS, DRUID, COMUS, SABINE, TUSCAN, EPHIRA, STEADY and REBUFF) and were waiting in the Bay of Cadiz for a favourable opportunity to force a landing at either Tariffa, a point between Cape de Plata or at Algeciras.
They were to be accompanied by 7,000 Spanish troops who were embarked in a large fleet of small transports.
The idea was to link up with the Spanish forces at St Roche and make a combined attack on the enemy lines before Cadiz. - The British part, under Capt. BRACE, put to sea on the 20th. expecting the Spanish to follow the next day.
The troops under General Graham were landed at Algiciras and marched to Tariffa but, since the roads were impassable for wheeled traffic, the artillery and stores were taken ashore in boats in very unfavourable weather at Tariffa.
The same bad weather prevented the Spanish from getting out of Cadiz Bay until the 27th. - In October 1811 General Ballesteros was being pressed by a superior enemy force near St. Roche and asked for naval support.
Rear Ad. LEGGE ordered STATELY (64), TUSCAN and COLUMBINE to sail from Cadiz with eight companies of the 47th., the same number of the 87th., seventy of the 95th. with four pieces of light artillery, all under the command of Colonel Skerritt.
They sailed on the 11th. and landed at Tariffa on the 18th.
The Spanish, who were to follow were kept in Cadiz by a strong east wind.
The enemy, about 1,500 strong, appeared and proceeded to advance on Tariffa by the Lapina Pass.
TUSCAN, with gun boat No.14 and all of STATELY's boats anchored as close as possible to the beach and prevented the advance by keeping up a steady fire during the night.
The French retired the next day and Colonel Skerritt marched after them on the 20th. - 1812 George Matthew JONES, Mediterranean.
- 1815 Ditto, Lisbon.
- 1816 Portsmouth.
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