circumstances required, so as to prevent any guns being moved against
the steamer. The nearest shot passed about ten yards astern of her.

The _Teazer_ still continuing on shore, it became evident that before
the tide rose the enemy would destroy her, unless the guns which were
annoying her were captured. It was resolved, therefore, at once to
effect this.

All being ready, the boats pulled in towards the stockade, where the
best place for landing appeared to exist, keeping up all the time a
continued fire of spherical, grape, and canister shot. As the boats
touched the shore, they received a discharge directly in their faces of
some 1500 muskets; but, notwithstanding this, the men undauntedly
landed, and, forming on the beach, after some severe fighting forced
their way into the stockade, driving out the enemy, who fled into the
thick bush close to the rear of it. Among those who landed and charged
with Captain Lyster were Mr Walling and Mr Sproule, surgeons of the
_Penelope_, and who afterwards exposed themselves equally in their
attendance on the wounded under fire. Scarcely had the blacks retreated
than Lieutenant Corbett rushed ahead and spiked all the guns in the
fort.

This object being accomplished, Captain Lyster issued orders for the
re-embarkation of the party; but scarcely had he done so, when it was
discovered that the enemy, having made a desperate rush at the first
lifeboat, had succeeded in getting hold of her, and were tracking her
along the beach towards the spot where the guns were posted which had
first opened on the _Teazer_. On seeing this, the British, headed by
their gallant leader, Captain Lyster, hurried down to the shore for the
purpose of retaking her; but some delay occurred in consequence of
having to divide her crew of sixty men among the other boats, which
somewhat crowded them. The enemy, on seeing this, rushed back from
their concealment in the woods by swarms, and poured in a destructive,
crushing fire on the boats at pistol range.

On this occasion a gallant young officer, Mr F.R. Fletcher, midshipman
in command of the second cutter, and who had charge of the boats while
on shore, was shot through the head and killed. Several officers and
men had before been wounded on shore, among whom was Lieutenant
Williams, of the Marine Artillery, who, though hit in three places, had
continued at the head of his men till they returned to the boats.
Commander Hillyar was also wounded,