DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0203
WOUNDED ON THE FIRST OF JUNE'. Iff
frenchman, took the enemy’s fire, and relieved our gal
lant ship. So closely was she at times engaged, that she
was unable to haul up her lower deck port lids, and was
therefore obliged to fire through them. Nine were in
consequence torn from her side ; and the Idst broad-side
she gave, every muzzle of her lower deckers touched the
copper of the enemy’s bottom. The chief part of this
action I was spectator as well as actor in, though strange to
add, was not in the least intimidated. Just before the
coming up of the Ramifies, I received a severe wound
above the ankle of my left leg, by a grape shot, that
struck on the aftermost brace of the gun, which re-
bounding on the deck, lodged in my leg; notwithstand*
ing which I attempted to rise three times, but without
effect, and on the last effort part of the bone projected,
through the skin, in such a manner as wholly to prevent
my standing, if I had been able to rise; in addition, to
complete the misfortune, I received another wound by
a musket ball, that went completely through my thigh,
a little above the knee of the same leg, and lay in this
crippled state till the engagement was over; every person
on board not wounded, being too much occupied to yield,
me the least assistance. I remained in this situation the
rest of the action ; but at length was conveyed, with
many other wounded, to the cockpit; where the surgeon,
after making me suffer the most excruciating pain, could
not extract the grape-shot from above my ankle, so com-
pletely was it lodged, and surrounded by the swelling
which soon took place, and prevented his endeavour,
through fear of injuring the tendons, among which he
declared it lay.
Our ship being so much shattered, it was deemed ne-
cessary she should be put in port to undergo repairs ; in.
consequence of which we were towed into Spithead soon
after the action : but the severity of my wounds obliged
ffie to keep close to my birth, and was thus deprived of the
A A gratifying
frenchman, took the enemy’s fire, and relieved our gal
lant ship. So closely was she at times engaged, that she
was unable to haul up her lower deck port lids, and was
therefore obliged to fire through them. Nine were in
consequence torn from her side ; and the Idst broad-side
she gave, every muzzle of her lower deckers touched the
copper of the enemy’s bottom. The chief part of this
action I was spectator as well as actor in, though strange to
add, was not in the least intimidated. Just before the
coming up of the Ramifies, I received a severe wound
above the ankle of my left leg, by a grape shot, that
struck on the aftermost brace of the gun, which re-
bounding on the deck, lodged in my leg; notwithstand*
ing which I attempted to rise three times, but without
effect, and on the last effort part of the bone projected,
through the skin, in such a manner as wholly to prevent
my standing, if I had been able to rise; in addition, to
complete the misfortune, I received another wound by
a musket ball, that went completely through my thigh,
a little above the knee of the same leg, and lay in this
crippled state till the engagement was over; every person
on board not wounded, being too much occupied to yield,
me the least assistance. I remained in this situation the
rest of the action ; but at length was conveyed, with
many other wounded, to the cockpit; where the surgeon,
after making me suffer the most excruciating pain, could
not extract the grape-shot from above my ankle, so com-
pletely was it lodged, and surrounded by the swelling
which soon took place, and prevented his endeavour,
through fear of injuring the tendons, among which he
declared it lay.
Our ship being so much shattered, it was deemed ne-
cessary she should be put in port to undergo repairs ; in.
consequence of which we were towed into Spithead soon
after the action : but the severity of my wounds obliged
ffie to keep close to my birth, and was thus deprived of the
A A gratifying