( 203 )

raft could be commenced; and the weather wasso tempestuous that there was no appearanceof the chasse-mar^es upon which the bridge wasto be laid, being able to pass the bar at the ap-pointed time. These untoward circumstances,having necessarily altered the original design,added to the splendour of this memorable enter-prise, which, having failed as a night operation,it was determined to undertake in the face ofday, though in the vicinity of a large force.

A few men were first pushed over on theevening of the 22d of March, in the row-boatsattached to the pontoon train, and soon droveaway the enemy’s pickets. Rafts of pontoonswere immediately constructed; but not beingfound to answer, owing to the great strength ofthe current, boats, and pontoons used as row-boats when the tide was slack, were employedto reinforce, as quickly as possible, the smallparty sent over in the first instance. A batteryof six 18 pounders was established a little above,to act against a frigate and four of the enemy’sgun boats, which had been placed there to pre-vent a passage from being attempted at thatpoint, and to endeavour to impede the layingof a bridge below. One of the gun-boats wasblown up; the others, and the frigate (Sapho),after having sustained severe loss and injury,