About four o’clock in
the morning
There we captured a ship at anchor under the guns of a battery , and also a fast-sailing lugger , and then joined the squadron at Plymouth , and sailed thence on the 24th of March , 1806 . We captured some fishing-boats , but let them go , and from information gained from the men brought off two prizes laden with wine , and during the week captured several other ships , and then rejoined the squadron , which we supplied with wine sufficient to last them for some considerable time . `` Leaving the fleet again , we heard that some French corvettes were lying up the Garonne ; and after dark we came to an anchor , and the boats , manned by the whole crew -- except about forty men -- under the command of the first lieutenant rowed up the river to capture one of them , which was lying a few miles up under the protection of two batteries . About four o'clock in the morning we heard heavy firing . The boats had , after a smart fight , captured a corvette which mounted fourteen guns . No sooner had they taken possession than two other corvettes came up . The guns of the prize were turned upon them and they were beaten off , and the prize was brought safely down the river .