Last bit.......
On 21st Oct. 1811, with two of the HAWKE'S boats, one of them commanded by Mr.Smith the Master, he made a dash at one of several brigs lying in Barfleur harbour, and was received by a heavy fire which killed 2 and wounded 3 of his companions. He nevertheless boarded, with but one follower, and maintained an obstinate struggle until the two were wounded (himself by a thrust of a bayonet) and disarmed. He then, trusting to the chance of being picked up rather than to the certainty of being taken prisoner, jumped overboard, and contrived to keep himself afloat until happily fallen in with by the cutter under Mr.Smith, who had been foiled in his attempts to gain the deck of the French vessel. The boats of the THEBAN frigate had been sent to co-operate in the attack, but did not arrive in time to afford any support. On the return of the HAWKE to Portsmouth Mr.Price was sent to the hospital at Haslar, where, after three months of protracted suffering, it was discovered that instead of his hip-bone, as had been supposed, being fractured, four inches of the bayonet steel had remained lodged in his side. As soon as the state of his health would permit, which was not until Sept. 1812, he was appointed to the MULGRAVE 74, Capt. Thos. Jas. Maling, stationed off Cherbourg.
He next, in Jan 1813, joined the SAN JOSEF 110, Capts. Henry Bourchier and W M. Stewart, in which ship, although but the third in seniority, he was selected by Sir Rich. King, whose flag was at the time flying on board, to perform the duties of First Lieutenant in the partial action fought with the French fleet of Toulon 5th Nov. 1813. Being advanced to the rank of Commander 6th Dec. in the same year, and appointed to the VOLCANO bomb he volunteered, in the summer of 1814, to join in the hostilities then rife off the coast of North America. Proceeding thither accordingly, and arriving in time to form a part in the expedition against Baltimore, he covered the landing at north point, assisted at the bombardment of Fort M'Henry, and was the last, after having covered the re-embarkation of the troops, to leave the Patapsco. When subsequently Aide-De-Camp to Rear-Admiral Pulteney Malcolm in the Potomac, he led on part of the forces up the Yocomoco, while Capt. Rich. Keneh of the AETNA bomb who was killed, led the other up the coan.
On 31st Oct 1814, being then in the windward passage with a transport under convoy bound to Jamaica, the VOLCANO fell in with and, after two broadsides, put to flight the SAUCY JACK American schooner privateer, a vessel of far superior force, 7 of whose people were killed and 14 wounded, with a loss to the British of an officer (Lieut. J. P. Furzer, R.M.A) and 2 men killed. At the commencement of the operations against New Orleans Capt. Price was employed, in conjunction with Capt. Hon. ROBT. Cavendish Spencer, in surprising the American piquet posted at the entrance of the Bayou Catalan, and so effectually was the service executed that not a man escaped, and the British troops were in consequence enabled to land without resistance. On General Keane's army being attacked, on the evening of the 24th, by the enemy, Capt. Price was despatched to acquaint him with the approach of reinforcements. In carrying out his instructions he fell in with a party of the enemy, who fired at and shot him through the thigh. " In this state," reports Rear-Admiral Malcolm, " he not only made his escape, but secured an American soldier: I trust his wound is not dangerous, as he is a gallant young man and an excellent officer."
The VOLCANO subsequently aided in the bombardment of Fort St. Philip, and continued on the Mississippi until the retreat of the British Army. In Feb. 1815, after landing a body of troops on Dauphin Island, Capt. Price took a zealous and active part in the attack of Fort Bowyer. During the proximate siege of Fort Mobile he was sent in charge of a division of boats to intercept a force of 800 men which had been sent from the town of Mobile for the purpose of raising it. Successful in the object of his mission, he effected the capture of two schooners, in one of which were found despatches of consequence from the American General Blew. The importance of Capt. Price's performance was acknowledged in Major-General Lambert's public letter to the War-Office. On the intelligence of peace arriving from England he was sent with a flag-of-truce to communicate the information to the Americans at Mobile, and to restore Fort Bowyer to the proper authorities.
On his return to England he was advanced to his present rank on 13th June 1815. When next in command, from 1st May 1834, until the spring of 1838, of the Portland 52, on the Mediterranean station, he was presented by King Otho with the Order of the Redeemer for his services to the Greek Government. The assistance afforded by him to the British mission was also acknowledged in the official letters of Sir Edm. Lyons, the Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of Athens. Since 10th Nov. 1846 he has been employed as Superintendent of the dockyard at Sheerness and Captain of the OCEAN 80 and Wellington 72.
Captain Price is a Magistrate for Brecknockshire.He married, 30th July 1844, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late John Taylor ESQ., and niece of the late Admiral William Taylor (d.1830), of Maize Hill, Greenwich.
And that's it!
Plenty of research to pick out of that lot!
All the best,
Mick
