DISASTROUS AFFAIR ON THE GAMBIA.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 445, 20 July 1850, Page 2

DISASTROUS AFFAIR ON THE GAMBIA.

The following is an extract from a letter of an officer of the 2nd West India Regiment,— " Bathurst, Gambia, Dec. 21, 1849 •'About two months ago a vessel belonging to * merchant here wast.ading down the coast, near B.asso, about 100 milts to the south of us, wh n the vessel was seized by a party of black fellows, who turned ou. to be pirates, inhabiting an island at the mouth of the River Seba. Some of Ihe crew where shot, one ot whom was d Frenchman. The Governor here wrote an account to the Governor of Senegal, who cent & small man-of-war steamer , with some Marines to ajsist us ia punishing these scoundrels, and retaking the vessel. The day after she arrived here one of our yessets, the Teazer, came in j so the Gournor determined on sending her with the Frenchman and a few ot our men. The day after this the Commodore armed in the Centaur »team frigate quite by chance. It was now arranged that they should all go down. He n..p n number of Mannes on board, aud, with 90 of our men under Captain Hill, and Lieutenants M'tyurt and M'l-nughlen, sailed o this p'»oe. The aotiotf* was very short. As well as I can make out, thf outline is at follows :—: — . " The Teazer and the Ruby (Frenchman) having jroneup the creek where the island is si'uated, anchored off the place where they were to land. 1»e Centaur, beiug too large to come up so far, sent up h«r boat*, 12 in number, while she remained about three miles down* Captain Buckle, of the Centaur »nd Lieu.tent.nt Selwyn, commander of the Teazer, then went in advance of the other boats near tb, w thore, intending to demand the re-titution of the vessel togetn* er witn the men who murdered the crew, when he was fired at. The ball took the tfiVct on Mr, Youn<*, mid■hipman of the Centsur, dangerously wounding him m the breast. The Teaaer and the Ruby, together with the boat* that had canuon, then opened a furious cannonade, which lasted nearly half-nn-hour. The natives stood it without answeiing a shot. The-V '.he.l attempted to land from the boats, however the first that came near the bush which they had to pass through, received a vo.ley which took great effect, killing Lieutenant Crocket, commauding the marines, and dangerously wounding eight others (sailors and marines J They then withdrew and our men landed wi'hout further opposition, and nfter beating about some time, returned to their vessels. The fust boat was the only under fire, unless jou reckon the shot that wounded Young, and this single ihot and the volley was the only firing from the enemy. The next day ther-aity Trent ten miles up the creek, and recovered the vessel without oppontion or seeing a man. Thus euded the affair,"