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Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
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Letter from Palermo dated June 22, 1810, reports growing alarm over French invasion threat to Sicily led by Murat with 40,000 men and numerous boats. English and Sicilian forces captured or destroyed several French transports and gun-boats in a skirmish, with minimal allied losses.
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Extract of a letter, dated at Palermo. June 22d, 1810, to a gentleman in this town.
" The alarm for the safety of this island daily gains ground. Murat is at Reggio, at the head of 40,000 men ; 20 divisions of boats, consisting of 50 each, to be convoyed by 6 or 8 gun boats, which are ready on the Italian coast to go down to the Faro.
The English and Sicilian gun-boats have fallen in with the first division, and (as our friend writes me) the result was, " the capture from the French of 8 or 10 small transports with military stores, brass field pieces, with carriages and waggons complete, and 4 of their gun-boats, which are now refitted for cruising against them. Eight other of their gun boats were sunk, and a number of others much damaged. The allies had but one man wounded, by a grape shot in the tip of his ear. " The English are continually upon the look out, and will no doubt destroy the whole of their enemies' marine. The Victorious (74) sailed on the 16th with troops to destroy the boats collecting in the Adriatic." We hear that 600 boats are expected from that quarter; and from the other side of Italy, as I have already observed, 1000 are ready. " The first division is already destroyed, as per the foregoing extract of a letter from Massena. The 2d division has got safely into Scilla (about 60 sail.) The 3d, his majesty's brigs Cephalus and Le Hortensio. fell with and done them much damage by destroying, capturing & rendering unfit for the object of their expedition. Murat has promised that he will be in Sicily on the 25th, but I think he will be mistaken."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Palermo, Sicily
Event Date
June 22, 1810
Key Persons
Outcome
capture of 8 or 10 french small transports with military stores, brass field pieces, carriages and waggons, and 4 gun-boats refitted for use against french; 8 french gun-boats sunk, others damaged; allies had one man wounded by grape shot in ear tip.
Event Details
Alarm grows for Sicily's safety as Murat leads 40,000 men at Reggio preparing 20 divisions of 50 boats each, convoyed by 6-8 gun-boats from Italian coast to Faro. English and Sicilian gun-boats engaged first division, capturing transports and gun-boats. Victorious (74) sailed on 16th with troops to Adriatic. 600 boats expected from Adriatic, 1000 from other side of Italy. First division destroyed per Massena's letter; second division (60 sail) reached Scilla; third damaged by HMS Cephalus and Le Hortensio. Murat promises arrival in Sicily on 25th but doubted.