light
company of seamen, under Lieutenant AC Key, made a dash at the wood,
which it was most important to hold. In a few minutes it was carried
and taken possession of. Shortly after this the French brigade landed;
and, the enemy taking to flight in all directions, little more remained
to be done, beyond spiking the guns and destroying the batteries.
Captain Hope, after cutting the chain across the river, landed with
Captain Hotham, and acted as his aide-de-camp throughout the day.

In consequence of this action, Captain C Hotham was made a Commander of
the Order of the Bath; Commander BJ Sulivan was posted; and Lieutenants
Inglefield, Levinge, Doyle, and Key were made commanders; R Rowe,
gunner's mate, was made a gunner, and W Ross, caulker's mate, was made a
warrant officer, both of whom, though severely wounded, had refused to
quit their quarters till the battle was over.

Two ships of war being left to prevent the enemy offering any
obstruction to the navigation of the Parana, the squadron proceeded to
convoy a fleet of merchantmen up the river.

Captain Hope, in a very gallant way, pursued and destroyed the schooner
_Chacabuco_, belonging to the enemy.

ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE BATTERIES OF SAN LORENZO.

After the squadron and convoy had passed up, which they did without the
loss of a single vessel or man, Rosas set to work to fortify the cliffs
of San Lorenzo. This he did in the most effectual way in his power, by
throwing up large works of earth, and in collecting guns from every
direction, and also in training his men to the use of them. He had
plenty of time to effect these objects, as the squadron was detained
some time at Corrientes, while the merchantmen were disposing of their
cargoes, and collecting fresh ones to take back in return. May 1846,
indeed, had arrived before the different vessels of the convoy had
settled all their affairs, and to the number of no were ready to descend
the river.

In the meantime, a constant communication had been kept up with the
admiral at Monte Video by the men-of-war, which had on each occasion to
run the gauntlet of the batteries, and in some instances with severe
loss, their commanders at the same time affording a noble display of
gallantry, in obeying the orders they had received. Commander Sulivan,
among others, made himself very conspicuous by the accurate knowledge he
possessed of the river, which enabled him to pilot the ships up without
risk.

The _Philo