Dear Sirs,

It is with humble appreciation that I write this note to inform you of the heroic and selfless actions of Captain Sir Roderick Morrow on the evening of 10. September.

During the battle of Fort de France, numerous French skirmishing frigates did engage the rear of our correctly formed and ordered line of battle and proceed to do great harm upon our brave Captain's ships. During this engagement, the Valiant-class third rate HMS Augustus Caesar took a multitude of full broadsides from these frigates, including strong hit to the stern of her gun decks. Despite being near-crippled and taking on water, a fact that later saved the ship from a vicious powder room strike, Captain Sir Roderick Morrow placed his Trinity-class second rate, HMS Courageous, in direct line of the enemy fire. I have no doubt that in taking several mighty hits and so proficiently blocking the stern of the HMS Augustus Caesar, Captain Sir Roderick Morrow's actions did allow the Valiant to escape, saving the lives of almost six hundred brave crewmen and officers, along with the warship herself, which was able to disengage under orders and return to Port Royal for extensive refit and repair.

I would like to formally thank him for this act of bravery and skilled piloting under heavy enemy fire, and believe that such meritorous actions to save a lower rated ship are deserving of recognition.

I remain, humbly,
Captain Miss Jessica Ashden.

My Lords the Senior Officers of the Squadron,

I can not be quick enough in nominating Sir Roderick Morrow, 1st Bart, for a Distinguished Service Cross for his part as Commodore in the Battle of Maracaibo this evening the 7th of February. The battle had the outlook of disaster when it turned out that there were no Admiral present to lead the fleet, and so the responsibility of each Commodore became much greater as they now formed the very tip of the Chain of Command. Sir Roderick, as Commodore of White Group, did not shrink from the task however, and he never hesitated in making his group ready for combat.

During the battle, better explained in full in the after action report found in the archive, Sir Roderick and his group served not only as the most diciplined and cohesive group of the fleet, but also as the very spearhead of the most critical maneuvers which split or cut off the Spanish fleet. There is no doubt in my mind that had a Commodore with less skill, cunning and quickness of mind commanded the white group, the battle would have had quite the opposite result.

Indeed, at the very end of the battle, it was Sir Roderick that put his H.M.S. Hades in the way of the tip of the retreating Spanish line, making their escape impossible. Not only did Sir Roderick not lose a single ship under his command, three Spaniards struck their colours to him personally, one a third-rate ship of the line.

I trust, my Lords, that you see his actions as exemplary as I do.


I remain, my Lord, your most obedient, etc.
Sir Nathan Blatchford, 1st Bart.

Mylords, captains of the squadron,

for his continious efforts as a secretary recruitement, gathering new captians under the banner of St. George squadron as well as giving the a helping hand, i would like to nominate Captain Morrow for an Admiral's Commendation.