Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

CAPTURE OF FRENCH FRIGATES. We have the satisfaction to announce the capture of five of the enemy's largest frigates. One of them, the President of 44 guns and 330 men, which, in concert with the Regulus, &c. did considerable mischief on the coast of Africa, was taken after a chace of 17 hours by Admiral Louis's squadron. Of the cap. ture of the other four, which were full of troops, the following is Sir Samuel Hood's official account, from the London Gazette, addressed to and transmitted by Admiral Cotton:

Centaur, at Sea, 26th Sept. 1806. SIR-Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, I had the good fortune of fal ling in with a squadron of the enemy, standing to the westward; the squadron under my orders being then on the larboard tack, stretching in for Chasseron light-house, six or seven leagues from us, the Revenge to windward, and the Monarch to leeward, on the look. out, the latter ship first making the signal for an enemy, when I soon discovered seven sail to leeward of me; and considering them, in part, line of battle ships, the signal was made to form the line, and shortly after I observed them bearing up, making all sail, and running to the S. S. W. The signal was instantly made for a general chace, and the Monarch, from her position and good sailing, was enabled to keep nearly within gun shot, a mile and a half, or little more, a-head of the Centaur, and the Mars on the starboard bow. At daylight we made them out five large French frigates, and two corvettes, one of which bearing a broad pendant. At five the Monarch fired a few chace shot; and at six the weathermost frigate hauled more to the westward, in pursuit of which I dispatched the Mars; and one frigate, with the two corvettes, edged away to the south east, the remaining three frigates keeping in close order, indicating an intention of supporting each other.

At a quarter past ten the Monarch opened her starboard guns on the ene. my, when a heavy cannonading commenced, and by the enemy's management of a running fight, they succeeded in crippling the Monarch's sails and rigging before the Centaur could get

Oct. 1906.

up. At eleven we got within fair range of two, and opened our fire from the larboard guns, whilst the Monarch kept engaging the third ship, and about noon one of the two frigates struck, as did the one opposed to the Monarch soon after.

It was just before this I received a severe wound in my right arm, (since amputated, and doing well I hope,) which obliged me to leave the deck; the Mars, previous to this, had succeeded in capturing her chase, and with her prize, hauled towards the Centaur, in chace of, and firing at the French Commodore's ship, and at three, assisted in capturing her. Those ships of the enemy made. an obstinate resistance, but the result was, as may well be supposed, attended with much slaughter, being crowded with troops, out of Rochefort the evening before.

I cannot add too much praise to Captain Lee, of the Monarch, for his gallant and officer-like conduct, but I am sorry to find his loss has been rather severe, the swell of the sea preventing, at times, the opening of the lower deck ports.

To Captain Lukin, of the Mars, I feel thankful for his steady conduct and attention; and I have also to express my satisfaction at the endeavours of Captains Boyles, King, Sir John Gore, and Mansfield, in getting up with the enemy, although they could not succeed. The Revenge, from being well to windward, became considerably astern after bearing up.

To Lieutenant Case, first of the Centaur, I have to add my approbation of his judicious conduct before and after my leaving the deck, and I also feel much pleased at the steady exertions of all my officers, seamen and marines.

I enclose herewith, a return of the killed and wounded, and I also annex a list of the enemy's ships captured, and will make a return of their loss as soon as possible. I have the honour, &c. SAM. HOOD.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

guns each, all very fine vessels, of large dimensions, mounting 24 French 18pounders on their main decks; 38-pounder carronades on their quarter decks and forecastles, and about 650 men (including troops) in each ship, full of stores, arms, ammunition, and provisions, &c. La Themis frigate and two corvettes, of 18 guns, escaped.

All the prizes are safe arrived in port. This capture is in every point of view important. Had the frigates proceeded either to the West Indies or South America, they might have done much mischief. The gallant Sir Samuel Hood, we are happy to say, is doing well.

The President French frigate was taken in the Bay of Biscay on the 27th of Sept, by the squadron under RearAdmiral Sir T. Louis, after a chace of 17 hours. She is a fine ship of 44 guns, with 330 men, and commanded by Monsieur Gallier Labrosse. There was no loss on either side. She had parted from a ship of the line, and two frigates, her consorts, in a hard gale of wind on the Carolina coast, on the 20th of August.

On the 24th of August, the Pomona Spanish frigate, of 40 guns, from Vera Cruz, was taken about two leagues to the eastward of the Moro Castle, by the British frigates Arethusa and Anson, after a close action of 16 minutes. The Spanish frigate was assisted by 7 gun-boats (one of which was blown up and another sunk) and a battery of 18 guns. Previous to the action there was a considerable quantity of money landed from the frigate, reported to be the property of the King: but the English found in the ship half a million of dolJars. The Captain of the Spanish frigate lost his life in the action: the number of others killed not known, but supposed considerable, from the closeness of the action, and heavy fire. At the time of the action there was an 80 gun ship in the harbour with her yards down, and could not get ready in time. The Arethusa, Capt. Brisbane, had two men killed, and ten men wounded, the Anson, Capt Lydyard, none.

A letter from an officer in the Jason frigate, commanded by the son of Admiral Cochrane, states in substance as follows:

"The boats of the Jason, and of the Maria schooner, under the command of

Lieut. C. Kerr of the Jason, were sent on the 1st of July to silence a small fort on the coast of Porto Rico, which had annoyed the Maria very much the day before. On landing close under the fort, the boats grounded at such a distance, that the men were up to their middles in the water, by which all their ammunition was spoiled, and they consequently could not fire a single musket against the enemy. The Spaniards kept up a smart and well directed fire, which killed and wounded a number of our people, and among others, the second in command, master of the Maria, was struck at once by four bullets, and almost instantly expired. In this situation, Lieut. Kerr, considering that hesitation or retreat were equally certain destruction to the whole party, instant. ly stormed the fort, and carried it without farther resistance; the Spaniards all running off the moment our brave tars began to advance. In the fort, instead of a single cannon, which they only supposed it to possess, were found five; an iron 24 pounder, three brass twelves, and an iron 8-pounder. The first four were immediately spiked, and the last turned against the Spaniards, who still lurked in the bushes near the fort. When just about to leave the fort, by some unfortunate mistake, a cartridge, much too large, was brought from the magazine of the fort; the people eut it, and left the overplus powder on the ground under the gun. On firing, some sparks set this loose powder on fire, which communicated to the magazine, and blew it up, by which two of our men were killed, and three badly wounded.-Lieut. Kerr was wounded in the leg by a splinter, and had his face so much burnt, as to be in great danger of losing his sight. Of forty men who landed from the boats, twenty-two were killed or wounded, besides those who suffered by the explosion. Lieut. Kerr is since much recovered, and almost fit to resume his duty.

On the 12th of October, a most desperate action took place off St Maloes, betwixt the Constance sloop of war of 24 guns, Capt. A. S. Burrowes, assisted by the Sheldrake, Strenuous, and Britannia gunbrigs, and the Salamander French frigate, protected by strong batteries on the shore. After a severe ac tion of three hours, the Salamander

struck,

struck, and was brought off; but in so shattered a state, that it was found necessary to destroy her, after taking out the prisoners. Capt. Burrowes was killed, and there were 12 men killed, and 12 wounded on board the Constance, which was so much damaged, that she drifted on shore among the rocks, and afterwards sunk. The remainder of the crew were saved, and made prisoners. The Sheldrake had one killed, and two wounded; the Strenuous five wounded. The Salamander lost her first and second Captains, and about 30 men.

A desperate, but unsuccessful attempt was recently made by the boats of the Spitfire sloop, to cut out a large privateer from under the batteries at Dieppe. The enemy were perfectly prepared to receive the attack, and our brave tars were obliged to retire with considerable loss;-the boatswain and seven men being killed, and two Lieutenants and four men founded.

We have at length received some intelligence of the proceedings of the French squadron under Admiral Guillamet, which escaped out of Brest in December last, and in which Jerome Bo. naparte commanded the Veteran of 74 guns. It appears that they ranged along the African coast for near three months, and took and destroyed several English merchantmen. They stood as far south as St Helena, and would have gone to the Cape, had they not learnt of its capture. In the beginning of April, they arrived at St Salvador in the Brazils, where they took in provisions and water, and sailed again on the 29th of that month. From this date no accounts were obtained of them for near two months, having still had the good fortune to avoid the squadrons of Sir Richard Strachan and Sir John B. Warren, both of whom were in pursuit of them. At length dispatches were received from Admiral Cochrane at Barbadoes, announcing the arrival of the French squadron at Fort Royal in Martinique, in separate divisions, from the 24th to the 29th of June. They consisted of seven ships of the line and four frigates. Admiral Cochrane's force, at this time, was only four ships of the line, and they were scattered among the islands. The French, however, afraid of being overtaken and blocked up in Martinique, left that island about

the 4th of July. Next day, they took and destroyed three loaded ships at Montserrat, and attempted to sink four light vessels, under Brimstonehill at St Kitt's, but did not succeed. On the 6th, they sent a boat to take soundings in the bay of Tortola, where a large fleet of homeward bound ships had assembled for convoy. But Admiral Cochrane, who had collected his ships, appearing off the island in the course of that day, the French suddenly abandoned their design, and steered with all sail to the northward. The Admiral sent two frigates to watch their motions. On the 12th of July, Admiral Sir John Warren, (who sailed from Portsmouth on the 4th of June, with six sail of the line and two frigates), arrived at Bar. badoes, and went in pursuit of the enemy, who, he was informed, was steering home by the North American coast. On the 19th of August, the Admiral reached Newfoundland, but without meeting the enemy. On the 21st of August, Sir John Warren's squadron was in the Bay of Bulls taking in water, in order to continue his cruize.

We learn with regret, that Jerome Bongarte has escaped all our fleets, and arrived safe in a French port, after a cruize more successful in the end than it was in the outset. It appears, that after a cruize of near seven months, he became anxious to get home, and actually parted with his Admiral Guillamet in the Gulph of Florida about the middle of July. On the 16th of August, his ship, the Veteran, fell in off the Azores with a homeward-bound fleet from Quebec and Halifax, consisting of 22 ships, under convoy of the Champion of 24 guns. The fleet immediately separated by signal from the Champion, but six of the most valuable ships, whose cargoes consisted of furs and timber for the navy, were unfortunately captured, Part of the cargoes were taken out, and all the ships burnt. The crews were afterwards put on board of an American ship, which landed them safe at Portsmouth on the 26th of August. The Champion, three transports, with the 6th regiment of foot on board, and the other vessels escaped. The Veteran had previously taken and destroyed a West Indiaman bound to Dublin, and another vessel from Newfoundland to Oporto, with fish. On the 26th of August, the

Veteran

Veteran got safe into the bay of Concarneau, near l'Orient, where Jerome instantly landed, and set out for Paris. It is said she was chaced in the Bay of Biscay for some time by the Gibraltar man of war, which unluckily carried away her fore-topmast.

We are sorry to learn, that the squadron of Sir Richard Strachan, which sailed from Portsmouth the 19th of May, in pursuit of Guillamet's fleet, has suffered considerable damage in a violent storm, in the West Indies. The Admiral had cruized for two months, from Madeira to the Cape de Verd islands, and afterwards steered for the West Indies, and arrived at Barbadoes on the 8th of August. Having completed a stock of provisions and water for five mouths, he sailed from that island on the 13th. They were making the best of their way to the northward, till on the 19th, being in lat. 21. 22. N. long. 62. W. their career was stopped. It bad blown hard on the 18th, and towards night had every appearance of bad weather; the necessary precautions were therefore taken (the Admiral and all the squadron were in sight of each other at sun-set). The gale increased much during the night, the wind shifting about as in a hurricane. At two o'clock in the morning of the 19th, the main-mast of the Audacious was carried away; the fore and mizen-top-mast went at the same moment; but such was the terrific noise of the wind, that the crash of masts was scarcely heard by the Officers on deck. The mizen-mast went in about an hour after the main-mast; and at nine o'clock A. M. the fore-mast was cut away, there being no possibility of securing it. The wreck fell on board, and did some damage to the ship; but no man was seriously hurt by any of the wrecks, or during the gale.

The Prince of Wales of 98 guns, and Audacious, Terrible, Bellona, and Montague of 74, are all arrived at Plymouth under jury masts. They parted with the Admiral's ship, the Caesar of so guns, and the Triumph, Capt. Sir T.M. Har. dy, the day after the storm. The for. mer had sprung her fore-mast, and was steering with the Triumph for Chesapeak Bay, where it is believed they may arrive safe.

Guillamet's squadron was likewise dispersed in a gale of wind between the

10th and 13th of August. The Patriote, of 74 guns, arrived in Annapolis roads on the 2d of September, dismasted. The Eole, Foudroyant, Castor, and the Impetueux of 74 guns, put into Hampton roads in distress. The Valoreux fr gate is in the Delaware, dismasted, her stern stove in, and quarters gone. The Sybelle frigate (the consort of the Regulus and President on the coast of Atrica) arrived in Hampton roads on the 30th of August in great distress. The Regulus is said to have arrived at Brest dismasted.

But the storm has proved still more fatal to the Jamaica fleet, a number of valuable ships having foundered, and the crews unfortunately perished. The fleet sailed from Negril Point on the 20th of July, consisting of 109 sail, un. der convoy of the Magicienne and Franchise frigates, and Penguin sloop, the Veteran to see them through the gulph. On the 10th of August, a Spanish ship of the line came down on the fleet, but was chaced into the Havannah by the Veteran and Magicienne. After pass ing the gulph, a violent hurricane came on, August 21st, which lasted for two days, and completely dispersed the fleet. Of the extent of the damage sustained, we have as yet but partial information The Magicienne got into Bermuda with out a rudder, and the Franchise dis masted. Of the convoy the following ships are reported to have foundered: The Achilles, of Greenock; Rashleigh, Ann, and Cora, of London, ail the crews saved. Forty-second and Pallas, of dit to, one man each saved. Erin, of Dublin, all lost. Sally, Exeter, and Nut well, of London, fate of the crew not mentioned. Africaine, of Liverpool, ditto. Francis, of London, Capt. Hall and four men saved.

On the 25th, after the gale abated, there were 65 sail in company with the Penguin; from 20 to 22 sail were then unaccounted for, among which were the Union, Bruce, for Greenock; Al fred, Clarke; Fortune, Reid, and Aus rora, M‘Kinlay, for Glasgow; Cumber land, Simpson, for Leith.

The Tourterelle frigate sailed from the Bahamas with a merchant vessel and three transports under convoy, and three weeks after put into Bermuda, so much damaged that it was thought she must be condemned. One of the trans

ports

ports got into Bermuda, and another has arrived at Plymouth.

A ship, called the Rose in June, was lost on the 24th of August, off New York. She had on board between 40 and 50 persons, mostly passengers; and the fate of some of them will excite commiseration. General MACPHERSON, and a young lady, his daughter, were washed overboard, when the General, being an excellent swimmer, made the quarter railing, the ship being on her beam ends; but perceiving his daughter sinking, he plunged in again after her, and succeeded in bringing her to the wreck. He was, however, washed off a second time, and his strength being exhausted, he was drowned. Mr BOOTH, another passenger, had the astonishing presence of mind to make, his way through the water to the after-cabin, in which were his wife and son, to push up the dead light, force them both into the water, and jump in after them; but both the woman and child were drowned. The vessel was preserved from sinking, by having on board 50 bales of cotton; and the next day 27 persons were rescued, after remaining lashed to the wreck a day and a night. The number of persons drowned amounted to 21.

We have much pleasure in announcing the arrival on the 25th Sept. of the Agamemnon, of 64 guns, with the valuable fleet from the Leeward islands, consisting of about 270 sail. There were 34 ships for the Clyde in the fleet, of which 33 are safely arrived; the remaining one, the Herberts, George, we are sorry to say, is totally lost on St. John's Point, off Strangford.-Crew saved.

It is with much satisfaction we announce the safe arrival of the China fleet, at Portsmouth on the 2d of Sept. under convoy of his Majesty's ship Admant, consisting of the 13 following ships: Exeter, Cumberland, Henry Addington, Bombay Castle, Earl Howe, Wexford, Windham, Royal George, Hope, Ocean, Coutts, Warley, and Scale by Castle. They sailed from Macoa Roads on the 4th of March, arrived at St Helena on the 2d July, and left that island on the 9th.

The Lady Burgess East Indiaman, Capt. Swinton, which sailed with the fleet for England on the 30th of March, was totally lost on the 20th of April on

the island of Bonavista, when the chief mate, purser, 3 cadets, 18 seamen, 3 soldiers, 7 women, and a child, all unfortunately perished.

The Syren and Revanche French frigates, consorts to the Guerrier, (which was captured in the north seas), have made their appearance to the eastward of the Banks of Newfoundland, where they had captured the Eddystone, Capt. Sarmon, and the Sarah, Capt. Mansfield, from Quebee bound for Londou, valuably laden with furs. The Frenchmen took out a number of turs from the Eddystone, and several valuable articles from the Sarah, which vessel they burnt on the 19th Sept. The Eddystone was re-captured by the Colpoys brig, and is arrived at Plymouth.

The Diana frigate has returned to Portsmouth from a long and fruitless cruize after the above French frigates. In a dreadful gale she sustained much damage, and lost several men, and Capt. Maling had his arm broken.

The expedition destined for Sicily sailed on the 24th September, in forty transports, under convoy of the Royal George, Admiral Sir John Duckworth, and Atlas. The troops are the Guards, and the 44th, 52d, and 62d regiments.

On the roth of October, a reinforcement of troops sailed from Plymouth for Buenos Ayres, in twelve transports, under convoy of the Ardent of 64 guns, Capt. Donelly, and two frigates. The troops consist of a company of royal artillery, a detachment of riflemen, (95th), the 40th, 45th, and 87th foot, in all about 3000 men, under the command of Sir Samuel Achmuty.

On the 14th of August Lord St Vincent left his station off Brest, with 10 sail of the line, and steered for Lisbon. The object of this movement was said to have proceeded from an apprehension of an attack upon Portugal, by a large body of French troops assembled at Bayonne, and that the British fleet was to give every assistance to the royal family, by transporting them with all their household and treasure to Brazil. The alarm has subsided, and his Lordship has resumed his station.

A Russian squadron of five sail of the line, three frigates and a sloop, has arrived at Portsmouth to take in provisions. It is bound to the Mediterranean, and has about 4000 troops on board.

Be.

« ZurückWeiter »