During the early morning hours of the 1st of March 1799, the HMS Sybille, formally the French ship Sibylle, captured the French frigate Forte in the Bay of Bengal. Sybille, commanded by Captain Edward Cooke, was in search of Forte when she saw flashes in the distance. Originally mistaking these for lightning, Cooke and his crew soon realized it was the signature of cannon fire. Heading toward the Forte, the French captain, Beaulieu-Leloup, mistook the oncoming ship as a merchant vessel. Upon recognizing the Sybille, Beaulieu-Leloup closed with his British counterpart and commenced firing. Cooke did not immediately answer, but when he was within pistol shot range, he delivered two broadsides and the fight began in earnest. For the next two hours, the two ships exchanged gunfire, resulting in the deaths of the Beaulieu-Leloup and many of his officers and men. Cooke sustained a mortal injury that claimed his life three months later.

HMS Sybille vs. the French frigate Forte:
Name: Sybille vs Forte 1.jpg Views: 264 Size: 41.8 KB

For more information on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...Sibylle_(1792)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_...e_Forte_(1794)