Command passed to Commander Charles Napier, who led Recruit into action against the French corvette Diligente, under Jean-François Lemaresquier, on 6 September 1808. The action was fierce and resulted in Recruit losing her mainmast and suffering heavy casualties, including Napier, whose leg was broken by a cannon shot. Diligente was only driven off after a lucky shot from Recruit ignited an ammunition store. Recruit lost six killed and 23 wounded, half of them mortally, out of a crew of 106.

This account of today's event is taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Recruit_(1806)


On 6 September, off Barbados, Diligente encountered the 18-gun HMS Recruit, under Commander Charles Napier. The two corvettes came in range at 8:30 and both fired their broadsides, with the French fire wounding Napier. Both ships attempted to rake the other, but followed a parallel course, exchanging cannon fire until around 11:00, when Recruit's mainmast collapsed. Diligente was however prevented from pressing her advantage as Recruit's fire had left her hull in such a battered state that Lemaresquier had to order his gun crews to man the pumps to keep her afloat. By the time water was pumped out and the holes in the hull had been sealed, Recruit had retreated. Although the wind fallen so much that Diligente could catch up with Recruit before nightfall, by next morning, she had lost contact with Recruit.

James claims that Recruit kept fighting after her mast had fallen, and counter-attacked at 2 in the morning, forcing Diligente to flee; Troude disputes this account.

This account of today's event is taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-François_Lemaresquier

Charles Napier:

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