Happy Glorious First of June!

[John Paul]

So it's a little late, but hey I thought we should remember what day it was even if it was yesterday now!!

[TexaS]

Indeed!

[Comte de Brueys]

No reason to celebrate for a French Admiral.

[TexaS]

But you are wrong!
The French celebrated the big victory that the very big convoy with food saving the nation arrived untouched.
The British may have defeated the French navy, but the navy saved the convoy.

[Comte de Brueys]

8 French Captains lost their command after the fleet reached Brest.

The RN was victorious in battle.

Securing the convoy from the United States was a prestige mission for the Revolutionaries.

Of course you are happy with a filled stomach, but still no reason to celebrate a military defeat for a French Navy officer.

So why am I wrong?

[David Manley]

Oh how the history of Europe could have been changed for the better had the convoy been taken.....

[TexaS]

You are not really wrong, just focusing on the wrong aspect.

both sides claimed victory and the outcome of the battle was seized upon by the press of both nations as a demonstration of the prowess and bravery of their respective navies.

[David Manley]

Its an interesting question as to whether the successful arrival of the convoy was worth the cost. Would the regime have collapsed without the convoy? If yes, then the argument in favour is persuasive. But in so doing the French gave up the maritime advantage to the British and were pretty much on the back foot from that point. But again, would that have happened anyway? Plenty of options for armchair historians to debate in the bar and elsewhere.

[fredmiracle]

Or perhaps the French had already lost the maritime advantage (because of the culling of the officer corps) and the battle just revealed it? In which case, losing a chunk of the fleet to get the convoy through might have been the best use for a rapidly depreciating asset?

[John Paul]

Maybe Napoleon was just looking for a quick supply of fire wood for his short vacation in Moscow!!

You know how he liked to plan ahead!!!!