As Admiral Pound surveyed the ships in the inner harbour, he could espy signs of some of them readying themselves for sea, reefs were being shaken out, anchors made short, but on at least two ships little action could be evidenced, and the Amelia, Captain Rufus Taylor who had recently absorbed a large number of replacements seemed to be making no preparations at all.
So much for the OB. Well he would form line as the ships came out.
He summoned his Flag Lieutenant, Vincent Pomeroy, and instructed him to make the signal " Form line as convenient", followed by prepare for battle," and bend on the flags for "Engage the enemy" straight after it came down, ready to break when ordered.
As the French drew even nearer one by one the British Squadron started to emerge from port headed by the Flagship Royal George.
With a fair wind veering two points East of South the ships started to round the headland, and Pound got his first glimpse of the enemy Squadron.
Seeing that the British Line were outnumbered and with the intention of cutting the enemy line, the George headed straight for the leading French Frigate.
They exchanged fire from their forward guns as soon as they came within range of each other. The George's Carronades sweeping the deck of the Courageous did far more service than the return fire of the enemy, and wiped many of the crew from the Tops.
Meantime, the Amelia was only just getting underway, after some very slick talking from her Captain Richard Sterling, aided by the Boatswain's mate.
Captain Pennyman now cut the French Line with the George, and delivered a first shot double shotted raking broadside to the next in line Aquilon 74.
It was so devastating that the French vessel lost steerage way and began to drift off with tide and wind out of the battle.
In consequence her return fire was a rather feeble response.
As soon as her Captain had assessed the enormity of the damage below decks she struck to the George.
The Royal George now altered course, and under battle sails alone, moved on down the line whilst reloading.
Her next adversary was the double shotted Le Berwick 74, which with her forrard guns alone did serious damage against the fire of the George, now single shotted, and slightly down on guns.
The next British ship to cut the line was the Frigate Orpheus, Captain Grenville Tanner, who passing through the gap left by the stricken Aquilon. raked the next French 74 Le Berwick with her stern battery double shotted and first rounds.
Despite her lack of weight of metal she succeeded in bringing down the foretop mast already damaged by the George, and sails from the Main top mast also.
She simultaneously took on the French Frigate Courageuse, who had maneuvered broad onto her Starboard bow. Unfortunately the return broadside started a small fire on the Orpheus's Main Deck.
Subsequently Captain Tanner was to be mentioned in the Admiral's Despatches for his skill and courage in placing his ship in such a position that he could fire on both the Frigate and 74.
At this point in the battle the wind backed one point to the south, not materially effecting the headings of either Squadron at this precise time.
Moving on down the battle line Royal George next encountered the Genereux, and in th subsequent exchange of fire took heavy damage.
The quarter deck was cleared of many men, and Pennyman realized that his Admiral was amongst the fallen. The Admiral was on the deck half supporting himself by one arm. The other leaking blood profusely hanging limply by his side.
After seeing Admiral Pound taken below to the Surgeon, Pennyman surveyed the devastation done to the Royal George.
Battered but not yet a complete wreck the George limped toward the rear of the French Line.
By now the battle was becoming general, and HMs Phoenix 74. Captain Joseph Porter, opened his account with the already badly hit Le Berwick.
One double shotted broadside against the feeble reply from the 74 was all it took to bring down its colours as planks below the waterline were stove in and fire started.
This was the state of the battle after two and a half hours, with all but two British Frigates engaged, and the Royal George all but out of action, and the struck Le Berwick drifting downwind towards the Frigate Orpheus who was trying to take it in tow. the state of play between the two fleets was pretty finely balanced.
Coming under fire from Courageous Orpheus was forced to cast off its tow, to enable it to defend itself.
Both the Passing Amelia, who was finally entering the fray, and the Frigate HMS Sybille Captain Angus Groat were able to come to Amelia's assistance and exchanged fire with the French Frigate.
Amelia's own return of fire at extreme range doing no damage.
As Captain Pennyman maneuvered the George out of the battle line he cut across the stern of the French Generaux 74 and raked it's stern damaging both mast and steering.
This was to have consequences later in the battle.
Pennyman simultaneously fore- raked the Frigate Unite with his Starboard broadside.
As Swiftsure bore away, Porter raked his stern unmercifully, before taking on the following French ship Genereux.
Three leaks were started, a fire broke out and the Frenchman's steering was also hit.
The exchange of fire from the tops did much clearance of both ships upper deck crews as men fell dead and wounded in heaps.
The French Line now swayed away from the hell of the British broadsides, and this allowed HMS Bellerophon, new to the action to hit the Swiftsure with a broadside at long range.
This change of orientation of the French ships also saved the Phoenix from the Genereux's broadside, although being unloaded Porter could not emulate the Bellerophon's Captain Sterling by firing upon it.
However, with her loaded Port cannon she blasted the French Frigate Unite at close range.
Unite, herself. being engaged in trying to finally silence the Royal George.
Sensing that the battle was now reaching a crucial stage, Pound's Flag Captain Pennyman, now de facto Squadron Commander, broke out the signal "General chase" at the masthead of the Royal George, before the ship could succumb to the French. Frigate.
Meanwhile Swiftsure had hit Sybille long range and started a fire aboard the Frigate.
The wind now veered a point back to the East, which did nothing to help the hands deal with the fire aboard Sybille.
Meanwhile Orpheus had at last overhauled Courageous, and Tanner was dueling to the death with her having decided to board if at all possible.
However, before she could board her forward battery took out the last of the French crew, and her colours were lowered.
Genereux, was now taking more rounds from the Phoenix, each gunner marking his target as she came to bear.
Sybille also chipping in with a long shot, but receiving a heavier return for her impertinence.
Bellerophon was also in the thick of the action, and whilst Sterling's marines exchanged Musket balls with Genereux topmen, his starboard battery mauled the Unite, who could not retaliate with anything more than two guns, neither of which found the mark on the British ship.
Phoenix now cut across Unite's bow and a vicious hail of lead was exchanged from both ships tops.
At this point the battle stood thus, after five and a half hours fighting.
Genereux, now took further damage from Bellerophon and was forced to surrender owing to its vast crew casualties, with both its Captain and Commodore wounded.
The demise of the Genereux, and the capture of the French Commodore Dumont, seemed to signal a general retreat for the remaining French vessels.
Only Phoenix and Unite exchanging a farewell kiss before the action petered out with both Squadrons in an appalling state.
As Admiral Pound dictated to his secretary from his sick bed, a close shave, but a victory of sorts for the British, although the Squadron was in no state to engage the enemy again for many a month to come.
Taking their prizes in tow the Squadron limped back to Bombay.
Bligh.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks