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Action of 24 June 1801

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410:. Hallowell's ship was understrength as more than 80 men had been removed from the ship for service in Egyptian waters and illness rendered another 59 unfit for duty, while the vessel itself was in a poor state of repair and leaking badly. Progress had been slow, and a northeasterly wind had also significantly delayed Hallowell's passage. When he learned from a passing vessel that there was a French squadron in the region, he ordered the convoy to separate and sailed for Malta alone in an effort to join Warren more rapidly and warn him of Ganteaume's return. At 03:30 on 24 June his lookouts sighted sails to the southwest. Hallowell immediately assumed that the distant ships were the enemy and he turned away from the French and 39: 108: 238:. Although Hallowell immediately recognised the danger his vessel was in and turned to flee, the French ships were much faster and soon closed with his ship. At 14:00, three French vessels were within long gunshot and Hallowell decided that his only hope of escape lay in disabling the three ships before the rest of the French squadron could join the engagement. Turning towards the enemy, Hallowell found that his sluggish ship was unable to respond rapidly to French manoeuvres and within two hours 96: 515:
had taken significant damage to its masts, rigging and sails during the exchange of fire, a deliberate ploy by the French captains to limit the ship's movement and prevent its escape. This had minimised casualties on deck by distracting the gunfire, and as a result, only two men were killed and eight
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Ganteaume's fleet remained off the Cape Derna for the next six days, performing repairs to the captured vessel to make it seaworthy. Detachments of sailors were taken from all of the ships in the squadron and transferred to the prize, and on 30 June Ganteaume's force was ready to sail northwest once
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maintaining the pressure on the slow moving British vessel, while the rest of Ganteaume's squadron used the prevailing wind to push far ahead of the ongoing chase before tacking at 08:00 across Hallowell's intended course. Unless Hallowell could escape the trap, his ship would be caught between the
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and disable it, creating enough confusion to mask an escape. The manoeuvere was recognised by the French captains, and all three vessels turned to face the British ship as it approached. By 15:30 the ships of the line had opened a mutual fire, during which the faster French warships were able to
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to excuse the failure of his effort to reinforce Egypt, which was invaded and captured by a British expeditionary force in the spring and summer of 1801. While in captivity, Hallowell wrote a letter that was published in Britain praising the treatment he and his men had received while
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to investigate the loss of their ship, and were all honourably cleared of any blame. He was also praised for detaching the convoy, which otherwise might have also been lost. Hallowell subsequently returned to naval service in 1803 at the start the
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two French divisions and overwhelmed. For six hours Hallowell continued his efforts to escape, but the French ships were too fast, Ganteaume's force passing some distance ahead of the British ship and then turning back towards him so that by 14:00
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was at serious risk of being surrounded. Hallowell determined that his only option was to attempt to drive through those ships of Ganteaume's division that blocked his passage to leeward, the ships of the line
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brought Spain into the war on the French side, but they were now able to return in large numbers. As French maritime lines of communication were cut, the French
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had been assassinated, and a British invasion was impending. Frustrated at his failure to assist his men in Egypt, Bonaparte ordered a squadron of
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coast. The battle completely reversed the strategic situation in the Mediterranean: British forces had evacuated the region in 1796 after the
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At 15:00, with the detached division rapidly approaching from astern, Hallowell turned his ship towards the ships sailing ahead of
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drove his squadron back westwards. On 24 June, Ganteaume's ships were retreating along the North African coast, passing close to
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was passing slowly along the North African coast after being detached from Keith's fleet to join Warren's squadron off
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became trapped in Egypt. Unable to return to Europe by sea, the army attempted and failed to pass overland through
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and was subsequently abandoned by Bonaparte, who returned to France with his closest advisors in the frigates
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was surrounded. Threatened with complete destruction and unable to escape, the British captain surrendered.
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that was also returning westwards after a failed attempt to reinforce the besieged French garrison in
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again, eventually reaching Toulon without further incident on 22 July. Ganteaume used the capture of
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wounded, two of whom subsequently also died. French losses were more severe, with four casualties on
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in November 1799, promising to send reinforcements to the forces that remained in North Africa.
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was on the verge of collapse. No supplies or support had arrived from France, their commander
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for the loss of his ship, but was honourably acquitted and returned to naval service.
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into the wind. By 05:30, lookouts on the nearest French ships, the ships of the line
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within gunshot convinced Hallowell that further resistance was hopeless and he
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and attempted to pass across the stern of the rearmost ship in an effort to
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Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars involving the United Kingdom
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had spotted the distant British vessel and were ordered to give chase.
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in 1805, where the ship was recaptured by the British and rejoined the
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The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV
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by tacking into the wind and a complicated chase developed, with
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Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars involving France
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and one frigate engaged. Two more ships of the line in support.
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was passing westwards through the Southern Mediterranean near
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Also in the region was the British 74-gun ship of the line
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Minor naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars
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under Ganteaume, and he and his officers were released on
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before pressure from larger British forces under Admiral
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when it encountered a much larger French squadron under
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The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 3, 1800–1805
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The action was a rare victory for the French in the
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Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon
352:in January 1801 under the command of Contre-Amiral 871: 785: 648: 646: 546:the following month. On 18 August they faced a 643: 295:destroyed the French Mediterranean Fleet at 67:21 nautical miles (39 km) northeast of 720: 360:. In February, Ganteaume's force reached 692: 690: 688: 686: 204:was a minor naval engagement during the 848: 826: 738: 736: 704: 702: 662:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 872: 763: 636: 634: 632: 630: 628: 626: 849:Quintin, Danielle et Bernard (2003). 804: 683: 291:, a British fleet under Rear-Admiral 745: 733: 699: 652: 623: 614: 605: 596: 587: 13: 493:easily outmanoeuvre the lumbering 14: 901: 812:. London: Conway Maritime Press. 520:and six killed and 23 wounded on 834:. London: Constable Publishers. 257:was later commissioned into the 106: 94: 37: 786:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) . 757: 657:"Carew, Sir Benjamin Hallowell" 283:Ganteaume's expeditions of 1801 771:. London: Chatham Publishing. 711: 1: 581: 287:On 1 August 1798, during the 276: 269:. Hallowell was subsequently 677:UK public library membership 527: 7: 790:. London: Caxton Editions. 728:Dictionnaire des capitaines 406:, escorting a small convoy 10: 906: 434:The French ships followed 280: 509:to signal his surrender. 429: 206:French Revolutionary Wars 178: 153: 118: 87: 50: 36: 31:French Revolutionary Wars 28: 23: 788:Nelson Against Napoleon 470:Louis-Marie Le Gouardun 370:Sir John Borlase Warren 305:Treaty of San Ildefonso 134:Louis-Marie Le Gouardun 460:Pierre-Paulin Gourrège 202:action of 24 June 1801 140:Pierre-Paulin Gourrège 119:Commanders and leaders 24:Action of 24 June 1801 765:Clowes, William Laird 184:33 killed and wounded 179:Casualties and losses 342:Jean Baptiste KlĂ©ber 576:Battle of Trafalgar 368:under Rear-Admiral 263:Battle of Trafalgar 43:The capture of HMS 396:Benjamin Hallowell 315:Napoleon Bonaparte 293:Sir Horatio Nelson 289:Battle of the Nile 261:and fought at the 251:Battle of the Nile 221:Benjamin Hallowell 148:Benjamin Hallowell 880:Conflicts in 1801 675:(subscription or 346:ships of the line 247:Mediterranean Sea 198: 197: 161:ships of the line 83: 82: 897: 864: 845: 832:The Sea Warriors 828:Woodman, Richard 823: 801: 782: 752: 749: 743: 740: 731: 724: 718: 715: 709: 706: 697: 694: 681: 680: 673: 671: 669: 650: 641: 638: 621: 618: 612: 609: 603: 600: 594: 591: 540:prisoners of war 354:HonorĂ© Ganteaume 232:HonorĂ© Ganteaume 210:ship of the line 167:Ship of the line 128:HonorĂ© Ganteaume 111: 110: 99: 98: 52: 51: 41: 21: 20: 905: 904: 900: 899: 898: 896: 895: 894: 870: 869: 861: 842: 820: 798: 779: 760: 755: 751:Gardiner, p. 83 750: 746: 741: 734: 725: 721: 716: 712: 708:Woodman, p. 159 707: 700: 695: 684: 674: 667: 665: 654:Laughton, J. K. 651: 644: 639: 624: 619: 615: 610: 606: 602:Gardiner, p. 66 601: 597: 593:Gardiner, p. 39 592: 588: 584: 568:Napoleonic Wars 530: 507:struck his flag 432: 285: 279: 271:court martialed 190: 188: 105: 101:French Republic 93: 71: 42: 17: 12: 11: 5: 903: 893: 892: 887: 882: 866: 865: 859: 846: 840: 824: 818: 806:James, William 802: 796: 783: 777: 759: 756: 754: 753: 744: 732: 719: 717:Quintin, p.157 710: 698: 696:Clowes, p. 453 682: 642: 622: 613: 604: 595: 585: 583: 580: 529: 526: 431: 428: 394:under Captain 338:ArmĂ©e d'Orient 313:under General 310:ArmĂ©e d'Orient 281:Main article: 278: 275: 219:under Captain 196: 195: 185: 181: 180: 176: 175: 164: 156: 155: 151: 150: 144: 143: 142: 136: 130: 126:Contre-Amiral 121: 120: 116: 115: 113:United Kingdom 103: 90: 89: 85: 84: 81: 80: 79:French victory 77: 73: 72: 66: 64: 60: 59: 56: 48: 47: 34: 33: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 902: 891: 888: 886: 883: 881: 878: 877: 875: 868: 862: 860:2-901952-42-9 856: 852: 847: 843: 841:1-84119-183-3 837: 833: 829: 825: 821: 819:0-85177-907-7 815: 811: 807: 803: 799: 797:1-86176-026-4 793: 789: 784: 780: 778:1-86176-013-2 774: 770: 766: 762: 761: 748: 739: 737: 729: 723: 714: 705: 703: 693: 691: 689: 687: 678: 664: 663: 658: 655: 649: 647: 637: 635: 633: 631: 629: 627: 617: 608: 599: 590: 586: 579: 577: 573: 569: 564: 560: 556: 555: 549: 548:court martial 545: 541: 536: 525: 523: 519: 514: 510: 508: 504: 500: 496: 491: 487: 482: 480: 479: 475: 471: 467: 466: 461: 457: 456: 450: 445: 441: 437: 427: 425: 424: 419: 418: 413: 409: 405: 401: 397: 393: 392: 385: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 359: 355: 351: 348:to sail from 347: 343: 339: 336:By 1801, the 334: 332: 331: 326: 325: 320: 316: 312: 311: 306: 302: 298: 294: 290: 284: 274: 272: 268: 264: 260: 256: 252: 248: 243: 241: 237: 233: 230: 229:Contre-Amiral 226: 222: 218: 217: 211: 207: 203: 193: 186: 183: 182: 177: 174: 173: 168: 165: 162: 158: 157: 152: 149: 145: 141: 137: 135: 131: 129: 125: 124: 123: 122: 117: 114: 109: 104: 102: 97: 92: 91: 86: 78: 75: 74: 70: 65: 62: 61: 57: 54: 53: 49: 46: 40: 35: 32: 27: 22: 19: 867: 850: 831: 809: 787: 768: 758:Bibliography 747: 742:James, p. 95 727: 722: 713: 666:. Retrieved 660: 640:James, p. 94 620:James, p. 93 616: 611:James, p. 88 607: 598: 589: 571: 553: 534: 531: 521: 517: 512: 511: 503:Constitution 502: 498: 494: 485: 483: 477: 464: 454: 448: 444:Constitution 443: 439: 435: 433: 423:Constitution 422: 416: 407: 399: 390: 386: 337: 335: 329: 323: 308: 286: 254: 244: 239: 215: 208:. A British 201: 199: 191: 171: 88:Belligerents 58:24 June 1801 44: 29:Part of the 18: 518:Indivisible 455:Indivisible 297:Aboukir Bay 259:French Navy 874:Categories 582:References 559:Port Mahon 472:) and the 382:Cape Derna 378:Lord Keith 358:Alexandria 277:Background 267:Royal Navy 225:Cape Derna 69:Cape Derna 853:. S.P.M. 808:(2002) . 767:(1997) . 726:Quintin, 679:required) 578:in 1805. 572:Swiftsure 550:on board 535:Swiftsure 528:Aftermath 513:Swiftsure 499:Jean Bart 495:Swiftsure 486:Swiftsure 449:Swiftsure 440:Jean Bart 436:Swiftsure 417:Jean Bart 400:Swiftsure 391:Swiftsure 319:Palestine 255:Swiftsure 240:Swiftsure 216:Swiftsure 192:Swiftsure 189:8 wounded 172:Swiftsure 45:Swiftsure 830:(2001). 730:, p. 221 668:15 March 554:Genereux 522:Dix-AoĂ»t 465:Dix-AoĂ»t 408:en route 374:Benghazi 301:Egyptian 194:captured 187:2 killed 154:Strength 146:Captain 138:Captain 132:Captain 63:Location 563:Menorca 474:frigate 468:(under 458:(under 330:Carrère 299:on the 857:  838:  816:  794:  775:  544:parole 478:CrĂ©ole 462:) and 430:Battle 412:tacked 366:Sicily 362:Toulon 324:Muiron 76:Result 404:Malta 350:Brest 236:Egypt 855:ISBN 836:ISBN 814:ISBN 792:ISBN 773:ISBN 670:2010 552:HMS 501:and 490:rake 442:and 420:and 389:HMS 327:and 214:HMS 200:The 170:HMS 159:Two 55:Date 561:in 557:at 876:: 735:^ 701:^ 685:^ 659:. 645:^ 625:^ 481:. 384:. 212:, 863:. 844:. 822:. 800:. 781:. 672:.

Index

French Revolutionary Wars
Two sailing warships flying flags with three vertical bands lie in front of a third sailing warship that features a flag with a cross hatched design on the top right corner. All three ships are surrounded by large clouds of smoke
Cape Derna
France
French Republic
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Honoré Ganteaume
Louis-Marie Le Gouardun
Pierre-Paulin Gourrège
Benjamin Hallowell
ships of the line
Ship of the line
HMS Swiftsure
French Revolutionary Wars
ship of the line
HMS Swiftsure
Benjamin Hallowell
Cape Derna
Contre-Amiral
Honoré Ganteaume
Egypt
Mediterranean Sea
Battle of the Nile
French Navy
Battle of Trafalgar
Royal Navy
court martialed
Ganteaume's expeditions of 1801
Battle of the Nile

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