895:
145:
114:
844:
793:
133:
100:
39:
1030:
lost one killed and another lost overboard and six wounded. French losses were enormous, the effects of concentrated cannon fire on the packed decks producing casualties of approximately 170 killed and 100 wounded, the former including a number who drowned after the ship grounded. Bigot and his crew
998:
and a number of the French crew had taken the delay in seizure of the ship to dive overboard and swim for the beach, making an accounting of casualties difficult. As the day continued, boat parties of French civilians sailed out to the ship and climbed aboard, breaking into the liquor stores leading
1039:
and twice promoted on his return to France in recognition of his resistance during the engagement, although unsubstantiated rumours persisted that he had personally shot some of his men when they abandoned their guns. Milne was complimented for his tenacious pursuit of
993:
however was irretrievably stuck with water leaking into the hull. After all efforts to refloat the ship had been exhausted, the frigate was evacuated and stripped of stores before the wreck was set on fire. It took some time for boarding parties to reach
1044:
and after repairs he and his crew were confirmed in possession of the French ship, which served in the Royal Navy under the same name. By the time the prize was commissioned many of its captors were prisoners of war. On 13 October 1798
1061:
and began to founder. Stirling had no choice but to bring the frigate inshore and land on the French coast as the frigate sank. Stirling and his men were captured, except for twelve sailors who, in groups of six, stole a
1506:
515:, still commanded by Lieutenant Julien-Gabriel Bigot following the death of Captain Latour off Sumatra in 1796, sailed on 24 March, overcrowded with the stores and dependents accompanying the soldiers.
999:
to drunken confusion on deck. Bigot was allowed to go ashore temporarily, as were four men escorting a lady from ĂŽle de France: all five French sailors subsequently returned to captivity voluntarily.
1501:
940:
Dawn on 30 June revealed the three frigates grounded on the sandbar, prompting a response from the French forces in nearby La
Rochelle. Two frigates, a
390:. The losses inflicted on the French Atlantic fleet in these battles were compounded by large numbers of ships wrecked in storms during the disastrous
261:
had a rapid passage back to
European waters, arriving in the Bay of Biscay on 28 June. Early the following morning, with the Brittany coast in sight,
653:, during which Stirling was wounded and command passed to Lieutenant Charles Inglis. Inglis responded to the fire by cutting stern gunports to fire
645:'s arc of fire and Stirling's ship had swung with the rising tide, leaving its stern exposed. Bigot took advantage of this position to fire several
948:
were sent to fire on the
British ships, but this force was dissuaded from engaging by the arrival of another British blockade squadron comprising
637:. The French ship had been badly damaged in the crash, all three masts collapsing overboard at impact, but actually lay in a stronger position:
527:
made a rapid journey to
European waters, arriving in the Bay of Biscay just three months later on 28 June. Sailing for Brest with the wind, the
1511:
446:
For French warships oceanic travel was extremely hazardous and ships often travelled in numbers. In the spring of 1796 a squadron commanded by
237:, tasked with preventing the passage of French ships into or out of the port. In the spring of 1798, several French frigates stationed in the
354:
was an irretrievable wreck: the ship was evacuated and then burnt before the remainder of the squadron returned to
Britain with their prize.
703:
carried aboard. "Broadside weight" records the combined weight of shot that could be fired in a single simultaneous discharge of an entire
661:, and Milne succeeded in dragging his frigate around through the novel expedient of ordering his men to run towards the bows carrying
494:
613:
with orders to anchor before it grounded, but Milne did not hear the order correctly and instead increased sail, lurching ahead of
402:
operations. By 1798 the Royal Navy was unopposed in its control of the
Atlantic, enforcing its supremacy by a strategy of close
326:
continued the chase full speed through the night, until suddenly all three frigates crashed headlong into the sandbanks off
956:
350:
were badly damaged but successfully refloated, the casualties on the packed decks of the French ship appallingly high, but
1477:
1455:
1420:
1398:
1376:
1357:
1338:
1319:
511:
was instructed to follow them, carrying 280 soldiers from the garrison no longer supported by the
Colonial Assembly.
450:
836:
429:
535:
at 07:00 on 29 June when three sails appeared to the northeast. This was the inshore squadron under
Stirling, and
1408:
1386:
696:
578:
Throughout the day the chase continued, the
British frigates gaining slowly on their quarry and as darkness fell
410:
watching the approaches to Brest. In June 1798 the inshore squadron included a detachment comprising the 38-gun
978:
586:, to which Bigot responded without reducing speed. For the next two and a half hours the frigates exchanged
905:
854:
803:
454:
695:
carried by the ship, including the maindeck guns that were taken into consideration when calculating its
500:
392:
1496:
493:, refused to continue supplying the squadron and garrison, forcing Sercey to disperse his ships. First
470:
466:
314:
at 23:00 that evening and for more than two and a half hours the frigates pounded at one another until
242:
398:
363:
202:
30:
485:
in
January 1797. By the end of the year the Colonial Assembly, which were unhappy with plans of the
105:
960:
469:. Sercey's squadron failed to make a significant impression, driven off from the East Indies in
1430:
383:
213:
early in the war following heavy losses in a series of failed operations. This had allowed the
118:
1307:
1220:
482:
8:
967:
670:
440:
1435:
1225:
949:
678:
618:
478:
433:
327:
280:
233:. The blockade strategy included a constantly patrolling inshore squadron composed of
1473:
1451:
1416:
1394:
1372:
1353:
1334:
1315:
1036:
971:
704:
590:
at full speed as the French coastline rapidly approached ahead. At 01:35 a shot from
587:
625:
too had struck the shore a little distance ahead, and Stirling was unable to arrest
582:
closed with the larger French ship. At 23:00 Milne was close enough to open fire on
1032:
882:
827:
785:
776:
506:
486:
422:
418:
411:
273:
266:
246:
245:
could no longer supply them effectively. One of these ships was the 40-gun frigate
137:
1465:
387:
1007:
after the guns were thrown overboard to lighten the ship, and the figurehead of
677:
finally approaching, Bigot determined that further resistance was hopeless and
528:
334:
coast. Even while grounded the frigates continued to fire on one another until
210:
71:
1490:
1063:
1058:
598:, bringing it crashing down. The consequent loss of speed forced Milne back,
447:
375:
226:
218:
194:
67:
406:, maintaining a battle fleet at sea off Brittany and an inshore squadron of
1026:, including the second lieutenant, and eleven wounded, including Stirling.
458:
238:
38:
646:
556:
367:
206:
1016:
665:. This sudden shift in weight gently rotated the grounded ship to face
662:
654:
462:
371:
252:
214:
1507:
Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars involving Great Britain
1067:
1004:
700:
1312:
The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV
560:
331:
1071:
407:
403:
379:
234:
230:
222:
1022:
Losses on the British ships had been light, with seven killed on
945:
552:
490:
474:
609:
Stirling was concerned by the proximity of the coast and hailed
1502:
Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars involving France
1050:
692:
505:
were ordered back to France, and then in early 1798 the 40-gun
198:
44:
A Representation of the Jason 38 guns, capturing the La Seine
629:'s momentum before his ship too became stuck, lying between
555:
and forcing Bigot to turn away, fleeing southwards towards
225:
on the French naval ports of the Biscay coast, particularly
941:
16:
Minor naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars
1448:
The Star Captains, Frigate Command in the Napoleonic Wars
602:
pulling away from the smaller ship but unable to escape
1413:
The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 2, 1797–1799
1391:
The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 1, 1793–1796
751:
746:
739:
734:
719:
714:
1369:
Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic Era
729:
724:
981:. Stopford's squadron assisted Stirling's force as
1434:
477:, and then tricked into fleeing from a vulnerable
1049:was patrolling off Brest when a number of French
1488:
1347:
1328:
382:, the Royal Navy had achieved victories at the
265:was spotted by the inshore frigate squadron of
96:
193:was a minor naval engagement fought along the
551:off from the Breton coast and the harbour of
1057:ran headlong into a submerged rock near the
255:laden with 280 soldiers from the garrison.
877:
1429:
1183:
1181:
1179:
673:at the French ship. Under fire and with
1272:
1270:
1268:
1240:
1238:
1236:
1219:
1195:
1193:
768:
763:
758:
457:to reinforce French naval forces in the
241:were sent back to France as the base at
1464:
1445:
1441:. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
1366:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1110:
1108:
928:
1489:
1306:
1256:
1215:
1213:
1211:
1209:
1176:
1053:were sighted. Stirling gave chase but
617:and straight onto a sandbank close to
1512:Military history of the Bay of Biscay
1407:
1385:
1279:
1265:
1247:
1233:
1190:
1153:
1144:
1135:
1126:
1437:War in the Eastern Seas, 1793 - 1815
1288:
1162:
1117:
1105:
1096:
691:In this table, "Guns" refers to all
684:
338:finally arrived and the outnumbered
1206:
1083:
669:and Milne could direct four of his
13:
14:
1523:
1415:. London: Conway Maritime Press.
1393:. London: Conway Maritime Press.
209:had been largely driven from the
1472:. London: Constable Publishers.
1003:was subsequently refloated with
893:
889:Lieutenant Julien-Gabriel Bigot
842:
791:
143:
131:
112:
98:
37:
1348:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
1329:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
374:at sea from their main base at
1450:. London: Chatham Publishing.
1314:. London: Chatham Publishing.
571:followed under all sail while
451:Pierre CĂ©sar Charles de Sercey
1:
1300:
1015:sailing with the squadron to
711:
547:diverted northwards, cutting
543:immediately gave chase while
357:
1229:. 10 July 1798. p. 650.
1077:
935:
929:Source: Clowes, p. 511
923:
920:
917:
914:
909:
903:
900:
891:
872:
869:
866:
863:
858:
852:
849:
840:
821:
818:
815:
812:
807:
801:
798:
789:
606:which was steadily gaining.
7:
1371:. London: Caxton Editions.
1352:. London: Caxton Editions.
1333:. London: Caxton Editions.
1031:were brought to Britain as
594:struck the main topmast on
10:
1528:
1367:Grocott, Terence (2002) .
927:
888:
881:
880:
876:
834:
826:
825:
783:
775:
774:
757:
713:
362:In the early years of the
1331:Fleet Battle and Blockade
1091:Fleet Battle and Blockade
1011:was nailed over her own,
523:Despite the overloading,
518:
370:had sought to oppose the
364:French Revolutionary Wars
203:French Revolutionary Wars
166:
153:
124:
90:
50:
36:
31:French Revolutionary Wars
28:
23:
911:390 pounds (180 kg)
860:314 pounds (142 kg)
809:494 pounds (224 kg)
393:Croisière du Grand Hiver
1431:Parkinson, C. Northcote
1350:Nelson Against Napoleon
1201:Nelson Against Napoleon
481:merchant convoy in the
1035:, the commander later
471:an inconclusive action
384:Glorious First of June
191:action of 30 June 1798
125:Commanders and leaders
24:Action of 30 June 1798
1446:Wareham, Tom (2001).
1308:Clowes, William Laird
621:on the Vendée coast.
575:was left far behind.
221:to institute a close
167:Casualties and losses
671:12-pounder long guns
483:Bali Strait Incident
399:Expédition d'Irlande
294:off from the coast,
441:James Newman-Newman
1262:James, Vol.1, p.32
1244:James, Vol.2 p.220
1226:The London Gazette
1173:James, Vol.2 p.221
1114:James, Vol.2 p.219
944:and a squadron of
679:struck his colours
619:La Tranche-sur-Mer
531:were visible from
479:East India Company
328:La Tranche-sur-Mer
183:1 frigate captured
1497:Conflicts in 1798
1294:Grocott, pp.61–62
985:was towed off by
933:
932:
912:
861:
810:
771:
766:
761:
754:
749:
744:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
709:
699:, as well as any
685:Combatant summary
306:fled southwards.
251:, which departed
187:
186:
176:1 frigate wrecked
86:
85:
1519:
1483:
1470:The Sea Warriors
1466:Woodman, Richard
1461:
1442:
1440:
1426:
1404:
1382:
1363:
1344:
1325:
1295:
1292:
1286:
1283:
1277:
1274:
1263:
1260:
1254:
1251:
1245:
1242:
1231:
1230:
1217:
1204:
1197:
1188:
1185:
1174:
1171:
1160:
1159:Parkinson, p.121
1157:
1151:
1150:Parkinson, p.120
1148:
1142:
1139:
1133:
1130:
1124:
1121:
1115:
1112:
1103:
1100:
1094:
1087:
1033:prisoners of war
910:
898:
897:
896:
859:
847:
846:
845:
808:
796:
795:
794:
786:Charles Stirling
769:
764:
759:
752:
747:
740:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
712:
689:
649:broadsides into
487:French Directory
453:had sailed from
419:Charles Stirling
148:
147:
146:
138:Charles Stirling
136:
135:
134:
117:
116:
115:
108:
104:
102:
101:
52:
51:
41:
21:
20:
1527:
1526:
1522:
1521:
1520:
1518:
1517:
1516:
1487:
1486:
1480:
1458:
1423:
1401:
1379:
1360:
1341:
1322:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1289:
1284:
1280:
1275:
1266:
1261:
1257:
1252:
1248:
1243:
1234:
1218:
1207:
1198:
1191:
1186:
1177:
1172:
1163:
1158:
1154:
1149:
1145:
1140:
1136:
1131:
1127:
1123:Parkinson, p.99
1122:
1118:
1113:
1106:
1101:
1097:
1088:
1084:
1080:
1070:and escaped to
968:Sir Harry Neale
957:Robert Stopford
955:under Captain
938:
894:
892:
843:
841:
792:
790:
742:
687:
563:coast instead.
521:
388:Battle of Groix
366:, although the
360:
182:
180:
175:
173:
144:
142:
132:
130:
113:
111:
99:
97:
82:British victory
74:
58:29–30 June 1798
46:, John Fairburn
42:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1525:
1515:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1485:
1484:
1478:
1462:
1456:
1443:
1427:
1421:
1409:James, William
1405:
1399:
1387:James, William
1383:
1377:
1364:
1358:
1345:
1339:
1326:
1320:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1296:
1287:
1285:Wareham, p.182
1278:
1276:Wareham, p.181
1264:
1255:
1253:Wareham, p.180
1246:
1232:
1205:
1189:
1175:
1161:
1152:
1143:
1134:
1125:
1116:
1104:
1102:Woodman, p.100
1095:
1081:
1079:
1076:
977:under Captain
966:under Captain
937:
934:
931:
930:
926:
925:
922:
919:
916:
913:
908:
902:
899:
890:
887:
879:
878:
875:
874:
871:
868:
865:
862:
857:
851:
848:
839:
833:
824:
823:
820:
817:
814:
811:
806:
800:
797:
788:
782:
773:
772:
767:
762:
756:
755:
750:
745:
738:
733:
728:
723:
718:
686:
683:
529:Penmarck rocks
520:
517:
439:under Captain
428:under Captain
417:under Captain
359:
356:
302:gave chase as
211:Atlantic Ocean
185:
184:
177:
169:
168:
164:
163:
160:
156:
155:
151:
150:
140:
127:
126:
122:
121:
109:
93:
92:
88:
87:
84:
83:
80:
76:
75:
72:Atlantic Ocean
66:
64:
60:
59:
56:
48:
47:
34:
33:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1524:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1494:
1492:
1481:
1479:1-84119-183-3
1475:
1471:
1467:
1463:
1459:
1457:1-86176-169-4
1453:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1438:
1432:
1428:
1424:
1422:0-85177-906-9
1418:
1414:
1410:
1406:
1402:
1400:0-85177-905-0
1396:
1392:
1388:
1384:
1380:
1378:1-84067-164-5
1374:
1370:
1365:
1361:
1359:1-86176-026-4
1355:
1351:
1346:
1342:
1340:1-84067-363-X
1336:
1332:
1327:
1323:
1321:1-86176-013-2
1317:
1313:
1309:
1305:
1304:
1291:
1282:
1273:
1271:
1269:
1259:
1250:
1241:
1239:
1237:
1228:
1227:
1222:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1210:
1202:
1196:
1194:
1187:Clowes, p.511
1184:
1182:
1180:
1170:
1168:
1166:
1156:
1147:
1141:Clowes, p.506
1138:
1132:Clowes, p.503
1129:
1120:
1111:
1109:
1099:
1092:
1086:
1082:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1065:
1060:
1059:Pointe du Raz
1056:
1052:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1034:
1029:
1025:
1020:
1018:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1002:
997:
992:
988:
984:
980:
976:
975:
969:
965:
964:
958:
954:
953:
947:
943:
907:
886:
885:
856:
838:
832:
831:
805:
787:
781:
780:
710:
708:
706:
702:
698:
694:
682:
680:
676:
672:
668:
664:
660:
656:
652:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
607:
605:
601:
597:
593:
589:
585:
581:
576:
574:
570:
566:
562:
558:
554:
550:
546:
542:
538:
534:
530:
526:
516:
514:
510:
509:
504:
503:
498:
497:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
467:ĂŽle de France
464:
460:
456:
452:
449:
448:Contre-amiral
444:
442:
438:
437:
431:
427:
426:
421:, the 36-gun
420:
416:
415:
409:
405:
401:
400:
395:
394:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
355:
353:
349:
345:
342:surrendered.
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
284:
278:
277:
271:
270:
264:
260:
256:
254:
250:
249:
244:
243:ĂŽle de France
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
219:Channel Fleet
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
178:
171:
170:
165:
161:
158:
157:
152:
141:
139:
129:
128:
123:
120:
110:
107:
106:Great Britain
95:
94:
89:
81:
78:
77:
73:
69:
68:Bay of Biscay
65:
62:
61:
57:
54:
53:
49:
45:
40:
35:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1469:
1447:
1436:
1412:
1390:
1368:
1349:
1330:
1311:
1290:
1281:
1258:
1249:
1224:
1200:
1155:
1146:
1137:
1128:
1119:
1098:
1090:
1085:
1054:
1046:
1041:
1027:
1023:
1021:
1012:
1008:
1000:
995:
990:
986:
982:
973:
963:San Fiorenzo
962:
951:
939:
883:
829:
778:
690:
688:
674:
666:
658:
650:
642:
638:
634:
630:
626:
622:
614:
610:
608:
603:
599:
595:
591:
583:
579:
577:
572:
568:
564:
548:
544:
540:
536:
532:
524:
522:
512:
507:
501:
495:
459:Indian Ocean
445:
435:
424:
413:
397:
391:
361:
351:
347:
343:
339:
335:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
282:
275:
268:
262:
258:
257:
247:
239:Indian Ocean
190:
188:
181:100 wounded
149:Julien Bigot
91:Belligerents
43:
29:Part of the
18:
1221:"No. 15040"
837:David Milne
557:La Rochelle
489:to abolish
461:, based at
432:and 32-gun
430:David Milne
368:French Navy
318:fell back.
207:French Navy
201:during the
179:170 killed
174:18 wounded
1491:Categories
1301:References
1199:Gardiner,
1089:Gardiner,
1017:Portsmouth
1005:jury masts
753:Casualties
748:Complement
721:Commander
701:carronades
663:round shot
655:chase guns
588:broadsides
463:Port Louis
372:Royal Navy
358:Background
253:Port Louis
215:Royal Navy
159:3 frigates
1411:(2002) .
1389:(2002) .
1310:(1997) .
1078:Citations
1068:jollyboat
1037:exchanged
979:John Gore
936:Aftermath
741:Broadside
705:broadside
496:Régénérée
455:Rochefort
197:coast of
172:9 killed
162:1 frigate
1468:(2001).
1433:(1954).
1072:Plymouth
946:gunboats
835:Captain
784:Captain
765:Wounded
641:blocked
559:and the
408:frigates
404:blockade
380:Brittany
310:reached
286:. While
235:frigates
231:Brittany
223:blockade
154:Strength
63:Location
1203:, p.127
1051:luggers
987:Mermaid
952:Phaeton
760:Killed
675:Mermaid
573:Mermaid
553:Lorient
545:Mermaid
491:slavery
475:Sumatra
465:on the
436:Mermaid
336:Mermaid
330:on the
288:Mermaid
283:Mermaid
1476:
1454:
1419:
1397:
1375:
1356:
1337:
1318:
1093:, p.16
1066:and a
1064:cutter
974:Triton
743:weight
693:cannon
647:raking
561:Vendée
519:Battle
332:Vendée
205:. The
199:France
195:Biscay
119:France
103:
79:Result
1055:Jason
1047:Jason
1042:Seine
1028:Pique
1024:Jason
1013:Seine
1009:Pique
1001:Seine
996:Seine
991:Pique
983:Jason
884:Seine
830:Pique
779:Jason
770:Total
736:Tons
731:Guns
726:Navy
716:Ship
667:Seine
659:Seine
651:Jason
643:Pique
639:Jason
635:Seine
631:Pique
627:Jason
623:Seine
615:Jason
611:Pique
604:Jason
600:Seine
596:Pique
592:Seine
584:Seine
580:Pique
569:Pique
565:Jason
549:Seine
541:Pique
537:Jason
533:Seine
525:Seine
513:Seine
508:Seine
502:Vertu
425:Pique
414:Jason
376:Brest
352:Pique
348:Seine
344:Jason
340:Seine
324:Jason
320:Pique
316:Pique
312:Seine
308:Pique
304:Seine
300:Pique
296:Jason
292:Seine
276:Pique
269:Jason
263:Seine
259:Seine
248:Seine
227:Brest
1474:ISBN
1452:ISBN
1417:ISBN
1395:ISBN
1373:ISBN
1354:ISBN
1335:ISBN
1316:ISBN
972:HMS
970:and
961:HMS
950:HMS
942:brig
924:270
921:100
918:170
915:610
904:1146
864:247
828:HMS
813:277
777:HMS
697:rate
633:and
567:and
539:and
499:and
473:off
434:HMS
423:HMS
412:HMS
396:and
386:and
346:and
322:and
298:and
290:cut
281:HMS
279:and
274:HMS
267:HMS
189:The
55:Date
901:42
853:906
850:44
822:19
819:12
802:984
799:46
657:at
378:in
229:in
217:'s
1493::
1267:^
1235:^
1223:.
1208:^
1192:^
1178:^
1164:^
1107:^
1074:.
1019:.
989:.
959:,
906:bm
873:8
870:6
867:2
855:bm
816:7
804:bm
681:.
443:.
272:,
70:,
1482:.
1460:.
1425:.
1403:.
1381:.
1362:.
1343:.
1324:.
707:.
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