Appendix F

Admiral Rodney’s Letter

“On the 5th of April I received intelligence that the enemy were embarking their troops on board the ships-of-war, and concluded that they intended to sail in a few days. Captain Byron of the Andromache, an active and diligent officer, watched their motions with such attention, that on the 8th inst. at day-light he made out the enemy’s signal of coming out and standing to N.W. I instantly made the signal to weigh, and having looked into the Bays of Fort Royal and St. Pierre, I made signal for a general chase, and before day-light came up with the enemy under Dominique, where both fleets were becalmed, and continued so for some time. The enemy first got the wind, and stood towards Guadaloupe.

“My van division, under that gallant officer Sir Samuel Hood, received it next, and stood after them. At nine the enemy began to cannonade my van, which was returned with the greatest briskness. The baffling winds did not permit part of the centre division to get into action with the enemy’s rear till half-past eleven; and then only the ship next me in line of battle, &c. The enemy’s cannonade ceased upon my rear’s approach, but not before they had done considerable damage to the ships in the van, and disabled the Royal Oak and Montague, &c.

“The night of the 9th inst. the fleet lay-to to repair their damages. The 10th they continued to turn to windward under a very easy sail, the enemy continuing to do the same; and always had it in their power to come into action, which they cautiously avoided, and rendered it impossible for me to force them in the situation they were in, between the Saints and the island of Dominique.

“On the 11th, the enemy having gained considerably to the windward, and the wind blowing a fresh steady gale, I made the signal for a general chase to windward, which continued the whole day; and towards sunset one of the enemy’s ships, damaged in the late action, falling to leeward, the Count de Grasse bore down with his whole fleet to her protection, which brought him so near that I flattered myself he would give me an opportunity of engaging him next day. With that view I threw out the signal for the form of sailing, and stood with the whole fleet to the southward till two in the morning, then tacked, and had the happiness, at day-light, to find my most sanguine desire was near being accomplished, by my having it in my power to force the enemy to battle.”

Note from Lord Rodney’s narrative contained in a private letter.

“The 10th of April and the 11th were employed in endeavouring to bring the enemy to battle, and on the 11th, late in the afternoon, the enemy bore down to protect two of their own ships, who were in danger of being cut off. This brought them to the position the Admiral wished; he instantly issued orders to sail during the night in the order of sailing; to put out all lights; to stand to the southward till two in the morning, and then the whole fleet to tack without signal. This deceived the enemy, who had no conception that the British fleet should be so near them at day-light: we instantly formed the line of battle on our starboard tack, the enemy formed theirs on the larboard tack, and had made the signal to wear; but the nearness of the British squadron prevented its being put into execution; and the British fleet taking the lee gage, the Admiral made the signal to engage and close.”

List of the French fleet commanded by the Comte de Grasse in order of battle 9th and 12th April, 1782.

white and blue squadron.

First Division Flag, half White half Blue at the Fore.

Ships. Guns.

Le Souverain	74	Le Commandeur de Glandive.
L’Hercule	74	″ La Clochetterie.
L’Auguste	80	″ Bougainville.
Le Northumberland	74	″ De S^t. Cézaire.

Second Division, half White half Blue at the Main.

Le Zélé 21	74	Chev. Gras. Preville.
Le Duc de Bourgogne	80	Commandeur Espinose.
Le Conquérant	74	″ De la Grandière.
Le Marseillois	74	″ Lombard.

Third Division, half White half Blue at the Mizen.

L’Hector 22	74	Com. La Vicomté.
Le César^[22]	74	″ Marigny.
Le Magnanime	74	″ Comte le Besgue.
Le Diadème	74

white squadron.

Fourth Division, White at the Fore.

Le Glorieux^[22]	74	Com. Comte d’Escar.
L’Eveillé^[22]	64	″ Rilly.
Le Sceptre	74	″ Comte de Vaudreuil.

Fifth Division, White at the Main.

Le Languedoc	80		Com. d’Arros.
La Ville de Paris	100	{	Le Comte de Grasse Com. La Villeon.
La Couronne 23	80		″ Comte de Mithon.

Sixth Division, White at the Mizen.

Le Réfléchi	64	Com. Chev. de Boades.
Le S. Esprit	80	″ Marquis de Chabert.
Le Scipion	74	″ Grimouard.
Le Palmier	74	″ Martelli.

blue squadron.

Seventh Division, Blue at the Fore.

Le Jason 24	64	Com. Chev. de Villages.
Le Destin	74	″ Goimpy.
Le Citoyen	74	″ Comte d’Ethy.
Le Dauphin Royal^[23]	74	″ Montpéroux.

Eighth Division, Blue at the Main.

L’Ardent^[22]	64	Com. Gourillon.
Le Triomphant^[23]	80	″ Marquis de Vaudreuil.
Le Neptune	74	″ De Touches.
Le Bien-Aimé^[23]	74

Ninth Division, Blue at the Mizen.

Le Caton^[23]	64	Com. Comte de Fremond.
Le Brave^[23]	74	″ Marquis d’Amblimont.
La Bourgogne	74	″ Champmartin.
Le Pluton	74	″ D’Albert de Rions.

Frigates attached to each Squadron.

white and blue squadron.

L’Experiment	50	Com. De Langle.
La Sagittaire	50	″ La Villebrune.
La Résolue	32	″ La Pérouse.
La Hypocrite	32
Le Cornwallis	20
La Concorde	36	″ Launay Tromlin.
L’Engageante	36	″ La Taille.

white squadron.

Le Richmond	32
La Médée	36	Com. Marquis de Kerquiron.
L’Iris	32
Le Clairvoyant	20	″ ″ Le Grass Simeront.
La Galathée	36

blue squadron.

La Friponne	36
L’Astrée^[24]	36
La Cérès^[24]	16
L’Amazone	36

Le Fier and Le Minotaure armé en flute.

Total, thirty-four sail of the line, two of fifty guns, thirteen frigates, seven armed brigs, two fire-ships, and one cutter.

The Ville de Paris had 1,300 men on board at the commencement of the action on the 9th.

List of Swedish Officers on board the French Fleet on the 12th April 1782.

Le Conquérant		Lieutenant Blessing.
Le Magnifique		Montell.
Le Destin		Toll.
Le Glorieux		Baron Rebinder.
Le Sceptre		Baron Cederström.
La Couronne		Baron Palmquist.
La Ville de Paris		Rosenstein.
Le Languedoc		Wergus.
L’Auguste		Hohenhausen.
Le Northumberland	{	Nauckhoff. Tornquist.
Le Palmier		Lieutenant Brunmark.
Le Souverain		Baron Rayalin.
Le Hercules		Zachan.
L’Astrée (frigate)		Schults and Deborabur.

Memorandum of the author made at Carlscrona in 1808.

Captain Tornquist said, that after the Russell gave the Northumberland her first broadside, the helm was put up, and a great number of the crew ran from their quarters; the Couronne bore up also at the same time, and left the Ville de Paris, which had exchanged broadsides with several ships, but was never closely engaged but by the Russell. He says that the Barfleur did not fire a shot at the Ville de Paris.

Squadron sent under command of Rear-admiral Kempenfelt, to intercept the French West India convoy, which had sailed from Brest, under M. de Guichen, December 1781.

Names.	Guns.		Commanders.
Victory	100	{	Kempenfelt, R.A. of the Red, Captain Cromwell.
Britannia	100		Capt. James Bradby.
Queen	98		″ Hon. F. Maitland.
Duke	98		″ Sir Walter Stirling.
Ocean	90		″ George Ourry.
Namur	90		″ John Dalrymple.
Edgar	74	{	John Elliot, commodore. Captain Thomas Boston.
Alexander	74		Capt. Lord Longford.
Couragueux	74		″ Honourable Charles Phipps.
Valiant	74		″ Samuel C. Goodall.
Agamemnon	64		″ Benjamin Caldwell.
Medway	60		″ Henry Harmood.
Renown	50		″ John Henry.
Arethusa	38		″ Sir Richard Pearson.
Monsieur	36		″ Honourable W.C. Finch.
La Prudente	36		″ Honourable Wm. Waldegrave.
Tartar	28		″ Robert M. Sutton.
Tisiphone	fire-ship		″ James Saumarez.

French fleet under M. de Guichen, when it fell in with Admiral Kempenfelt, on the 12th of December 1781.

Names.	Guns.	Commanders.
La Bretagne	110	Com. Le Comte de Guichen.
Le Majestueux	110	Le Comte de Rocheaut.
Le Royal Louis	110	″ M. de Beausset.
L’Invincible	110
Le Terrible	110
La Couronne	84	″ Mons de la Motte Piquet.
Le Triomphant^[22]	84	″ Mons. de Vaudreuil.
Le Pégase	74
Le Magnifique	74
L’Actif	74
Le Dauphin Royal	74
Le Bien-Aimé	74
Le Zodiaque	74
Le Robuste	74
Le Fendent	74
Le Brave[22]	74
L’Argonaute	64
Le Lion	64
L’Indien	64
L’Alexandre	armée en flute.
Le Hardi	do. do.

A List of the British Fleet in the action of the 9th and 12th April 1782, commanded by Sir George Bridges Rodney, Bart. K.B.

Red Division.

Ships.	Guns.	Men.		Commanders.		Killed.	Wound.
Royal Oak 25	74	600		Capt. T. Burnet		8	30
Alfred	74	600		″ W. Bayne		12	40
Montague	74	600		″ G. Bowen		12	31
Yarmouth^[25]	64	500		″ A. Parry		14	33
Valiant 26	74	650		″ S.C. Goodall		10	28
Barfleur	98	767	{	Sir S. Hood, Rear-adm. of the Blue Capt. John Knight	}	10	37
Monarch	74	600		″ F. Reynolds		16	33
Warrior^[22]	74	600		″ Sir J. Wallace		5	21
Bellequeux	64	500		″ A. Sutherland		4	10
Centaur	74	600		″ I.H. Inglefield
Magnificent^[25]	74	600		″ Robert Linzee		6	11
Prince William	64	500		″ A. Wilkinson		0	0
Bedford	74	617	{	E. Affleck, Esq. Com. Capt. Thomas Graves	}	0	16
Ajax	74	550		″ N. Charrington		9	40
Repulse^[25]	64	500		″ T. Dumaresq		3	11

White Division.

Canada	74	600		Capt. Hon. W. Cornwallis		12	23
St. Albans	64	500		″ C. Inglis		0	6
Namur	90	750		″ R. Fanshawe		6	25
Formidable^[25]	98	780	{	Sir G.B. Rodney, Bart. Admiral of the White. 1 Capt. Sir Charles Douglas, Bart. 2 Capt. J. Symonds. Lord Cranstoun, Volun.	}	15	39
Duke	98	750		Capt. A. Gardner		13	60
Agamemnon	64	500		″ B. Caldwell		14	24
Resolution	74	600		″ Lord R. Manners		4	35
Prothée^[25]	64	500		″ C. Buckner		5	25
Hercules^[25]	74	600		″ H. Savage		7	19
America	64	500		″ S. Thompson		1	1

Blue Division.

Russell	74	600		Capt. James Saumarez		10	29
Prudent	64	500		″ A. Barclay	(not in action)
Fame^[26]	74	600		″ R. Barber		3	12
Anson^[26]	64	500		″ W. Blair		3	13
Torbay	74	600		″ Lewis Gideon		10	25
Prince George	98	750		″ W. Williams		9	24
Princessa	70	577	{	F.S. Francis Drake, Esq. Rear-adm. of the Blue Capt. C. Knatchbull.	}	3	22
Conqueror^[26]	74	600		″ G. Balfour		7	23
Nonsuch	64	500		″ W. Truscott		3	3
Alcade	74	600		″ C. Thompson
Arrogant^[26]	74	600		″ S. Cornish		0	0
Marlborough^[26]	74	600		″ Tay. Penny		3	16

frigates attached to each division.

Red Division.

Ships.	Guns.	Commanders.
Lizard 27	28
Le Nymphe^[27]	36	Capt. J. Ford.
Champion (repeat signals)	24	″ A. Hood.
Alecto, fire-ship		″ W. Fisher.

White Division.

Convert	32	Capt. H. Hervey.
Endymion	44	″ E.T. Smith.
Alarm	32	″ C. Cotton.
Andromache	32	″ J.A. Byron.
Flora (to repeat signals)	36	″ S. Marshall.
Alert, brig	14
Sibyl	28	″ Rodney.
Pegasus^[27]	28	″ S. Stanhope.
Salamander, F.S.^[27]
Fortune^[27]	38	″ H.C. Christian.
Zebra^[27]	14	″ J. Boucher.

Blue Division.

Germain^[27]	14
Blast, F.S.^[27]
Eurydice (to repeat)	24	″ G. Wilson.
Santa Maria^[27]	32	″ J. Linzee.

List of officers killed and wounded on the 9th and 12th April 1782.

Royal Oak	Mr. Gwatkin, 1st lieutenant, killed; Captain of the marines wounded.
Alfred	Captain Bayne killed on the 9th.
Montague	Mr. William Code, master, killed; Lieutenants Briedan and Buchan, R.M., wounded.
Valiant	Mr. R. Wimbleton, 2nd lieutenant, killed; Mr. W. Brown, 5th lieutenant, Mr. Backhouse, master, wounded.
Warrior	Mr. Stone, master, wounded.
Magnificent	Captain Bagg, of marines, wounded.
Ajax	Mr. John Elliot, 1st lieutenant, and Mr. Thomas Rositer, pilot, wounded.
Repulse	Captain of marines and master wounded.
Formidable	Lieutenant Hall killed; Captain Bell and Lieutenant Harris of marines wounded.
Duke	Lieutenant Cornish, Mr. Cooper, master, Mr. Scott, boatswain, wounded.
Agamemnon	Lieutenants Incledon and Brice wounded, the latter since dead.
Prothée	Thomas Love, master, wounded.
Hercules	Lieutenant Hobart killed; Captain Savage wounded.
America	Lieutenant Colbonhill killed; Lieutenant Trelawney wounded.
Anson	Captain Blair killed.
Torbay	Lieutenant Monier, of marines, killed.
Princessa	Lieutenants Dundas, M^cDonald, and Laban, of marines, wounded.
Centaur	No return.
Alcide	No return.

extract from the log of the russell.

Russell, 12th April 1782,
off Dominica, E.S.E. 4 or 5 leagues.

Wind, East by North.

Friday 12th, fresh breezes and fine weather. At five p.m. the Admiral made the signal to close in the order of sailing. At six, the America’s signal to go ahead and carry a light during the night. At half-past seven saw the flashes and heard the report of several guns to windward, supposed to be from the French fleet. At half-past one a.m. the Admiral made the signal to tack. At sunrise saw the French fleet to the northward about three leagues. At half-past five the Admiral made the signal to form a line ahead, and for the blue division to lead. At six, the Conqueror’s signal was made to chase to the N.W. At half-past six the Admiral made the signal for the line to form N.N.E. and S.S.W, two cables’ length asunder, and for the third in command to lead; the French fleet to windward forming the line ahead, standing to the southward. At seven the Admiral made the signal for all cruisers to come in and to close the line one cable’s length asunder. At thirty-eight minutes past seven the Admiral made our signal for being out of our station; forty minutes past, the signal for the fleet to close in a line of battle; forty-three minutes past, repeated it; our fleet in a line ahead standing to the southward. At three quarters past seven the enemy began firing on our van. The Admiral made the signal for action—our van began to engage the enemy’s van. Fifty minutes past seven we backed the main topsail, and began to engage. Fifty minutes past eight, engaging the enemy very close, backed and filled occasionally; at nine luffed up and backed the main topsail, and raked the enemy’s sternmost ships. Having passed all their line, ceased firing, the centre and rear still engaging as they passed the enemy. Our masts, yards, sails, and rigging, very much damaged; the mizen-mast, dangerously wounded, struck the mizen yard, and sent topgallant-masts and yards down upon deck, unbent the mizen topsail, a spritsail, topsail, and a jib for a mizen. At twenty-five minutes past nine saw the Prince George to leeward without a fore-mast. Employed fishing the fore and mizen topsail yards, and fitting the rigging, and shifting powder from forward to aft, and cleared the decks up ready for action. At half-past nine wore to stand for the enemy. At ten the Admiral made the signal for the commander of the third post to tack and gain the wind of the enemy; the signal for engaging flying, and the signal for the line, hauled down. At three minutes past eleven the Admiral made the signal for the van to tack: saw one of the enemy’s ships with all her masts and bowsprit shot away; Sir Samuel Hood’s division and part of the centre still engaging the enemy’s fleet: the rear, having been broke through, bore away.

13th p.m. Body of Dominica E.S.E. 9 or 10 leagues, Wind, Noon, E.S.E.

The van and centre, engaging at forty minutes past seven, wore to the southward. The topsail-yard being fished, set the fore topsail standing for the enemy’s fleet; people employed repairing the rigging. At half-past one the Admiral made the Alert’s signal to come within hail. At twenty minutes past two he made the Royal Oak’s signal to take the French ship in tow that was dismasted, part of the fleet still engaging. The Admiral made the Bedford’s signal to get into her station. One of the French ships struck to the van. Coming up with the enemy’s fleet, beat to quarters. Forty minutes past three we began to engage some of the enemy’s ships to leeward on contrary tacks. At ten minutes past four, having passed them, ceased firing and hauled up the courses; wore ship ahead of the Formidable two of the enemy’s ships struck their colours. At half-past four the Admiral made the Conqueror’s signal to make more sail. At a quarter past five he made the signal to close in line of battle; set the foresail. At six bore down, and ran under the Ville de Paris’ stern, raked her, then hauled up after her; at twenty minutes past six saw her strike her colours. At seven p.m. the Admiral made the night-signal for the fleet to bring-to on the starboard tack; shortened sail, hauled our wind, and backed the main topsail, some of the fleet engaging to leeward. During the action we had ten men killed and twenty-nine wounded; the French fleet going away with all sail set to the N.W. At half-past eleven, saw a ship on fire blow up.

On the 4th of March, at half-past three, the Russell struck on a rock and damaged her rudder and stern frame; at eight weighed and run further out. On the 5th, at four, made the signal for assistance, and went to the Carenage. On the 6th, warped in and unhung her rudder, sent it on shore, and found that all the lower pentles were broken off. 11th, came out of the Carenage; fifteen men deserted; in coming out, she again struck on a rock. Before the action, she received twenty-three men from the Shrewsbury.

Signed on the 23rd September 1782, by

James Saumarez.

Lord Rodney’s Victory.—Canada’s Log, 12th April 1782.

April 12th, at daylight, six, moderate and cloudy. Quarter past seven the Admiral made the signal to call in all cruisers. At twenty-five past seven he made the signal for the line of battle ahead a cable’s length asunder. The enemy formed a line of battle ahead on the larboard tack, standing to the south, and we formed the line of battle ahead on the starboard tack, and stood to the northward. At eight the Admiral made the Russell’s signal to get into her station; at five past eight, he made the signal to close. At fifty past seven, the van of our fleet began to engage, as did all the other ships as they came abreast of enemy. There was a great interval in the enemy’s line; our fleet cut through to windward about twelve ships of them. At twenty past eight the enemy’s ships, as they passed, began firing at us; at twenty-five past eight we began to engage. At twenty past nine one of the enemy’s ship’s main and mizen-masts went over the stern just as she got abreast of our quarter, and soon after our fore-mast and bowsprit went also. At twenty-five past nine, having passed the enemy’s fleet, some of whom went to leeward of us, the Admiral made the signal to tack. At thirty-eight past ten he hoisted signal for the commander of the third post to make more sail; observed the Duke’s main topmast go over the side. At fifty past ten, observed the Prince George with her fore topmast gone. We ceased firing, as did most of the ships on both sides, except Sir S. Hood and some of the squadron who were to windward, who exchanged a good many shots with the enemy, as he bore down. At eleven, observed that the Admiral had hauled down the signal for the line; at five past eleven the Admiral made the signal to tack; wore at three quarters past eleven. We fired several shots at the enemy, to try the distance, but finding they did not reach, ceased firing. At fifty past eleven the Admiral made the Conqueror’s signal to tack, and made and shortened sail occasionally. Wind, E. p.m. E.S.E. 13th (at noon) p.m., moderate and clear, inclinable to calm. At five p.m. the Admiral made the Endymion’s signal to stay by a disabled ship in the N.W. At ten p.m. one of our ships ahead fired a good many shots at a frigate, which had a disabled ship of the enemy in tow; and soon after the frigate cast her off. We fired several shots, at times, to try the distance. At twenty-three, p.m. the Admiral made the signal that the van were at too great a distance from the centre; the ships astern exchanged a good many shots with the enemy as they came up with them. At fifty p.m. the Admiral made the Alcides and Marlborough signal to make more sail; at fifty-three, p.m. to engage close; fired several shots, at times, to try the distance. At a quarter past one, two of our ships to windward exchanged a good many shots with the enemy. At half-past one the Admiral made our signal to close; twenty-five past one, we began to engage; at fifty past one the Admiral made the signal to the Monarch to get into her station. At twelve past two he made the Alert signal to come within hail; half-past two he made the Royal Oak’s signal to take the ship in tow that had struck her colours. At twenty-two past two the Admiral made the Resolution signal to tack, and we discontinued engaging. At twenty-three past two some of our ships upon our larboard beam began firing, as did the rest of the ships as they came up with the enemy. At three quarters past three the Admiral made the Repulse and Alcides signal to bear down. At four the Admiral made the signal to veer; at seven past four the Admiral made the Torbay signal to veer; at twenty past four a French line-of-battle ship struck to us after engaging her eighteen minutes. At a quarter past four the Admiral made the Repulse and Resolution signals to make more sail; at three quarters past, Sir S. Hood steering after some enemy’s ships to the N.W. About this time the firing ceased on both sides. At fifty past four the Admiral made the signal for the first ships to bear down. At five we began to engage; at a quarter past five our ships engaging as they came up; at fifty-five past five observed another French line-of-battle ship had struck her colours. At five past six the Admiral made the signal to the Princess and Bedford to get into their stations. At thirty-five past six observed that the Ville de Paris had struck her colours. At forty past six discontinued the engagement. At seven beat the retreat. At nine, saw a ship on fire, and another soon after blow up, all without the main topsail. Wind, E.S.E.

(A true copy.) J. Ross.

Although in the above logs, and in several others which we have examined at the depôt, by permission from the Lords of the Admiralty, it does appear that the Canada was engaged with the Ville de Paris, yet we have no doubt of the fact, having the testimonies of Sir L. Halsted and Admiral Giffard, who were in the Canada on the 12th of April, extracts of whose letters we subjoin, which also prove that the Canada was not the ship that was engaging the Ville de Paris when the Barfleur came up, and when the French Admiral struck his colours. Sir Lawrence Halsted, in his letter to us, after giving a brief account of the capture of the Hector, and of the Canada’s previous and subsequent attack on the Ville de Paris, relates, that the Canada, on seeing some ships bearing down on the Ville de Paris, of which, he believes, one was the Russell, “bore up in pursuit of a French Rear-admiral in the Triomphant 84;” and he concludes, “I trust that that part in Lord de Saumarez’ letter is satisfactorily answered, as it is quite clear that the Canada was not near the Ville de Paris at the time she surrendered.” Admiral Giffard, in answer to our application, says,

“I am of opinion the Canada was engaged with the Ville de Paris earlier in the day than the Russell.”

Extract of a letter from Capt. G.W.H. Knight, R.N., son of the late Admiral Sir John Knight, K.C.B., who was captain of the Barfleur on the 12th April, 1782.

“I have never been able to lay my hand on my father’s letter, wherein he gave me some account of the 12th of April 1782, but this I recollect quite well, that he said, ‘he accompanied Sir Samuel (afterwards Lord Hood) on board Lord Rodney’s ship the day before the battle of the 9th of April, (my father being captain of the Barfleur, Sir Samuel’s flag ship,) and on that occasion not one word was said, or order given, for any attempt to break through the enemy’s line in the expected engagement, nor was any order afterwards given previous to the 12th of April. That on the 9th, the van squadron, commanded by Sir S. Hood, which was most engaged, made no attempt to break the line, nor did the van or centre (the line being inverted) on the 12th make any such attempt; and my father attributed the Formidable, and those that followed her, getting through, to the circumstance of a change of wind, which brought those ships up with the rest of the rear of the British fleet, while it broke off the ships in the French line, and consequently left openings.’ He further said, ‘that from the density of the smoke they could see nothing, and that the first intimation they had (the Barfleur) of passing through the enemy’s line was, from receiving fire on both sides.’ He gave another reason for supposing it was altogether accidental, which was, that no attempt was made or order given by signal to double on the enemy, and that the advantage gained by passing through the line was never made use of when my father took possession of the Ville de Paris, and received Count de Grasse’s sword, and afterward conveyed him to his Admiral; no remark was made upon any circumstance having taken place different from the usual practice. These are the heads of what I recollect.”

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