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EXPLOITS OF THE "IMPÉRIEUSE.”

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borough Head, where on January 7th and 8th, 1808, the Ariadne, 20, Captain Arthur Farquhar (1), assisted in capturing two, the Trente et Quarante and the Aglaé; and, when Denmark and Norway, after the attack on Copenhagen in 1807, became hostile, privateers swarmed in the North Sea, North Atlantic, and Baltic. The very insignificance of the craft employed made them more dangerous. Ships of frigate and corvette build, if lost by the privateer owners, could not be replaced; but luggers and rowing boats could be built in a few days or weeks. The batteries on the French coast gave these vessels a measure of security when they retreated to their own waters. Among the more important British captures in January were the Courier, 18, taken by the Linnet, 14, Lieutenant John Treacy,' on the 16th, and the Entreprenant, 16, taken by the Pandora, 18, Commander Henry Hume Spence, on the 13th.2

On February 7th, 1808, the Découverte, 8, Lieutenant Colin Campbell (2), cruising off San Domingo, discovered two enemy's schooners. and a British prize. One of the schooners escaped; the other was driven ashore and bilged. The prize, being on the reefs, was burnt. Two days later the Découverte brought to action, and captured, the privateer Dorade, 3, with a loss of Campbell and 6 seamen wounded. Three of the Découverte's wretchedly mounted carronades were upset in the combat and put out of action.3

In February, the Impérieuse, 38, Captain Lord Cochrane, was directed to harass the French and Spanish coasts to the best of her Captain's ability. Her proceedings are instructive, as they show what can be done by a single ship's crew when well led. Her first exploit, on February 19th, was to dash in amongst four Spanish gunboats which she caught some miles from Cartagena. One was taken, another escaped, and two were sunk. On the 21st, a French ship laden with supplies was captured by the boats with the loss of only one officer,* and this close under the batteries of Almeria. In the next six weeks the Impérieuse captured ten brigs, schooners, and coasting vessels, and destroyed a new signal tower on the Minorca coast. On April 13th, she bombarded a barrack at Ciudadela, in the same island, and all but demolished it. A little later, being fired upon by a small

1 Sometimes spelt Tracy. He was made Com. June 11th, 1814, and died in that rank.

Nav. Chron., xix. 79, 82, 83, 336, etc. 3 James, v. 19; Nav. Chron., xix. 345.

Lieut. Edward Caulfield.

tower on the island of Majorca, she landed a party which carried the tower and destroyed it without loss. At the end of April she filled her casks with water on the Spanish coast, overawing a considerable body of troops by the discharge of a few round-shot. On May 9th, she chased a large Spanish xebec, and captured her under a tower near the mouth of the Ebro, having first silenced the guns mounted in the tower. A fortnight later she caught a flotilla of Spanish gunboats off Cape Palos and destroyed two vessels. In June, Cochrane learnt that the Spaniards had risen against the French and that he was to assist them in every possible way. The French were reported to be plundering and burning the Spanish villages along the coast, and committing horrible atrocities. Cochrane determined to annoy them in retaliation to the utmost. He damaged the important road along the coast of Catalonia, so that it was rendered temporarily impassable for cavalry or artillery; and seized French batteries and carried off their guns with admirable audacity and impudence. On July 31st, in combination with the Spanish insurgents, he captured the fort of Mongat, an important position on the road between Barcelona and Gerona, receiving the surrender of the French garrison, and blowing up the work.

In August, Cochrane determined to transfer the war to the enemy's coast, and on the 15th, with the Impérieuse and a gunboat, anchored off the mouth of the Rhône. On the 17th he destroyed a French semaphore station at that point, another at La Pinède, and yet another at Frontignan; and he followed this up by capturing two more close to Marseilles, and destroying a French battery, with a loss of only one man. The French signal-books were carried off in every case, and burnt paper was strewn about to make it appear that they had been destroyed. The French, for that reason, did not trouble to change the code; and the British ships were able to read every message which they despatched. On September 3rd, Cochrane bombarded La Ciotat, the inhabitants of which town had fired upon him. A few days later, in concert with the Spartan, 38, Captain Jahleel Brenton (2), he destroyed a signal station in the Gulf of Fos, captured a battery at Port Vendres, threw rockets into Cette, burnt two pontoons near Montpellier, and captured or destroyed a convoy of coasters. In want of water, he ran into the Rhône mouth and filled his casks, diverting his seamen by blowing up a new signal tower at Fos, while thus engaged. For these services Cochrane was deservedly commended by Collingwood. The Admiralty, however,

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407

showed its dislike of him by making no recognition of such brilliant work.1

In October the Impérieuse renewed her exploits upon the Spanish coast, this time harassing the French troops, and capturing French vessels laden with stores for the enemy's army. In November, hearing that the French were at Rosas, Cochrane proceeded thither and found that Captain John West, of the Excellent, 74, had garrisoned Fort Trinidad, a work to the east of Rosas, and held it in the face of all attacks till he was relieved by Captain Richard Henry Alexander Bennett, of the Fame, 74, who was succeeded by Cochrane. In the face of heavy batteries, and constant attacks by a greatly superior enemy, Cochrane clung to the fort, which was of great importance as commanding the chief road from French territory to Barcelona. The skill and resourcefulness displayed by Cochrane in this defence were above all praise. He did not abandon the fort till its defence was hopeless, and he withdrew all his men. His loss was only 3 killed and 7 wounded; for he was an officer who contrived to secure great results with small bloodshed."

On February 8th, the boats of the Meleager, 36, Captain John Broughton, cut out the French privateer Renard, from Santiago de Cuba. On the 19th, the same frigate captured the Spanish privateer Antilope.3

On the night of February 13th, two boats of the Confiance, 20, Captain James Lucas Yeo, under Master's Mate Robert Trist, rowed in under the forts at the mouth of the Tagus and captured a French gunboat without loss."

Whilst cruising off Scarborough on March 2nd, the Sappho, 18, Commander George Langford, chased and brought to action the Danish brig Admiral Jawl, 28, Commander Jorgen Jorgenson. The Sappho, in spite of her nominal inferiority, was at close quarters the more powerful vessel, and in half an hour compelled her opponent to strike. The Sappho had 2 wounded; the enemy, 2 killed."

On March 8th, the long cruise of the Piémontaise, 40, Captain J. Epron, came to an end. Whilst lying in wait on the Ceylon

1 Cochrane was an impetuous, headstrong and irascible person, and had quarrelled bitterly with Lord St. Vincent. This, probably, was the result.

2Autob. of a Seaman,' i. 240 et seq.

4 Promoted Lieut., Mar. 24th, 1808.

6 Posted, Mar. 5th, 1808.

Nav. Chron., xix. 346. 5 Nav. Chron., xix. 259. 7 Nav. Chron., xix. 253.

coast for three East Indiamen, she was sighted early on March 6th by the San Fiorenzo, 36, Captain George Nicholas Hardinge, and chased. She took to flight, but late in the same night was closed. After two or three broadsides, directed at the British ship's rigging, she made all sail and once more drew away. The San Fiorenzo could not overtake her till daylight on the 7th. At 6.25 A.M., the Piémontaise opened fire at a range of 800 yards, and the San

Fiorenzo promptly replied. The two slowly closed till within 400 yards, the French all the time directing their fire mainly at the San Fiorenzo's rigging. By 8.15, serious damage had been done. The fore topsail yard was shot through; the main royal-mast, main topmast stays, spring stay, most of the running rigging, and the sails were shot to pieces. As the San Fiorenzo had made the hull of her enemy the target, similar injuries had not been inflicted upon the French ship's motive power, and she was able to draw away. The

1808.]

THE "SAN FIORENZO" AND THE “PIÉMONTAISE.”

409 San Fiorenzo turned to the work of making good the damage done. Thus far the loss on board had been only 8 killed and 17 wounded. The French ship must have suffered far more severely, but was so strongly manned, if British accounts may be trusted, that she could scarcely have felt the loss.

All day the San Fiorenzo was busied with her repairs. With the evening the Piétmontaise disappeared to the east under a press of sail, but was picked up again towards midnight. From that hour onwards she was kept in view, about ten or twelve miles ahead. With daylight, the San Fiorenzo, completely refitted, gained slowly on her opponent, and at about 4 P.M. was within range. The Piémontaise, as escape without fighting an action was now seen to be hopeless, turned and encountered the British frigate, passing her on the opposite tack at 50 yards' distance, and exchanging several broadsides. Unhappily, the gallant Hardinge was struck by a grape shot and killed. Lieutenant William Dawson 2 thereupon

1

took command. The Piémontaise wore astern of the San Fiorenzo and engaged her closely, but proved no match in gunnery for the British ship. At 5.50 P.M. she struck, with masts and rigging cut to pieces, and a great part of her crew killed or wounded.

According to statements of the French officers who survived the action, the Piémontaise, when she struck, had fired away all her 18-pr. and 8-pr. shot. This is one of the rare occasions on which ammunition ran short; but it should be remembered that the vessel had been cruising since early in 1806 in the Indian Ocean, and may not have been able to replenish her store of projectiles at Réunion or Mauritius. Her gun-locks are also stated to have been out of order at the beginning of the final action, and her match to have been extremely bad. She is said in the British accounts to have had a crew of 366 Frenchmen and 200 Lascars; but 50 of the French seem to have been absent in prizes.

1 Born, Apr. 11th, 1781; Lieut., Oct. 15th, 1800; Com., May, 1802; Capt.,

Apr. 10th, 1804.

2 Posted, Mar. 9th, 1809, but died Sept. 29th, 1811.