The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence

101

"Letters of Lord Hood." Navy Records Society, p. 35.

102

Beatson, "Military and Naval Memoirs," v. 347.

103

Sir John Ross, in his "Life of Saumarez," who was lieutenant in the flagship, says that the flagship only passed ahead of the Buffalo, and that the rear ships closed upon the latter. The version in the text rests upon the detailed and circumstantial statements of another lieutenant of the squadron, in Ekins's "Naval Battles." As Ekins also was present as a midshipman, this gives, as it were, the confirmation of two witnesses.

104

James Saumarez, Lord de Saumarez, G.C.B. Born, 1757. Commander, 1781. Captain, 1782. Captain of Russell in Rodney's action, 1782. Knighted for capture of frigate Réunion, 1793. Captain of Orion in Bridport's action, at St. Vincent, and at the Nile (when he was second in command). Rear-Admiral and Baronet, 1801. Defeated French and Spaniards off Cadiz, July 12th, 1801. Vice-Admiral, 1805. Vice-Admiral of England and a peer, 1831. Died, 1836.

105

Ante, p. 183.

106

Probably Prudent, 64. There was no President in the fleet.

107

The times and general movements are put together from Hood's Journal and the Log of the Canada, published by the Navy Records Society. "Letters of Lord Hood," pp. 64, 86.

108

When ships were in order of battle, or column, close to the wind, if they all tacked at the same time they would still be ranged on the same line but steering at an angle to it, on the opposite tack. This formation was called bow and quarter line, because each vessel had a comrade off its bow—to one side and ahead—and one off its quarter—to one side but astern. The advantage of this, if heading towards the enemy, was that by tacking again together they would be at once again in column, or line ahead, the customary order of battle.

109

Illustrations of other phases of this battle can be found in Mahan's "Influence of Sea Power upon History," pp. 470, 472.

110

White, "Naval Researches."

111

Sharp up by the starboard braces, the wind being on the starboard quarter. This emptied the aftersails of wind, neutralizing their effect, and, by causing the ship to move more slowly, kept her longer abreast an anchored opponent.

112

White, "Naval Researches."

113

Ante, p. 164.

114

Seven hundred and twenty feet. For ships of the line of that day this would make the interval between each two about four ships' length. At five knots speed this distance would be covered in something over a minute.

115

Probably not over one or two hundred yards from the enemy.

116

The position, in the French order, of the ships taken in the battle, is shown by the crosses in Positions 4, 5, 6.

117

Canada's log, 8.15; reduced to Hood's times, which are generally followed.

118

Ante, p. 200 (note).

119

This mishap occurred to three French vessels.

120

Ross, "Life of Saumarez," i. 71.

121

Circular pieces of wood which cap the top of the masts.

122

Letters of Lord Hood, p. 103. Navy Records Society.

123

Mundy, "Life of Rodney," ii. 234.

124

She is thus rated in the British Navy Lists published between the time of her capture and the receipt of news of her loss; but she seems to have carried 120 guns.

125

Letters of Lord Hood, pp. 103, 104.

126

See letter of Sir Howard Douglas, son to Sir Charles; "United Service Journal," 1834, Part II, p. 97.

127

Author's italics; Mundy, "Life of Rodney," ii. 248.

128

Author's italics; Mundy, "Life of Rodney," ii. 248.

129

Troude. Chevalier says sixteen, differing with. Troude as to the whereabouts of the Brave.

130

Letters of Lord Hood, p. 136.

131

Letters of Lord Hood, p. 134.

132

Ibid., p. 104.

133

That is, with a great part of her guns dismounted, and below as cargo.

134

Chevalier, following La Motte-Picquet's report, ascribes Howe's escape to greater speed. ("Mar. Fran. en 1778," p. 335.) It must be noted that Howe's object was not merely to escape eastward, up Channel, by better sailing, but to get to the westward, past the allies, a feat impracticable save by a stratagem such as is mentioned.

135

Chevalier, "Mar. Fran, dans la Guerre de 1778," p. 358.

136

Now Mauritius.

137

On the Malabar—western—coast.

138

See ante, p. 163.

139

I infer, from the accounts, that the Monmouth was well east of the Hero, that the French had passed her first, and that the Héros was now on her port beam; but this point is not certain.

140

Expressions in Johnstone's Report.

141

Charnock, however, says that in 1762, immediately after receiving his post-commission, he commanded in succession the Hind, 20, and the Wager, 20. Moreover, before his appointment to the expedition of 1781, he had been Commodore on the Lisbon Station. But he had spent comparatively little time at sea as a captain.—W.L.C.

142

See ante, pp. 79, 80.

143

One being the captured British Hannibal, 50, which was commissioned by Captain Morard de Galles, retaining the English form of the name, Hannibal, to distinguish her from the Annibal, 74, already in the squadron.

144

In the plan, Positions II and III, the second position is indicated by ships with broken outlines. These show the two lines of battle in the engagement until the wind shifted to south-south-east. The results of the shift constituted a third position, consecutive with the second, and is indicated by ships in full outline.

145

Previously the British East Indiaman, Elizabeth.

146

Forty-five degrees.