The Glorious First of June
1794
In consequence of hasty and express orders received the day before, we set sail from St. Helen's Road, on the second of May, with thirty-two sail of the line, besides frigates, thirty-eight East-India ships, and other merchant vessels, under the command of Earl Howe. On the 4th, off the Lizard, Admiral G. Montague, with six sail of the line, was dispatched to convoy the India ships, and others, to their destination; while, with the remaining twenty-six sail, and frigates, we stood for the French coast, and made Ushant the next day. I believe the inhabitants were alarmed; but it was not, simply our business to frighten: we stood away to the southward, as far as the latitude of forty-six degrees, to intercept a very large French convoy from America; or to meet with their fleet, it was supposed, was to come out, or were out to protect them. Being beat about a considerable time, with baffling winds, chancing some ships, and re-capturing two British, from the Mediterranean, we stood to the Northward, saw them into the latitude of safety and made Ushant again on the 20th. On the evening of this day, the admiral spoke an English frigate, the Venus, which brought him intelligence. He bore away directly to the westward, and next morning at four o'clock, hove to, captured ten sail of merchant-ships which fell in our way, and which we supposed to be part of the convoy mentioned. A signal was made for destroying the prizes, and accordingly one was scuttled, and nine burned. We still continued a westerly course, as the wind would permit, till the morning of the 25th, meeting some of the enemy ships and still setting them on fire. On this morning early, we fell in with a French ship of the line, which we afterwards learned was l'Audacieuse, with a sloop of sixteen guns, eighteen pounders and a ship of twenty guns. The two last we burned, but the first got away by the mere dint of good sailing, after several hours chase. We found that the greatest part of the ships which we had destroyed, and which amounted to about eighteen sail, had been a Newfoundland convoy, under Captain Trowbridge, of the Castor, which had just before been taken by a French squadron.
On the morning of the 28th, a frigate a-head made the signal for a fleet bearing S.W. directly to windward, about ten minutes after eight o'clock. Before nine we counted thirty sail of the French bearing down upon us, with studding-sails set. At about ten, they shortened sail, and came to the wind. At eleven we tacked towards them, having a strong breeze and a heavy sea: they did not seem to wish to evade, nor by any means to force, an action. At one p.m. they tacked; at two we answered and obeyed the signal for a general chase. At three they still avoiding us, Earl Howe made the signal for harrassing their rear. At six the headmost and weathermost of our ships commenced action with the rear of the enemy. The ships principally engaged this evening were the Russell, Bellerophon, Audacious, Thunderer, Leviathan, and Gibraltar. At eight o'clock, the enemy's rear-most ship, le Revolutionaire, was brought to close action by the Audacious. At nine she was observed to be on fire in her mizen-top, which soon went overboard. The Audacious continued in close action with her until ten o'clock, when it appeared that the mizen mast of the Frenchman was gone by the board, his lower yard and main top-sail yard shot away; his fore top-sail being full (though flying out from the top-sail yard, the sheets being shot away) he fell athwart the bows of the Audacious, but separated without being entangled any time. He then directed his course before the wind, and to appearance passed through or close astern of the ships in the rear of the line of British ships.
It is wonderful, after such an action that the whole number killed and wounded was but twenty-two: three were killed on the spot, and one died soon after. Thus ended the business of the 28th in which action we had each twenty-six sail of the line. We had the honour of chasing them, of beating them, and taking away their rear-guard, le Revolutionaire, a three-deck ship, of one hundred and ten guns.
On the morning of the 29th it was hazy and still blew stormy - we saw the enemy to windward, about three leagues. At nine, having chased by signal, and the enemy having reversed their line, the action commenced between our van and their rear. At noon the van was still in action, it blowing fresh and hazy. At half past noon, our signal was made to tack in succession, and break their line - the van of our line, being very close to the enemy, but to leeward, kept up a very heavy fire. Between two and three we saw the Thunderer, reckoned a good sailer, and the sternmost ship in our line, by station, make sail and pass by the Impregnable and Glory, and we supposed, to get into action. At four, the van and centre of the enemy wore and bore away to support their disabled ships, four of which were much damaged in their masts and rigging. The Queen, Royal George, and others of our line were all damaged. A French ship struck to the Caesar this day, but afterwards, as she could not be taken possession of, hoisted her colours again and got away. We were this day equal in number, being twenty-five sail of the line each. We fought them to a great disadvantage, bearing up to them against the wind. We did them great damage, gave the whole a hearty drubbing, beat thro their line, drove them to leeward, and still continued to chase.
On the 30th, exceeding hazy, - our admirals kept firing guns in the fog. The most we could perceive of our own fleet to-day, was fourteen sail. Continued a westerly course close hauled, and, as far as circumstances would permit, repaired our damages.
On the 31st very hazy till noon, at two cleared up, and saw the enemy's fleet far to leeward. At half past, counted thirty-four sail of the enemy. They were now four sail of the line superior to us, having been joined by a squadron that had captured the Castor, Captain Trowbridge and his convoy. We bore up and chased as usual. Towards evening we came to the wind in succession, the enemy being on a wind about two leagues distant - we carried lights during the night.
On the 1st of June, at a quarter before six, we counted thirty-four sail of the enemy about four leagues to leeward, and we chased and closed with them; at half past eight we bore up to give them battle. The signal was made for the centre to engage the centre and the rear the rear. At five minutes past nine a.m. the action commenced with three ships in the van, by the French; at ten minutes past nine the admiral made a signal to engage closer; at fifteen minutes past nine the action commenced in rear by the French; at sixteen minutes past nine the signal was thrown out to make more sail; at twenty-seven minutes past nine the admiral engaged the second French admiral; at forty minutes past nine I observed one of our ships board a French ship which had lost her fore-mast and bow-sprit; at fifty-two miutes past nine one of the French ships bore away, having been much damaged by the Barfleur; at eleven minutes past ten I observed two or three French ships bearing away with their studding-sail booms rigged out; at eighteen minutes past ten, observed three of the French ships entirely dismasted, and a fourth had lost her main-mast; at thirty-six minutes past ten, observed the French admiral's ship had lost it's main and other masts; at forty-six minutes past ten, observed a French three-decker entirely dismasted; at fifty-two minutes past ten, the admiral made a signal for the Phaeton to sail towards him. The Leviathan had been for some time battering a dismasted ship, but quitted her just as the Phaeton bore down; the French hulk not having fired for some time, though her colours were still flying. Wishing to join the admiral as soon as possible, the Phaeton passed the stern of this French dismasted ship, when she opened her larboard-quarter guns on her. Two or three of her shot passed through her sails, one struck the anchor-stock, and another passed thro her starboard-quarter galley, and shot a man's head off, broke both the thighs of another, and wounded seven, three of whom are since dead.
Earl Howe broke the French line in a noble manner, after engaging several of their ships as he passed them. He pushed for the French admiral's ship, whose second, seeing his intention, made sail to close in with Earl Howe. The Royal Charlotte steered between the two ships, the boom of the second French admiral passing over the stern of the Royal Charlotte, who poured a broadside into both, and lay by them for near an hour. The French admiral's ship the Montagne, finding the fire becoming too hot, bore away, after having a number of men killed. The second admiral had his main-mast carried by the board. It was then that victory seemed our own. The French line was broken in three places, and three of their ships bore away, six were dismasted, and one sunk. The French soon after gave way in every quarter. The Marlborough was for some time jammed in between two of the enemy's ships, one of which she completely dismasted, and obliged the other to sheer off. The Brunswick, Captain Harvey, sustained a most tremendous conflict, being singly engaged for a considerable time with three seventy-fours. One of these, le Vengeur, she sent to the bottom. Another, conceiving her much weakened from her exertion, determined to board, and manned her yards and shrouds, with a view of running up alongside, and flinging in all her crew at once. She, observing this, with the greatest intrepidity and coolness, reserved a whole broadside, and waited her approach. The enemy now drew near, and in one discharge the Brunswick brought every mast by the board, and scattered her crew like so many mice upon the ocean. The other seventy-four yet remained, and now attempted to close with the Brunswick, harrassed and enfeebled by her amazing efforts. At this moment, the Ramillies, commanded by Captain Harvey's brother, came up, and running in between the Brunswick and the Frenchman, took the enemy's fire, and relieved the gallant ship. So closely was she at times engaged, that she was unable to haul up her lower-deck port lids, and was therefore obliged to fire through them. Nine were, in consequence, torn from her side; and, the last broad-side she gave, every muzzle of her lower deckers touched the copper of the enemy's bottom.
The sinking of the Vengeur was one of the most awful sights ever beheld. This ship and the Brunswick, by some means, got on board each other. The Brunswick lost her mizen-mast before she got clear; but left her enemy a wreck of horrible ruin. She carried her yards and masts, every one, away; tore her decks and sides to pieces, and left her sinking. She went to the bottom at about a quarter past six, and I saw her sinking fast, but gradually. After the loss of her mizen-mast, main-top-mast, and rigging cut to pieces, the French hoisted an English jack, and called for quarter; but the Brunswick, having all her boats shot to pieces, could not board the enemy, and was obliged to let her go down, and all on board perished.
The most obstinate contest, however, was between the Defence, of seventy-four guns, Captain J. Gambier, and the Jacobin, of one hundred and ten guns. They were in close action for upwards of three hours, at the expiration of which time the Jacobin went to the bottom, and the Defence was become so totally unmanageable, as to be obliged to be towed out of the line by the Phaeton frigate. The Jacobin lay without masts or helm, and wearing round by the force of the water, which rapidly entering her shot-holes, and running over her galleries, she quickly sunk. Yet so invincible was the spirit of her crew, that they actually fought their upper-deck guns when the water was running in at the lower-deck ports. It seems that they had previously agreed never to strike, and had nailed their colours to the staff, which were flying when she went down. Those on the upper deck, even to a man, refused to be taken into a cutter; and when the water had gained the place they stood upon, they took off their hats and gave three cheers, universally crying out, "Vive la Republique, Vive la Liberte"!
It is allowed on all sides that there was never a more hard-fought action on the seas. Those who were in Lord Rodney's action say that the latter bears no comparison. Although the French fought desperately, they never stood such close fighting as on this day. Their admiral (Joyeuse) had previously to the engagement received an express decree from the Convention, that no ship was to strike, on pain of eternal infamy to its commander, and instant death whenever taken.
The Mutius Scaevola was one of the best-fought ships belonging to the French in this action. She was engaged with the Orion for five hours, during one of which the men could be picked off the guns with pistols. The captain of the Mutius Scaevola was a man of most undaunted courage. During the action he ran twenty of his men through their bodies for attempting to desert their quarters. He was easily distinguished by a large bonnet rouge, ornamented round the bottom with gold fringe. He had only one arm; but whether the other was shot off during the action, has not been ascertained.
Captain Trowbridge, captured in the Castor frigate, was on board the Sans Pareil, standing near the arm-chest, with the French commander during the whole action. So severe was the slaughter on board this ship, that her decks were totally cleared twice during the action, and at last the survivors refused to come up to quarters. Captain Trowbridge, seeing the abandoned state of the ship, and the extreme distress of the captain's mind, entreated him to permit the colours to be struck, to prevent the farther unnecessary effusion of blood. To this, the French officer replied that they should not be struck so long as he had life. The Royal Charlotte at this instant was ranging up alongside, to pour her whole broadside into the Sans Pareil, when Captain Trowbridge, taking up a trumpet, called out, "Is Lord Howe well?" Astonished to hear such a question in English from an enemy's ship, Sir Roger Curtis asked whence it came? and, on being informed, desired to know where the Castor's crew were, "Here, on-board," was the reply. "Take immediate possession then of the ship," said Sir Roger Curtis. "That is impossible," rejoined Captain Trowbridge, "for I am only a spectator here on my parole of honour." "You are commanded to do it by Lord Howe," said Sir Roger Curtis, "to save the lives of His Majesty's seamen, as well as those of the enemy." On this, Captain Trowbridge, turning to the French commander, said, "You have done, sir, every thing becoming a gallant officer; therefore permit me to save the ship, and crew, by taking possession. The French captain at length bowed assent; the Castor's crew were released from under hatches, and the British colours soon hoisted on-board the Sans Pareil.
I was struck with silent astonishment at the number of total wrecks that appeared to cover the sea around me. I could not count them with certainty. Above a dozen ships had every stick cut clear and clean from the decks, yet at every opportunity kept firing. Two only of the wrecks were British, the Defence and the Marlborough, and we took them in tow. We had also six of the enemy to tow, five ships of seventy-four guns; nineteen of them only got away, three of which were dismasted, and two three deckers got both main and mizen masts carried away.
Frenchmen might be formerly men of honour, but honour seems now to be banished from their country. Many of the ships had struck their colours in the action, and were again obliged to strike them. They had not the folly to think we could not attack them on the last day, because they were so far superior; but when they saw we disregarded their numbers, their admiral (Joyeuse) made the signal to heat the furnaces for red hot bullets. This has been ever considered contrary to the law of nations on the main sea. But can they be bound by law, who have trampled on and abolished all laws, sacred civil and domestic? Yet these men say we did not fight them fair. They say we only fought to butcher and kill them. I answer, that we killed none of them, but with iron shot, and those we did not heat; those also that we killed might have found British clemency, if they had asked for it; nay, they found mercy at last, when sinking.
The Britannic Magazine (1794)