Knowledge (XXG)

Action of 4 April 1808

Source 📝

111: 97: 679:(16 carronades, 32-pounders, and two long sixes), Captain Thomas Searle, lay at anchor about three miles to the north-west of the lighthouse of San-Sebastian, near Cadiz, a large convoy, under the protection of about 20 gun-boats and a numerous train of flying' artillery on the beach, was observed coming down close along-shore from the northward. At 3 p.m., the Spanish convoy being then abreast of the town of Rota, the 572: 38: 698:, drawing much less water, stationed herself upon the shoal to the southward of the town and so close to the batteries that by the grape from her carronade drove the Spaniards from their guns, and at the same time kept in check a division of gunboats which had come out from Cadiz to assist those engaged by the two frigates. The situation of the 735:
Exclusive of the seven merchants captured, two of the gunboats were destroyed and another seven had run on shore by the fire from the two British frigates and brig. The merchants contained ship timber, gunpowder and weapons. The cost to the British was one dead and two slightly wounded on board the
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of the Franco-Spanish squadron of seven sail of the line; which barges and pinnaces had also by that time effected their junction with the gun-boats. By early evening the action had ended and the three frigates set off with the captured prizes.
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quickly followed. As they came across the convoy, the two divisions of boats, led by Lieutenant Stewart, soon boarded and brought out seven merchants, from under the muzzles of the Spanish guns and from under the protection of the barges and
640:. The intention was the same as it was in 1805 to keep the Franco-Spanish fleet 'locked up' and also to keep a watchful eye on any movements by sea and attack if necessary. These included vessels such as that under the command of Captain 216: 898: 209: 903: 497: 102: 740:. The damage to the latter, however, were extremely severe, as well in hull, masts, rigging and sails. With the exception of an anchor shot away from the 593: 463: 272: 863: 428: 233: 881: 843: 653: 619: 257: 686:
At 4 p.m. the shot and shells from the Spanish gun-boats and batteries passing over them, the British ships opened their fire. The
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was also rather critical, they having in the state of the wind to tack every fifteen minutes close to the end of the shoal.
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and squadron weighed, with the wind at west-south-west, and stood in for the body of the Spanish vessels.
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intercepted a large Spanish convoy protected by twenty gunboats and a train of batteries close to shore.
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Captain Murray Maxwell, 28-gun frigate Mercury, Captain James Alexander Gordon, and 18-gun brig-sloop
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British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates
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Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy
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The Real Hornblower: The Life and Times of Admiral Sir James Gordon
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Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars involving the United Kingdom
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Blockade duties around Cadiz were still being carried out by the
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devoted their principal attention to the gun boats; while the
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Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars involving Spain
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Battle location in Cadiz Bay. Rota is on left of map
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Unsourced material may be challenged and 717:with marines set off and the boats of the 224: 210: 202: 19: 620:Learn how and when to remove this message 532:was a naval engagement off the coast off 752: 7: 598:adding citations to reliable sources 14: 570: 109: 95: 36: 1: 709:The first lieutenant of the 167:large number of merchantmen, 540:where Royal Naval frigates 930: 243: 179: 135: 127: 122: 87: 46: 35: 27: 656:, and 18-gun brig-sloop 644:with his 38-gun frigate 852:; Warlow, Ben (2006) . 654:James Alexander Gordon 530:action of 4 April 1808 464:Colonia del Sacramento 123:Commanders and leaders 23:Action of 4 April 1808 838:, GCB (London, 1998) 636:over two years since 196:7 gunboats run ashore 194:2 gunboats destroyed, 192:7 merchants captured, 180:Casualties and losses 594:improve this section 190:Unknown casualties, 185:1 killed, 2 wounded 795:Perrett pgs. 54-55 914:April 1808 events 909:Conflicts in 1808 865:978-1-86176-281-8 648:, 28-gun frigate 630: 629: 622: 523: 522: 414:St. George's Caye 234:Anglo-Spanish War 200: 199: 187:1 Frigate damaged 83: 82: 921: 869: 823: 822:Winfield pg. 229 820: 814: 813:Winfield pg. 229 811: 805: 804:Winfield pg. 229 802: 796: 793: 787: 784: 778: 777:Winfield pg. 229 775: 769: 768:Winfield pg. 229 766: 760: 757: 638:Trafalgar (1805) 625: 618: 614: 611: 605: 574: 566: 484:3rd Buenos Aires 444:2nd Buenos Aires 434:1st Buenos Aires 365:10 December 1800 335:19 December 1796 298:25 November 1804 293:Cape Santa Maria 258:Cape St. Vincent 238: 226: 219: 212: 203: 117:Kingdom of Spain 115: 113: 112: 105: 101: 99: 98: 48: 47: 40: 20: 929: 928: 924: 923: 922: 920: 919: 918: 889: 888: 876:Seaforth 2007; 872:Winfield, Rif, 866: 850:Colledge, J. 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Index

Napoleonic Wars

Rota, Cádiz
Spain
United Kingdom
Kingdom of Spain
Murray Maxwell
Frigates
HMS Mercury
HMS Alceste
HMS Grasshopper
gunboats
v
t
e
Anglo-Spanish War
(1796–1808)

25 January 1797
Cape St. Vincent
26 April 1797
Cádiz
Santa Cruz
16 October 1799
7 April 1800
Ferrol
Cape Santa Maria
25 November 1804
7 December 1804
Cape Finisterre
Trafalgar
4 April 1808

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