181:
148:
169:
133:
41:
572:
merchant ships chased Linois's squadron away before resuming their course and meeting their escorts several days later. Linois's failure to engage and defeat the China Fleet infuriated a number of his officers and provoked an angry letter from
Napoleon, who accused Linois of believing "that war can be made without running risks".
534:
port, and
Rainier had led a powerful squadron to anchor off the harbour in anticipation of the declaration of war. Concerned that Rainier's numerically superior force would overwhelm his squadron before they could operate against the British merchant convoys in the region, Linois slipped away under
856:
consequently suffered severe damage and by 13:15 had been holed, with her rigging wrecked and her anchor cable shot through, which caused her to slowly drift away from the shore, out of control. Seeing that his opponent was disabled, Linois decided not to press the attack and issued orders for his
678:
and anchored in the roads, while the
Indiamen loaded cargo ready for the return journey to Madras. The ships were still anchored in the roads at 06:00 on 15 September when Linois's squadron appeared on the horizon to the south-west, approximately 12 nautical miles (22 km) away. The only flag
571:
had disguised several of the East
Indiamen as ships of the line in the hope of convincing Linois that the convoy was well protected. Linois hesitated for over a day, eventually attacking on the morning of 15 February. Dance resisted and Linois withdrew without contesting the engagement. Dance's
389:
Since his failure at Pulo Aura, Linois had been cruising the Indian Ocean, and during August and
September 1804 had seized a number of valuable merchant ships as his squadron travelled north from Ceylon along the Indian coast of the Bay of Bengal. From a ship captured off
881:
having one man killed and nine wounded. The ship was very badly damaged, however, with a number of holes shot in her hull and badly torn rigging and masts. There were no recorded casualties among the troops onshore. The French suffered slightly heavier losses,
618:. He enjoyed some success against individual merchant vessels, and gradually moved northwards during the late summer. The squadron passed Madras 60 nautical miles (110 km) off the coast to avoid encountering Rainier's squadron and raided along the
894:, which had not been closely engaged in the battle, suffered no casualties. Damage to the French ships was severe, and Linois was forced to abandon further operations and slowly make his way back to ĂŽle de France, arriving in November. There
248:
806:, which had still not participated in the battle, to cut her anchor cables and go ashore to avoid being captured. Logan refused and at 11:15 surrendered without a fight as the whole French squadron moved back towards the harbour.
1324:
750:
attempted to reach the other side of the
British ship to batter from the other side. The French frigates also came under long range fire from the three-gun battery at Vizagapatam, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
241:
857:
squadron, accompanied by their prize, to sail away. Lind gradually regained control of his ship and even managed to raise some sail in pursuit, but the French were too far ahead. After some final parting shots,
409:
as the convoy's escort. Arriving off the port at 06:00, Linois advanced on the convoy, causing one of the East
Indiamen to drive ashore in panic. The other merchant vessel failed to support the outnumbered
559:, known as the China Fleet. This convoy was normally escorted from Canton by several Royal Navy ships of the line, but in 1804 the escort had been delayed. Linois discovered the convoy near the island of
234:
861:
anchored as her crew set about repairing the damage. Linois remained within sight for the rest of the day, but showed no sign of renewing the action; he disappeared on the north-east horizon at dusk.
1319:
382:'s (HEIC) China Fleet, a large convoy of well-armed merchant ships carrying cargo worth ÂŁ8 million. Linois failed to press the attack and withdrew with the convoy at his mercy, invoking the anger of
909:
in the face of overwhelming French numerical superiority. Linois justified his withdrawal in a letter, explaining that risking irreparable damage his squadron in a close engagement with
494:, but East Indiamen sailed from ports all around the Bay. As a result, the force in Madras was often dispersed to provide escorts to smaller convoys travelling to Madras or
695:
faced the approaching vessels. At 09:45 the French came within range and
Phillips opened fire, cautiously at first until he could be sure of the identity of the strangers.
645:
At Madras
Admiral Rainier had become increasingly concerned during September by Linois's depredations, and had decided to strengthen his convoy escorts. He replaced
575:
In the aftermath of the engagement, Linois returned to
Batavia and then to ĂŽle de France, arriving on 2 April. There he was criticised by the governor, General
507:
395:
742:
grounded during the engagement then his flagship could have been wrecked. When the French frigates came within 200 yards (180 m), Phillips opened fire on
153:
457:
264:
258:
702:
began to fire, and as the signals were different from those used by the Royal Navy, Phillips was certain he was facing an overwhelming enemy squadron.
917:
and wrote in response that "France cared for honour, not for a few pieces of wood." British historians have echoed Napoleon's criticism, judging that
288:
691:
while Lind was ashore, was not convinced by this ensign: he was aware that a French squadron was in the region, and positioned his ship so that his
518:
423:
339:
626:
and Coasanguay. On 14 September 1804 off Masulipatam, Linois captured a country ship and learned from the crew that a small convoy was anchored at
637:, a former Dutch vessel captured in 1798, as their escort. Linois immediately sailed for Vizagapatam, expecting an easy victory over the convoy.
511:
332:
173:
362:
merchant ships anchored in the harbour roads. Linois was engaged in an extended raiding campaign, which had already involved operations in the
510:. The principal threat to British control of the region was a squadron sent from France shortly before war broke out, led by Contre-Admiral
752:
601:
1334:
673:
597:
1293:
1271:
1249:
1227:
1205:
1186:
1159:
1140:
756:
734:
remained out of range, as Linois was unwilling to risk his flagship in shallow coastal waters for which he did not have accurate
394:, Linois learned of the presence of the East Indiamen at Vizagapatam and determined to attack, unaware that British Rear-Admiral
1237:
1215:
665:
185:
1329:
783:
591:
526:
Rainier and Linois had clashed in June 1803, before news of the outbreak of war had reached India. Linois had anchored at
80:
478:(HEIC). This company transported goods from India to Europe using a fleet of large and well-armed merchant ships named
1314:
544:
607:
710:
panicked and cut her anchor cables, causing her to drift on shore where she was wrecked. Captain John Logan on
374:
and along the Indian coast of the Bay of Bengal. The French squadron had fought one notable engagement, at the
714:
was calmer and remained at anchor, although he ignored requests from Phillips for assistance from his ship's
293:
1339:
668:
assumed temporary command. Lind sailed from Madras to Vizagapatam earlier in the month with the Indiamen
913:
would have curtailed his raiding operations. Privately however, Napoleon was angered by the survival of
631:
399:
138:
482:, which travelled in convoys for protection, and were escorted during wartime by ships provided by the
786:
shot away and at 10:45 the ship of the line turned away for open water, followed by the frigates, her
1128:
922:
810:
again remained beyond the sandbars that marked the entrance. The boatloads of sepoys, who were still
684:
650:
352:
661:
580:
375:
278:
226:
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367:
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to the north. The convoy was reported to consist of two East Indiamen with the 36-gun frigate
564:
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336:
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463:
363:
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40:
32:
706:
made urgent signals to the Indiamen, warning them of the approaching threat. The crew of
848:, short-range heavy cannon that were useless in the face of the long-range gunnery from
735:
619:
576:
499:
467:
316:
1308:
487:
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418:
continued fighting alone. Initially supported by the fire of gun batteries on shore,
359:
324:
320:
74:
70:
925:, because of his "half-hearted and timid action . . . cannot but provoke censure."
498:
to merge with other ships to form the large oceanic convoys. At the outbreak of the
440:
attempting to pursue but without success. Linois's squadron was forced to return to
531:
503:
794:
unable to manoeuvre rapidly and she began slowly limping inshore to shelter from
715:
627:
623:
527:
391:
348:
312:
901:
Both nations claimed the encounter as a victory, the French for the capture of
845:
738:: the approaches to Vizagapatam were protected by a series of sandbars and if
611:
483:
345:
95:
82:
1169:
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on 28 December, seeking the large annual convoy of HEIC merchant ships from
536:
441:
921:
was at Linois's mercy and that he had failed to destroy her, in words of
680:
495:
383:
579:, who wrote a letter to Napoleon complaining of Linois's conduct at the
787:
588:
615:
567:
at 08:00 on 14 February and advanced. The convoy commander Commodore
491:
371:
834:, which had moved out of range of support from the shore batteries.
1133:
The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume V
799:
760:
429:
422:
later moved out of their range while engaging the French flagship
1325:
Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars involving the United Kingdom
466:, the British economy depended on the movement of trade from the
230:
46:
Defence of the Centurion in Vizagapatam Road, Septr. 15th 1804
774:
and a heavy exchange of fire began. Within 15 minutes, both
698:
The ship of the line exchanged signals with the frigates as
551:, Linois resupplied and then departed for a cruise in the
818:, turned about and rowed back to shore to avoid capture.
311:
was a minor naval engagement fought in the approaches to
767:, whose armament of 24 guns continued to remain silent.
1242:
The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 4, 1805–1807
1220:
The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 3, 1800–1805
583:. In mid-June 1804, Linois departed ĂŽle de France with
802:. Captain Lind rejoined his ship by boat, hailing the
770:
By 10:00, all three French ships were within range of
378:
on 15 February 1804, in which Linois had attacked the
1320:
Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars involving France
722:
closing to within 0.5 nautical miles (900 m) of
679:
visible on the strange ships was on board one of the
428:, which remained well offshore to avoid the coastal
687:. Lieutenant James Robert Phillips, in command of
886:having two men killed and an officer wounded and
614:in stormy weather before sailing to the coast of
470:, particularly the trading posts and colonies in
598:Captain Camille-Charles-Alexis Gaudin-Beauchène
25:
664:, who was seriously ill at Madras, so Captain
242:
8:
898:underwent a full refit, lasting six months.
844:s armament left her vulnerable as most were
822:took possession of the merchant ship while
1066:
1064:
1062:
1060:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1036:
1034:
444:in the aftermath of the engagement, where
249:
235:
227:
22:
1111:
1109:
998:
996:
994:
660:was under the nominal command of Captain
535:cover of darkness and eventually reached
502:, the commander of British forces in the
432:. After an engagement lasting four hours
331:. A French squadron under Contre-Admiral
1024:
1022:
1020:
1078:
1076:
933:
458:Linois's expedition to the Indian Ocean
763:in small boats to assist the crew of
7:
905:and the British for the survival of
890:with three killed and five wounded.
512:Charles-Alexandre LĂ©on Durand Linois
333:Charles-Alexandre LĂ©on Durand Linois
16:Naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars
486:. The main Royal Navy base in the
14:
790:in disarray. Damage had rendered
543:had begun on 16 May. Sailing to
448:required six months of repairs.
327:on 15 September 1804 during the
179:
167:
146:
131:
39:
1196:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
1177:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
1150:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
755:, on detached service from the
563:at the eastern entrance to the
398:had replaced the small frigate
386:when the news reached France.
1:
718:. Linois's ships spread out,
476:Honourable East India Company
380:Honourable East India Company
877:, British losses were mild,
539:, where he learned that the
436:withdrew, the badly damaged
869:Despite the destruction of
1356:
455:
219:1 merchant ship destroyed
1335:History of Andhra Pradesh
1244:. Conway Maritime Press.
1222:. Conway Maritime Press.
1179:The Campaign of Trafalgar
1152:Fleet Battle and Blockade
1083:The Campaign of Trafalgar
1012:Fleet Battle and Blockade
759:. Campbell despatched 50
274:
208:
191:
160:
123:
52:
38:
30:
1288:. Constable Publishers.
1264:The Command of the Ocean
221:1 merchant ship captured
1198:The Victory of Seapower
941:The Victory of Seapower
1135:. Chatham Publishing.
683:, which displayed the
608:LĂ©onard-Bernard Motard
414:and was captured, but
260:Linois's expedition to
217:10 killed and wounded
161:Commanders and leaders
1330:September 1804 events
1129:Clowes, William Laird
1103:James, Vol. 3, p. 280
1094:James, Vol. 4, p. 150
1070:James, Vol. 3, p. 278
1054:James, Vol. 3, p. 279
1040:James, Vol. 3, p. 276
1002:James, Vol. 3, p. 277
961:James, Vol. 3, p. 212
837:Despite her 50 guns,
757:74th Regiment of Foot
456:Further information:
344:attacked the British
309:Battle of Vizagapatam
214:11 killed and wounded
209:Casualties and losses
26:Battle of Vizagapatam
923:William Laird Clowes
1200:. Caxton Editions.
1181:. Caxton Editions.
1154:. Caxton Editions.
873:and the capture of
662:John Spratt Rainier
581:Battle of Pulo Aura
490:was at the city of
376:Battle of Pulo Aura
289:Troubridge's Action
202:1 ship of the line
197:1 ship of the line
92: /
48:, Thomas Sutherland
1014:, Gardiner, p. 115
943:, Gardiner, p. 102
903:Princess Charlotte
875:Princess Charlotte
816:Princess Charlotte
804:Princess Charlotte
798:among the coastal
765:Princess Charlotte
753:Alexander Campbell
712:Princess Charlotte
675:Princess Charlotte
368:Mozambique Channel
1315:Conflicts in 1804
1085:, Gardiner, p. 28
685:St George's Cross
622:region, visiting
565:Strait of Malacca
549:Dutch East Indies
506:was Rear-Admiral
474:, managed by the
302:
301:
225:
224:
119:
118:
96:17.683°N 83.317°E
60:15 September 1804
1347:
1299:
1286:The Sea Warriors
1282:Woodman, Richard
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649:with the 50-gun
516:ship of the line
405:with the larger
337:ship of the line
269:
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266:the Indian Ocean
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204:2 merchant ships
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952:Woodman, p. 172
951:
947:
939:
935:
931:
867:
841:
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610:, cruising off
569:Nathaniel Dance
553:South China Sea
541:Napoleonic Wars
464:Napoleonic Wars
460:
454:
364:South China Sea
329:Napoleonic Wars
315:harbour in the
305:
304:
303:
298:
294:Warren's Action
270:
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33:Napoleonic Wars
17:
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11:
5:
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1307:
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1300:
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1272:
1266:. Allan Lane.
1260:Rodger, N.A.M.
1256:
1250:
1238:James, William
1234:
1228:
1216:James, William
1212:
1206:
1193:
1187:
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1115:Clowes, p. 350
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1028:Clowes, p. 349
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988:Clowes, p. 339
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979:Rodger, p. 546
972:
963:
954:
945:
932:
930:
927:
866:
863:
730:close behind.
642:
639:
620:Coastal Andhra
606:under Captain
577:Charles Decaen
500:Napoleonic War
468:British Empire
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317:Coastal Andhra
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174:Charles Linois
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154:United Kingdom
142:
126:
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117:
116:
115:French victory
113:
109:
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101:17.683; 83.317
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50:
49:
36:
35:
28:
27:
21:
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15:
13:
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1340:1804 in India
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1273:0-7139-9411-8
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1229:0-85177-907-7
1225:
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1207:1-84067-359-1
1203:
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1188:1-84067-358-3
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1161:1-84067-363-X
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1142:1-86176-014-0
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537:ĂŽle de France
533:
532:French Indian
529:
524:
522:
521:
517:
513:
509:
508:Peter Rainier
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
488:Bay of Bengal
485:
481:
480:East Indiamen
477:
473:
472:British India
469:
465:
459:
451:
449:
447:
443:
442:ĂŽle de France
439:
435:
431:
427:
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408:
404:
403:
397:
396:Peter Rainier
393:
387:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
360:East Indiaman
357:
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350:
347:
343:
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325:Bay of Bengal
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321:British India
318:
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128:
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76:
75:Bay of Bengal
72:
67:
64:
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59:
56:
55:
51:
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42:
37:
34:
29:
24:
19:
1302:
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697:
688:
674:
669:
657:
652:
646:
644:
633:
602:
592:
584:
574:
525:
519:
504:Indian Ocean
461:
445:
437:
433:
424:
419:
415:
411:
406:
401:
388:
354:
340:
308:
306:
283:
124:Belligerents
45:
31:Part of the
18:
716:gun battery
628:Vizagapatam
624:Masulipatam
528:Pondicherry
462:During the
392:Masulipatam
349:fourth rate
313:Vizagapatam
284:Vizagapatam
99: /
71:Vizagapatam
1309:Categories
1122:References
892:SĂ©millante
846:carronades
820:SĂ©millante
782:had their
748:SĂ©millante
728:SĂ©millante
666:James Lind
647:Wilhelmina
634:Wilhelmina
612:Madagascar
603:SĂ©millante
484:Royal Navy
452:Background
402:Wilhelmina
346:Royal Navy
319:region of
199:2 frigates
186:James Lind
1240:(2002) .
1218:(2002) .
1131:(1997) .
919:Centurion
915:Centurion
911:Centurion
907:Centurion
879:Centurion
865:Aftermath
859:Centurion
854:Centurion
839:Centurion
832:Centurion
792:Centurion
776:Centurion
772:Centurion
724:Centurion
704:Centurion
700:Centurion
693:broadside
689:Centurion
658:Centurion
653:Centurion
561:Pulo Aura
438:Centurion
420:Centurion
416:Centurion
412:Centurion
407:Centurion
366:, in the
355:Centurion
279:Pulo Aura
1284:(2001).
1262:(2004).
1170:50264868
888:Atalante
830:engaged
828:Atalante
812:en route
744:Atalante
720:Atalante
681:frigates
593:Atalante
589:frigates
587:and the
496:Calcutta
384:Napoleon
358:and two
192:Strength
65:Location
896:Marengo
884:Marengo
871:Barnaby
850:Marengo
824:Marengo
808:Marengo
796:Marengo
788:rigging
784:colours
780:Marengo
740:Marengo
732:Marengo
726:, with
708:Barnaby
670:Barnaby
585:Marengo
547:in the
545:Batavia
520:Marengo
514:in the
446:Marengo
434:Marengo
425:Marengo
341:Marengo
335:in the
323:on the
87:83°19′E
84:17°41′N
1292:
1270:
1248:
1226:
1204:
1185:
1168:
1158:
1139:
800:shoals
761:sepoys
736:charts
641:Battle
616:Ceylon
596:under
557:Canton
492:Madras
430:shoals
372:Ceylon
370:, off
151:
139:France
136:
112:Result
929:Notes
842:'
351:ship
1290:ISBN
1268:ISBN
1246:ISBN
1224:ISBN
1202:ISBN
1183:ISBN
1166:OCLC
1156:ISBN
1137:ISBN
826:and
778:and
672:and
651:HMS
632:HMS
600:and
530:, a
400:HMS
353:HMS
307:The
69:Off
57:Date
814:to
746:as
1311::
1164:.
1108:^
1075:^
1059:^
1045:^
1033:^
1019:^
993:^
852:.
656:.
523:.
73:,
1298:.
1276:.
1254:.
1232:.
1210:.
1191:.
1172:.
1145:.
250:e
243:t
236:v
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