254:. As Collingwood's squadron was nowhere within sight and the French were rapidly pulling ahead, Mundy abandoned the chase, secured his prize and turned back eastwards as the French continued into the Atlantic. It is not known why Lamellerie fled from such an inferior force and allowed one of his ships to be captured without opposition: modern historian
486:
accuses him of lying in his official despatches and wrote in 1827: "What, then, but a misrepresentation of the facts could have saved this French commodore from being cashiered?", while
Richard Woodman wrote in 1998 that "such apparent pusillanimity fed stories of British superiority against all odds
413:
was far larger than any of the individual frigates, together they carried more guns and could have made an effective defence if handled efficiently. Determined to engage the French, Oliver continued to sail towards
Lamellerie and at 15:00 the French captain suddenly reversed his direction and fled
481:
from the frigate. In France, there appears to have been no condemnation of
Lamellerie's repeated failure to engage Royal Navy forces that in terms of weight of shot at least were the inferior of his squadron. In his official report he inaccurately claimed that his frigates had all been too badly
204:
in position to create the impression that the principal blockading force had been driven off. This it was hoped would draw
Lamellerie into an attack on the lone ships that would allow the rest of Collingwood's squadron, hidden just beyond the horizon, to counterattack and annihilate the French
174:. These ships were to break out of Cadiz, conduct a six-month raiding mission in the Atlantic to distract attention from the ongoing Atlantic campaign, and raid British merchant shipping. At the conclusion of the six months, Lamellerie was to return to
482:
damaged during the
Atlantic cruise to consider fighting a ship of the line. He was later made a peer after the return of the French monarchy and remained in the French Navy for many years. In British histories his actions have been roundly condemned –
232:, steered a parallel course in the hope of cutting off their advance. At 23:00, Carden was detached to look for Collingwood and inform him of the location and direction of the French while Mundy continued to follow the enemy squadron. Although
186:
Word of
Lamellerie's preparations reached Collingwood, and he planned a ruse to lure the French frigate squadron out into open water. Withdrawing all the large vessels of the blockade squadron, Collingwood kept only the 36-gun frigate
947:
258:
describes his conduct as "astonishing, given the weakness of the opposition and own combined force", but in a separate work suggests that
Lamellerie's orders precluded any engagement until his force was safely off the coast.
100:
was in danger of being captured, Lamellerie turned back to her defence with his main squadron but then changed his mind, turning once more and retreating to
Rochefort as Oliver took possession of the heavily outgunned
461:
was the only one of the squadron to reach its intended destination of
Rochefort. Oliver secured his prize, but was so far from his station that he did not manage to rejoin Keats' squadron until 31 July.
942:
287:, Lamellerie resupplied his ships again in preparation for the journey back to France. The frigate squadron sailed on 18 May, leaving the Caribbean just as a large French squadron under Vice-Admiral
441:
to be transferred from the prize persuaded Oliver to give up any further pursuit. Lamellerie steered his remaining squadron along the coast, where it split up during the night. The following day
437:
hauled down his flag and surrendered without a fight. Although the rest of
Lamellerie's ships were still within sight, the approaching night, increasingly stormy weather and the large number of
213:
were all blown too far to the east. This was spotted by lookouts on shore and Lamellerie took the opportunity to leave port on 26 February, while the British ships were still out of position.
409:, Oliver continued pushing his ship forward and Lamellerie, recognising the danger to his rearmost frigate, turned his squadron about and bore down on the isolated ship of the line. Although
425:
could no longer hold off the British ship. A fierce rain squall caused the frigate to roll and Oliver maintained the pursuit so that at 18:00 he was close enough to fire a single shot at
302:
The journey back to France was largely uneventful, Lamellerie crossing the Atlantic during May, June and July without meeting any Royal Navy vessels. At 18:00 on 27 July however, at
160:
The French Navy was concerned about its ships trapped in Cadiz and sought to bring them back to French harbours, particularly to make up for the heavy losses suffered in the
153:
on 6 February 1806. In his absence, Duckworth's squadron was replaced at Cadiz by ships grudgingly despatched from the Mediterranean Fleet, under the command of Vice-Admiral
125:. Among the scattered survivors of the Allied fleet were five French frigates, untouched during the action. With the rest of the surviving ships, the frigates anchored in
275:, arriving on 27 March. Taking on fresh supplies, the squadron sailed from Cayenne on 7 April and operated with limited success against British merchant shipping in the
129:
during the week that followed the battle and remained there for the rest of the year, contained in the harbour by a large British blockade squadron led by Vice-Admiral
305:
49:
escaped with the four frigates by abandoning the slower brig, which was captured. During the next six months, Lamellerie's squadron cruised the Atlantic, visiting
528:
165:
46:
391:
too was alone, Dudley easily outrunning the rest of his squadron but unable to catch the leading French ships. When dawn rose on 28 July, it was clear that
267:
Following the escape from Cadiz, the remaining four ships of Lamellerie's squadron sailed southwards, reaching the French African trading post of
387:
Running before the more powerful ship under all possible sail, the four French frigates gradually became separated from one another in the dark.
236:
was now isolated and hopelessly outnumbered, Lamellerie made no effort to attack the British ship: he even failed to respond when the brig
957:
41:
on 23 February 1806, taking advantage of the withdrawal of the principal blockade squadron several months earlier at the start of the
473:
and the prisoners were taken to Britain, where the frigate was immediately fitted out as a Royal Navy ship under her old name as HMS
921:
899:
877:
858:
421:
By the time Lamellerie had turned away, the chase had traveled over 150 nautical miles (280 km) from its original position and
887:
595:
483:
456:
82:
stationed off the port to intercept French ships entering or leaving. Signalling to the rest of the British squadron, Captain
570:
517:
446:
169:
612:
175:
65:
357:
was a large and powerful ship, a veteran of Trafalgar that was operating as a scout for the squadron under Commodore
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400:
91:
90:
in pursuit, chasing the French squadron all through the night and into the next morning, by which time the frigate
606:
142:
42:
620:
237:
133:. In December 1805 however, Duckworth abandoned the station in search of a French squadron under Vice-Admiral
433:
was to follow. Aware that his ship could not hope to withstand an attack from the ship of the line, Captain
288:
164:. Therefore, four frigates and a brig were prepared for sea under the most senior frigate captain, Captain
358:
150:
130:
846:
362:
251:
154:
83:
581:
114:
34:
814:
225:
198:
161:
361:, detailed to blockade the French Atlantic port of Rochefort. Immediately giving chase, Captain
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430:
370:
134:
809:
637:
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188:
79:
45:. Although the squadron was intercepted by elements of the British blockade force, Captain
909:
559:
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434:
347:
255:
69:
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acknowledging that he was hopelessly outgunned and completely unsupported by immediately
205:
squadron. However, on 23 February a strong westerly wind blew up and the main squadron,
138:
122:
936:
343:
276:
113:
On 21 October 1805, the French and Spanish allied fleet was almost destroyed at the
221:
195:
141:. Although Allemand escaped Duckworth, the British admiral became embroiled in the
395:
and the other leading vessels were stretching the distance between themselves and
478:
284:
58:
23:
118:
76:
477:. Oliver was commended for his perseverance and he and his men shared in the
321:
307:
146:
587:
534:
452:
280:
26:
346:, the frigates were spotted by lookouts on the British ship of the line
272:
268:
54:
50:
242:, falling behind the larger and faster frigates, came within range of
216:
Lamellerie's squadron was spotted late on 26 February by lookouts on
851:
The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume V
126:
61:
but failing to cause any significant disruption to British trade.
38:
948:
Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars involving the United Kingdom
37:
in October 1805, attempted to break past the British blockade of
30:
405:
was struggling to keep up. Realising that he was gaining on
22:
was a French naval operation launched in February 1806. Four
892:
The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 4, 1805–1807
376:, warning of the position and direction of the French.
145:
and did not return to Cadiz, eventually sailing to the
943:
Naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars involving France
494:
96:had fallen far behind the others. Recognising that
414:eastwards with his three faster ships, abandoning
246:. Mundy opened fire at 04:30, Lieutenant Dumay on
648:Source: James, p. 253, Clowes, p. 387
399:but that the rearmost French ship, the frigate
529:Louis-Charles-Auguste Delamarre de Lamellerie
166:Louis-Charles-Auguste Delamarre de Lamellerie
47:Louis-Charles-Auguste Delamarre de Lamellerie
8:
498:Commodore La-Marre-la-Meillerie's squadron
271:in March and then crossing the Atlantic to
497:
487:and tended to breed a dangerous conceit".
380:passed this information on to Keats while
829:
827:
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786:
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782:
511:
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137:that was raiding British convoys off the
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695:
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772:
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384:set all sail in pursuit of Lamellerie.
709:
707:
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7:
283:. Retiring to the Spanish colony of
178:to join the French Atlantic Fleet.
64:On 27 July, as the squadron neared
14:
279:, including 15 days cruising off
868:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
818:. 5 August 1806. p. 1009.
632:Pierre-Antoine-Toussaint Dumay
1:
626:
601:
576:
548:
523:
369:to the nearest British ship
636:Captured on 26 February by
607:Nicolas-Joseph-Pierre Jugan
429:, a warning of that a full
16:1806 French naval operation
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646:
635:
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619:
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554:Michel-Jean-André Chesneau
551:
541:
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532:
526:
516:
515:
501:
496:
263:Operations in the Atlantic
958:Atlantic campaign of 1806
894:. Conway Maritime Press.
143:Atlantic campaign of 1806
131:Sir John Thomas Duckworth
121:fleet under Vice-Admiral
43:Atlantic campaign of 1806
916:. Constable Publishers.
333:"Action of 28 July 1806"
870:The Victory of Seapower
558:Captured on 28 July by
289:Jean-Baptiste Willaumez
224:, supported by Captain
33:, all survivors of the
20:Lamellerie's expedition
853:. Chatham Publishing.
847:Clowes, William Laird
359:Richard Goodwin Keats
151:Battle of San Domingo
363:Robert Dudley Oliver
252:striking his colours
84:Robert Dudley Oliver
68:, it was spotted by
872:. Caxton Editions.
317: /
115:Battle of Trafalgar
35:Battle of Trafalgar
815:The London Gazette
226:John Surman Carden
162:Trafalgar Campaign
953:Conflicts in 1806
652:
651:
149:where he won the
135:Zacharie Allemand
965:
927:
914:The Sea Warriors
910:Woodman, Richard
905:
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582:Jean-Michel Mahé
495:
439:prisoners of war
341:
340:
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329:
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322:47.000°N 7.000°W
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155:Lord Collingwood
80:ship of the line
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842:
837:
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823:
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799:Woodman, p. 226
798:
794:
789:
780:
776:Gardiner, p. 26
775:
768:
763:
759:
755:Woodman, p. 225
754:
747:
742:
738:
733:
729:
725:Woodman, p. 219
724:
717:
713:Gardiner, p. 25
712:
705:
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691:
686:
679:
674:
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665:
661:
657:
493:
491:Order of battle
468:
435:Michel Chesneau
332:
330:
326:
324:
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319:
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311:
308:
306:
304:
303:
300:
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256:Richard Woodman
194:and the 18-gun
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17:
12:
11:
5:
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969:
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945:
935:
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888:James, William
884:
878:
865:
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841:
838:
836:
835:
821:
801:
792:
790:Clowes, p. 387
778:
766:
757:
745:
743:Clowes, p. 198
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727:
715:
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689:
687:Clowes, p. 197
677:
675:Clowes, p. 193
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365:signaled from
327:47.000; -7.000
299:
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183:
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139:Savage Islands
110:
107:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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959:
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923:1-84119-183-3
919:
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911:
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903:
901:0-85177-908-5
897:
893:
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879:1-84067-359-1
875:
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860:1-86176-014-0
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833:James, p. 254
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764:James, p. 203
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734:James, p. 214
731:
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701:James, p. 253
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666:James, p. 187
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484:William James
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344:Bay of Biscay
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277:Caribbean Sea
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840:Bibliography
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804:
795:
760:
739:
730:
671:
662:
639:
621:
615:on 28 July.
611:Returned to
596:
590:on 28 July.
586:Returned to
571:
561:
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537:on 28 July.
533:Returned to
518:
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222:George Mundy
220:and Captain
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19:
18:
810:"No. 15943"
630:Lieutenant
479:prize money
418:to Oliver.
325: /
295:Capture of
285:Puerto Rico
123:Lord Nelson
59:West Indies
24:French Navy
937:Categories
605:Commodore
527:Commodore
509:Commander
331: (
119:Royal Navy
109:Background
77:Royal Navy
890:(2002) .
849:(1997) .
613:Rochefort
466:Aftermath
431:broadside
291:arrived.
176:Rochefort
147:Caribbean
66:Rochefort
912:(2001).
588:Bordeaux
580:Captain
572:Hermione
552:Captain
535:Bordeaux
519:Hortense
453:Bordeaux
451:entered
448:Hermione
443:Hortense
393:Hortense
281:Barbados
182:Breakout
171:Hortense
57:and the
27:frigates
342:in the
312:07°00′W
309:47°00′N
273:Cayenne
269:Senegal
230:Moselle
211:Moselle
201:Moselle
55:Cayenne
51:Senegal
920:
898:
876:
857:
597:Thémis
512:Notes
458:Thémis
455:while
378:Africa
373:Africa
29:and a
655:Notes
640:Hydra
622:Furet
506:Guns
503:Ship
248:Furet
244:Hydra
239:Furet
234:Hydra
218:Hydra
207:Hydra
196:sloop
191:Hydra
127:Cadiz
117:by a
86:took
39:Cadiz
918:ISBN
896:ISBN
874:ISBN
855:ISBN
638:HMS
562:Mars
560:HMS
544:Rhin
475:Rhin
471:Rhin
445:and
427:Rhin
423:Rhin
416:Rhin
411:Mars
407:Rhin
402:Rhin
397:Mars
389:Mars
382:Mars
371:HMS
367:Mars
355:Mars
350:Mars
348:HMS
297:Rhin
209:and
199:HMS
189:HMS
103:Rhin
98:Rhin
93:Rhin
88:Mars
75:, a
72:Mars
70:HMS
31:brig
627:18
602:36
577:40
549:40
524:40
228:on
168:of
939::
824:^
812:.
781:^
769:^
748:^
718:^
706:^
692:^
680:^
643:.
565:.
353:.
157:.
105:.
53:,
926:.
904:.
882:.
863:.
335:)
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