The Battle of Martinique, or Combat de la Martinique, was a naval encounter on 18 December 1779 between a British 13-ship squadron under Admiral Hyde Parker and a three-ship French division under Admiral Lamotte-Picquet near the island of Martinique in the West Indies.
In order to cover the retreat of a convoy under Joseph de Flotte chased by the British, the lone 74-gunAnnibal, under Lamotte-Picquet. For 90 minutes, Annibal single-handedly engaged the British squadron to block its advance, before she was joined by the two 64-guns, Vengeur and Réfléchi.[2] Ten to 11 of the transports were taken by the British or beached themselves to avoid capture, but the rest of the convoy of the escorting frigate Aurore managed to escape, and the division returned to its anchorage. Hyde Parker wrote Lamotte-Picquet a congratulation letter in the following days.[3]
In the autumn of 1779, a British fleet under Admiral Hyde Parker was anchored at St. Lucia, which the British had captured a year before in the Capture of St. Lucia. Parker was awaiting the arrival of Admiral George Brydges Rodney, who was to lead the 1780 campaign, and his fleet was largely at rest, with crews ashore and repairs being made to some vessels.
In the morning of 18 December, a French convoy under Joseph de Flotte,[8] which had departed Marseille in October and was bound for Martinique, arrived in Saint Lucia channel, the body of water between the islands of Saint Lucia and Martinique.[9] The convoy brought supplies for the French colonies of the Caribbeans and for the division under Lamotte, as well as diplomat Gérard de Rayneval.[10] It comprised 26 transports, escorted by the lone 34-gun frigate Aurore.[6]
Around 0800, HMS Preston, which was stationed in Saint Lucia channel, gave a signal indicating the arrival of an unknown fleet. Parker immediately scrambled, and managed to get five ships of the line and a 50-gun frigate out to meet the arriving fleet. Shortly thereafter, the French observation post of Les Anses-d'Arlet signaled the arrival of Flotte's convoy, as well as 15 British warships chasing them.[11]
Flotte sailed his ships close to shore, hoping that the shallow waters would deter the British warships from approaching, and Aurore fell back to start a rear-guard action as to delay Hyde Parker's squadron, and alert the French forces of Martinique. The lead ships of the convoy passed Les Anses-d'Arlet around 1400.[11] Lamotte then scrambled his ships to cover the retreat of the convoy, mustering reinforcements for his crew from the crews of the ships under repairs, as well as volunteers from the population.[2][Note 1]
Lamotte left the anchorage at Fort Royal with his flagship, the 74-gunAnnibal. As his arrival was to the windward, he was able to cover the arrival of the remaining convoy ships. The British fleet, with HMS Conqueror in the lead, began beating against the wind to closing with the French fleet. By 1700, Conqueror came with the range of Annibal's guns, and battle was engaged between those two. Annibal found herself facing seven British ships for half an hour,[12] before the 64-gunVengeur and Réfléchi joined her. By that time, the 15 British ships were also engaged.[2] The reinforced French crew allowed Lamotte's ships to sustain an especially high rate of fire, Annibal in particular firing alternatively from both broadsides as she turned to face the British from both sides.[2][12]
By the time evening arrived, HMS Albion had also come within range, but the action had worked its way toward shoals near Fort Royal. The coastal defences at Pointe des Nègres and Gros Îlet started firing of the British.[2] Parker finally called his fleet off at 1845, but one last broadside from the French fleet took the life of Conqueror's captain, Walter Griffith.[13]
Aftermath
The loss to the French convoy was significant with thirteen ships captured or driven ashore. Parker was however satisfied with his squadrons conduct and the prizes captured but was also with the French.[1] La Motte's conduct during the battle impressed Hyde Parker sufficiently to make him send a congratulatory letter to his adversary when they had occasion to communicate via a truce flag:
The conduct of your Excellency in the affair of the 18th of this month fully justifies the reputation which you enjoy among us, and I assure you that I could not witness without envy the skill you showed on that occasion. Our enmity is transient, depending upon our masters; but your merit has stamped upon my heart the greatest admiration for yourself.[1]
The French Crown commissioned a painting from Rossel de Cercy to celebrate the action.[12] The painting is an oil on canvas from 1779-1790, 114.0 cm high and 144.5 cm wide, in the collections of the Château de Versailles (inventory number MV 7388).[14] The painting is now on display at the Musée national de la Marine.[15]
Combat naval dans la rade de Fort Royal de la Martinique, 18 décembre 1779, by Rossel de Cercy
overview
Detail of Annibal delaying the British squadron
Vengeur and Réfléchi setting sail to reinforce Annibal
Heavy mortar of the French coastal defences
Long guns of the French coastal defences
Civilians witnesses watching the battle
Sources and references
Notes
^Seven years later, Lamotte stated that volunteers were so eager to take part in the action that they would try to pay for it.[2]
Citations
^ abcMahan, Alfred Thayer (2013). The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence. BoD – Books on Demand. pp. 128–9. ISBN9783954273393.
^Viton de Saint-Allais, Nicolas (1817). "Nobiliaire universel de France ou recueil général des généalogies ..., Volume 11". p. 427. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
^"Combat naval dans la rade de Fort Royal de la Martinique, 18 décembre 1779". Les Collections. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
^"Combat dans la rade de Fort Royal de la Martinique, 18 décembre 1779". Collections en ligne. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
Bibliography
Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1905). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion. OCLC 763372623.
Moulin, Stéphane (1922). La Carrière d'un Marin au XVIIIème siècle ; Joseph de Flotte 1734-1792. Gap: éditions Jean et Peyrot. OCLC 902496109.
La Monneraye, Pierre-Bruno-Jean (1998). Bonnichon, Philippe (ed.). Souvenirs de 1760 à 1791. Librairie Droz. p. 147—153. ISBN978-2-7453-0079-9. OCLC 165892922.
Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé. OCLC 836362484.
January 09, 2023
battle, martinique, 1779, other, uses, battle, martinique, disambiguation, battle, martinique, combat, martinique, naval, encounter, december, 1779, between, british, ship, squadron, under, admiral, hyde, parker, three, ship, french, division, under, admiral, . For other uses see Battle of Martinique disambiguation The Battle of Martinique or Combat de la Martinique was a naval encounter on 18 December 1779 between a British 13 ship squadron under Admiral Hyde Parker and a three ship French division under Admiral Lamotte Picquet near the island of Martinique in the West Indies Battle of MartiniquePart of the American Revolutionary WarBataille de la Martinique Jean Marie ChavaneDate18 December 1779LocationOff Martinique Caribbean Sea14 35 N 61 09 W 14 583 N 61 150 W 14 583 61 150ResultBritish victory 1 Belligerents Great Britain FranceCommanders and leadersHyde ParkerPicquet la MotteStrength13 ships of the line3 ships of the line26 merchant shipsCasualties and losses150 killed and wounded 2 ships of the line damaged9 merchant ships captured 4 merchant ships destroyed In order to cover the retreat of a convoy under Joseph de Flotte chased by the British the lone 74 gun Annibal under Lamotte Picquet For 90 minutes Annibal single handedly engaged the British squadron to block its advance before she was joined by the two 64 guns Vengeur and Reflechi 2 Ten to 11 of the transports were taken by the British or beached themselves to avoid capture but the rest of the convoy of the escorting frigate Aurore managed to escape and the division returned to its anchorage Hyde Parker wrote Lamotte Picquet a congratulation letter in the following days 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 Sources and referencesBackground EditIn the autumn of 1779 a British fleet under Admiral Hyde Parker was anchored at St Lucia which the British had captured a year before in the Capture of St Lucia Parker was awaiting the arrival of Admiral George Brydges Rodney who was to lead the 1780 campaign and his fleet was largely at rest with crews ashore and repairs being made to some vessels Meanwhile the French Caribbean division under Chef d Escadre Lamotte Picquet was undergoing a refit at the nearby island of Martinique in the West Indies The division comprised eight ships of the line but in December 1779 only three were operational the 74 gun Annibal and the 64 guns Vengeur under Fournoue 4 5 and Reflechi 6 under Cillart de Suville 7 Battle EditIn the morning of 18 December a French convoy under Joseph de Flotte 8 which had departed Marseille in October and was bound for Martinique arrived in Saint Lucia channel the body of water between the islands of Saint Lucia and Martinique 9 The convoy brought supplies for the French colonies of the Caribbeans and for the division under Lamotte as well as diplomat Gerard de Rayneval 10 It comprised 26 transports escorted by the lone 34 gun frigate Aurore 6 Around 0800 HMS Preston which was stationed in Saint Lucia channel gave a signal indicating the arrival of an unknown fleet Parker immediately scrambled and managed to get five ships of the line and a 50 gun frigate out to meet the arriving fleet Shortly thereafter the French observation post of Les Anses d Arlet signaled the arrival of Flotte s convoy as well as 15 British warships chasing them 11 Flotte sailed his ships close to shore hoping that the shallow waters would deter the British warships from approaching and Aurore fell back to start a rear guard action as to delay Hyde Parker s squadron and alert the French forces of Martinique The lead ships of the convoy passed Les Anses d Arlet around 1400 11 Lamotte then scrambled his ships to cover the retreat of the convoy mustering reinforcements for his crew from the crews of the ships under repairs as well as volunteers from the population 2 Note 1 Lamotte left the anchorage at Fort Royal with his flagship the 74 gun Annibal As his arrival was to the windward he was able to cover the arrival of the remaining convoy ships The British fleet with HMS Conqueror in the lead began beating against the wind to closing with the French fleet By 1700 Conqueror came with the range of Annibal s guns and battle was engaged between those two Annibal found herself facing seven British ships for half an hour 12 before the 64 gun Vengeur and Reflechi joined her By that time the 15 British ships were also engaged 2 The reinforced French crew allowed Lamotte s ships to sustain an especially high rate of fire Annibal in particular firing alternatively from both broadsides as she turned to face the British from both sides 2 12 By the time evening arrived HMS Albion had also come within range but the action had worked its way toward shoals near Fort Royal The coastal defences at Pointe des Negres and Gros Ilet started firing of the British 2 Parker finally called his fleet off at 1845 but one last broadside from the French fleet took the life of Conqueror s captain Walter Griffith 13 Aftermath EditThe loss to the French convoy was significant with thirteen ships captured or driven ashore Parker was however satisfied with his squadrons conduct and the prizes captured but was also with the French 1 La Motte s conduct during the battle impressed Hyde Parker sufficiently to make him send a congratulatory letter to his adversary when they had occasion to communicate via a truce flag The conduct of your Excellency in the affair of the 18th of this month fully justifies the reputation which you enjoy among us and I assure you that I could not witness without envy the skill you showed on that occasion Our enmity is transient depending upon our masters but your merit has stamped upon my heart the greatest admiration for yourself 1 Lamotte was made a Commander in the Order of Saint Louis 3 The French Crown commissioned a painting from Rossel de Cercy to celebrate the action 12 The painting is an oil on canvas from 1779 1790 114 0 cm high and 144 5 cm wide in the collections of the Chateau de Versailles inventory number MV 7388 14 The painting is now on display at the Musee national de la Marine 15 Combat naval dans la rade de Fort Royal de la Martinique 18 decembre 1779 by Rossel de Cercy overview Detail of Annibal delaying the British squadron Vengeur and Reflechi setting sail to reinforce Annibal Heavy mortar of the French coastal defences Long guns of the French coastal defences Civilians witnesses watching the battleSources and references EditNotes Seven years later Lamotte stated that volunteers were so eager to take part in the action that they would try to pay for it 2 Citations a b c Mahan Alfred Thayer 2013 The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence BoD Books on Demand pp 128 9 ISBN 9783954273393 a b c d e f La Monneraye 1998 p 148 a b La Monneraye 1998 p 151 Moulin 1922 p 81 Viton de Saint Allais Nicolas 1817 Nobiliaire universel de France ou recueil general des genealogies Volume 11 p 427 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a b La Monneraye 1998 p 144 La Monneraye 1998 p 148 Note 2 La Monneraye 1998 p 153 La Monneraye 1998 p 144 Note 4 Contenson 1934 p 179 a b La Monneraye 1998 p 147 a b c La Monneraye 1998 p 151 Note 1 La Monneraye 1998 p 153 Note 1 Combat naval dans la rade de Fort Royal de la Martinique 18 decembre 1779 Les Collections Retrieved 25 May 2020 Combat dans la rade de Fort Royal de la Martinique 18 decembre 1779 Collections en ligne Retrieved 25 May 2020 Bibliography Contenson Ludovic 1934 La Societe des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d Amerique 1778 1783 Paris editions Auguste Picard OCLC 7842336 Lacour Gayet Georges 1905 La marine militaire de la France sous le regne de Louis XVI Paris Honore Champion OCLC 763372623 Moulin Stephane 1922 La Carriere d un Marin au XVIIIeme siecle Joseph de Flotte 1734 1792 Gap editions Jean et Peyrot OCLC 902496109 La Monneraye Pierre Bruno Jean 1998 Bonnichon Philippe ed Souvenirs de 1760 a 1791 Librairie Droz p 147 153 ISBN 978 2 7453 0079 9 OCLC 165892922 Troude Onesime Joachim 1867 Batailles navales de la France in French Vol 2 Challamel aine OCLC 836362484 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Martinique 1779 amp oldid 1063014610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
