Constellation vs Vengeance, 1st February 1800

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Constellation vs Vengeance

1st February 1800
Part of : The Quasi War (1799 - 1805)
Previous action : Herald vs Mutine 21.1.1800
Next action : Enterprise vs Cyane 17.6.1800
 

United States of America

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Constellation (38) 1797-1853
American 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Thomas TruxtunAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1748-1848
 

République Française

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
La Vengeance (48) 1794-1800
French 48 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
François Marie PitotFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1809
 

Notes on Action


Official account taken from Truxtun's journal, dated February 1 and 2 1800B043
At half-past seven A.M., the road of Basseterre, Guadeloupe, bearing east five leagues distance, saw a sail in the southeast standing to the westward, which from her situation I at first took for a large ship from Martinico and hoisted English colours, on giving chase, by way of inducement for her to come down and speak me, which would have saved a long chase to leeward of my intended cruising ground ; but finding she did not attempt to alter her course, I examined her more attentively as we approached her and discovered her to be a heavy French frigate mounting at least fifty-four guns. I immediately gave orders for the yards to be slung with chains, topsail sheets, etc., stoppered, and the ship cleared ready for action, and hauled down the English colours. At noon the wind became light and I observed the chase, that we had before been gaining fast on, held way with us, but I was determined to continue the pursuit, though the running to leeward I was convinced would be attended with many serious disadvantages, especially if the object of my wishes was not gratified. At one o clock p. M. the wind being somewhat fresher than the noon preceding and an appearance of its continuance, our prospect of bringing the enemy to action began to brighten, as I perceived we were coming up with the chase fast and every inch of canvas being set that could be of service, except the bag reefs which I kept in the topsails, in case of the enemy, finding an escape from our thunder impracticable, should haul on a wind and give us fair battle ; but this did not prove to be her commander s intention. I how ever got within hail of him at eight P. M., hoisted our ensign and had the candles in the battle lanterns all lighted and was in the lee gangway ready to speak him and to demand a surrender of his ship to the United States of America, when at that instant he commenced a fire from his stern and quarter guns directed at our rigging and spars. No parley being then necessary I sent my principal aide-de-camp, Mr. Vandyke, to the different officers commanding divisions on the main battery, to repeat strictly my orders before given, not to throw away a single charge of powder and shot, but to take good aim and to fire directly into the hull of the enemy and load principally with two round shot and now and then with a round shot and a stand of grape, &c. ; to encourage the men at their quarters and to cause or suffer no noise or confusion what ever, but to load and fire as fast as possible when it could be done with certain effect.

These orders being given, in a few moments I gained a position on his weather quarter that enabled us to return effectually his salute, and thus as close and as sharp an action as ever was fought between two frigates commenced and continued until within a few minutes of one A. M., when the enemy's fire was completely silenced and he was again sheering off. It was at this moment that I considered him as my prize and was trimming in the best manner I could my shattered sails when I found the mainmast was totally unsupported with rigging, every shroud being shot away and some of them in many places, so as to render stoppers useless, which in fact could not be applied with effect. I then gave orders for all the men to be sent up from the gun deck to endeavour to secure the mast, in order that we might get alongside of the enemy again as soon as possible ; but every effort was in vain, for it went over the side in a few minutes after and carried with it the topmen, among whom was an amiable young gentleman who commanded the main top, Mr. James Jarvis, son of James Jarvis, Esq., of New York. This young gentleman it seems was apprised of his danger by an old seaman, but he had already so much the principle of an officer engrafted on his mind, not to leave his quarters, that he replied if the mast went they must go with it, which was the case and only one of them was saved. . . . As soon as the mainmast went, every effort was made to clear the wreck from the ship as soon as possible, which was effected in about an hour, and as her security was then the great object, it being impossible to pursue the enemy I immediately bore away for Jamaica for repairs, &c., finding it impracticable to reach a friendly port in any of the islands to windward.
Letter from one of the Constellation's lieutenants, writing February 3B043
I am safe after a severe action of five hours broadside and broadside with a French fifty gun ship. We chased her from eight in the morning of the first until about a quarter before eight in the evening, when we brought her to action, and a very severe cannonading commenced from both ships and continued till half-past twelve at night, when the enemy's battery was silenced (except the two after most guns); ours continued with increased vigour. She then sheered off perfectly beaten. We took the weather gauge and kept it during the action. The officers of divisions were ordered up and the smartest men to secure the mainmast, but it was so much shattered that before any assistance could be given it went over the side together with the mizzen-top-mast, which gave the enemy the opportunity of making off. This she embraced with all possible expedition. Our following her was impracticable. One half hour's more assistance of the mainmast would to a certainty have made her our prize. Her battery was either deserted by the men or dismounted by our cannon, for it was entirely silenced at one o clock when our mainmast went over the side. We are now running down to Jamaica to refit. You can have no idea of the figure we cut. There is not a spar or fathom of rigging abaft the foremast. We are just able, by securing the crippled foremast, to set a foresail and fore-topsail half mast. We have this day rigged a mizzen staysail from the stump of the mainmast to the head of the mizzen-mast. What is left of the latter we are now securing in its crippled state to make more after-sail. Our hull is very much battered. We had twenty wounded and at least that many killed no time yet to ascertain accurately. The officers all escaped except a midshipman, Mr. Jarvis of New York, stationed in the main top, who went over with three men and was never seen afterwards. It would have been a great satisfaction to have possession of the enemy ; it was only the loss of our mainmast I am certain that prevented it. She was torn all to flinders. There was hardly one shot from us that she did not receive in the hull ; while she directed hers almost entirely at our rigging. We do not know what ship she is or the damage she has sustained, all the business being in the night. I do suppose there have been few such actions and I am well convinced, if we get a true account of the enemy's situation, it will be a bloody one.
Captain Pitot's report to the minister of marine of the French RepublicB043
I have the honour to send you an account of two actions I have had on the 12th and 13th Pluviose with an American frigate, which at tacked us at eight o clock in the evening in latitude 15 17 North and longitude 66 4 West of Paris [63 44 west of Greenwich], and fought at first under the English flag and then the American. I am ignorant of its name. The rumour which I heard from the Governor of Curacoa and all the information that I have been enabled to procure lead me to believe that the action took place with the Constellation, frigate of the United States, of sixty cannons and having five hundred men as a crew. She had 24- and 18 -pounders in her battery and 12-pounders upon her quarter-deck and forecastle. . . . Everything showed me that I must avoid an action in the position I was in and must limit myself to the defensive. I acted in consequence. After having in the first action dismantled my antagonist, I made all sail and continued my course. As to him, he could have attacked us in daylight, but he did not do so, preferring to attack at nightfall, and after having been forcibly repulsed he returned to the charge. The engagement was very exciting. In consequence of the action I was so much damaged in my rigging that I was forced to run before the wind to Curacoa, working to bend new sails on the stumps of the masts which remained, by means of which we were enabled to reach port on the 18th of the same month. I was very well received here by the governor and the marine commandant. Each of my officers fulfilled his duty with honour, courage and talent, and I must express very great satisfaction with their conduct.
Narrative of a passenger on the VengeanceB043
I embarked with sixty passengers on board the frigate La Vengeance of forty-two twelve pounders and three hundred and twenty men. We left Guadaloupe the 14th Pluviose last. The day after, we met the American frigate Constellation of fifty-four eighteen pounders, who gave us chase. We determined to avoid an action, but she forced us to it. The action commenced at eight o clock in the evening and lasted five successive hours, during which we fired twelve hundred shot. The masts of both frigates fell overboard, causing in their fall a great number of accidents. All the rigging was cut to pieces and the sails torn to rags. Towards the end of the action we were within pistol shot. We had twenty men killed and forty wounded. The Americans must have had a great number more, since they first ceased to fire and left the field of battle. They had five hundred men on board. We were too much disabled to pursue them. The passengers assisted during the whole of the action. We were eight days in getting to Curacao, completely destitute of masts and sails. We heard that the Constellation got into Jamaica.
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