Action of 1796/04/20, 20th April 1796

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Action of 1796-04-20

20th April 1796
Part of : The French Revolutionary Wars (1793 - 1802)
Previous action : Attack on Leogane 21.3.1796
Next action : Capture of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice 23.4.1796 - 2.5.1796
 

Great Britain

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Indefatigable (38) 1784-1816
British 38 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sir Edward PellewBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1776-1814
Amazon (36) 1795-1797
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Robert Carthew ReynoldsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1807
Concorde (36) 1783-1811
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Anthony HuntBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1796
 

République Française

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
La Virginie (44) 1794-1796
French 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate (Frégate)
Jacques BergeretFrench
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1852
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN4
Sir Edward Pellew, in the Indefatigable, 44, with the Amazon, 36, Captain Robert Carthew Reynolds, and Concorde, 36, Captain Anthony Hunt, sighted the French Virginie, 40, Captain Bergeret, off the Lizard. The three British ships at once crowded all sail and stood after the enemy. The wind was south-east, and prevented the Virginie from retreating to Brest. After a fifteen hours' chase the Indefatigable got close enough to begin a running fight. At about midnight the action commenced. After an hour and three-quarters' firing the Virginie lost her mizen-mast and main-top-mast, and the Indefatigable her mizen-topmast and gaff. By reason of these injuries the British ship shot ahead and was all but raked. She was repairing damages when the Concorde came up astern of the Virginie, whereupon the latter struck in a very crippled condition, with four feet of water in her hold. The Virginie had been bravely fought against a very superior force.
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