Capture of Desirade, 30th March 1808

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Capture of Desirade

30th March 1808
Part of : The Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815)
Previous action : Battle of Zealand Point 22.3.1808
Next action : Action off Rota 4.4.1808
 

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Cerberus (32) 1794-1814
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
William SelbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1793
Lilly (18) 1804-1811
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
William Henry ShirreffBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1846
Pelican (16) 1806-1812
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
William WardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1800-1810
Swinger (12) 1804-1812
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gun-brig
William BennettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1812
,
Thomas Bourdon FellowsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1810
Mosambique (10) 1804-1810
British 10 Gun
Unrated Schooner
John JacksonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1807-1808
Express (6) 1800-1813
British 6 Gun
Unrated Schooner
Humphrey Fleming SenhouseBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1841
,
William DowersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1802-1815
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN5
On March 30th the Cerberus, accompanied by two sloops, two brigs, and a schooner, [Lily, 18: Pelican, 16; Express, 6; Swinger, 14; and Mozambique, 14] appeared off the island. The boats of the squadron, under Commander William Henry Shirreff, of the Lily, approached under a smart fire, which, however, was soon silenced by the guns of the Cerberus a-nd her consorts, and by 4.30 P.M. the island had surrendered. 4 It was not deemed worth while to hold it. Its batteries not very formidable ones were, therefore, destroyed; the place was evacuated; and the Lily, with the brig Express and the schooner Mozambique, was left to cruise under Commander Shirreff for its protection, and to prevent it from being re-garrisoned from Guadeloupe.
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