Three Sisters

Posted by Brian Stephens on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 16:30

Edinburgh Advertiser - March 1780
Extract of a letter from on board the Three Sisters armed ship, dated April 14,
We sailed from Spithead, on the 12th inst. with the Ranger sloop and Expedition cutter, with about 60 sail under our convoy, and on the morning of the 12th, at day-light, desired to sail to windward, which, by their maneuvers, we soon new to be enemies. At six A.M. they tacked and stood in, with an intention to cut off the rear of our convoy, upon which we immediately hove to, and made signal for the sternmost ships of the convoy to come up; but there being little wind, we stood upon a different tact to cover them. As an action seemed now inevitable, Capt. Wyborn sent a petty officer, with 12 men, on board a Spanish prize under our convoy, who had more guns than men. At a quarter before twelve at noon, the engagement began. The enemy had the weather-gage of us, and the rest of our squadron being to leeward, the Three Sisters was exposed to the enemies whole fire for a considerable time, the largest lying up on her quarter, and the other upon her bow. When the other vessels came up the engagement was more equal, and continued very hot on both sides till about 1 o'clock, when the French ships made all sail they could and run off. We chased them till about 4 P.M. but having far the advantage of us in point of sailing, they escaped. They proved to be two French frigates, the one mounting 32 guns, twelve and nine pounders, the other 20 nine pounders. This intelligence of their force we had from a sloop they had taken, and ransomed for three hundred guineas. We has only three men slightly wounded, which is very extraordinary as many of their shot went through our hull, and our sails and rigging are much cut. One of the men aboard the Spanish prize, lost his right hand. We have taken a Dutch ship laden with war like stores bound for Bourdeaux