Action of 1797-08-11

Posted by Brian Stephens on Wednesday 7th of May 2014 18:57

The Gentleman's magazine. v. 67:pt. 2 (1797).
Letter dated on board the Pomone, at sea, Aug. 23
On the 23d inst. I chased, and drove upon the coast of Isle, L'Egalite armed chasse maree, of 4, 6 pounders, and 8 swivels, and which we afterward got off.
La Pomone, at sea, Sept. 6
My Lord, I beg leave to inform your Lordship, that I continued steering for the mouth of the Garonne; and on the 27th ult. being to the southward of the river, a number of vessels were seen in the south-west quarter. I made the signal for a general chase, and continued until night, when from the Triton being far advanced ahead, and the Jason to windward, the ships kept the enemy in sight after the approach of night. Owing to the exertions of Capt's Gore and Sterling, five of them were captured. A 2 A.M. being near the shore, a cutter was seen at anchor, that had accompanied the convoy, and one of the boats of this ship was sent to her; but being ordered to keep off, and seeing she was a vessel of force, returned. I stood in after her, and upon our firing a few shot, one of which cut away her mast, she slipped her cable and ran among the breakers upon the coast of Arcasson and into a most tremendous surf that broke on-board her, and must have stove her to pieces. She at last drove through, and I fancy several of her crew were drowned, and, as the tide left her, she fell over; the remainder of her men, about 90 in number, got ashore. She was called Le Petite Diable, a very fine vessel, pierced for 18 or 20 guns and 100 men complement.