Childers vs Lougen, 14th March 1808

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Childers vs Lougen

14th March 1808
Part of : The Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815)
Previous action : Taking of the Piemontaise 6.3.1808 - 8.3.1808
Next action : Terpsichore vs Sémillante 15.3.1808
 

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Childers (14) 1778-1811
British 14 Gun
Unrated Sloop
Thomas InnesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1810
,
Joseph PackwoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1811
11 killed or wounded
 

Denmark

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Lougen (18) 1805-1814
Danish 18 Gun
Unrated Brig
 
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN5
On March 14th, the Childers, 14, Commander William Henry Dillon, whilst cruising off Midby on the Norwegian coast, sighted a small Danish vessel inshore, and sent in her boats to cut her out. The boats had done this and were on their way to rejoin the Childers when the Danish brig of war Lugum, 20, Commander Wulff, suddenly came into sight and bore down upon the British ship, but, when the latter fired a shot and stood boldly towards her boats, altered course and kept inshore. The Childers, having hoisted in her boats, made all sail after the Liigum, overhauled her, and began action at short range. The two vessels were on opposite tacks. At the first broadside the Liigum took fire. Night had fallen, and the Danish ship, under the heavy shadow of the coast, could be made out only by the flashes of her guns. The British craft, armed entirely with feeble 12-pr. carronades, soon found that most of her shots fell short, whereas the Dane, with long 18-prs., was able to fire with great effect, repeatedly hulling the Childers. Dillon determined to try to tempt the enemy out to sea, where his hull could be better seen. At 11 P.M. the Lugum was three miles from the land. The Childers then passed close under her lee, pouring in a broadside of round shot and grape, which had so much effect, that the Dane retired inshore. The Childers was too much battered to pursue or renew the battle. She had five feet of water in her hold, and 11, out of a total crew of 56, killed or wounded. Her Commander displayed extraordinary bravery in forcing so powerful an enemy to battle. The Childers's broadside was only 84 Ibs. in weight, all from carronades; the Lugum's was 168 Ibs., all from long guns. Further, the Childers was a very old and rotten vessel, dating from 1778.
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