Battle of the Saintes
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| West Indies campaign |
|---|
| Nassau – St. Lucia – Grenada – Martinique – Fort Royal – St. Kitts – The Saintes |
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April - 12 April 1782, during the American Revolutionary War, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse.
The battle is named after the Saintes (or Saints), a group of islands between Guadeloupe and Dominica in the West Indies.
Origins
On April 7 1782 the Comte de Grasse set out from Martinique, with 35 ships of the line, including 2 50-gun ships, and a large convoy of more than 100 cargo ships, to meet with a Spanish fleet consisting of 12 ships of the line and 15000 troops to capture the British island of Jamaica. He was pursued by Rodney with 36 ships of the line.On 9 April 1782 De Grasse sent his convoy into Guadeloupe, escorted by his two fifty-gun ships. There was an initial inconclusive clash during which the French got the better of the van division of the British fleet which had become separated from the centre and rear divisions. Two French ships of the line were damaged.
Battle
On the 12th, De Grasse bore up with his fleet to protect a dismasted ship that was being chased by four British ships as she made for Guadaloupe. Rodney recalled his chasing ships and made the signal for line of battle. As the French line passed down the British line, a sudden shift of wind let Rodney’s flagship Formidable and several other ships, including the Duke and the Bedford, break through the French line, raking the ships as they did so. The resultant confusion in the French line and the severe damage to several of the French ships including De Grasse's flagship Ville de Paris, 104, led eventually to De Grasse’s surrender and the retreat of many of his ships in disorder. This action split the French battle line into two. A general chase ensued. In all, four French ships were captured and one, César, blew up after she was taken.The British lost 243 killed and 816 wounded, and 2 captains out of 36 were killed. The French loss in killed and wounded has never been stated, but must have been considerably higher than that of the English; of captains alone, 6 were killed out of 30. An estimated 2000 French sailors were killed or wounded.
Aftermath
The battle ended French and Spanish hopes of capturing Jamaica from the British. Rodney was created a peer with £2000 a year settled on the title in perpetuity for this victory.The battle has caused controversy ever since, for three reasons.
Firstly, Rodney’s failure to follow up the victory by a pursuit was much criticised. Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood said that the 20 French ships would have been captured had the commander-in-chief chased. On the 17th Hood was sent in pursuit of the enemy. He promptly captured two of the line in the Mona Passage.
Secondly, the battle is famous for the tactic of "breaking the line", in which the British ships passed though a gap in the French line, engaging the enemy from leeward and throwing them into disorder. But there is considerable controversy about whether the tactic was intentional or not.
Thirdly, on the French side, de Grasse blamed his subordinates, De Vaudreuil and De Bougainville, for his defeat.
Ships involved:
Britain (Rodney)
Marlborough 74Arrogant 74
Alcide 74
Nonsuch 64
Conqueror 74 (George Balfour)
Princessa 70 (3rd flag of Samuel Drake)
Prince George 98
Torbay 74
Anson 64
Fame 74
Russell 74 (James Saumarez)
America 64
Hercules 74
Prothée 64
Resolution 74
Agamemnon 64
Duke 98
Formidable 98 (flag)
Namur 90
Saint Albans 64 (William Cornwallis)
Canada 74
Repulse 64
Ajax 74
Bedford 74
Prince William 64
Magnificent 74
Centaur 74
Belliqueux 64
Warrior 74
Monarch 74
Barfleur 90 (Flagship of Sir Samuel Hood)
Valiant 74
Yarmouth 64
Montagu 74
Alfred 74
Royal Oak 74
France (Comte de Grasse)
Hercule 74Souverain 74
Palmier 74
Northumberland 74
Neptune 74
Auguste 80 (de Bougainville)
Ardent 64 (formerly British) - Captured
Scipion 74
Brave 74
Citoyen 74
Hector 74 - Captured
César 74 - Captured but burnt
Dauphin Royal 70
Languedoc 80
Ville de Paris 104 (flag) - Captured
Couronne 80 (Mithon de Genouilly)
Eveillé 64
Sceptre 74
Glorieux 74 - Captured
Diadème 74
Destin 74
Magnanime 74
Refléchi 64
Conquérant 74
Magnifique 74
Triomphant 80
Bourgogne 74
Duc de Bourgogne 80
Marseillais 74
Pluton 74
Richmond (frigate) (Montemart)
See also
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