Coog
06-08-2012, 04:34
On 8 June,1796 the French frigate Tribune, and her remaining two companions, the frigate Tamise and the corvette Legere, were sailing off the south coast of Ireland. Tribune was under the command of Commodore John Moulston, an American who had served in the French Navy for 16 years. At daybreak the British frigates Unicorn and Santa Margarita spotted the three French vessels and proceeded to chase them.
Tamise eventually turned to engage her pursuers, but Santa Margarita captured her after a 20-minute battle. Legere escaped. Separately, Dryad captured Proserpine a few days later; the British took her into service as Amelia.
Tribune continued to attempt to escape Unicorn in a running fight that lasted ten hours. Unicorn eventually pulled alongside and an intense engagement that lasted for 35 minutes ensued. Tribune attempted to drop astern to rake Unicorn's vulnerable stern, but was foiled by the good handling of the Unicorn, which again came alongside and continued to fire upon Tribune. Finally, when all her masts except her mizzenmast had been shot away, Tribune struck her colours.
Tribune had lost 37 men killed of her crew of 337 men, as well as 15 wounded, including Moulston. Unicorn, despite having only 140 of her normal complement of 151 aboard, with a lieutenant and her best seamen taking a prize to Cork, had suffered no casualties.
The victory earned Unicorn's captain a knighthood. In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the remaining survivors of this action the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Unicorn 8 June 1796". The crews of Santa Margaritta and Dryad also won the Naval General Service Medal with clasps "Sta. Margaritta 8 June 1796" for the capture of Tamise and "Dryad 13 June 1796" for the capture of Proserpine.
Tamise eventually turned to engage her pursuers, but Santa Margarita captured her after a 20-minute battle. Legere escaped. Separately, Dryad captured Proserpine a few days later; the British took her into service as Amelia.
Tribune continued to attempt to escape Unicorn in a running fight that lasted ten hours. Unicorn eventually pulled alongside and an intense engagement that lasted for 35 minutes ensued. Tribune attempted to drop astern to rake Unicorn's vulnerable stern, but was foiled by the good handling of the Unicorn, which again came alongside and continued to fire upon Tribune. Finally, when all her masts except her mizzenmast had been shot away, Tribune struck her colours.
Tribune had lost 37 men killed of her crew of 337 men, as well as 15 wounded, including Moulston. Unicorn, despite having only 140 of her normal complement of 151 aboard, with a lieutenant and her best seamen taking a prize to Cork, had suffered no casualties.
The victory earned Unicorn's captain a knighthood. In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the remaining survivors of this action the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Unicorn 8 June 1796". The crews of Santa Margaritta and Dryad also won the Naval General Service Medal with clasps "Sta. Margaritta 8 June 1796" for the capture of Tamise and "Dryad 13 June 1796" for the capture of Proserpine.