Coog
06-16-2012, 08:22
Cornwallis's Retreat was a naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars in which a British Royal Navy battle squadron of five ships of the line and two frigates was attacked by a French Navy battlefleet of 12 ships of the line and 11 frigates in the waters off the west coast of Brittany on 16–17 June 1795. Hugely outnumbered, the British commander Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis turned away from the French on 16 June and attempted to escape into open water, the French fleet under Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse in close pursuit. After a full day's chase the British squadron had lost speed due to poorly loaded holds on board two ships, and the French vanguard pulled within range on the morning of 17 June. Unwilling to abandon his rearguard, Cornwallis counterattacked with the remainder of his squadron and a fierce combat developed, culminating in Cornwallis interposing his flagship HMS Royal Sovereign between the British and French forces.
In the face of Cornwallis's determined resistance and fearing that the main British Channel Fleet was in the vicinity, Villaret de Joyeuse broke off the battle on the evening of 17 June and ordered his ships to withdraw, allowing Cornwallis to return to port at Plymouth with his battered but intact squadron. Villaret retired to an anchorage off Belle Īle, close to the naval base at Brest and there was discovered by the main British Channel Fleet on 22 June and defeated at the ensuing Battle of Groix, losing three ships of the line. While Villaret was criticised for failing to press the attack on Cornwallis's force, the British admiral was praised and rewarded for his defiance in the face of overwhelming French numerical superiority. The battle has since been considered by British historians to be one of the most influential examples "of united courage and coolness to be found in [British] naval history".
In the face of Cornwallis's determined resistance and fearing that the main British Channel Fleet was in the vicinity, Villaret de Joyeuse broke off the battle on the evening of 17 June and ordered his ships to withdraw, allowing Cornwallis to return to port at Plymouth with his battered but intact squadron. Villaret retired to an anchorage off Belle Īle, close to the naval base at Brest and there was discovered by the main British Channel Fleet on 22 June and defeated at the ensuing Battle of Groix, losing three ships of the line. While Villaret was criticised for failing to press the attack on Cornwallis's force, the British admiral was praised and rewarded for his defiance in the face of overwhelming French numerical superiority. The battle has since been considered by British historians to be one of the most influential examples "of united courage and coolness to be found in [British] naval history".