The Wild Goose Chase.

(Continuing the saga of the hunt for Napoleon.)

Two Royal Navy ships the Sybille and the Superb (the Superb replaced the Swan due to its serious damage and lack of firepower) have been chasing two French ships believed to be transporting the escapee Napoleon Bonaparte. They are reported by a passing American Brigantine as indeed being the Courageuse and Aqualon.

The chase is now off the coast of Florida and is being monitored by the 44 gun Frigates the USS Constitution, and USS United States.

Both the French ships, and the British have requested docking facilities in an American port to allow for re stocking of supplies and repairs after a rough chase on passage from the Caribbean . The US Port Official has agreed, but with conditions to both parties.

• Both sets of protagonists will dock in port.
• No shore parties will be allowed (supplies will be bought out to them by tender)
• As with maritime law the French having been first to dock, will also leave port first and The Royal navy ships no earlier than 24hrs later.
• The USS Constitution will shadow the French until they enter international waters. Whilst the unnamed US ship blocks the port entrance to ensure British compliance with the terms.
• Both parties must agree.

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After a few days of intense work was completed, the French ships departed the port shadowed by the American frigates..

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Within 24 hours they are well into the Atlantic with a following wind.

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Meanwhile on leaving port the British crowded on all sail in an effort to locate the French now a clear day's sail ahead.

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They are lucky to come across a friendly merchant ship who relays information on two ships that were seen on the horizon, taking a chance on the coordinates given by the merchant ship the Royal Navy officer in charge gave instructions to lay in a course under full sail.
Continuing on the same course for the rest of the day there was no sign of their quarry. However towards dawn two days later top sails were sighted and the British rapidly closed on what they deemed to be the French ships in question.

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However, as they came within extreme range a dense sea mist rolled in and obscured the French ships from view.

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The senior officer on board the Sybille lit his stern lantern and instructed the Superb captain to take up line astern and shorten sail, both ships groped their way into the fog bank with lookouts listening for any sounds from the French.

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Fearing that the British would be upon them the French managed to maintain absolute silence until dawn broke on the following day.
The British ships had been following the same course throughout the night.

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At the break of dawn the fog cleared, as the wind changed direction and the British Captains discovered that although the French were in sight the British ships were now well downwind of their quarry.

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Slowly overhauling the French the Sybille's Captain ordered a ranging shot from his bow chaser to estimate the range.

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The French adjusted course to try and disrupt the ranging shots.

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This allowed the British to increase their sailing ability to overhaul the French. Another bow chaser shot from Sybille now caused minor damage to the Rudder of the Courageuse which veered to Port.

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This enabled Sybille to move to starboard in an effort to deliver a stern rake.

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The resulting broadside caused devastating damage resulting in the loss of the main mast whole sheet sails and a complete destruction of the already damaged rudder.

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As Superb was fast approaching on the Port side, The serious damage left the French Captain no option but to strike her colours.

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Sybille immediately hove to and put a party of sailors and marines aboard Courageuse.

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TBC. Captain Kiwi.