The Blockade
The Blockade May 2016
Well Baptiste it’s good to see you this cold winters evening, be a good chap and ask Martine for an extra large measure of the 98 will you. The wind is cruel cold tonight and these old bones need warming through, the fire and the 98 will help get the circulation going quickly I hope.
Ahh thank you Baptiste that’s very kind of you, take no notice of the mean spirited villagers who discuss your tight fisted ways. I gave them a piece of my mind in your defence, I can tell you. Where is Hermione this evening, she’s not with you.
Oh I understand, the cold in the head is a terrible thing, you should dose her with brandy and honey, mixed with a little hot water it usually helps me to sleep. Not too much water mind you, or you will dispel the soothing nature of the brandy.
No, of course not the 98 you fool, any reasonable brandy will do the trick and get her on her feet in no time. I wonder if I should go up to your house and administer the dose myself, I have been thinking of the Neptune today and could tell her about the time we were blockaded by the Rosbifs and our gallant escape from the Charente estuary. That would be a tale to cheer her up on this grey evening. What do you think Baptiste.
No Baptiste, what do you mean no, surely you are not so afraid of Madame Baptiste that you dare not go home before she has retired for the night.
Oh you are! Well we’ll stay here and I’ll regale you with my account of the battle.
PIC01
We’d been cooped up in the River Charante for 8 months and the men were rusty, slow at their tasks when it came to setting the sails but we had exercised with the cannon and even though the men hadn’t fired a shot in that time, they were well drilled in the operation of running the guns in and out, loading and aiming. I can’t say we were a crack squadron but sailing down the river is a tricky task at the best of times and we made a fine show of it.
Putting to sea into the Bay of Biscay we were formed up in line astern behind Orient our Flagship, I was in command of Neptune a fine ship of the line, followed by Robuste another 80 gun ship of the line and finally the much smaller Roland who if I remember correctly only carried 64 guns and was lightly constructed, outclassed at this time by the bigger 74’s and 80’s.
PIC02
That’s when we saw the Rosbif Squadron sailing back to take up station again. Sorry Baptiste I forgot to mention that there had been a storm and the enemy had been forced off shore to weather it. Admiral Vibrantte had taken that as an opportunity for us to escape and sail to join the rest of the fleet in Brest.
PIC03
Almost as soon as we were out from the shelter of the estuary the wind started to veer and the signal from Vibrantte was to tack to larboard. He didn’t really have much choice, for to tack to starboard would have set us on a course towards the hard shore of the Vendee.
PIC04
From my position I could see the Rosbif squadron quite clearly, they had the Royal George leading their line she was clearly their flagship, followed by a pair of 74’s and out to their starboard side a lone Frigate, an Amazon class I perceived but I could not make out which one at this range.
The change of wind served them well and they came on in great style.
PIC05
We continued to turn to larboard and the impudent British Frigate commenced the action by firing on Orient. This is something that is almost unheard of, a Frigate attacking a 118 gun Ship of the Line. Normally we allow frigates free passage but this was a direct challenge. However her Captain and his crew were brave fellows and making good their opening fusillade they hit Orient hard, I could see that a ball had gone through under the water line but all of a sudden with a lucky shot the stays parted company and the foremast fell slowly overboard.
PIC06
This insult to the Orient couldn’t be allowed to go un-avenged and I ordered my starboard broadside to be fired on the frigate, following suite, Robuste also fired on the Amazon Class frigate.
PIC07
With a mixture of dismay and admiration I watched the two broadsides strike home, the frigate was destroyed and sank immediately.
In the mean time Orient had fired her starboard quarter battery at HMS Royal George but due to the damage they had suffered from the frigate it lacked much punch and had little effect.
PIC08
Our squadron was now running with the wind from astern and the Admiral had to decide if he would fight or return to the Charante. I calculated we could reach the river without any difficulty. The enemy had the weather gauge and we would be at a severe disadvantage trying to take the fight to them.
The Admiral flew the brave and maybe foolhardy signal. “Tack to starboard and form line on Neptune”. Yes Baptiste you are correct, I was Captaine of Neptune and the Admiral was showing great faith in my abilities.
PIC09
We commenced our turn to starboard and I saw that the Admiral was going to turn to larboard.
PIC10
So he continued to do and I could see that he hoped to send a welcome greeting along the length of the Royal George. Bravely he held his fire when only the larboard quarter battery could have fired, I hoped this wasn’t a mistake.
PIC11
Damn - the Royal George recognising the danger she was in, had commenced a turn to larboard as the rest of our fleet continued to turn to starboard, soon the fateful manoeuvre would come. The turn through the wind with ill trained crew, it would be a difficult thing to accomplish with panache, or even at all.
PIC12
The glorious Orient fired upon the Rosbif Flagship and caused havoc, not as much if she’d been able to rake her as planned but a significant amount of havoc all the same, unfortunately she took a lot of damage from the return fire.
PIC13
HMS Royal George and Orient were reloading the big guns and it looked as if HMS Bellona might run into the George, that would help our squadron tremendously. Sadly it was not to be.
PIC14
Pass me your beer a minute Baptiste, you will need a diagram to understand how the battle is progressing because I am now at the crucial point of my story and I know you have a weak understanding. No Baptiste, you know I meant that you have a weak understanding of naval tactics not that you are weak in the head, although there are some who would disagree with me on that last point.
As you remember The Admiral had given orders that Robuste and Roland should form up behind my ship Neptune and I was determined to lead them back to help Orient defeat the Rosbif Squadron.
Do not worry so when I dip my finger in your beer to draw the diagram on the table, Doctor Rebus knows nothing about medicine, most sailors know more than he does and I tell you it is perfectly safe, there is nothing on my fingers, look I’ve licked them clean, now be quiet.
Here you see all three of our ships are in line astern and turning through the wind, if successful we will have a good chance of bringing our superior strength to bear but it will take a cool head and a devoted crew to pull this off successfully.
PIC15
Yes Baptiste, you are right, there was only one of the three Captaines who could accomplish this feat, Robuste and Roland collided in the manoeuvre. Fortunately for them it was only a glancing blow and they didn’t become entangled in the collision. It sadden me to see such ineptitude in the Glorious French Navy. My crew looked on in amazement, they were used to a Capitaine who knew his trade and they had responded accordingly.
PIC16
Admiral Vibrantte was engaged in a valiant fight with the Royal George but when Bellona joined in I could only watch with a heavy heart for I knew the ineptitude of my fellow Capitaines meant we would not be able to come to his aid fast enough.
PIC17
Even so, the marines in L’Orient’s tops carried out a devastating action. You could hear the pop pop pop of the musketry between the salvos from the big guns.
As you can see from my diagram on the table Baptiste, Bellona was in a poor position to continue the fight or it may be that he had heard a rumour that I was in command of Neptune and he wished to try his hand against the finest sailor in the French Navy, yes Baptiste I do mean me, who else could I have been referring to?
Whatever the reason Bellona’s Captain set a course directly for Neptune.
PIC18
This left Orient and Royal George in a ship on ship fight to the finish. In a last desperate bid to win the day Admiral Vibrantte rammed the George and sent his marines along the bowsprit, yes Baptiste, that is the pole that sticks out of the front of the ship. Mon Dieu, how I wish I had saved this tale for your Hermione, she is far more astute than her Father, how ever you were able to produce such a fine daughter I do not know.
PIC19
Do not be so angry Baptiste, it does not become you, I know the truth may sometimes be undesirable but it can not be denied that your Hermione is a pearl of a girl. You see she even brings out the poet in me. Girl/Pearl, it is a rhyme Baptiste. Oh it is wasted on you, sit back down so I may continue with my story.
No… before you do, be a good soul and fetch another glass of the 98, this one seems to have evaporated.
Ahh thank you, now where was I, oh yes, L’Orient and Royal George, the George’s crew had fended off the final act of courage by Admiral Vibrantte when he tried to board them and then slowly L’Orient sank beneath the waves at the same time George’s crew tried to save their ship which was nothing more than a drifting wreak.
Meanwhile Bellona had decided to single handedly, take on three ships of the glorious French Navy.
PIC20
The Roste Bif’s may not know how to cook but they do know how to fight, I’ve always said that about them. Of course, good French sailors know how to fight as well, especially when they have a Capitaine made of steel such as I.
Did I ever tell you about Gaston l’Boeuf? No I don’t believe I have. Gaston served with me in a few of my commands, he was a coarse man, but with a great heart, indeed much like yourself Baptiste…well without the great heart I suppose. He was devoted to me, as were most of my crews, but more importantly he was one of the finest Gun Captains I’ve ever come across. As the Bellona approached I said to him, Gaston, there’s a silver Louis for you if you can take down the Bellona’s foremast with your first shot. His chest swelled with pride that I should ask this of him and I watched the ball leave the mouth of his cannon and strike the Bellona’s foremast, squarely below the lower crosstree. We waited with baited breath he and I, as slowly at first, the mast started to fall. There was a great cheering when it hit the water and started to drag the Bellona to Larboard, followed by an even bigger cheer when a salvo from Robuste set her on fire.
PIC21
With her mast trailing in the water the Bellona turned away from the fight and there was a sharp exchange of musketry between her and Robuste.
PIC22
The fool in command of Roland was not content with his collision earlier in the battle. Oh no, he collided with my Neptune as well. You will be pleased to hear that he was relieved of his command shortly afterwards but more importantly he had taken his ship out of the fight with this reprehensible action.
I mentioned earlier that Roland only carried 64 guns and was small and outdated, well in a collision the smaller ship usually comes out of it badly and he lost the main mast overboard. Such a tangle of rigging would be hard to imagine, especially for you Baptiste, as a landsman who’s never been to sea I mean.
PIC23
Sometimes Baptiste there’s a lull in the action in most sea fights and one occurred now. Everywhere ships were effecting repairs, men were splicing ropes, repairing damage, manning the pumps or putting out fires.
Robuste, was making sail to chase Bellona. The fool in command of Roland was trying to cut away the mast and rigging and I decided to take the fight to the Royal George who was still drifting and making repairs. It did go through my mind that rescuing the Admiral from a watery grave would do my career a power of good as well.
The other British ships were in a difficult situation, Superb who had taken no part in the action so far was still slowly closing, making his way towards Robuste. Bellona, was in a desperate state after tangling with my ship, one mast down and on fire is not a good result and that needs a lot of time to bring a ship back under command afterwards.
PIC24
Bellona was now moving slowly away from Robuste, however Superb had closed the distance between the two ships and opening fire on Robuste, with a lucky shot, took away her mizzen mast.
PIC25
Fortunately Robuste was able to return the favour and Superbs main mast fell overboard.
PIC26
I urged the crew on board Neptune to make haste, as we chased after the Royal George.
PIC27
Bellona was nearly out of range and so Robuste’s Capitaine ordered a long range salvo. Only a few of his guns could be brought to bear but they were able to cause enough damage and Bellona struck her colours and surrendered.
PIC28
My men were cheered at the sight of Bellona’s surrender and the larboard forward battery fired into the Royal George, but merde, their lucky return fire felled one of my masts.
What do you mean Baptiste? You ask why their shot was just luck rather than well aimed! Sometimes you really have no appreciation of the finer points of gunnery. The Roste Bifs just fire away blindly, like an enraged bull, they have no finesse, they try and batter our fine French ships into submission with brute force but we on the other hand employ finesse, and maybe a little cunning and guile in our gunnery. We have men like Gaston l’Boeuf who can hit a mast intentionally; he doesn’t need a broadside to achieve devastating results, he can do that with 1 ball, maybe 2 balls on a bad day.
PIC29
Pray let me continue without these stupid questions.
Where was I. Oh yes, I don’t think I’d mentioned that the Superb had changed direction and was chasing after us, no doubt trying to rescue the George from my grasp, but to no avail. Having lost a mast we drifted slowly to Larboard as the George tacked in that direction as well. We were then able to open fire with our forward starboard battery, the Royal George immediately hauled down her colours and surrendered.
At the same time the Superb came into range of our larboard guns and I ordered the full broadside to be fired.
The Ships Carpenter turned white with fear, there are not many Capitaine’s who are brave enough to fire both sides of their ship at the same time. I knew my ship would be able to take the stress, unlike the Carpenter who had both hands over his ears and quivered like an old maid.
Fire broke out on the Superbs deck and she would be quite occupied with the flames, long enough I hoped so that we could repair the damage caused by the fallen mast. As she healed with the wind I could see that we had put a hole below the water line, together with the fire I imagine her Captain was thinking of escape rather than continuing the fight.
PIC30
She came on in fine style all the same, Neptune was drifting slowly backward. Fortunately the drag from the mast and the wind on the nose had caused us to continue to turn to larboard. As Superb closed we finally had the big guns loaded and fired a devastating broadside along the length of her deck killing many of her crew, but their marines were unbowed by this and I lost many crew to their musketry.
PIC31
The Captaine of Le Roland had been following Superb but was still out of range and didn’t open fire but we had managed to get underway and as Superb made for the open sea I shouted the command to fire the forward starboard battery.
We lashed his undefended stern with ball and realizing he could not out sail us and with not enough crew to fight the fire he hauled down his colours and surrendered.
PIC32
I think I have said before that the British Navy thinks a lot of themselves and their ships, imagine calling your ship Superb when she is not built in France, I can still recall the fire blazing away, reducing her to much less than Superb.
That brought back many happy memories Baptiste and I can see you have a question but before you ask, I would like a small top up of the 98, my throat is quite dry from having to explain so much to you. If only Hermione was here it would have been so much easier. Off you go, vite, vite.
Well that didn’t take too long Baptist, thank you for the drink, oh you didn’t want to ask if I’d like another, well what was your question?
I see….you remembered well….Yes I took 2 ships that day, including the Roste Bif flagship, sank the frigate and badly damaged the Bellona, although the Capitaine of the Robuste claimed a helping hand in the later two actions. He had friends in Paris and got some credit that I thought was generally unwarranted.
The Roland just got in the way and as I said the Capitaine was recalled from active duty. Sadly his father held a high command in the French Navy and it went badly with me for pointing out his sons faults as a commander. C’est la vie.
I should have been given a ‘step up’ is I think how the British call it but instead my reward was to be posted to the Indian Ocean. However I have many stories to regale you with from that part of the world but for now I should take my weary bones back down the hill to my bed.
Au revoir Baptiste. Au revoir
And Au Revoir to the Anchorage as we know it.
Cheers a glass of the 98 with you all.
Capitaine Jean le Vagabond
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Hermione was a lucky girl to escape this one!
or the watered down Grog you English are so fond of.
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