Order of battle at the Battle of Genoa explained

The Order of battle at the Battle of Genoa recounts the British-Neapolitan and French fleets which participated in a short campaign in the Gulf of Genoa during the French Revolutionary Wars. The campaign featured the principal Battle of Genoa on 13–14 March 1795, and an earlier smaller battle off Cap Corse on 8 March. Losses were even: although the British succeeded in capturing two French ships in the main action, two British ships were also lost elsewhere during the campaign. The French foray into the Ligurian Sea was driven back to a safe harbour, resulting in a restoration of the British blockade of Toulon, and leading to a second battle later in the year.

The campaign began on 3 March when the French Mediterranean Fleet sailed from the naval base at Toulon for an operation in the Ligurian Sea.[1] During the winter they had been under constant blockade from a British fleet based at San Fiorenzo on Corsica, which had been captured in a British invasion the previous year.[2] In February the British fleet, under the command of Vice-Admiral William Hotham, had sailed from San Fiorenzo to Leghorn for repairs, leaving behind HMS Berwick, damaged in a January storm.[3] When news of Hotham's withdrawal reached Toulon, Contre-amiral Pierre Martin sailed the French fleet out and caught Berwick off the northern coast of Corsica. The damaged ship was unable to outrun pursuit and surrendered at the action of 8 March 1795 after the captain was decapitated by French shot.[4]

Hotham discovered Martin's movements and sailed to meet him, encountering the French near Cape Noli on 10 March.[5] For several days both fleets lay becalmed, unable to come to action. On 13 March the wind increased and Hotham attacked, Martin falling back under pursuit. One of Martin's rearguard, Ça Ira, collided with another ship and fell back.[6] Ça Ira was engaged by first the frigate HMS Inconstant and then HMS Agamemnon under Captain Horatio Nelson.[7] Elsewhere there was scattered fighting between other British and French ships. Over night the French flagship accidentally detached from the fleet, and in the morning Hotham renewed the attack, overwhelming Ça Ira and the Censeur, sent to support it.[8] A French counterattack was beaten off, although HMS Illustrious and HMS Courageux were badly damaged.[9]

Hotham declined to renew the action due to concern for his damaged ships, to the frustration of his subordinates, particularly Nelson.[10] The French withdrew to Gourjean Bay and then Toulon, and the British to the Gulf of La Spezia.[11] There a storm drove the damaged Illustrious ashore, and the ship was destroyed.[12] In the aftermath both fleets refitted and prepared for another engagement; in early July the French fleet was again attacked by the British, at the Battle of the Hyères Islands, and the rearmost ship Alcide was overrun and destroyed.[13]

Hotham's fleet

Note that as carronades were not traditionally taken into consideration when calculating a ship's rate,[14] these ships may have been carrying more guns than indicated below. Officers killed in action are marked with a symbol.

Vice-Admiral William Hotham's fleet
- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Ship width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Rate width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Guns width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Fleet width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
Van squadron
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Samuel Reevealign= center 3align= center 19align= center 22align= left Heavily engaged 13 March, damaged.
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Davidge Gouldalign= center 7align= center 18align= center 25align= left Heavily engaged 13 March, badly damaged.
align= left Tancredialign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Chevalier Francesco Caraccioloalign= center 1align= center 5align= center 6align= left
align= left align= center Second ratealign= center 98align= center align= left Vice-Admiral Samuel Goodall
Captain John Child Purvis		align= center 3align= center 8align= center 11align= left Engaged 14 March.
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 64align= center align= left Captain Horatio Nelsonalign= center 0align= center 13align= center 13align= left Heavily engaged 13 and 14 March.
align= left Minervaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= center align= left align= center 0align= center 4align= center 4align= left Heavily engaged 13 March.
align= left Piladealign= center Fifth ratealign= center align= center align= left align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
align= left align= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= center align= left Captain Benjamin Hallowellalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Heavily engaged 14 March, damaged.
align= left HMS Poulettealign= center Sixth ratealign= center 26align= center align= left Commander Ralph Willett Milleralign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
align= left HMS Tarletonalign= center Brigalign= center 14align= center align= left Commander Charles Brisbanealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
Centre squadron
align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Thomas Frederickalign= center 20align= center 70align= center 90align= left Heavily engaged 14 March, badly damaged. Lost main and mizzenmasts. Wrecked on the Italian coast, 17 March.
align= left HMS Courageuxalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Augustus Montgomeryalign= center 15align= center 33align= center 48align= left Heavily engaged 14 March, badly damaged. Lost main and mizzenmasts.
align= left align= center First ratealign= center 100align= center align= left Vice-Admiral William Hotham
Captain John Holloway		align= center 1align= center 18align= center 19align= left
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain John Suttonalign= center 7align= center 21align= center 28align= left Heavily engaged 13 March, damaged.
align= left align= center Second ratealign= center 98align= center align= left Rear-Admiral Robert Linzee
Captain John Gore		align= center 6align= center 31align= center 37align= left
align= left align= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= center align= left Captain Thomas Fremantlealign= center 3align= center 14align= center 17align= left Heavily engaged 13 March, damaged.
align= left align= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= center align= left Captain George Cockburnalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
Rear squadron
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 64align= center align= left Captain Charles Tyleralign= center 3align= center 7align= center 10align= left
align= left align= center Second ratealign= center 98align= center align= left Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker
Captain Thomas Foley		align= center 4align= center 13align= center 17align= left
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain George Campbellalign= center 0align= center 6align= center 6align= left
align= left align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain William Youngalign= center 1align= center 4align= center 5align= left
align= left align= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= center align= left Captain George Hopealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
align= left align= center Brigalign= center 18align= center align= left Commander Charles Dudley Pateralign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
align= left Foxalign= center Cutteralign= center 14align= center align= left Lieutenant John Gibsonalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left
Total casualties: 74 killed, 254 wounded
Sources: James, p. 261; Clowes, p. 272.
HMS Berwick
- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Ship width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Rate width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Guns width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Fleet width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left align= center 1align= center 4align= center 5align= left Defeated and captured at Action of 8 March 1795 while sailing independently off Cap Corse.
Sources: James, p. 255.

Martin's fleet

Note that the number of guns refers to the official complement, traditionally taken into consideration when calculating a ship's rate,[14] and that these ships may have been carrying more guns than indicated below, although obusiers were not carried on French ships in this battle,[15] Officers killed in action are marked with a symbol.

Contre-amiral Martin's fleet
- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Ship width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Rate width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Guns width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Fleet width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= left Sans Culottealign= center First ratealign= center 120align= center align= left Contre-amiral Pierre Martin
Captain Lapalisse
Représentant Letourneur		Unknownalign= left Engaged 13 March. Martin and Letourneur transferred to frigate Friponne in evening. Ship subsequently detached from fleet and anchored at Genoa.
align= left Duquesnealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Zacharie AllemandUnknownalign= left Heavily engaged 14 March. Damaged.
align= left Victoirealign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= center align= left Captain Daniel SavaryUnknownalign= left Heavily engaged 13 March. Damaged.
align= left Tonnantalign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= center align= left Captain Julien Cosmao-KerjulienUnknownalign= left Heavily engaged 14 March. Damaged.
Ça Iraalign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= center align= left Captain Louis-Marie Coudéc.400align= left Heavily engaged 13 and 14 March. Badly damaged and captured. Later became HMS Ca Ira.
align= left Mercurealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Cattefordalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left Damaged in storm 12 March and detached from fleet. Did not participate in the battle.
Censeuralign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Pierre Benoîtc.350align= left Heavily engaged 14 March. Badly damaged and captured. Later became HMS Censeur.
align= left Alcidealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Leblond Saint-HylaireUnknownalign= left
align= left Barraalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain André MaureauUnknownalign= left Engaged 13 March
align= left Conquérantalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain LemancqUnknownalign= left
align= left Généreuxalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain LouisUnknownalign= left
align= left Guerrieralign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Louis InfernetUnknownalign= left
align= left Heureuxalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Charles LacailleUnknownalign= left
align= left Peuple Souverainalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain CharbonnierUnknownalign= left
align= left Timoléonalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= center align= left Captain Unknownalign= left Heavily engaged 14 March. Damaged
align= left Vestalealign= center Frigatealign= center 36align= center align= left Lieutenant Foucaud[16] Unknownalign= left Engaged 13 March.
align= left Minervealign= center Frigatealign= center 40align= center align= left Lieutenant Delorme[17] align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
align= left Alcestealign= center Frigatealign= center 32align= center align= left align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left Heavily engaged in action with Berwick on 8 March. Badly damaged and withdrew from fleet.
align= left Artémisealign= center Frigatealign= center 32align= center align= left Lieutenant Decasse[18] align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
align= left Courageusealign= center Frigatealign= center align= center align= left align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
align= left Friponnealign= center Frigatealign= center align= center align= left Captain Louis-Léonce Trullet[19]
Contre-amiral Pierre Martin (after 13 March)		align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
align= left Alertealign= center Brigalign= center 10align= center align= left align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
align= left Hazardalign= center Brigalign= center 18align= center align= left Lieutenant Amand Leduc[20] align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
align= left align= center Brigalign= center 18align= center align= left Ensign Charabot[21] align= right -align= right -align= right -align= left
Total casualties: 400–750
Sources: Troude, p. 424; James, p. 261; Clowes, p. 272.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Clowes, p. 268.
  2. James, p. 254.
  3. Troude, p. 426.
  4. James, p. 255.
  5. Clowes, p. 269.
  6. Gardiner, p. 116.
  7. Bennett, p. 42.
  8. James, p. 260.
  9. James, p. 261.
  10. Forester, p. 75.
  11. James, p. 264.
  12. Grocott, p. 11.
  13. Mostert, p. 163.
  14. James, p. 32.
  15. James, p. 262.
  16. Fonds Marin, p. 136.
  17. Fonds Marin, p. 133.
  18. Fonds Marin, p. 131.
  19. Fonds Marin, p. 134.
  20. Roche, p. 238.
  21. Roche, p. 408.

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