Order of battle at the Battle of Tory Island explained

The Battle of Tory Island was a naval action fought on 12 October 1798 off the north coast of Ireland. The battle contested an attempted French invasion of Donegal in support of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, with a French squadron under Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart facing a hastily assembled Royal Navy blockade squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren. Bompart's force had been dispatched from Brest the month before with orders to reinforce a French army under Jean Humbert which had landed two months earlier.[1]

Unbeknown to Bompart's force, Humbert's army and the rebellion as a whole had been defeated by the British Army a week before Bompart departed France. Bompart's squadron too was woefully understrength consisting of only a single ship of the line and eight frigates carrying 3,000 men.[2] This small force faced a large proportion of the British Channel Fleet, which was prepared for a second invasion attempt after Humbert's army had landed unopposed in August. As a result, Bompart's force was spotted just a few hours after he left Brest and he was then chased into the Atlantic Ocean by several British frigates which followed him for a week until he was able to lose them in heavy weather. This weather persisted throughout the campaign, causing significant damage to both sides in a series of storms.[3]

The delay caused by the pursuit of Bompart by the frigates under George Countess allowed the British to dispatch a more substantial squadron under Warren to the Donegal coast. Thus when Bompart arrived in the lee of Tory Island, he soon found himself threatened on all sides by a superior British force. Despite the damage his ships had suffered in the heavy weather conditions, Bompart attempted to escape but was swiftly run down and defeated in battle, his flagship and three frigates being captured and towed into Lough Swilly.[4] Among the prisoners seized on board the flagship was Theobald Wolfe Tone, leader of the United Irishmen, whose capture and subsequent death signified the end of the rebellion.[5] Over the next week, the scattered French survivors desperately attempted to reach the safety of French harbours in the face of dozens of British warships cruising along their homeward route. Only two made it, three others being hunted down and captured, one just a few miles from the entrance to Brest.[6] The French never again attempted an invasion of Ireland.

Action of 12 October 1798

Commodore Warren's squadron
- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Shipwidth=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Ratewidth=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Gunswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commanderwidth=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killedwidth=5%; align= center Woundedwidth=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Robustalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Edward Thornbroughalign= right 11align= right 38align= right 49align= left Badly damaged.
align= left HMS Magnanimealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 44align= left Captain Michael de Courcyalign= right 0align= right 7align= right 7align= left Damaged.
align= left HMS Ethalionalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain George Countessalign= right 1align= right 4align= right 5align= left
align= left HMS Ameliaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Charles Herbertalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left HMS Melampusalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Graham Moorealign= right 0align= right 1align= right 1align= left
align= left HMS Canadaalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Commodore Sir John Borlase Warrenalign= right 1align= right 0align= right 1align= left
align= left HMS Foudroyantalign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Captain Sir Thomas Byardalign= right 0align= right 9align= right 9align= left
align= left HMS Ansonalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 44align= left Captain Philip Charles Durhamalign= right 2align= right 13align= right 15align= left Badly damaged by weather conditions.
Total casualties: 15 killed, 72 wounded, 87 total
Commodore Bompart's Squadron
align= left Sémillantealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Martin-Antoine Lacouturealign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left Returned to Brest.
align= left Romainealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Captain Mathieu-Charles Bergevinalign= right 0align= right 3align= right 3align= left Returned to Brest.
align= left Bellonealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Louis-Léon Jacobalign= right 20align= right 45align= right 65align= left Badly damaged and captured. Purchased for the Royal Navy as HMS Proserpine but never saw active service.
align= left Immortalitéalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Captain Jean-François Legrandalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left Escaped, captured on 20 October.
align= left Loirealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Captain Adrien-Joseph Segondalign= right 10align= right 24align= right 34align= left Escaped, captured on 18 October.
align= left Hochealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Commodore Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart
Captain Desiré-Marie Maistral		align= right align= right align= right 270align= left Badly damaged and captured. Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Donegal.
align= left Coquillealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Léonore Deperonnealign= right 18align= right 31align= right 49align= left Captured. Accidentally exploded at Hamoaze claiming 13 lives.
align= left Embuscadealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Nicolas Clément de la Roncièrealign= right 15align= right 26align= right 41align= left Captured. Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Ambuscade.
align= left Résoluealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Jean-Pierre Bargeaualign= right 0align= right 5align= right 5align= left Escaped, captured on 14 October.
align= left Bichealign= center Schooneralign= center 8align= left Lieutenant Jean-Marie-Pierre Labastardalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left Detached from the battleline and not engaged in the action. Returned to Brest undamaged.
Total casualties: 460[7]
Source: James, pp. 124–132, Clowes pp. 344–351

Action of 13 October 1798

- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Shipwidth=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Ratewidth=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Gunswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commanderwidth=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killedwidth=5%; align= center Woundedwidth=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Melampusalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Graham Moorealign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Résoluealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Jean-Pierre Bargeaualign= right 10align= right Severalalign= right -align= left Captured. Purchased for the Royal Navy as HMS Resolue but never saw active service.
Source: James, pp. 135–136, Clowes pp. 344–351

Flight of Loire, 15–18 October 1798

- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Shipwidth=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Ratewidth=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Gunswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commanderwidth=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killedwidth=5%; align= center Woundedwidth=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Mermaidalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Captain James Newman Newmanalign= right 4align= right 13align= right 17align= left Badly damaged.
align= left HMS Kangarooalign= center Brigalign= center 18align= left Commander Edward Bracealign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left HMS Ansonalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 44align= left Captain Philip Charles Durhamalign= right 2align= right 13align= right 15align= left
Total casualties: 6 killed, 26 wounded, 32 total
align= left Loirealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Captain Adrien-Joseph Segondalign= right 46align= right 71align= right 117align= left Badly damaged and captured. Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Loire.
Total casualties: 46 killed, 71 wounded, 117 total
Source: James, pp. 137–141, Clowes pp. 344–351

Action of 20 October 1798

- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Shipwidth=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Ratewidth=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Gunswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commanderwidth=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killedwidth=5%; align= center Woundedwidth=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Fisgardalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Thomas Byam Martinalign= right 10align= right 26align= right 36align= left Badly damaged.
align= left Immortalitéalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Jean-François Legrand align= right 54align= right 61align= right 115align= left Badly damaged and captured. Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Immortalite.
Sources: James, pp. 142–143; Henderson, p. 77, Clowes pp. 344–351

Savary's retreat, 28–30 October 1798

Captain Saumarez's squadron
- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Shipwidth=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Ratewidth=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Gunswidth=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commanderwidth=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killedwidth=5%; align= center Woundedwidth=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Caesaralign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Captain Sir James Saumarezalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left Damaged by weather conditions, retired from the chase on 28 October.
align= left HMS Terriblealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Sir Richard Bickertonalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left HMS Melpomenealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Sir Charles Hamiltonalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
Commodore Savary's Squadron
align= left Concordealign= center Frigatealign= center 40align= left Commodore Daniel Savary
Captain André Papin		align= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Franchisealign= center Frigatealign= center 44align= left Captain Jean-Louis Guillotin-Gonthièrealign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Médéealign= center Frigatealign= center 32align= left Captain Jean-Daniel Coudinalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
align= left Vénusalign= center Corvettealign= center 28align= left Captain André Senezalign= right 0align= right 0align= right 0align= left
Source: James, pp. 145–147

References

Key

General

Notes and References

  1. Henderson, p. 76
  2. Brooks, p. 625
  3. James, p. 126
  4. Gardiner, p. 114
  5. Elliott, ODNB
  6. James, p. 135
  7. As the casualties from Hoste were not broken down to distinguish between killed and wounded in the dispatches immediately following the battle, only an overall casualty total is available for the French squadron.

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