Order of battle at the Battle of the Basque Roads explained

The Battle of the Basque Roads was a major naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the narrow Basque Roads at the mouth of the Charente River on the Biscay coast of France. The battle, which lasted from 11 to 25 April 1809, was unusual in that it pitted a hastily assembled squadron of small and unorthodox British Royal Navy warships, distantly supported by a larger fleet, against the main strength of the French Atlantic Fleet, the circumstances dictated by the cramped, shallow coastal waters in which the battle was fought. The battle is also notorious for its political aftermath in both Britain and France.

In February 1809 the French Atlantic Fleet, based at Brest was ordered to sail to the Caribbean to disrupt a British attack on Martinique. The fleet sailed on 22 February but was unable to escape British pursuit and four days later anchored in the sheltered position of Basque Roads (or Aix Roads), under the batteries of the fortified Île-d'Aix. A detachment from the British Channel Fleet, commanded by Admiral Lord Gambier, had followed the French to the harbour and there enacted a close blockade.[1] While Gambier debated what action to take, command of the French fleet was awarded to Contre-amiral Zacharie Allemand, who strengthened the fleet's defences and awaited a British attack.[2] In Britain, First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Mulgrave, called on one of the nation's most popular, maverick young naval officers, Captain Lord Cochrane, to prepare an inshore squadron to attack the French.[3]

Cochrane fitted out 24 fireships and explosion vessels and on the night of 11 April led them into the Roads, accompanied by a squadron of small vessels. The fireships caused panic among the French crews, who cut their anchor cables and drifted onto the rocks and shoals of the anchorage.[4] When morning came, Cochrane found that almost the entire French fleet was at his mercy, and signaled to Gambier suggesting that if he would lead the British fleet into the Roads they could destroy the entire French force.[5] Gambier did not respond, and eventually in frustration Cochrane led his own ship directly into combat. Unable to leave his subordinate unsupported, Gambier sent a small squadron of ships of the line to reinforce Cochrane, and on 12 April three French ships of the line, a frigate, and a large storeship were battered into surrender and then set on fire as damaged beyond repair.[6]

Gambier then ordered the reinforcements to withdraw, leaving Cochrane again unsupported against the rest of the main French fleet which was gradually dragging itself off the shoals and into the relative safety of the Charente River. Cochrane renewed his attack on 13 April but was unable to cause any significant damage to the French ships as they threw stores and guns overboard to facilitate their escape.[7] On the morning of 14 April Gambier directly ordered Cochrane to retire, turning command of the operation over to Captain George Wolfe. Cochrane reluctantly complied, and on 15 April sailed back to Britain with dispatches.[8]

Wolfe renewed attacks on the remaining stranded ships of the French fleet over the next week, but with little effect.[9] The battle concluded, Gambier sailed his fleet back to Britain. The engagement was a victory for the British, with five French ships destroyed and several others badly damaged, but there was much discontent in Britain, both among the Navy and the public, that a larger victory had been lost through over-caution.[10] In the aftermath several French captains were subject to courts-martial, and one was shot for cowardice,[11] while in Britain the acrimony between Cochrane and Gambier resulted in a dramatic court-martial of Gambier, in which he was sensationally acquitted.[12]

British fleet

Note that as carronades were not traditionally taken into consideration when calculating a ship's rate,[13] these ships may have been carrying more guns than indicated below.

Inshore Squadron

Inshore squadron
- valign="top"width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 Ship width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 Rate width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 Guns width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Indefatigablealign= center Frigatealign= center 44align= left Captain John Tremayne Roddalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 12 April. Withdrawn on 13 April.
align= left HMS Imperieusealign= center Frigatealign= center 38align= left Captain Lord Cochranealign= center 3align= center 11align= center 14align= left Heavily engaged on 12–14 April. Withdrawn on 14 April.
align= left HMS Aiglealign= center Frigatealign= center 36align= left Captain George Wolfealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 11–14 April. Remained until 24 April.
align= left HMS Emeraldalign= center Frigatealign= center 36align= left Captain Frederick Lewis Maitlandalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 11–12 April.
align= left HMS Unicornalign= center Frigatealign= center 32align= left Captain Lucius Hardymanalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 11–12 April.
align= left HMS Pallasalign= center Frigatealign= center 32align= left Captain George Seymouralign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 11–13 April.
HMS Mediatoralign= center Explosion shipalign= center align= left Captain James Wooldridgealign= center 1align= center 4align= center 5align= left Deliberately destroyed in the attack of 11 April.
align= left HMS Beaglealign= center Sloopalign= center 18align= left Captain Francis Newcombealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Heavily engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Doterelalign= center Sloopalign= center 18align= left Commander Anthony Abdyalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Foxhoundalign= center Sloopalign= center 18align= left Commander Pitt Barnaby Greenealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Insolentalign= center Brigalign= center 14align= left Lieutenant John Row Morrisalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Insolentalign= center Brigalign= center 12align= left Lieutenant James Hugh Talbotalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Conflictalign= center Brigalign= center 12align= left Lieutenant Joseph B. Battalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Contestalign= center Brigalign= center 12align= left Lieutenant John Gregoryalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Fervantalign= center Brigalign= center 12align= left Lieutenant John Edward Harealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Growleralign= center Brigalign= center 12align= left Lieutenant Richard Crossmanalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Lyraalign= center Sloopalign= center 10align= left Commander William Beviansalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Redpolealign= center Sloopalign= center 10align= left Captain John Joycealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left HMS Thunderalign= center Bombalign= center align= left Captain James Caulfieldalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 20 – 24 April.
align= left HMS Aetnaalign= center Bombalign= center align= left align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Heavily engaged 11 – 24 April.
align= left HMS Whitingalign= center Rocket shipalign= center align= left Lieutenant Henry Wildeyalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left Nimrodalign= center Rocket shipalign= center align= left align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
align= left King Georgealign= center Rocket shipalign= center align= left align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged 12–24 April.
Total casualties: 4 killed, 15 wounded
Sources: James, pp. 94–129; Clowes, pp. 252–257;

Gambier's fleet

Admiral Lord Gambier'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=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= left HMS Caledoniaalign= center First ratealign= center 120align= left Admiral Lord Gambier
Captain Sir Harry Neale
Captain William Bedford		align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Did not participate in the battle.
align= left HMS Caesaralign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Rear-Admiral Robert Stopford
Captain Charles Richardson		align= center 4align= center 0align= center 4align= left Casualties incurred in a ship's boat during night attack on 11 April. Ship entered anchorage late on 12 April, withdrew without seeing action.
align= left HMS Gibraltaralign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Captain Henry Lidgbird Ballalign= center 0align= center 1align= center 1align= left Casualty incurred while serving on fireship, 11 April.
align= left HMS Heroalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain James Newman-Newmanalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Did not participate in the battle.
align= left HMS Donegalalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Pulteney Malcolmalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Did not participate in the battle.
align= left HMS Resolutionalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain George Burltonalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Did not participate in the battle.
align= left HMS Theseusalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain John Poer Beresfordalign= center 0align= center 1align= center 1align= left Casualty incurred while serving on fireship, 11 April. Entered anchorage late on 12 April, withdrew without seeing action.
align= left HMS Valiantalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain John Blighalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Entered anchorage on 12 April. Heavily engaged during the day. Withdrew on morning 13 April.
align= left HMS Illustriousalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain William Robert Broughtonalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Did not participate in the battle.
align= left HMS Bellonaalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Stair Douglasalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Did not participate in the battle.
align= left HMS Revengealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Alexander Robert Kerralign= center 5align= center 13align= center 18align= left Entered anchorage on 12 April. Heavily engaged during the day. Withdrew on morning 13 April.
Total casualties: 9 killed, 15 wounded
Sources: James, pp. 94–129; Clowes, pp. 252–257;

French fleet

Officers killed in action are marked with a symbol. Note that as obusiers were not traditionally taken into consideration when calculating a ship's rate,[13] these ships may have been carrying more guns than indicated below. Note also that the French Navy used a different classification system from the British one (it was composed of five "ranks" rather than the British six rates), but the "Rate" column below shows the British equivalent only.

Allemand'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=25%; align= center rowspan=2 Commander width=15%; align= center colspan=3 Casualtieswidth=30%; align= center rowspan=2 Notes
width=5%; align= center Killed width=5%; align= center Wounded width=5%; align= center Total
align= left Océanalign= center First ratealign= center 120align= left Contre-amiral Zacharie Allemand
Captain Pierre-Nicolas Rolland		align= center c. 50align= center -align= center c. 50align= left Brest Fleet. c. 50 sailors killed fending off fireships on 11 April. Grounded and badly damaged. Reached safety on 15 April.
align= left Foudroyantalign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Contre-amiral Antoine Louis de Gourdon
Captain Antoine Henri		align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Brest Fleet. Grounded 12 April. Badly damaged but reached safety on 16 April.
Ville de Varsoviealign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Captain Cuvillier c. 100align= left Brest Fleet. Driven ashore and badly damaged on 11 April. Captured and later destroyed by British prize crew.
align= left Tourvillealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Charles Nicolas Lacaillealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Brest Fleet. Grounded and badly damaged. Reached safety on 16 April. Lacaille later court-martialed and dismissed.
Jean Bartalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Charles Lebozecalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Brest Fleet. Drove ashore accidentally on 26 February at Île Madame and became a total wreck.
Tonnerrealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Nicolas Clément de la Roncièrealign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Brest Fleet. Driven ashore and wrecked on 11 April. Burned by own crew.
Aquilonalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain align= center 1align= center 0align= center 1align= left Brest Fleet. Driven ashore and badly damaged on 11 April. Captured and later destroyed by British prize crew. Captain killed by stray shot after surrender.
align= left Régulusalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Jean Jacques Etienne Lucasalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Brest Fleet. Grounded and badly damaged. Reached safety on 29 April.
align= left Cassardalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Gilbert-Amable Faurealign= center 5align= center 15align= center 20align= left Rochefort squadron. Grounded 12 April. Reached safety on 13 April.
align= left Jemmapesalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Joseph Favreaualign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Rochefort squadron. Grounded 11 April. Reached safety on 12 April.
align= left Patriotealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Jean-Michel Mahéalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Rochefort squadron. Grounded 11 April. Reached safety on 12 April.
Calcuttaalign= center Fourth ratealign= center 50align= left Captain Jean-Baptiste Lafonalign= center 0align= center 12align= center 12align= left Rochefort squadron. Armed en flute. Driven ashore and badly damaged on 11 April. Captured and destroyed by British prize crew. Lafon later court-martialed and shot for cowardice.
Indiennealign= center Frigatealign= center 40align= left Captain Guillaume Marcellin Proteaualign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Brest Fleet. Driven ashore and badly damaged on 11 April. Destroyed by own crew on 16 April.
align= left Elbealign= center Frigatealign= center 40align= left Captain Jacques François Bellengeralign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Brest Fleet. Grounded 11 April. Reached safety on 12 April.
align= left Pallasalign= center Frigatealign= center 40align= left Captain Armand François Le Bigotalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Rochefort squadron. Grounded 11 April. Reached safety on 12 April.
align= left Hortensealign= center Frigatealign= center 40align= left Captain Emmanuel Halganalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Rochefort squadron. Grounded 11 April. Reached safety on 12 April.
align= left Nisusalign= center Brigalign= center align= left align= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Brest Fleet.
Total casualties: 150-200 casualties
Sources: James, pp. 94–129; Clowes, pp. 252–257;

Bibliography

. William Laird Clowes . 1997 . 1900 . The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume V . Chatham Publishing . London . 1-86176-014-0 .

. Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald . 2000 . 1860 . The Autobiography of a Seaman . Lyons Press . London . 1-58574-061-6 .

. William James (naval historian) . 2002 . 1827 . The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 5, 1808–1811 . Conway Maritime Press . London . 0-85177-909-3 .

Notes and References

  1. James, p. 98
  2. Clowes, p. 259
  3. Harvey, p. 110
  4. James, p. 111
  5. Cordingly, p. 194
  6. Cordingly, p. 200
  7. Clowes, p. 267
  8. James, p. 121
  9. Clowes, p. 268
  10. Cochrane, p. 245
  11. James, p. 128
  12. Cordingly, p. 214
  13. James, p. 32

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