Order of battle in the Biscay campaign of June 1795 explained

The Biscay campaign of June 1795 consisted of a series of manoeuvres and two battles fought between the British Channel Fleet and the French Atlantic Fleet off the Southern coast of Brittany in the Bay of Biscay during the French Revolutionary Wars. In late May 1795, a British battle squadron of six ships of the line under Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis was sent by Admiral Lord Bridport to enforce the blockade of the French port of Brest, the home port of the French Atlantic Fleet.[1] On 8 June, Cornwallis discovered a convoy of merchant vessels travelling from Bordeaux to Brest under the protection of a small squadron under Contre-amiral Jean Gaspard Vence. Cornwallis attacked the convoy, Vence retreating under the protection of batteries on the fortified island of Belle Île as Cornwallis seized eight ships from the convoy. As Cornwallis sent his prizes back to Britain the main French fleet at Brest under Vice-amiral Villaret de Joyeuse put to sea to protect Vence's remaining ships.[2]

On 16 June, Cornwallis's squadron encountered Villaret's fleet, in conjunction with Vence's force, off Penmarck Point. Cornwallis had misunderstood the signals from Captain Robert Stopford on the scouting frigate HMS Phaeton and had sailed much too close to the larger French fleet.[3] When he realised his error, the British admiral turned his squadron westwards, retreating away from the French coast with Villaret's force in pursuit. Light winds and poorly loaded ships delayed his escape, and on 17 June the French vanguard caught up with his rearguard.[4] Throughout the day the French and British ships exchanged fire and by the late afternoon the rearmost British ship HMS Mars was in danger of being overwhelmed. Cornwallis responded by interposing his 100-gun flagship HMS Royal Sovereign between the British and French forces.[5] The heavy broadsides of the flagship drove back the French and soon afterwards Villaret recalled his ships, concerned by sails on the horizon which he may have believed to be the rest of the Channel Fleet, although in reality they were a British merchant convoy. The battle is known in British histories as Cornwallis's Retreat.[6]

Villaret retreated towards Brest, but was driven south by a storm on 18 June. Unbeknownst to either Cornwallis or Villaret, the main Channel Fleet was already at sea, protecting an expeditionary force carrying a French Royalist army intended to invade Quiberon, the convoy under the command of Commodore Sir John Borlase Warren.[7] On 22 June, Warren's scouts identified the French fleet at sea off the coastal island of Groix and he took the convoy further out to sea away from the French, who did not pursue, and sent word to Bridport.[8] The British admiral placed his fleet between the French and the expeditionary force, Villaret falling back towards the sheltered anchorage between Groix and the port of Lorient. Light winds delayed both fleets, but on the morning of 23 June Bridport's vanguard overran the rearmost French ships. Villaret attempted to effect a fighting withdrawal, but several of his captains ignored his orders, throwing the retreat into disorder. Three French ships were captured and the rest scattered along the nearby French coast. Although a renewed attack might have destroyed the entire French fleet Bridport, concerned his ships might be wrecked, withdrew unexpectedly.[9] The action is known as the Battle of Groix.

The campaign was a strategic victory for the British; the remainder of the French fleet was forced to shelter in Lorient, from which they were unable to sail again until 1796.[10] The expeditionary force landed safely in Quiberon but the operation ended in disaster, Warren evacuating the survivors a month later.[11] Bridport remained cruising with his fleet off the Breton Coast until September, before handing over control to Rear-Admiral Henry Harvey.[12] The battle was controversial in both countries, British commentators observing that Bridport had missed a unique opportunity to completely destroy the French Atlantic fleet,[11] while in France a series of courts-martial were held to try those officers who were felt to have disobeyed orders: two were dismissed from the French Navy.[13]

British 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.

Cornwallis's Squadron

Vice-Admiral Cornwallis's 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 Royal Sovereignalign= center First ratealign= center 100align= left Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis
Captain John Whitby		align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Heavily engaged on 17 June.
align= left HMS Marsalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Sir Charles Cottonalign= center 0align= center 12align= center 12align= left Heavily engaged on 17 June, severe damage to rigging and sails.
align= left HMS Triumphalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Sir Erasmus Goweralign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 8 June. Heavily engaged on 17 June: severe damage to rigging, sails and stern.
align= left HMS Brunswickalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Lord Charles Fitzgeraldalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 17 June.
align= left HMS Bellerophonalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Lord Cranstounalign= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 17 June.
align= left HMS Phaetonalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Robert Stopfordalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Lightly damaged, 1 killed, 7 wounded on 8 June. Present but not engaged on 17 June.
align= left HMS Pallasalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Captain Henry Curzonalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Present but not engaged on 17 June.
align= left HMS Kingfisheralign= center Brig-sloopalign= center 18align= left Commander Thomas Le Marchant Gosselinalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Retired to Spithead on 11 June.
Total casualties: 12 wounded
Sources: James, pp. 237–240; Clowes, pp. 255–258;

Bridport's fleet

Admiral Lord Bridport'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 Royal Georgealign= center First ratealign= center 100align= left Admiral Lord Bridport
Captain William Domett		align= center 0align= center 7align= center 7align= left Engaged on 23 June.
align= left HMS Queen Charlottealign= center First ratealign= center 100align= left Captain Sir Andrew Snape Douglasalign= center 4align= center 32align= center 36align= left Heavily engaged on 23 June and damaged in rigging and sails.
align= left HMS Queenalign= center Second ratealign= center 98align= left Vice-Admiral Sir Alan Gardner
Captain William Bedford		align= center 0align= center 0align= center 0align= left Engaged on 23 June.
align= left HMS Londonalign= center Second ratealign= center 98align= left Vice-Admiral John Colpoys
Captain Edward Griffith		align= center 0align= center 3align= center 3align= left Engaged on 23 June.
align= left HMS Prince of Walesalign= center Second ratealign= center 98align= left Vice-Admiral Henry Harvey
Captain John Bazely		align= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Princealign= center Second ratealign= center 98align= left Captain Charles Powell Hamiltonalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Prince Georgealign= center Second ratealign= center 98align= left Captain William Edgealign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Barfleuralign= center Second ratealign= center 98align= left Captain James Richard Dacresalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Sans Pareilalign= center Third ratealign= center 80align= left Rear-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour
Captain William Browell		align= center 10align= center 2align= center 12align= left Heavily engaged on 23 June and lightly damaged.
align= left HMS Valiantalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Christopher Parkeralign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Orionalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Sir James Saumarezalign= center 6align= center 18align= center 24align= left Heavily engaged on 23 June.
align= left HMS Irresistiblealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Richard Grindallalign= center 3align= center 11align= center 14align= left Heavily engaged on 23 June and lightly damaged.
align= left HMS Russellalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Thomas Larcomalign= center 3align= center 10align= center 13align= left Heavily engaged on 23 June.
align= left HMS Colossusalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain John Monktonalign= center 5align= center 30align= center 35align= left Heavily engaged on 23 June.
Support ships
- valign="top"align= left HMS Revolutionnairealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Francis Colealign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Thaliaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain Lord Henry Pauletalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Nymphealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Captain George Murrayalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Aquilonalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Captain Robert Barlowalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Astreaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Captain Richard Lanealign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Babetalign= center Sixth ratealign= center 20align= left Captain Edward Codringtonalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Charonalign= center Hospital Shipalign= center align= left Commander Walter Lockalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Maegeraalign= center Fireshipalign= center 14align= left Commander Henry Blackwoodalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Incendiaryalign= center Fireshipalign= center 14align= left Commander John Draperalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Argusalign= center Luggeralign= center 14align= left align= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Dollyalign= center Luggeralign= center 14align= left align= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Not engaged in the action.
Total casualties: 31 killed, 113 wounded
Sources: James, pp. 240–250; Clowes, pp. 260–263;

Quiberon Expeditionary Force

Commodore Warren's 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 Robustalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Edward Thornbroughalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Attached to Bridport's fleet on 20 June but not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Thundereralign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Albemarle Bertiealign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Attached to Bridport's fleet on 20 June but not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Standardalign= center Third ratealign= center 64align= left Captain Joseph Ellisonalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left Attached to Bridport's fleet on 20 June but not engaged in the action.
align= left HMS Pomonealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 44align= left Commodore Sir John Borlase Warrenalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left
align= left HMS Ansonalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 44align= left Captain Philip Charles Durhamalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left
align= left HMS Artoisalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Sir Edmund Naglealign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left
align= left HMS Arethusaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Mark Robinsonalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left
align= left HMS Concordealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Captain Anthony Huntalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left
align= left HMS Galateaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Captain Richard Goodwin Keatsalign= center -align= center -align= center -align= left
Sources: James, p. 253; Clowes, p. 265

French fleet

Officers killed in action are marked with a symbol. 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.

Villaret de Joyeuse'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 Peuplealign= center First ratealign= center 120align= left Unknownalign= left Heavily engaged on 23 June.
align= left Redoutablealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Vice-amiral Kerguelen
Captain Pierre Augustin Moncousu		-align= left Not engaged in the action.
Alexandrealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain François Charles Guillemet[16] 220align= left Heavily engaged, badly damaged and captured, later became HMS Alexander.
align= left Droits de l’Hommealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Yves Cornic DumoulinUnknownalign= left Engaged on 17 June. Not engaged on 23 June.
Formidablealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Charles Linois320align= left Engaged on 17 June. Heavily engaged on 23 June, badly damaged and captured, later became HMS Belleisle.
align= left Fougueuxalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Giot-Labrière-align= left Not engaged on 17 or 23 June. Captain later court-martialled and dismissed for disobeying orders.
align= left Jean Bartalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Louis Marie Le Gouardun-align= left Not engaged on 17 or 23 June.
align= left Muciusalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain LarréguyUnknownalign= left Engaged on 23 June. Captain later court-martialled and censured for disobeying orders.
align= left Nestoralign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Contre-amiral Jean Gaspard Vence
Captain Henry		Unknownalign= left Engaged on 23 June.
Tigrealign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Jacques Bedout130align= left Engaged on 17 and 23 June.
align= left Wattigniesalign= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Joseph René DonatUnknownalign= left Engaged on 23 June.
align= left Zélé[17] align= center Third ratealign= center 74align= left Captain Jean-Charles-François Aved-Magnacalign= center 0align= center 5align= center 5align= left Heavily engaged on 17 June. Not engaged on 23 June. Captain later court-martialled and dismissed for disobeying orders.
Support ships
align= left Bravealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 42align= left Captain Antoine René Thévenard-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Scévolaalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 42align= left Captain Le Bozec-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Cocarde Nationalealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Captain Pierre Quérangal-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Driadealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Lieutenant Gramont-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Fidèlealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 38align= left Lieutenant Bernard-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Fraternitéalign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Lieutenant Florinville-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Insurgentealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 32align= left Lieutenant Violette-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Néréidealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 36align= left Lieutenant Briand-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Proserpinealign= center Third ratealign= center 38align= left Captain Daugier-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Régénéréealign= center Third ratealign= center 40align= left Captain HéronNonealign= left Lightly engaged on 23 June.
align= left Républicaine françaisealign= center First ratealign= center 40align= left Lieutenant François Pitot-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Tribunealign= center Third ratealign= center 40align= left Lieutenant Bernard-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Vengeancealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Lieutenant Leconte-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Virginiealign= center Fifth ratealign= center 40align= left Lieutenant Jacques BergeretUnknownalign= left Heavily engaged on 17 June.
align= left Atalantealign= center Corvettealign= center 16align= left Ensign Dordelin-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Constancealign= center Corvettealign= center 22align= left Lieutenant Bouchet-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Las Casasalign= center Corvettealign= center 18align= left Lieutenant Blanzon-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left align= center Corvettealign= center 14align= left Ensign Denis-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Papillonalign= center Brigalign= center 14align= left Lieutenant Cousin-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Larkalign= center Corvettealign= center 10align= left Ensign Le Large-align= left Not engaged in the action.
align= left Printempsalign= center Cutteralign= center 10align= left Ensign Le Faucheur-align= left Not engaged in the action.
Sources: James, pp. 237–253; Clowes, pp. 255–264; Rouvier, pp. 213–214

Bibliography

. Edward Pelham Brenton . 1837 . 1825 . The Naval History of Great Britain, Vol. I . C. Rice . London.

. William Laird Clowes . 1997 . 1900 . The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV . Chatham Publishing . London . 1-86176-013-2.

. William James (naval historian) . 2002 . 1827 . The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 1, 1793–1796 . Conway Maritime Press . London . 0-85177-905-0.

. Richard Woodman . 2001 . The Sea Warriors . Constable Publishers . 1-84119-183-3.

Notes and References

  1. James, p. 237
  2. James, p. 238
  3. Tracy, p. 121
  4. Brenton, p. 229
  5. Clowes, p. 257
  6. Woodman, p. 60
  7. Gardiner, p. 48
  8. Clowes, p. 261
  9. James, p. 247
  10. James, p. 253
  11. Clowes, p. 266
  12. James, p. 252
  13. Rouvier, p. 214
  14. James, p. 32
  15. https://books.google.com/books?id=h9BIAAAAcAAJ&dq=%22Jacques+Angot%22+capitaine&pg=RA1-PA190 Décret no 1051 de la Convention nationale
  16. http://www.semlh29n.fr/memorial/1750-01-09_guillemet_francois-charles François Charles Guillemet
  17. http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k44759b/f35.image Jean-Charles François Aved-Magnac

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