1795 - Expedition to Quiberon


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol I

1795

British and French Fleets

252

150,000 pairs of shoes, and magazines and clothing for an army of 40,000 men.

To add to the mishaps of this ill-fated expedition, six transports that had arrived the evening previous to the disgraceful treachery at the fort, laden with rum, brandy, and provisions, fell also into the hands of the republicans. What was the extent of the loss in men, sustained by the detachment of British marines that was landed, does not appear to have been made public.

Sir John Warren next proceeded to the small islands of Hoedic and Houat, of which he took quiet possession. He afterwards disembarked near to Lorient, at their own request, 2000 of the Chouans brought from Quiberon. He also detached the Standard 64 and a frigate or two, to summon the governor of Belle-Isle, which lies about five leagues to the westward, to deliver up the island for the use of Louis XVIII. Captain Ellison, to his very long letter on the subject, received from General Boucret a very laconic reply ; the purport of which was, that, being well supplied with provisions and artillery, he, the general, was ready for the English fleet whenever it chose to come.

Sir John himself, in the mean while, having left a few frigates to keep the command of the anchorage at the islands of Hoedic and Houat, and cover, if necessary, the retreat of the garrisons, had proceeded to the island of Noirmoutier at the mouth of the Loire ; but the republicans, who had recently dispossessed of that island the royalist General Charette, were too well prepared to warrant an attack by so inferior a force. After destroying two or three small armed vessels, the commodore contented himself with taking possession of Isle d'Yeu, a small island about five leagues to the southward of Noirmoutier.

In the beginning of October Sir John was joined at Isle d'Yeu by the 38-gun frigate Jason, Captain Charles Stirling, escorting a fleet of transports, containing 4000 British troops under the command of Major-general Doyle. On board of the Jason had also arrived, the Comte d'Artois, the Duc de Bourbon, and several other French noblemen. The troops were landed on the island, along with a great quantity of military stores, clothing, and provisions ; but no use was, or, in the desperate situation of the royalist cause, could be made of this force. Accordingly, at the close of the year, Isle d'Yeu was evacuated, and the troops, after remaining in a state of inactivity for nearly three months, were re-embarked on board the transports and carried back to England.

Lord Bridport continued at sea hovering off the coast where the unfortunate Quiberon expedition was frittering away its strength, until the 20th September ; when the admiral returned to Spithead with two or three of his ships, leaving Rear-admiral Harvey, with the remainder of the Channel. fleet, to watch the motions of

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