1798 - Repulsed at Saint-Marcouf


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1798 Invasion Flotilla Repulsed at Saint-Marcouf 115

her. Soon after midnight, by the united exertions of the two ships, the Diamond again got afloat without any material damage, either from grounding or from several shells, which the enemy on shore, to interrupt their operations, had continued to throw at both frigates, but which, fortunately for the latter, fell short. The Diamond, however, had previously received some slight injury is her sails and rigging from the fire of the gunboats. At 6 a.m. on the 9th the flotilla weighed, and, standing along shore, to the westward, re-anchored at 9 a.m., under the town of Bernie. While the Diamond and Hydra were standing off and on to watch the motions of the enemy, the 50-gun ship Adamant, Captain William Hotham, hove in sight in the offing. On observing this, Captain Muskein again got under way, and ran back to the eastward, pursued by the two frigates ; who exchanged several broadsides with the flotilla, as well as with some batteries on shore. At 3 p.m., the French vessels having stood into Caen river, the Diamond and Hydra ceased firing and hauled off from the shore.

While Captain Muskein lay at anchor in the small port of Sallenelle, repairing the damages done to his vessels, seven heavy gun-brigs, and about 40 flat-boats and armed fishing vessels joined him from Cherbourg, the head-quarters of Rear-admiral La Crosse. These vessels also brought an additional body of troops. After a three weeks' blockade in Caen river, Captain Muskein found an opportunity to put to sea with his now doubly-formidable flotilla, and was, this time, so fortunate as to reach unobserved the road of La Hougue, situated about half way between Cape Barfleur, and the isles that were to be attacked. Here it was necessary to await the concurrence of two circumstances ; a stark calm, in order to prevent the British cruisers from approaching the scene of action, and neap-tides, when the currents, being at their minimum of violence, would offer less opposition to the progress of the flotilla.

Owing to the absence of these indispensable contingencies, matters remained quiet at the isles of Saint-Marcouf until the 6th of May, when Lieutenant Price received information that an attack was meditated in the course of that night. A boat was instantly despatched to reconnoitre the enemy, and every preparation made to receive him. By 10 p.m., owing to the prevailing calm, the small naval force on the station, consisting of the 50-gun ship Adamant, Captain William Hotham, 24-gun ship Eurydice, Captain John Talbot, and 18-gun brig-sloop Orestes, Captain William Haggitt, had not been able to approach nearer to the islands than six miles ; consequently, the defence of the post was likely to rest upon the sole exertions of the garrison ; precisely what the assailants wanted, in order to ensure success to their plan of attack.

At midnight the reconnoitring boat signalled the approach of the enemy, and the garrison, at the same time, heard the French

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