1799 - Courier and Guerrier


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1799 Capture of the Zeelast, Zeevraght, &, Galgo 367

the convoy to leeward standing on the larboard tack, Captain Lobb made the signal for his charge to haul to the wind on the starboard tack. Meanwhile the Calypso, followed by the Crescent, stood on ahead to reconnoitre the strangers ; and, on discovering them to be enemies, made the signal to that effect to the convoy. Ordering the Calypso by signal to chase northwest, the direction in which lay the body of the convoy, the Crescent bore up to within random-shot of the Spanish 64 and frigate in the hope to draw them from the merchantmen. At 9 a.m. the Asia and Anfitrite tacked towards the convoy : immediately on which the signal was made for the vessels to disperse.

About this time the Spanish corvette was observed standing for the ships of the convoy which had hauled their wind. To relieve these, the Crescent hauled her wind : a manoeuvre which was every way successful ; as she not only captured and carried off the Galgo, but induced the Asia and Anfitrite to discontinue the chase of the leewardmost vessels, and haul up also, in the vain hope to save their companion. Moreover, while the Calypso ran off to leeward with one part of the convoy, the Crescent and her prize led the other part to windward ; and in less than a week afterwards the whole convoy, except one ship ; the General-Goddard, were at anchor in Port-Royal, Jamaica. In this case, whatever we may think of the indeterminate behaviour and gross mismanagement of Commodore Don Francisco Montes, we cannot but admire the prompt decision and skilful manoeuvres of Captain Lobb.

On the 22d of November, at 5 p.m., the British hired cutter Courier, of 12 long 4-pounders and 40 men, Lieutenant Thomas Searle, cruising oft Flushing, observed a suspicious sail bring to a bark. The cutter immediately hauled her wind in chase, and, as she passed the bark, learnt from her that the other vessel was a French privateer. The Courier thereupon crowded sail in pursuit ; and on the 23d, at 9 a.m. Lowestoffe bearing northwest by west distant 10 or 12 leagues, succeeded in overtaking the French cutter-privateer Guerrier, of 14 long 4-pounders and 44 men, commanded by Citizen Felix L. Lallemand. A warm and close action ensued, and lasted 50 minutes, when the Guerrier struck her colours.

The Courier had her master, Mr. Stephen Marsh, killed at the commencement of the action, and two seamen wounded, the Guerrier, four killed and six wounded. These as is evident without the aid of a tabular statement, were a well-matched pair of combatants ; and the action was manfully sustained on both sides. Shortly after his capture of this privateer, Lieutenant Searle obtained that promotion, to which, by his previous gallantry on more than one occasion, he had fully entitled himself:

On the 24th of November, at daybreak, the British 12-pounder

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