1805 - Papillon and Spanish privateer


 
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Naval history of Great Britain - Vol. IV
by
William James
1805 Light Squadrons and Single Ships 132

the armed schooner, which, according to the report of the Spaniards late belonging to the prize, was a French national vessel, edged down within musket-shot, and opened upon the Gracieuse a very heavy fire of musketry and great guns. This the latter quickly returned, and a smart action ensued. At 9 P.M. the schooner bore down with an intention to board the Gracieuse; but, seeing the opposition she was likely to experience, hauled her wind and renewed the cannonade. At 9 h. 20 m. the attempt was repeated, but again failed. Upon this the schooner made all sail to escape, firing her stern-chasers and musketry. At 11 P.M. she tacked and stood in for the land; and, after receiving from the Gracieuse a heavy fire of grape, canister, and musketry until 3 h. 30 m. A.M. on the 10th, the schooner ran on shore upon Point Vizoa.

Finding it impossible to close with the schooner on account of a reef that intervened, the Gracieuse hove to about half a mile off. At 4 h. 30 m. A.M., observing the schooner afloat again and sweeping alongshore, the Gracieuse filled and proceeded in chase, and finally compelled the schooner, at 8 h. 15 m. A.M. to run on shore upon Point de Selma. The Gracieuse stood in and, having anchored with a spring in four fathoms, Mr. Smith sent a boat with a hawser, for the purpose of getting off the vessel, whose crew had by this time landed from her bowsprit. The attempt, however, was found impracticable, the schooner having already filled from the number of shot-holes in her hull. Her force was found to consist of one long brass 12-pounder, mounted on a circle amidships, two long brass 4-pounder carriage-guns and four brass 3-pounder swivels, with a crew of 96 men. On the next day, the 11th, Mr. Smith, by means of his boats, brought away the long twelve, and set fire to and destroyed the vessel. The service, thus creditably performed, cost the Gracieuse no heavier loss than one midshipman (Robert Marley) and two seamen wounded.

On the 15th of April, while the 14-gun brig-sloop Papillon, Captain William Woolsey, was lying at an anchor in the harbour of Savana la Mar, island of Jamaica, intelligence was received that a Spanish felucca-rigged privateer was cruizing off the west end of the island to the great annoyance of the coast. Being apprehensive that, if the Papillon stood out after her, the privateer would make her escape, Captain Woolsey borrowed a shallop from one of the merchant ships in the port, and disguising her as a drogger, despatched her with Lieutenant Peter Stephen Prieur and 25 men, including the purser, Mr. John Christie, who volunteered his services on the occasion, to endeavour to take the privateer by stratagem.

At 8 P.M. the drogger fell in with the privateer close under the land ; and Lieutenant Prieur, with great coolness allowed her to run alongside and make herself fast. He then ordered his men from below, fired a volley of musketry, and boarded,

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