Read on Twitter
#OTD April 12th Rodney spotted two French ships headed for Guadeloupe and ordered Hood to send the Monarch, the Valiant, the Belliqueux and the Centaur after them...
de Grasse ordered his fleet to wear, abandoning his windward position to approach the British fleet in line from the opposite direction.
Rodney recalled the ships & had the fleet prepare for battle, causing confusion in the French line. Rodney directed his rear division to lead
Rodney recalled the ships & had the fleet prepare for battle, causing confusion in the French line. Rodney directed his rear division to lead
The wind shifted & the French were forced towards the British, who had 2 choices
1. Hold course
2. Luff (turn towards where the wind is coming from for non boatists)
Clouds of smoke were limiting vis & to avoid collision the Formidable passed through a gap in the French line
1. Hold course
2. Luff (turn towards where the wind is coming from for non boatists)
Clouds of smoke were limiting vis & to avoid collision the Formidable passed through a gap in the French line
the following 5 British ships followed her. The Bedford, & 12 other ships passed through another gap in the French line between the Cesar and the Hector.
This manoeuvre had never been undertaken before.
This manoeuvre had never been undertaken before.
This allowed them to use their guns on both sides in a brutal attack, without fear of return fire from the front and rear of the French ships they passed between...
de Grasse couldn't form his line again for the rest of the battle.
de Grasse couldn't form his line again for the rest of the battle.
With their line broken and ships absolutely battered, the French fell away to the SW in small groups.
Rodney attempted to redeploy & make repairs before following them...
Rodney attempted to redeploy & make repairs before following them...
At about noon, the wind shifted again and the British ships headed south, capturing the Glorieux and reaching the French rear around 1500.
The César, which later exploded, as well as the Hector and Ardent were all taken by Rodney.
The César, which later exploded, as well as the Hector and Ardent were all taken by Rodney.
The final capture was the Ville de Paris, taken along with de Grasse.
Blane, the physician for the British Fleet reported, “When boarded, she presented a scene of horror. The numbers killed were so great that the surviving, from want of leisure, or dismay, had not thrown the bodies overboard, the decks were covered with blood and mangled limbs”
Ofc there has to be some gunnery in there...
Most of the British ships, had been armed with carronades - good for short range & heavy caliber and which, at the time, were relatively new weapons.
Most of the British ships, had been armed with carronades - good for short range & heavy caliber and which, at the time, were relatively new weapons.
One week later, Hood headed west & took Ceres, Jason, Caton and Amiable, which escaped after the battle but was angry they had not taken more ships...
Rodney’s reply?
“Come, we have done very handsomely as it is”
Rodney’s reply?
“Come, we have done very handsomely as it is”
the Comte de Grasse was taken to England as a prisoner. Whilst in London he briefly took part in negotiations that helped lay foundations for the Peace of Paris (1783) in which brought the American Revolutionary War to an end and then de Grasse went back to France
The Battle of the Saintes helped restore British morale after losing at Yorktown and destroyed French hopes of taking the West Indies.
The Battle is generally rnow emembered for the breaking the line manouevre.
Since the battle, it's been debated heavily whether Rodney ordered it or Sir Charles Douglas...
Since the battle, it's been debated heavily whether Rodney ordered it or Sir Charles Douglas...
Rodney did ok out of it though...
He was awarded a peerage for the victory and a pension of £2000.
He was awarded a peerage for the victory and a pension of £2000.
