Seahorse vs Sensible, 27th May 1798

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Seahorse vs Sensible

27th May 1798
Part of : The French Revolutionary Wars (1793 - 1802)
Previous action : Operations against Ostend 14.5.1798 - 20.5.1798
Next action : Capture of the Seine 29.6.1798
 

Great Britain

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Seahorse (38) Edward James Foote2 killed, 16 wounded
 

République française

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
La Sensible (32) Guillaume François Joseph Bourdé de la Villehuet (1763-1851)25 killed, 55 wounded Captured
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN4
After the capture of Malta by the French, the frigate Sensible, 36, Captain Bourde, was sent with dispatches and valuables to Toulon, and when on her way thither off Marittimo, was chased by the British Seahorse, 38, Captain Edward James Foote. The French ship turned and ran towards Malta, as she had but a very weak crew on board and was not properly equipped. In the night of the 26th-27th, the Seahorse gained upon her, and, after a running fight, brought her to close action at 4 A.M. Many of the Maltese galley slaves, who had been placed on board the Sensible, deserted their guns at the first broadside, and at the end of eight minutes' action the French captain, having made a vain attempt to board his enemy, hauled down his flag. He was censured by the French Directory for not having offered a more stubborn resistance, but, as a matter of fact, the force opposed to him was very superior, and he was acquitted with honour by a French court-martial on his return to Toulon.

Sources


IDDescriptionAuthorType
TRN4The Royal Navy : a history from the earliest times to the present Vol IVWilliam Laid ClowesDigital Book
Previous comments on this pageno comments to display
Make a comment about this page





Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Thursday 14th of November 2019 05:17Albert ParkerBritish Third Rate ship of the line 'Lennox' (1723) (70)
Thursday 14th of November 2019 03:56Tim OakleyBritish hired ketch 'Gleaner' (1808) (14)
Wednesday 13th of November 2019 18:36Tim OakleyBritish Sixth Rate post ship 'Arab' (1798) (22)
Wednesday 13th of November 2019 02:53Tim OakleyJoseph Briggs
Tuesday 12th of November 2019 02:21Tim OakleyBritish Fourth Rate frigate 'Cornwallis' (1805) (50)
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2019, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement