B. Rodney’s fleet in the glorious battle of April 12, 1782, the particulars of which will be found in our first volume, p. 35, et seq. In August following she sailed for England, in com-
At day-light on the 25th, the enemy’s fleet was observed about three leagues to leeward, formed in order of battle, and consisting of twenty-nine sail of the line. Sir Samuel Hood, who had only twenty-two line-of-battle ships, instantly perceived the great advantages to be derived from this movement, and carried on every appearance of an immediate and determined attack, which drove the enemy farther to leeward, whilst he himself pushed for Basseterre, and anchored his fleet in line of battle a-head, in Frigate Bay. The Count de Grasse, astonished at this excellent manoeuvre, and apprehensive that all communication with the army might be cut off, made a most furious attack upon the rear of the British fleet, commanded by Commodore Affleck; but that gallant officer made so noble a defence, and was so ably supported by his seconds, the Hon. William Cornwallis in the Canada, and Lord Robert Manners in the Resolution, who kept up an incessant fire, covering the other ships of the division while they brought up in their stations, particularly the Prudent, whose wheel was shot away, and the rudder choked by a shot which had lodged between it and the stem-post, that the enemy, finding they could not make any impression on the resolute firmness of the British, bore up and stood to sea.
The next morning, at 8 o’clock, the French fleet stood in, as if determined to force the British line, which they attacked with great violence from van to rear, without making the least visible impression on it; they then wore and stood to sea. Sir Samuel Hood, having observed that the rear of his fleet was too much exposed, took this opportunity to change the position thereof, and directed the Alfred, Canada, Prudent, Resolution, Belliqueux, Centaur, and Monarch, to extend themselves in a line towards the town of Basseterre, forming an obtuse angle, by which means no one part of the fleet could suffer a partial attack. The Count de Grasse, not yet discouraged, renewed the engagement in the afternoon, directing his attack principally against the centre and rear divisions; he was again repulsed, and suffered more material damage than in the preceding battle. The Ville de Paris, bearing de Grasse’s flag, was upon the heel all the next day, covering her shot-holes; and according to information which Sir Samuel Hood subsequently received from the shore, upwards of 1,000 wounded Frenchmen were sent to St. Eustatius. The loss sustained by the British, in all the attacks, amounted to 72 killed, and 244 wounded.
On the 28th, part of the 13th regiment, and the whole of the 28th and 69th, were landed under cover of four frigates. After a smart skirmish with a detachment of French troops, which were beaten, and obliged to retreat with great loss into Basseterre, General Prescott took post upon a commanding hill. The following morning, the Marquis de Bouille arrived with 4,000 troops from Sandy Point; but finding the British General’s position to be too strong to venture an attack, he proceeded to the siege of
