Battle of St. Kitts
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Saint Kitts, also known as the Battle of Frigate Bay, was a naval battle that took place on 25 and 26 January 1782 during the American Revolutionary War
between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood
and a larger French fleet under the Comte de Grasse.
returned to the West Indies in late 1781 after the Battle of the Chesapeake
, he was for a time in independent command owing to Rodney's absence in England. The French Admiral, the Comte de Grasse, attacked the British islands of Saint Kitts
and Nevis
Hood hoping to salvage the situation made for St Kitts with reinforcements however he soon learned that he was facing a much superior force. De Grasse had landed 6,000 men on St Kitts and laid siege to the fortress on Brimstone Hill.
.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
and a larger French fleet under the Comte de Grasse.
Background
When HoodSamuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
returned to the West Indies in late 1781 after the Battle of the Chesapeake
Battle of the Chesapeake
The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or simply the Battle of the Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American War of Independence that took place near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on 5 September 1781, between a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas...
, he was for a time in independent command owing to Rodney's absence in England. The French Admiral, the Comte de Grasse, attacked the British islands of Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
and Nevis
Nevis
Nevis is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, about 350 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km west of Antigua. The 93 km² island is part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies...
Hood hoping to salvage the situation made for St Kitts with reinforcements however he soon learned that he was facing a much superior force. De Grasse had landed 6,000 men on St Kitts and laid siege to the fortress on Brimstone Hill.
Action
The British fleet on the 24th January consisting of twenty-two sail of the line, was close off the south-east end of Nevis. It soon ran into and captured the French 16-gun cutter Espion carrying a large amount of ammunition for the use of the besieging French forces at Brimstone Hill. At daybreak on the 25th, the French fleet was discovered standing to the southward of Basseterre, comprising one ship of 110 guns, twenty-eight two-decked ships, and two frigates. Hood stood towards the French fleet, with the apparent intention of bringing on action, which had the effect of drawing the French fleet off the land. This was achieved but no sooner had Hood effected this he was aided by a favourable change in the wind, and took his fleet within the anchorage of Basseterre or Frigate Bay, which the French admiral had quitted. Hood ordered his fleet in an L formation and once this had been achieved he then ordered his fleet to lay anchor. Comte de Grasse, in frustration made three distinct and vigorous attacks upon the British fleet on the 26th but was successively repulsed with great damage to his ships.Aftermath
Losses on both sides were light but the French fleet had suffered considerable damage. Hood managed to stay in the position for another two weeks without further incident. Despite outmanoeuvring De Grasse, Hood was unable to save the island from surrendering to the French, due in part to the French siege of Brimstone Hill, a fortress on the island. This happened on 12th February and Hood left on the 14th. Hood then joined forces with the recently arrived Admiral George RodneyGeorge Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
.
Britain
| Admiral Sir Samuel Hood's fleet | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship | Rate Rating system of the Royal Navy The rating system of the Royal Navy and its predecessors was used by the British Royal Navy between the beginning of the 17th century and the middle of the 19th century to categorise sailing warships, initially classing them according to their assigned complement of men, and later according to the... |
Guns | Commander | Casualties | Notes | |||
| Killed | Wounded | Total | ||||||
| Van | ||||||||
| Third rate | 64 | Captain Charles Inglis Charles Inglis (c. 1731–1791) Charles Inglis was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence, rising to the rank of rear-admiral.... |
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| Third rate | 74 | Captain Charles Thompson Sir Charles Thompson, 1st Baronet Sir Charles Thompson, 1st baronet Thompson was a British naval officer. After long service in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and War of the First Coalition, he was Admiral John Jervis's second in command at the battle of Cape St Vincent... |
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| Third rate | 64 | Captain Anthony James Pye Molloy Anthony James Pye Molloy Anthony James Pye Molloy was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.... |
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| HMS Torbay HMS Neptune (1683) HMS Neptune was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built under the 1677 "Thirty Great Ships" Programme and launched in 1683 at Deptford Dockyard. She was first commissioned in 1690 under Captain Thomas Gardiner, as the flagship of Vice-Admiral George Rooke... |
Third rate | 74 | Captain Lewis Gedoin | |||||
| Third rate | 70 | Rear-Admiral Francis Samuel Drake Captain Charles Knatchbull |
Flagship of van | |||||
| Second rate | 98 | Captain James Williams | ||||||
| Third rate | 74 | Captain Nicholas Charrington | ||||||
| Centre | ||||||||
| Third rate | 64 | Captain George Wilkinson | ||||||
| Third rate | 74 | Captain John Knight John Knight (Royal Navy officer) Sir John Knight, KCB was a senior British Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries most noted for his activities as a post captain during the American and French Revolutionary Wars... |
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| Third rate | 74 | Captain Charles Saxton | ||||||
| Second rate | 98 | Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars... Captain Alexander Hood |
Flagship of centre | |||||
| Third rate | 74 | Captain Francis Reynolds Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie was a British politician and naval officer.He served in the Royal Navy, being commissioned lieutenant with a date of seniority of 12 April 1762. By the outbreak of the American War of Independence he had been promoted Captain and was stationed in the West... |
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| Third rate | 64 | Captain Lord Cranstoun James Cranstoun, 8th Lord Cranstoun James Cranstoun, 8th Lord Cranstoun was an officer of the Royal Navy.The third son of James Cranstoun, 6th Lord Cranstoun, he succeeded to the title on 1 August 1778 on the death of his elder brother William Cranstoun, 7th Lord Cranstoun.... |
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| Third rate | 74 | Captain John Nicholson Inglefield John Nicholson Inglefield John Nicholson Inglefield was an officer in the British Royal Navy.John Nicholson Inglefield was the son of a ship's carpenter, Isaac Inglefield, and his wife, a sister of the ship designer Thomas Slade,... |
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| Third rate | 74 | Captain William Bayne William Bayne (Royal Navy officer) William Bayne , was an officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence, being killed in action in a brief engagement prior to the Battle of the Saintes.-Seven Years' War:... |
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| Rear | ||||||||
| Third rate | 74 | Captain Henry Edwyn Stanhope | ||||||
| Third rate | 74 | Captain Lord Robert Manners Lord Robert Manners (Royal Navy officer) Captain Lord Robert Manners was an officer of the Royal Navy and nobleman, the second son of John Manners, Marquess of Granby and Lady Frances Seymour.... |
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| Third rate | 74 | Commodore Edmund Affleck Edmund Affleck Sir Edmund Affleck, 1st Baronet was a naval officer of considerable repute. He entered the navy at an early age, and during reign of George II, served in the several capacities of lieutenant, master and commander, and post captain... Captain Thomas Graves |
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| Third rate | 74 | Captain William Cornwallis William Cornwallis Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India... |
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| Third rate | 64 | Captain Andrew Barclay | ||||||
| Third rate | 74 | Captain George Bowen | ||||||
| Third rate | 64 | Captain Samuel Thompson | ||||||
| Attached frigates | ||||||||
| Van | ||||||||
| Sixth rate | 20 | Captain George Wilson | ||||||
| Centre | ||||||||
| Sixth rate | 28 | Captain John Stanhope | ||||||
| Sixth rate | 28 | Captain Hugh Cloberry Christian Hugh Cloberry Christian Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian KB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary Wars.... |
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| Sixth rate | 28 | Captain Edmund Dod | ||||||
| Sixth rate | 20 | Captain Thomas Wells | To repeat signals | |||||
| Fifth rate | 32 | Captain Henry Harvey Henry Harvey Admiral Sir Henry Harvey, KB was a long-serving officer of the British Royal Navy during the second half of the eighteenth century. Harvey participated in numerous naval operations and actions and especially distinguished himself at the Glorious First of June in command of... |
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| Sixth rate | 28 | Captain John M’Lawrin | ||||||
| Rear | ||||||||
| Sixth rate | 28 | Captain John Norton | ||||||
| Sixth rate | 28 | Captain Charles Everitt | ||||||
| Total recorded casualties: 72 killed, 244 wounded | ||||||||
| Source: Isaac Schomberg Isaac Schomberg Captain Isaac Schomberg was a highly controversial officer of the British Royal Navy whose constant disputes with senior officers resulted in courts-martial, lawsuits and the eventual stagnation of his career... 's Naval Chronology, pp. 396-7, The London Gazette London Gazette The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published... , 9 March 1782. |
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France
| Admiral the Comte de Grasse's fleet | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship | Guns | Commander | Fate | |||||
| Ville de Paris French ship Ville de Paris (1764) The Ville de Paris was a large three-decker French ship of the line that became famous as the flagship of the Comte de Grasse during the American Revolutionary War.... |
104 | François Joseph Paul de Grasse François Joseph Paul de Grasse Lieutenant Général des Armées Navales François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse was a French admiral. He is best known for his command of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which led directly to the British surrender at Yorktown... M. La Velleon |
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| Auguste French ship Auguste (1778) The Auguste was a 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.In 1781 and 1782, she took part in the Naval operations in the American Revolutionary War, under Admiral de Grasse. She fought at the Battle of the Chesapeake under captain Bougainville.... |
80 | Louis Antoine de Bougainville Louis Antoine de Bougainville Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville was a French admiral and explorer. A contemporary of James Cook, he took part in the French and Indian War and the unsuccessful French attempt to defend Canada from Britain... |
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| Duc de Bourgogne French ship Duc de Bourgogne (1752) The Duc de Bourgogne was a 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She was refitted twice, in and 1761 and 1779, having har hull copered.... |
80 | M. Espinouse | ||||||
| Couronne | 80 | Claude Mithon de Genouilly | ||||||
| Languedoc French ship Languedoc (1766) The Languedoc was a ship of the line of the French Navy and flagship of Admiral d'Estaing. She was offered to King Louis XV by the Languedoc, as part of a national effort to rebuild the navy after the Seven Years' War. She was designed by the naval architect Joseph Coulomb.In 1776, France decided... |
80 | M. d'Arros | ||||||
| Magnanime French ship Magnanime (1779) The Magnanime was a 74-gun of the French Navy, lead ship of her classShe took part in the American War of Independence in De Grasse's squadron, most notably in the Battle of the Saintes, where she trailed with Zélée, in the Battle of St. Lucia, and in the Battle of the Chesapeake.She was broken up... |
74 | Comte l'Basque | ||||||
| Northumberland French ship Northumberland (1780) The Northumberland was a 74-gun Annibal class ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Battle of the Saintes under captain Saint Cézaire, who was killed in the action. In 1782, she captured the 14-gun sloop HMS Allegiance.... |
74 | M de St. Cezaire | ||||||
| Pluton French ship Pluton (1778) Pluton was a of Scipion class 74-gun French ship of the line built at Rochefort.She fought in a series of battles during the American War of Independence, including the battles of Martinique , Fort Royal , Chesapeake , St. Kitts, , and the Saintes .She was renamed Dugommier in 1797 and seems to... |
74 | M. d'Albert de Rions | ||||||
| Glorieux HMS Glorieux The French ship Glorieux was a second rate 74 gun ship in the French Navy. Built by Clairin Deslauriers at Rochefort and launched on 10 August 1756, she was rebuilt in 1777.... |
74 | Comte d'Escars | ||||||
| César | 74 | M. de Marigny | ||||||
| Hercule | 74 | M. la Clochetterie | ||||||
| Zélé French ship Zélé (1764) The Zélé was a César class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.On 6 July 1779, she participated in the Battle of Grenada as a member of the Vanguard. In 1781 and 1782, she took part in the naval operations in the American Revolutionary War, under Admiral de Grasse. She fought at the Battle... |
74 | Chev. Gras Preville | ||||||
| Palmier | 74 | M. de Mortilly | ||||||
| Hector | 74 | M. le Vicomte | ||||||
| Souverain French ship Souverain (1757) The Souverain was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.She took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake, in 1781. In 1792, she was renamed Peuple Souverain .... |
74 | M. de la Glendevis | ||||||
| Conquérant French ship Conquérant (1747) The Conquérant was a Citoyen class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Battle of the Nile, where she was armed with only 18- and 12-pounders, and crewed by a mere 400 men, under captain Dalbarade. Second ship in the vanguard of her line, Conquérant sustained fire from... |
74 | M. de la Grandiere | ||||||
| Sceptre French ship Sceptre (1780) The Sceptre was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.In 1781 and 1782, she took part in the Naval operations in the American Revolutionary War, under Admiral de Grasse. She fought at the Battle of the Chesapeake and at the Battle of the Saintes... |
74 | Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil Louis-Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil was second in command of the French Navy during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:... |
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| Citoyen | 74 | Comte d'Ethy | ||||||
| Destin | 74 | M. de Goimpy | ||||||
| Neptune French ship Neptune (1778) The Neptune was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Under Latouche Tréville, she captured a 30-gun British privateer named Hercules on 28 October 1778.In 1782, she was part of de Grasse's squadron... |
74 | M. Destouches Charles René Dominique Sochet, Chevalier Destouches Charles René Dominique Sochet, Chevalier Destouches, also sometimes spelled Des Touches, was a rear admiral in the French Navy... |
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| Bourgogne French ship Bourgogne (1767) The Bourgogne was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She was commissioned in 1772, and served in the squadron of the Mediterranean, with a refit in 1775, and another in 1778.... |
74 | M. Champmartin | ||||||
| Dauphin Royal | 70 | M. Montpereux | ||||||
| Marseillais French ship Vengeur du Peuple The Vengeur du Peuple was a 74 gun ship of the line of the French Navy launched in 1762.Originally offered by the city of Marseille, and named the Marseillois , she saw action during the American War of Independence... |
74 | M. Lombard | ||||||
| Diadème French ship Diadème (1756) The Diadème was the lead ship of the Diadème class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.On 17 March 1757, along with the 64-gun Éveillé, she captured HMS Greenwich, commanded by Captain Robert Roddam, off Saint-Domingue.... |
74 | |||||||
| Éveillé | 64 | Comte Tilly | ||||||
| Réfléchi | 64 | Chev. de Boades | ||||||
| Jason HMS Argonaut (1782) The 64-gun Jason was a ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1779.The Royal Navy captured Jason on 19 April 1782 at the Battle of the Mona Passage... |
64 | Chev. de Villages | ||||||
| Ardent HMS Ardent (1764) HMS Ardent was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built by contract by Hugh Blaydes at Hull according to the plans of Sir Thomas Slade, and launched on 13 August 1764 as the first ship of the... |
64 | M. Groullon | ||||||
| Caton | 64 | Comte Fremont | ||||||
| Source: Isaac Schomberg Isaac Schomberg Captain Isaac Schomberg was a highly controversial officer of the British Royal Navy whose constant disputes with senior officers resulted in courts-martial, lawsuits and the eventual stagnation of his career... 's Naval Chronology, p. 398 |
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See also
- Naval operations in the American Revolutionary WarNaval operations in the American Revolutionary WarThe naval operations of the American Revolutionary War , divide themselves naturally into two periods...