Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 6 AMERICAN THEATRE: Aug. 1, 1776–Oct. 31, 1776 EUROPEAN THEATRE: May 26, 1776–Oct. 5, 1776 Part 3 of 8 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1972 Electronically published by American Naval Records Society Bolton Landing, New York 2012 AS A WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. EUROPEAN THEATRE From May 26, 1776, to October 5, 1776 EUROPEAN THEATRE From May 26, 1776, to October 5,1776 SUMMARY Ports in England and France hummed with the activity of accelerated naval preparations. On both sides of the Channel, diplomats and informers kept their courts fully advised. Essentially the same question was being asked in London, Paris, and Madrid-"Was the purpose of this augmented naval armament offensive or defensive?" France and Spain reasoned that the build-up of British naval strength was in excess of that required to crush the rebellious Americans, and that it could be used to descend on their West Indian possessions. Britain's concern centered on the knowledge that France saw in the American troubles a prime opportunity for revanche. The imminent prospect of war between Spain and Portugal did nothing to dispel the tension. Silas Deane, Continental agent in Paris, after officially making his mis- sion known to Versailles, was closely working with Beaumarchais, Dubourg and others to muster a large shipment of arms, clothing, and essential sup- plies for Washington's army. In spite of his efforts at concealment, Deane's identity and reason for being in France were no secret to Lord Stormont, British ambassador. Stormont also cast a suspicious eye on Beaumarchais "who was lately not worth a shilling but now has Millions at his Com- mand." News reaching London of the alarming number of ships being captured by American privateers sent insurance rates up, and the merchants storm- ing to government demanding protection. The Admiralty responded by di- verting Royal Navy ships to convoy duty, and by arming ordnance and store ships. Even the East India Company requested and received naval coverage for homeward bound ships laden with madras and other exotic cargo. The King of Portugal, staunch friend of Britain, issued an edict deny- ing American ships use of his ports. Suggestions by English envoys that it would be a pleasing gesture to George 111 if Spain and Holland followed suit, fell upon barren ground. The Portuguese port closure, however, led to a recommendation, .backed by Beaumarchais and Deane, that American armed ships attack and seize Portuguese vessels. Late in August, H.M. Sloop Ranger arrived at Spithead carrying dis- patches from General Clinton and Commodore Sir Peter Parker telling of their complete defeat before Charleston, South Carolina. As October opened, word was anxiously awaited from the Howe brothers at New York, 384 EUROPEAN THEATRE 26 May (Sunday) Versailles, 26 May 1776 I have the honor to send you, Sir, the summary of the letters which were sent to me by the governors of our colonies concerning the conduct of the captains of English warships in those seas. I also enclose extracts of declarations made upon their return by the captains of merchant ships that were visited by English officers and of which several & were fired upon with shot. Since England wages an open war with her colonies of North America, our merchant ships cannot refuse at sea the visit required by the captains of English warships, and to this effect they must lower their sails at the first call as we require other nations to do for us in similar cases under penalties regulated by article 12 of the title of prizes in the ordinance of 1681.2 The shots fired upon our merchant ships were certainly caused by some resistance or delays to which several captains confessed and they ap- pear to me as being of little consequence, but the English officers must exer- cise caution with respect to our frigates and the approaches to our coasts and roads. I beg you to examine these documents and to tell me what you think of them. I shall be very happy to arrange with you the replies to be made to the various governors as well as the orders that will be sent to the ports. I have the honor to be with sincere attachment, Sir [&c.] de Sartine [Enclosures] Extract of various letters concerning the English frigates cruising off St. Domingue. From Count d'Ennery. 25 January 1776. No. 83. Two English frigates cruise off the mole' St. Nicholas and intercept the few vessels from New England that come to or leave this port. I will order two of our frigates to cruise there in order to draw them away from our coast and prevent them from sailing too close to it as well as visiting our ships, as they have been doing. They have not harmed them or insulted them, but they have visited at least 20 or 30 French vessels. Ditto. 13 February 1776. No. 95. The two English frigates fire solid shot upon the French vessels that want to proceed on their way. I know that we cannot prevent them from stopping the vessels from New England or from their own Nation, but it seems inde- cent that they should sail so close to our coast and search or visit our ships in our own waters. Consequently, I am sending to this station the frigates Amphitrite and De'daigneuse with orders to ask .them to bear off farther from our coast 'and prevent them from visiting our ships. Since our frigates are stronger, I hope they will comply with my protest. Furthermore, I en- joined wisdom and prudence on Meisrs . and de Grasse but I told them not to suffer any impertinence. MAY 1776 385 From Count Le Begue. 16 February 1776. As I was sailing under the island of Tortue and as I was beating against the wind, I met at night and very close to land an English frigate that had been cruising there for a long time against all the vessels from New England. First, she fired a blank and I payed no attention. Then she fired one round of solid shot that fell astern. Since I had not cleared for action I stood on in order to give myself time to do it, but with less sail than she carried. In- deed, she closed with me and fired a second time with solid shot; then, I clewed up my main sail. The moon was bright. I hoisted my ensign and my pennant and I payed off in order to bring my broadside to bear on her bow because she was on my quarter. I fired solid shot then with order to miss. She made signals that I could nit understand and bore away right before the wind. I stood on my course towards the Cape where I arrived the next day. Extract of the declarations made by the captains of merchant ships coming from the French colonies. Captain Foligny of the ship Constance from Nantes, upon leaving Leogane and disemboguing, met three English frigates cruising off this port and the mole St. Nicholas. One of these frigates first hoisted a white ensign then the English ensign and sent on board his ship a boat carrying fifteen armed men. The officer commanding this boat ordered several rifle-shots before coming on board although he had brought his ship to, then he required to look over the ship as well as the papers and after asking the French captain several indiscreet questions told him to proceed on his way. Captain Maillard of the ship Thomas from Nantes declared that on 2 March 1776 and coming out of St. Domingue he met at night off the mole St. Ni- cholas two English frigates that signaled him they wanted to speak to' him. They then joined him after firing several solid shots at his ship. Then he bore away and clewed up his sails. They asked where he came from and where he was going and after answering these questions, they told him to proceed on his way. Captain Menard of the ship Lilavois from Nantes declared that he met off the Island of Inagune [Inagua] an English frigate of 28 guns which hailed him and asked him where he came from and where he was going, wished him a good journey, then left him. 4 Messrs. Lavigne and Lalanne, owners of the ship Ckrks from Le Havre de- clared that on the 5th of March last as their ship was disemboguing from Guadeloupe she met an English frigate that fired one solid shot upon her. 386 EUROPEAN THEATRE The captain hoisted the White Ensign and sailed on, but this frigate did not cease firing solid shot until the French captain hove to. The frigate sent a boat with an officer who after asking . why they had not brought the ship to at the first shot merely took the name of the ship and that of the captain, took note of the cargo, then withdrew. Captain Toustaing of the ship Port de Paix coming from Port de Paix de- clared that on 31 March 1776 as he was in the disemboguement at about eleven o'clock in the evening, a ship fired a blank upon him, which he an- swered in similar manner by firing a blank. As the frigate fired a second time, but with solid shot, M. Toustaing immediately clewed up his sails. ,An English officer came on board his ship and looked at the papers, then told him that he was sorry but that he thought he was English.