Ferrol Expedition
Ferrol Expedition (1800) | |||||||
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Part of the War of the Second Coalition | |||||||
Location of the boom protecting the city. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Great Britain | Spain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Count Donadio Don Juan Moreno | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
15,000 5 ships of the line[1][2][3][4][5] |
4,000[6] 6 ships of the line | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
16 killed 68 wounded |
37 killed 102 wounded |
The Ferrol Expedition (or Battle of Brión) took place on 25 and 26 August 1800, and was an unsuccessful British attempt to capture
Background
The primary object of the British expedition and fleet of 109 ships during the year 1800 was the conquest of Belle Île but the defences appeared too strong. The expedition therefore proceeded to the coast of Spain, where it arrived on 25 August.
Battle
After a heavy cannonade against a small Spanish fort of eight 24-pounder cannon by the British ships of the line HMS Impetueux with 74 guns, HMS London with 96 guns, HMS Courageux, HMS Renown and HMS Captain, each with 74 guns. HMS Impetueus, HMS Brilliant, HMS Cynthia and the small gunner HMS St. Vincent, state on their logs to had taken part on the gunning of the small Fort. No mention on HMS London and HMS Renown logs of being part of the gunning. Under the superintendence of Sir
The Spanish defenders of Ferrol were: Don Francisco Melgarejo (a
The British rifle-corps advanced up a ridge and was attacked by a Spanish detachment which it drove back with some loss. Early on the morning of 26 August a considerable body of Spanish attacked the British on the heights of Brion and Balon but they were repulsed. British casualties were 16 killed and 68 wounded. The heights overlooked the town and harbour of Ferrol. That night, after observing the strength of the fortifications, the British troops and artillery were embarked back on their ships.[11]
Aftermath
The embarkation of the troops and artillery was effected, and soon after this failure on the coast of
Footnotes
References
Rodrigo Ramos Ardá. "El Desembarco de Doniños en la documentación Británica". Edicións Embora Ferrol, 2002 (
- D'Esmenard. Memoirs of Don Manuel de Godoy Vol II: Prince of the Peace, Kessinger Publishing ISBN 0-548-16683-8
- Escrigas, Guillermo. Ferrol heroico; la defensa de el Ferrol en 1800. Ferrol, 1969. (Spanish)
- James, William. The Naval History of Great Britain from the Declaration of War by France, in February 1793, to the Accession of George IV. in January 1820, Vol. 3, London, 1826, [1]
- Philippart, John. The Royal Military Calendar, or Army Service and Commission Book. London: A.J. Valpy, 1820. Vol II.
- Black, Jeremy. A military history of Britain: from 1775 to the present Greenwood Publishing group, ISBN 0-275-99039-7
- Edward Baines, History of the Wars of the French Revolution, from the Breaking Out of the War, in 1792, to the Restoration of a General Peace in 1815: Comprehending the Civil History of Great Britain and France, During that Period, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1818.
- The Parliamentary history of England from the earliest period to the year 1803.... London, 1806. Vol II. 1812-1820.
- The London chronicle, Volume 87, 11 to 13 September 1801, pp. 257 – 258, Lt. Gen. Pulteney's General Orders. [2]
- La Gaceta de Madrid 08/31/1800 ( Descrioción and casualty figures for the battle)