Order of battle at the Glorious First of June

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The 'Brunswick' and the 'Vengeur du Peuple' at the Battle of the First of June, 1794, painted by Nicholas Pocock.

The

Villaret de Joyeuse which was in turn attempting to lure Howe away from a grain convoy destined for France from the United States.[1] The future of the French Revolution depended on this 117-strong convoy which would save France from famine if it arrived safely. Ultimately, both admirals were successful in their ambitions; Howe defeated Villaret in open battle and sunk or captured seven of his ships. Villaret managed to occupy Howe for long enough and inflict sufficient damage that the convoy escaped unscathed.[2]

Although the campaign was decided by a final major action,

May 1794 saw both fleets at sea with several subordinate squadrons, both admirals conducting a complicated series of convoy, commerce raiding and fleet manoeuvre operations. Numerous merchant ships and small warships were taken or destroyed during the month-long campaign by both sides, and there were also two partial fleet engagements as Howe and Villaret made first contact.[3] Both admirals suffered from wilful disobedience by a number of their officers during the battle, as well as confusion in reading signals which caused an uneven series of melees to break out rather than the unified battleline Howe had envisaged when planning the action.[4] Nevertheless, both commanders were highly praised on their return to their home ports and the battle was considered a success by both sides, with only a few dissenters amongst the naval establishments of both nations.[5]

Historians have had great trouble determining the exact dispositions of the French fleet and even more trouble assessing the casualties it suffered in the battle. During

ship's logs have survived, making an accurate order of battle difficult to discern.[6] Those estimates which are available are often the work of British naval officers at the battle whose accounts frequently differ.[7] Casualties too are almost impossible to establish exactly. French sources published after the battle give a figure of 3,000, but this number does not include those captured, which amounted to 3,500 alone. British estimates aboard captured ships alone are of 1,500 casualties and most historians agree that total French losses during the month-long campaign were around 7,000, as opposed to the British losses estimated at between 1,100 and 1,500.[8]

The British and French fleets on the morning of 1 June 1794[9]

British fleet

28 May

Ships of Lord Howe's fleet engaged on 28 May
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
HMS Russell
Third rate
74 Captain John Willett Payne 0 0 0
HMS Bellerophon
Third rate
74 Rear-Admiral
Thomas Pasley
Captain William Johnstone Hope
0 0 0 Damage to topmasts.
HMS Marlborough
Third rate
74 Captain George Cranfield Berkeley 0 0 0
HMS Thunderer
Third rate
74 Captain Albemarle Bertie 0 0 0
HMS Leviathan
Third rate
74 Captain Lord Hugh Seymour 0 0 0
HMS Audacious
Third rate
74 Captain William Parker 3 19 22 Returned to Britain in a disabled state
Total casualties 3 killed, 19 wounded, 22 total

29 May

Ships of Lord Howe's fleet engaged on 29 May
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
HMS Caesar
Third rate
80 Captain Anthony Molloy 3 19 22 Minor damage to rigging and hull
HMS Queen
Second rate
98 Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner
Captain John Hutt[10]
23 26 49 Extensive damage to masts, rigging and hull
HMS Royal George
First rate
100 Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood
Captain William Domett
15 23 38 Minor damage to rigging and hull
HMS Invincible
Third rate
74 Captain Thomas Pakenham 10 21 31 Minor damage to topmasts
HMS Royal Sovereign
First rate
100 Vice-Admiral Thomas Graves
Captain Henry Nicholls
8 22 30
HMS Russell
Third rate
74 Captain John Willett Payne 0 0 0 Minor damage to rigging and hull.
HMS Orion
Third rate
74 Captain
John Thomas Duckworth
3 0 3 Minor damage to rigging.
HMS Ramillies
Third rate
74 Captain Henry Harvey 3 0 3 Minor damage to rigging.
HMS Defence
Third rate
74 Captain
James Gambier
1 3 4 Minor damage to rigging
HMS Majestic
Third rate
74 Captain Charles Cotton 1 13 14 Minor damage to rigging.
HMS Queen Charlotte
First rate
100 Admiral Lord Howe
Captain Sir Roger Curtis
Captain Sir Andrew Snape Douglas
1 0 1 Minor damage to rigging.
Total casualties 68 killed, 130 wounded, 198 total

1 June

Lord Howe's fleet on the Glorious First of June
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
HMS Caesar
Third rate
80 Captain Anthony Molloy 14 53 67
HMS Bellerophon
Third rate
74 Rear-Admiral
Thomas Pasley
Captain William Johnstone Hope
4 27 31 Extensive damage to masts and rigging.
HMS Leviathan
Third rate
74 Captain Lord Hugh Seymour 11 32 43
HMS Russell
Third rate
74 Captain John Willett Payne 8 26 34
HMS Royal Sovereign
First rate
100 Vice-Admiral Thomas Graves
Captain Henry Nicholls
14 44 58 Damage to masts and rigging
HMS Marlborough
Third rate
74 Captain George Cranfield Berkeley 29 80 109 Totally dismasted
HMS Defence
Third rate
74 Captain
James Gambier
17 36 53 Totally dismasted.
HMS Impregnable
Second rate
98 Rear-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell
Captain George Blagdon Westcott
7 24 31 Damage to masts and rigging.
HMS Tremendous
Third rate
74 Captain James Pigott 3 8 11
HMS Barfleur
Second rate
98 Rear-Admiral
Cuthbert Collingwood
9 25 34
HMS Invincible
Third rate
74 Captain Thomas Pakenham 4 10 14
HMS Culloden
Third rate
74 Captain Isaac Schomberg 2 5 7
HMS Gibraltar
Third rate
80 Captain Thomas Mackenzie 2 12 14
HMS Queen Charlotte
First rate
100 Admiral Lord Howe
Captain Sir Roger Curtis
Captain Sir Andrew Snape Douglas
13 29 42 Extensive damage to masts and rigging.
HMS Brunswick
Third rate
74 Captain
John Harvey †
Lieutenant William Edward Cracraft
45 114 159 Lost mizenmast, extensive damage to remaining masts and rigging.
HMS Valiant
Third rate
74 Captain Thomas Pringle 2 9 11
HMS Orion
Third rate
74 Captain
John Thomas Duckworth
2 24 26 Minor damage to masts and rigging
HMS Queen
Second rate
98 Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner 14 40 54 Lost mainmast, damage to remaining masts and rigging
HMS Ramillies
Third rate
74 Captain Henry Harvey 2 7 9
HMS Alfred
Third rate
74 Captain John Bazely 0 8 8
HMS Montagu
Third rate
74 Captain James Montagu 4 13 17
HMS Royal George
First rate
100 Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood
Captain William Domett
5 49 54 Lost foremast, damage to remaining masts and rigging.
HMS Majestic
Third rate
74 Captain Charles Cotton 2 5 7
HMS Glory
Second rate
98 Captain John Elphinstone 13 39 52 Severe damage to masts and rigging
HMS Thunderer
Third rate
74 Captain Albemarle Bertie 0 0 0
Support ships
HMS Phaeton
Fifth rate
38 Captain William Bentinck 3 5 8
HMS Latona
Fifth rate
38 Captain Edward Thornbrough 0 0 0
HMS Niger
Fifth rate
36 Captain Arthur Kaye Legge 0 0 0
HMS Southampton
Fifth rate
36 Captain Robert Forbes 0 0 0
HMS Venus
Fifth rate
36 Captain William Brown 0 0 0
HMS Aquilon
Fifth rate
36 Captain Robert Stopford 0 0 0
HMS Pegasus
Sixth rate
28 Captain Robert Barlow 0 0 0
HMS Charon Hospital ship - Captain George Countess - - -
HMS Comet
Fireship
14 Commander William Bradley - - -
HMS Incendiary
Fireship
14 Commander John Cooke - - -
HMS Kingfisher Sloop 18 Commander Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin - - -
HMS Rattler
Cutter
16 Lieutenant John Winne 0 0 0
HMS Ranger
Cutter
16 Lieutenant Charles Cotgrave 0 0 0
Total casualties 229 killed, 724 wounded, 953 total

Attached squadrons

Admiral Montagu's squadron
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
HMS Hector
Third rate
74 Rear-Admiral
Lawrence Halstead
- - -
HMS Alexander
Third rate
74 Captain Richard Rodney Bligh - - -
HMS Ganges
Third rate
74 Captain William Truscott - - -
HMS Colossus
Third rate
74 Captain
Charles Pole
- - - Attached on 4 June.
HMS Bellona
Third rate
74 Captain George Wilson - - -
HMS Theseus
Third rate
74 Captain Robert Calder - - -
HMS Arrogant
Third rate
74 Captain Richard Lucas - - -
HMS Minotaur
Third rate
74 Captain
Thomas Louis
- - - Attached on 4 June.
HMS Ruby
Third rate
64 Captain
Sir Richard Bickerton
- - - Attached on 4 June.
HMS Pallas
Fifth rate
32 Captain Henry Curzon - - -
HMS Concorde
Fifth rate
36 Captain Sir Richard Strachan - - -
Captain Rainier's convoy escort
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
HMS Suffolk
Third rate
74 Captain Peter Rainier - - - Ordered to
Madras
HMS Sampson
Third rate
64 Captain Robert Montagu[11] - - - Detached to Saint Helena
HMS Centurion
Fourth rate
50 Captain Samuel Osborne - - - Ordered to
Madras
HMS Resistance
Fifth Rate
44 Captain Edward Pakenham - - - Ordered to
Madras
HMS Argo
Fifth Rate
44 Captain William Clark[12] - - - Detached to Saint Helena
HMS Orpheus
Fifth Rate
32 Captain Henry Newcome - - - Ordered to
Madras
HMS Swift Sloop 14 Commander John Dolling[13] - - - Ordered to
Madras
Source: Parkinson, p. 68

French fleet

28 May

Ships of Villaret de Joyeuse's fleet engaged on 28 May
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Révolutionnaire
First rate
110 Captain Vaudangel[14] ~400 Returned to France in a disabled state
Audacieux
Third rate
74 Captain Pilastre[14] - - - Returned to France with Révolutionnaire
Although other ships were engaged during the action, their names and details are unknown.

29 May

Ships of Villaret de Joyeuse's fleet engaged on 29 May
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Montagnard
Third rate
74 Captain
Jean-Baptiste-François Bompard[14]
Unknown Badly damaged, attached to Vanstabel's squadron.
Éole
Third rate
74 Captain Bertrand Keranguen

Captain Bruix [14]

Unknown
Terrible
First rate
110 Captain Pierre-Jacques Longer

Captain Bouvet[14]

Unknown
Tyrannicide
Third rate
74 Captain
Alain-Joseph Dordelin
Unknown
Indomptable
Third rate
80 Captain Lamesle
Captain Nielly[14]
Unknown Returned to France in a disabled state.
Mont Blanc ?[15]
Third rate
74 Captain Thévenard - - - Returned to France with Indomptable.
Although other ships were engaged during the action, their names and details are unknown.

1 June

Vanguard (Rear-Admiral Bouvet)
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Convention
Third rate
74 Captain Allary[14] Unknown
Gasparin
Third rate
74 Captain Tardy[14] Unknown
America
Third rate
74 Captain
L'Héritier
134 110 244 Totally dismasted.
Captured, subsequently HMS Impétueux.
Téméraire
Third rate
74 Captain Morel[14] Unknown Attached from Nielly's squadron
Terrible
First rate
110 Rear-Admiral Bouvet
Captain Longer[Note 1]
Unknown Lost main and mizen masts.
Impétueux
Third rate
74 Captain Douville   100 85 185 Totally dismasted.
Captured, subsequently destroyed in a dockyard fire.
Mucius
Third rate
74 Captain Lareguy [14] Unknown Totally dismasted.
Éole
Third rate
74 Captain Bertrand Keranguen  Unknown
Tourville
Third rate
74 Captain Langlois[14] Unknown
Précieuse Frigate 32 Unknown
Naïade Brig-Corvette 16 Unknown
Ships ordered by position in the line of battle (Guérin, vol. 6, pp. 503–04)
Battle corps (Rear-Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse)
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Trajan
Third rate
74 Captain Dumoutier[14] Unknown Attached from Nielly's squadron.
Tyrannicide
Third rate
74 Captain
Dordelin
Unknown Extensive damage to masts and rigging.
Juste
Third rate
80 Captain Blavet 100 145 245 Totally dismasted.
Captured, subsequently
HMS Juste
Montagne
First rate
120 Rear-Admiral
Jean Bon Saint-André
Flag Captain Bazire 
Captain Vignot[14]
~300
Jacobin
Third rate
80 Captain Gassin Unknown
Achille
Third rate
74 Captain La Villegris 36 60 66 Totally dismasted.
Captured, subsequently dismantled.
Northumberland
Third rate
74 Captain Étienne 60 100 160 Totally dismasted.
Captured, subsequently dismantled.
Vengeur du Peuple
Third rate
74 Captain Renaudin[14] ~200-600 Captured but sank due to severe damage.
Patriote
Third rate
74 Captain Lacadou[14] Unknown Attached from Nielly's squadron.
Proserpine Frigate 38 Unknown
Tamise Frigate 32 Unknown
Papillon Corvette 12 Unknown
Ships ordered by position in the line of battle (Guérin, vol. 6, pp. 503–04)
Rear guard
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Entreprenant
Third rate
74 Captain Lefranq[14] Unknown
Neptune
Third rate
74 Captain Tiphaine[14] Unknown
Jemmappes
Third rate
74 Captain Desmartis

Captain Le Roy[14]

Unknown Totally dismasted.
Trente-et-un-Mai
Third rate
74 Captain
Ganteaume[14]
Unknown Attached to fleet 31 May.
Extensive damage to masts and rigging.
Républicain
First rate
110 Rear-Admiral Nielly
Captain Lebeau
Captain Louger[14]
Unknown Totally dismasted.
Sans Pareil
Third rate
80 Captain Courand[16] 260 120 380 Attached from Nielly's squadron.
Totally dismasted.
Captured, subsequently HMS Sans Pareil.
Scipion
Third rate
80 Captain Huguet[14] 64 151 215 Totally dismasted.
Pelletier
Third rate
74 Captain Berrade
Captain Raillard[14]
Unknown
Galathée Frigate 32 Unknown
Gentille Frigate 32 Unknown
Ships ordered by position in the line of battle (Guérin, vol. 6, pp. 503–04)

Attached squadrons

Admiral Vanstabel's convoy escort
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Jean Bart
Third rate
74 Rear-Admiral
Pierre Vanstabel
- - -
Tigre
Third rate
74 - - -
Embuscade frigate 32 Lieutenant
Maurice-Julien Emeriau
- - -
Vanstabel's squadron was accompanied by one more frigate and a brig.
Admiral Cornic's squadron
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Majestueux
First rate
110 Rear-Admiral Pierre-François Cornic - - -
Aquilon
Third rate
74 Captain Thevenaut[14] - - -
Jupiter
Third rate
74 - - -
Marat
Third rate
74 - - -
Nestor
Third rate
74 - - -
Redoutable
Third rate
74 - - -
Révolution
Third rate
74 - - -
Superbe
Third rate
74 - - -
Cornic's squadron was accompanied by two frigates, a corvette and a cutter.

The various French units patrolling in the Bay of Biscay kept in contact through a large number of frigates and smaller craft which passed messages between the commanders. This close contact enabled the French fleets to successfully divert the British away from the convoy. Due to the turbulent situation existing in France during 1794, accurate records regarding which frigates were with which fleet and which were present at which action do not exist. Thus only an incomplete listing of French support craft can be created, based mainly on those recognised and reported by British officers.[6]

Attached frigates
Ship Rate Guns Commander Casualties Notes
Killed Wounded Total
Bellone
Fifth rate
36 - - -
Seine
Fifth rate
- - -
Tamise
Fifth rate
32 Captain
Jean-Marthe-Adrien L'Hermite
- - - Present at the Glorious First of June.
Galathée
Fifth rate
32 - - - Present at the Glorious First of June.
Républicaine ? Corvette 20 - - - Captured and burnt 27 May.
Inconnue Corvette 16 - - - Captured and burnt 27 May.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Guérin lists captain Le Ray

Citations

  1. ^ Tracy, p. 89
  2. ^ Padfield, p. 39
  3. ^ Padfield, p. 16
  4. ^ Gardiner, p. 39
  5. ^ James, p. 175
  6. ^ a b James, p. 147
  7. ^ Sources on the French order of battle are patchy and sometimes contradictory, the best for the entire campaign being in William James's The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 1, 1793–1796. This source also provides the best available casualty data for both fleets and is the source on which this list is based. Other sources have backed up James in places but none are as complete. British dispositions, although taken from James, have been confirmed by several other sources
  8. ^ French losses have been estimated by various commentators and historians with some variation: N.A.M. Rodger gives 4,200 casualties and 3,300 captured; (Rodger, p. 430) Digby Smith gives 4,270 casualties and 3,254 captured; (Smith, p. 83) Padfield lists 3,500 casualties; (Padfield, p. 39) Gardiner 3,500 casualties and the same number captured. (Gardiner, p. 38) Saint-André gave 3,000 killed and wounded in his official dispatch and James assesses total French killed, wounded and captured as not less than 7,000. (James, p. 153) British casualty returns are easier to establish due to surviving records although there are discrepancies here too. The official total was 287 killed and 811 wounded during the campaign, whilst the individual ship totals listed in James do not add up to his eventual total of 1,148. (James, p. 152) Most sources agree however that the total casualty figure is approximately 1,200.
  9. ^ James p.147
  10. ^ Captain Hutt was mortally wounded in the action and took no further part in the campaign. He died on 30 June in Spithead.
  11. ^ Winfield 2007, p. 511
  12. ^ Winfield 2007, p. 850
  13. ^ Winfield 2008, p. 579
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w
    • F. Ladimir (1856). Campagnes, thriomphes, revers, désastres et guerres civiles des Français de 1792 à la paix de 1856: Par F. Ladimir et E. Moreau. D'après les Bulletins des Armées, le Moniteur, des documents, notes, memoires et rapports officiels. ouvrage enrichi de cartes dressées pour l'intelligence du récit, orné des portraits des principaux généraux qui ont commande les armées françaises. Et accompagné d'un Recueil des plus célebres Batailles, Faits militaires. Tableaux, Statues, ollé dailles etc. gravés par les meilleurs artistes et consacrés a célebrer les victoires des Français jusqu' à nos jours. Librairie Populaire des Villes et des Campagnes. p. 18.
  15. razé
    .
  16. ^ Guérin, vol. 6, pp. 503–04

References