USS Constellation vs La Vengeance
| USS Constellation vs La Vengeance | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Quasi-War | |||||||
 USS Constellation engaging the French frigate La Vengeance | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 France | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Thomas Truxton |
 François Marie Pitot | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
1 frigate 336 crew 38 guns |
1 frigate 380 crew 40 guns | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
14 dead 25 wounded 1 frigate severely damaged |
28–160 dead 110 wounded 1 frigate severely damaged | ||||||
USS Constellation vs La Vengeance, or the action of 1 February 1800, was a
single-ship action fought between frigates of the French Navy and the United States Navy during the Quasi-War. In the battle the American frigate USS Constellation tried to take the French frigate La Vengeance as a prize. Both ships were heavily damaged. Although the French frigate struck her colors
(surrendered) twice, she managed to flee only after the main mast of her opponent had fallen.
In 1798, an
La Vengeance of the French Navy. Despite Pitot's attempts to flee, his frigate was drawn into a heavy engagement with Constellation. Although the French frigate struck her colors twice, Constellation was unable to take La Vengeance as a prize. Eventually Pitot was able to escape with his frigate to Curaçao, though only after sustaining severe casualties and damage to his vessel. Truxton's ship sustained serious damage and sailed to Jamaica
for repairs before returning home to a hero's welcome.
Background
In 1800, the
ship-rigged man of war.[1] Besides the numerous privateers operating in the area, the only regular French naval forces in Truxton's area of operations were the frigate La Vengeance under François Marie Pitot and the corvette La Berceau under Louis Senes. Both vessels had arrived at Guadeloupe on 10 December 1799 escorting the new administrators of the French colony.[2] Once at Saint Kitts, Truxton dispersed his squadron, giving each ship orders to cruise independently. He then set sail for Guadeloupe on 30 January 1800 with his flagship Constellation, intending to challenge the French frigate and corvette there.[3] The same day, Pitot in La Vengeance left Guadaloupe's capital of Basse-Terre for France.[4]
By this point in the Quasi-War, the 1,265-ton Constellation carried 38 cannon despite officially being classified by the United States Navy as a 36-gun frigate. Previously her armament had consisted of 24-pounder guns, but these had proven inefficient during Truxton's
boarding action, as Constellation had only 310 men to La Vengeance's complement of 380 crew.[6][8][9]
Engagement
On 1 February 1800 at 07:00, Truxton's crew spotted what appeared to be a 54-gun frigate flying British colors two leagues off the Basse-Terre
speaking trumpet for the French vessel to surrender.[6]
At this point the action began, with Pitot's
double-shotted broadside slammed into the port side of La Vengeance's hull.[10] Sailing side by side, the two frigates continued to engage each other for two and a half hours while Truxton attempted unsuccessfully to move his ship into a raking fire position. As the French tended to aim for the rigging, at one point Constellation's foresails were shot away and the frigate lost her maneuverability until they could be replaced.[6]
La Vengeance prepared for a
topmen who went down with it. With the Americans unable to come alongside his vessel, Pitot took advantage of the situation and simply slipped away into the darkness.[11]
Aftermath
Casualties were heavy on both sides, and both vessels were in such poor condition that each commander thought he had sunk his opponent. Most of La Vengeance's rigging had been blown away; only the lower
French expedition to seize Curaçao brought the materiel needed to repair the frigate, but when asked to help attack the island Pitot refused and slipped away to Guadaloupe.[12]
Constellation had suffered heavy damage with 15 of her crew slain and a further 25 wounded, of whom 11 later died. The ship sailed to
but Truxton could not complete the necessary repairs because of a shortage of naval stores. The ship left Jamaica a week after she arrived, with only her mainmast replaced. After escorting a convoy of 14 merchantmen back to the United States, Truxton sailed his battered frigate to Hampton Roads for a proper refit. Only after he returned to the United States did the American commodore finally learn that the La Vengeance had not been sunk.[14] Truxton was considered a hero and received considerable praise for his actions. In response to his battle with Pitot's frigate, the American government commended Truxton with a Congressional Gold Medal depicting the battle.[15] James C. Jarvis, a 13-year-old Midshipman who was killed when the mainmast collapsed, became famous for his bravery during the battle.References
- ^ Palmer 1987, p. 183.
- ^ Palmer 1987, p. 149.
- ^ Palmer 1987, p. 184.
- ^ a b c Palmer 1987, p. 185.
- ^ a b c Palmer 1987, p. 187.
- ^ a b c d Toll 2006, p. 132.
- ^ Palmer 1987, pp. 187–188.
- ^ Hill 1903, p. 190.
- ^ Cooper 1839, p. 306.
- ^ a b Palmer 1987, p. 186.
- ^ Toll 2006, p. 133.
- ^ Palmer 1987, p. 196.
- ^ Allen 1909, p. 172.
- ^ Toll 2006, p. 134.
- ^ Shaffner 1864, p. 188.
Sources
- Allen, Gardner Weld (1909). Our naval war with France. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. OCLC 1202325.
- OCLC 4765607.
- Hill, Frederic Stanhope (1903). Twenty-six Historic Ships. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons. OCLC 2622223.
- Palmer, Michael A. (1987). Stoddert's War. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. OCLC 15162322.
- OCLC 634744808.
- Toll, Ian W. (2006). Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the US Navy. New York: W. W. Norton. OCLC 633333009.
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 3. Challamel ainé. pp. 200–201.