Action of 15 July 1798 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action of 15 July 1798
Part of the Mediterranean campaign during the War of the Second Coalition
Capture of the Dorothea, 15 July 1798, Thomas Whitcombe
Date 15 July 1798 Location Off Cartagena, Mediterranean Sea Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Manley Dixon	Felix O'Neil
Strength
1 ship of the line	4 frigates
Casualties and losses
2 wounded	52 killed and wounded 1 frigate captured

The Action of 15 July 1798 was a small naval battle. It happened during the French Revolutionary Wars. This fight took place off the coast of Spain. It was between the British Royal Navy ship HMS Lion. This ship was led by Captain Manley Dixon. On the other side was a group of four Spanish Navy frigates. They were led by Commodore Don Felix O'Neil.

HMS Lion was one of several ships. These ships were sent into the Western Mediterranean Sea. This was done by Vice-Admiral Earl St Vincent. He was the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet. The Spanish ships were on a raiding trip. They had sailed from Cartagena seven days earlier. The British ship found them as they were returning. Even though the Spanish ships together were stronger, they were not well-coordinated. One of their frigates, Santa Dorotea, fell behind. Lion then attacked it.

The other Spanish ships fired at Lion. But their shots did not do much damage. The isolated Santa Dorotea quickly had to give up. Commodore O'Neil then turned his other three frigates back towards Cartagena. Captain Dixon was able to take the captured ship. He sent it to Earl St Vincent's fleet. The British Navy later bought Santa Dorotea. Lion stayed in the Mediterranean that year. It helped blockades around Malta and Alexandria. The Spanish ports were watched closely by the British. So, they did not send out any more ships that year.

Why the Battle Happened

At the start of 1798, the Mediterranean Sea was mostly controlled by France. Spain was an ally of France. They had joined France in the French Revolutionary Wars in 1796. The British Royal Navy fleet in the Mediterranean had to leave. They went to Portugal for supplies. This was because they could not get to deep ports.

However, the British fleet was not defeated. In 1797, Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis won a battle. This was the Battle of Cape St Vincent. He captured four Spanish ships of the line. After this, the British blocked Spanish ports. Especially Cadiz, a big port in the south. The Spanish did not try to break out again that year.

In early 1798, news reached Earl St Vincent. He heard that France was building up forces. This was happening around Toulon under General Napoleon Bonaparte. The British government also heard these rumors. So, St Vincent sent Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson. Nelson had three ships to watch the French. But Nelson arrived too late. The French fleet had already sailed. They carried over 30,000 soldiers into the Eastern Mediterranean.

Nelson was joined by ten more ships. These were sent by St Vincent. Nelson chased the French. But he did not know where they were going. The French fleet captured Malta. Ten days later, Bonaparte sailed for Alexandria. Nelson's fleet accidentally passed the French fleet at night. The British reached Egypt first. But they sailed away before Bonaparte arrived.

While Nelson was sailing, St Vincent used the chance. There were no enemy ships in the Western Mediterranean. So, he sent new warships to the area. One of these ships was the 64-gun HMS Lion. It was commanded by Captain Manley Dixon. Lion was told to patrol the Spanish Mediterranean coast. On July 15, at 9:00 AM, Lion was about 97 miles (156 km) southeast of Cartagena. That is when four ships were seen to the southeast.

The Fight Begins

The four ships spotted by Lion were Spanish frigates. They had left Cartagena on July 8. They were on a short trip to raid trade ships. But their mission was not successful. Each Spanish ship had 34 guns. Their cannonballs weighed about 180 pounds (82 kg) each. Lion's cannonballs weighed about 678 pounds (308 kg).

When they saw Lion, the Spanish ships formed a battle line. Commodore Felix O'Neil's ship, Pomona, was in the lead. It was followed by Proserpine. Then came Santa Dorotea. The last ship was Santa Cazilda.

Captain Dixon wanted to fight. He steered his ship to get the "weather gage." This meant he could use the wind to move his ship. It let him attack the Spanish ships when he chose. Dixon then sailed towards the Spanish frigates. The Spanish ships got ready for the attack.

The Battle Unfolds

One of the frigates, Santa Dorotea, had a broken topmast. This made it slower than the others. Captain Gerraro, its commander, saw his ship falling behind. It was in danger of being cut off by Lion. Dixon steered his ship towards the gap opening between the Spanish ships.

Commodore O'Neil saw the danger. He ordered the first three frigates to turn around. They sailed back to help Santa Dorotea. They passed close to Lion and started firing heavily at 11:15 AM. Lion fired back. The Spanish frigates did not turn for a second pass right away. They kept going as Dixon got closer to the slow Santa Dorotea.

Captain Gerraro tried to stop Lion. He fired his "stern chasers." These were cannons at the back of his ship. They damaged Lion's ropes and sails. As Lion got closer, O'Neil's ships returned. But the frigates passed Lion from very far away. Their cannon fire had no effect. They were also fired upon by the British ship.

Finally, Dixon brought Lion right next to the Spanish frigate. He opened heavy fire. Gerraro fired back with his own cannons. The bigger and stronger British ship quickly damaged Santa Dorotea. Within minutes, its rear mast fell. Its main mast and steering rudder were badly hit.

As Santa Dorotea drifted off course, O'Neil passed Lion a third time. This time, he was even farther away. Again, his cannon fire did not work. And again, he was fired upon by the British ship. O'Neil's last try to save Santa Dorotea failed. He turned away and his ships sailed quickly towards Cartagena at 1:10 PM.

Gerraro's ship was alone and trapped by Lion. Lion was slowly turning back towards the damaged frigate. Gerraro raised the Union Flag upside down. This was a sign that he was giving up.

What Happened Next

Santa Dorotea was badly damaged in the short fight. At least 20 of its crew were killed. Another 32 were wounded out of 371 men. Lion had only two men wounded. One sailor lost a leg. A young officer was shot in the shoulder. Lion's ropes and sails were torn. But the ship itself had no major damage.

Captain Dixon secured his captured ship. He spent the next day making repairs. Then he sent Santa Dorotea to Earl St Vincent. The British Royal Navy bought the captured ship. It served for several years as HMS Santa Dorotea. It was rated as a 36-gun ship. The money from selling the ship and its supplies was paid to Dixon's crew in October 1800.

Almost 50 years later, the British Navy honored this battle. They added a special medal clasp. It said "LION 15 JULY 1798." This was for the Naval General Service Medal. It was given to any British sailors still alive in 1847 who were in the battle.

Lion stayed in the Western Mediterranean for two more months. It later joined a group of four Portuguese ships. In September, this group was ordered to find Nelson. They sailed east. But north of Malta, they met a large group of damaged ships. These were seven British ships and six captured French ships. They were all survivors of the Battle of the Nile. That was Nelson's big victory off Egypt on August 1.

The British-Portuguese ships continued to Alexandria in October. They briefly joined the blockade there. Then they returned to Malta in December. The Spanish did not send any more ships from their Mediterranean ports in 1798.

Famous People in the Battle

José de San Martín was a staff member on the Santa Dorothea.

See also

In Spanish: Combate de Cartagena (1798) para niños