Action of 4 April 1808 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action of 4 April 1808
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Battle location in Cadiz Bay. Rota is on left of map
Date 4 April 1808 Location Off Rota, Cádiz, Spain Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Captain Murray Maxwell
Strength
Frigates: HMS Mercury HMS Alceste HMS Grasshopper	large number of merchantmen, 20 gunboats, shore batteries
Casualties and losses
1 killed, 2 wounded 1 Frigate damaged	Unknown casualties, 7 merchants captured, 2 gunboats destroyed, 7 gunboats run ashore

The Action of 4 April 1808 was a naval battle that took place during the Napoleonic Wars. It happened off the coast of Rota, a town near Cadiz, Spain. In this battle, three British Royal Navy ships faced a large Spanish convoy. The convoy was protected by many small gunboats and cannons on the shore. The British ships managed to capture several Spanish merchant ships.

Why the Battle Happened

Keeping Watch on the Spanish Coast

For over two years after the famous Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, the Royal Navy kept a close watch on Cadiz. This was part of their job to blockade, or block off, the port. Their main goal was to keep the combined French and Spanish fleets trapped inside the harbor. They also watched for any ships trying to move by sea. If they saw any, they would attack them.

British Ships on Duty

The British ships involved in this mission were led by Captain Murray Maxwell. He commanded the 38-gun frigate Alceste. Another ship was the 28-gun frigate Mercury, led by Captain James Alexander Gordon. The third ship was the 18-gun brig-sloop Grasshopper, commanded by Captain Thomas Searle. A brig-sloop is a smaller, fast warship.

The Attack Begins

Spotting the Convoy

On April 4, 1808, the British ships Alceste, Mercury, and Grasshopper were anchored. They were about three miles northwest of a lighthouse near Cadiz. Suddenly, they saw a large group of Spanish ships. This group was a convoy, meaning many merchant ships traveling together. They were protected by about 20 gunboats and many cannons on the beach. The convoy was moving close to the shore from the north.

British Ships Move In

At 3 p.m., the Spanish convoy was passing the town of Rota. The British ships decided to act. The Alceste and its squadron raised their anchors and sailed towards the Spanish vessels. The wind was blowing from the west-south-west, which helped them move quickly.

Fighting the Spanish Defenses

By 4 p.m., the Spanish gunboats and shore cannons started firing. Their cannonballs and shells flew over the British ships. The British ships then opened fire in return. The Alceste and Mercury focused their attacks on the Spanish gunboats.

The Grasshopper was a smaller ship and could sail in shallower water. It positioned itself very close to the shore batteries. Its powerful carronades (short-range cannons) fired grapeshot. This drove the Spanish soldiers away from their cannons. The Grasshopper also stopped a group of gunboats that had come from Cadiz to help.

The Alceste and Mercury were in a tricky spot. Because of the wind, they had to turn around every fifteen minutes. They had to be careful not to hit the shallow areas near the shore.

Capturing the Merchant Ships

Lieutenant Stewart, the first officer of the Alceste, planned to board the Spanish convoy. The boats from the Alceste, carrying marines, set off. Boats from the Mercury quickly followed.

Lieutenant Stewart led the two groups of boats. They reached the convoy and quickly boarded the Spanish merchant ships. They managed to capture seven merchant ships. These ships were taken right from under the Spanish cannons and from the protection of Spanish barges and pinnaces. These smaller boats had joined the gunboats to help protect the convoy. By early evening, the fighting was over. The three British frigates sailed away with their captured prizes.

What Happened After

Results of the Battle

The British captured seven merchant ships. But that wasn't all. Two of the Spanish gunboats were destroyed during the fight. Another seven gunboats ran aground, meaning they got stuck on the shore. This happened because of the heavy fire from the two British frigates and the brig.

The captured merchant ships were carrying important supplies. They had ship timber, gunpowder, and other weapons.

Costs to the British

The British had very few losses. Only one sailor was killed on board the Grasshopper. Two others were slightly wounded. However, the Grasshopper itself was badly damaged. Its hull, masts, rigging, and sails were all severely hit. The Mercury lost one anchor. The other two frigates, Alceste and Mercury, only had damage to their sails and rigging.