Action of 6 November 1794 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of 6 November 1794 |
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| Part of the French Revolutionary Wars | |||||||
 HMS Alexander . . . Shortly before Striking Her Colours to the French Squadron, 6 November 1794, William Shayer |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Great Britain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Joseph-Marie Nielly |
 Richard Bligh Charles Hamilton |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 5 ships of the line 3 frigates 1 corvette |
2 ships of the line | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 10 wounded | 28 killed 30 wounded 1 ship of the line captured |
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The Action of 6 November 1794 was a naval battle during the French Revolutionary Wars. It happened when two British warships, HMS Alexander and HMS Canada, were sailing back to Britain. They were caught by a large French fleet in the Celtic Sea.
The French ships had left Brest to find British merchant ships. Instead, they found these two British warships. The British didn't know the French fleet was nearby. This was because the British ships watching Brest were away in Plymouth.
The British ships tried to get away by separating. But the French commander, Joseph-Marie Nielly, split his forces too. Canada was faster and managed to escape. However, Alexander was slower and was caught by several French ships. Alexander fought off the first two attackers. But the third French ship managed to get close. After a tough fight, Captain Richard Rodney Bligh had to surrender his ship. This battle was a rare French victory. It took place between two big British victories: the Glorious First of June and the Battle of Groix.
Why the Battle Happened
War Between Nations
In 1793, the French Republic declared war on Great Britain. This happened after years of growing tension. For the Royal Navy (Britain's navy), a big worry was the French fleet. This fleet was based in the strong port of Brest.
Controlling the Seas
Brest was a perfect spot to attack merchant ships. These ships sailed through the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay. They were bringing goods to Britain from all over the world. So, it was very important to stop the French fleet from leaving Brest. For France, Brest was key for getting grain from America. French fleets often sailed to protect these grain ships. They also tried to stop British ships entering the English Channel.
Fleets at Sea
In May 1794, a big French fleet sailed to protect a grain convoy. The British Channel Fleet met them far out in the Atlantic. This battle was called the Glorious First of June. The French lost seven ships but saved their grain. Later, in June 1794, the British fleet sailed again. But a storm damaged many ships. Their commander, Lord Howe, took his fleet to Torbay.
So, in late October, no British fleet was at sea. This allowed a strong French fleet to sail from Brest. Their goal was to attack a large British merchant convoy. This convoy was sailing from Lisbon to Britain.
The French Squadron
The French force was led by Contre-amiral Joseph-Marie Nielly. It included five 74-gun ships of the line. These were Marat, Tigre, Droits de l'Homme, Pelletier, and Jean Bart. There were also three frigates and one corvette.
British Ships Spotted
Nielly knew about other British ships in the area. These included a convoy from the Mediterranean Sea. Also, the large first-rate ship HMS Victory was sailing alone. Nielly sailed in the Celtic Sea for several days. On November 6, at 2:30 AM, two unknown ships appeared. These were the British 74-gun ships HMS Alexander and HMS Canada. They were returning after escorting a convoy.
The Chase Begins
Identifying the Ships
When the British captains saw the French ships, they wanted to know who they were. They slowed down and turned their ships. This way, they could get closer to the squadron. By 4:00 AM, they were about half a mile away. They prepared to escape if the ships were French. At 5:00 AM, British lookouts saw the squadron coming fast. This made Captains Bligh and Hamilton sure the ships were enemies.
Attempting Escape
Captain Bligh told Hamilton to separate. He hoped Canada could escape, as Alexander was slower. Hamilton changed course to head north. Nielly had tried to hide his squadron's true identity. He wanted to trick the British into coming closer. His plan worked. Three French ships chased Alexander. Two ships of the line, including Nielly's flagship, and two frigates followed Canada.
The Ruse is Over
At 7:30 AM, Nielly ordered his ships to raise the Union Flag. The British ships replied by raising their own flags at 8:15 AM. They had changed their escape direction to the east. This helped them use the wind better. Raising the British flags showed Nielly that the British knew who he was. So, he ordered his squadron to raise the French tricolour. The trick was over.
The Fight for Alexander
The French ships chasing Alexander had been getting closer. Alexander fired its stern-chasers (guns at the back) at them. The French ships fired their bow-chasers (guns at the front). At 9:00 AM, Canada also came within range. Nielly's flagship Marat fired at Canada. The shot missed. Hamilton fired his own stern-chasers. Bligh signaled for Alexander and Canada to form a line. Canada would be in front. This way, they could help each other.
Nielly saw what Bligh was trying to do. He moved his ships to block Hamilton's move. Both French ships now fired on Canada. This left Alexander alone. Alexander fell further behind Canada. At 11:00 AM, the French ship Jean Bart got close enough. It fired its main broadside (all guns on one side) at Alexander. The two ships fought fiercely for 30 minutes. Both ships were damaged.
At 11:30 AM, Jean Bart pulled away. The next French ship, Tigre, took its place. Tigre couldn't get directly alongside Alexander. But it still attacked the British ship with heavy fire. Tigre also took a lot of damage. Its main and mizen topmasts (parts of the mast) were shot away. Its rigging was badly damaged.
Tigre also turned away around 12:00 PM. The third French ship, Marat, then pulled alongside. It heavily attacked the already damaged Alexander for an hour. Marat also took damage. At 1:00 PM, Bligh surrendered Alexander. His ship's rigging and sails were torn. Its masts were shot through. The hull was shattered, and fires were burning. Nielly's ships were also closing in and firing. Hamilton, in Canada, had managed to get ahead of Nielly. Most of the French shots missed Canada. Hamilton reported no damage or injuries at all.
After the Battle
Return to Brest
After capturing Alexander, Nielly ordered his fleet to return to Brest. He did not wait for the British convoys he had planned to attack. Unknown to the French, these convoys were less than 180 miles away. Alexander was badly damaged and almost sinking. It was very difficult to get the ship back to port.
Casualties and Prisoners
The captured British sailors were spread among the French ships. So, Captain Bligh could not make a full list of his losses. He later guessed about 40 men were killed or wounded on Alexander. French records state 28 killed and 30 wounded. British reports claimed very high French casualties. However, a French historian later said this was wrong. He reported only 10 wounded for the French, all on Marat.
Captain Bligh was taken to Brest. He was held by Captain Jean François Renaudin. Renaudin had commanded the ship Vengeur du Peuple at the Glorious First of June. Bligh later praised Renaudin for his kind treatment. Bligh wrote to the Admiralty that he was treated with "great Kindness and Humanity".
Bligh's Return and Alexander's Fate
Bligh was exchanged shortly after the battle. He returned to Britain. On May 27, 1795, he faced a court-martial. This was a normal process when a Royal Navy ship was lost in battle. He was honorably cleared of any blame for losing Alexander.
In France, the National Convention praised Nielly for his victory. The captured Alexander was repaired and joined the French Navy. However, it was not a good sailing ship. In June 1795, Alexandre was part of the French fleet. This fleet was involved in Cornwallis's Retreat and the Battle of Groix. In the Battle of Groix, Alexandre was recaptured by the British fleet. It then rejoined the Royal Navy.
Historian Robert Gardiner summed up the capture of Alexander. He wrote that losing a British 74-gun ship was rare. Only five were lost during these wars. He added that the Royal Navy's "habit of victory" was not yet fully established in 1794.
See Also
- Naval warfare of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Images for kids
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HMS Alexander . . . Shortly before Striking Her Colours to the French Squadron, 6 November 1794, William Shayer
