Action of 8 March 1795 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of 8 March 1795 |
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| Part of the French Revolutionary Wars | |||||||
 Approximate region of location of battle |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Great Britain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Louis Lejoille |
 Adam Littlejohn † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1 frigate, supported by French Mediterranean Fleet | 1 ship of the line | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 8 wounded | 1 killed, 4 wounded 1 ship of the line captured |
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The Action of 8 March 1795 was a small naval battle. It happened in the Mediterranean Sea during the French Revolutionary Wars. This battle was part of a series of fights in early 1795. British and French navies were trying to control the Ligurian Sea. This sea was important for blocking the French naval base at Toulon.
This fight was the first big naval action of that year. The main ships involved were the British warship HMS Berwick. It was a 74-gun ship of the line, but it was damaged. The French ship was the 32-gun frigate Alceste. Later, two more French ships, Vestale and Duquesne, joined the fight. The rest of the French fleet was also nearby.
The battle happened because the French fleet had been damaged in 1793. This was during the Siege of Toulon. After repairs, the French fleet sailed out. Their goal was to show strength to the city of Genoa. They also thought about invading Corsica, which was held by the British. The British fleet had been staying in San Fiorenzo Bay for the winter. But Vice-Admiral William Hotham sailed to Leghorn for repairs. He left Berwick behind because it was badly damaged.
Berwick had lost its main masts in a storm. It was fitted with temporary "jury masts" from a frigate. This meant it could only carry 64 guns instead of 74. Captain Adam Littlejohn was ordered to follow the fleet later. But when he sailed in early March, he met the French fleet. Two French ships of the line and three frigates came to attack Berwick. The frigate Alceste reached Berwick first. Most of the battle was between these two ships.
Captain Littlejohn was killed after about an hour of fighting. The British ship could not move well. More French ships were also arriving. So, the remaining British officers decided to surrender. Berwick was captured and taken to Toulon. The ship then served in the French Navy for ten years. It was later recaptured by the British at the Battle of Trafalgar. A few days after this battle, the French fleet met Hotham's fleet. In the ensuing battle, the French lost two ships.
Why the Battle Happened
The naval war in the Mediterranean started in 1793. This was seven months after France and Britain went to war. A strong British fleet arrived under Vice-Admiral Lord Hood. He took advantage of the political problems in France. He managed to take control of the French naval base at Toulon. He also seized most of the French fleet there.
French forces then surrounded Toulon. After four months, they recaptured the city. Lord Hood tried to burn the French fleet as he left. But only about half the ships were destroyed. Many were damaged but could be repaired. The French started a big repair program.
While the French repaired their ships, Lord Hood ordered an invasion of Corsica. British forces captured French forts on the island. By August 1794, Corsica was under British control. This included San Fiorenzo Bay, an important harbor.
The repaired French fleet, led by Contre-amiral Pierre Martin, sailed in June 1794. Lord Hood almost caught them. Martin's ships had to hide under shore guns until Hood left. The French fleet then stayed in Toulon for the winter.
The British fleet in San Fiorenzo Bay had a difficult winter. Lord Hood was called back to Britain. His deputy, Vice-Admiral William Hotham, took command. On January 15, a strong storm hit the bay. It caused big waves that rocked the anchored ships.
One ship, HMS Berwick, had its rigging removed for repairs. This left its masts unsupported. The ship rocked dangerously and all three lower masts broke off. These masts could not be replaced in San Fiorenzo. Captain William Smith and other officers were found to be careless. They were removed from the ship. Captain Adam Littlejohn took command. He was told to use temporary "jury masts" from a frigate. These were the only ones available.
Hotham then sailed to Leghorn for more repairs. He left Littlejohn behind. Berwick was to follow when its repairs were done. Littlejohn put up the jury masts. But he had to remove some guns to make the ship more stable. Strong winds delayed Berwick. It could only leave San Fiorenzo Bay on March 7.
Four days earlier, Martin had learned that Hotham was gone. He sailed with the French fleet. His fleet had fifteen ships of the line and seven frigates. Their exact mission is not fully clear. It might have been to protect shipping routes. Or perhaps to invade Corsica. Some also thought it was to show force against Rome.
The Battle Begins
The French fleet arrived off Northern Corsica on the morning of March 8. French scouting frigates were ahead of the main fleet. One of them spotted the damaged Berwick sailing north. This was at 7:00 AM.
Captain Littlejohn's lookouts also saw the French fleet. They noticed the French ships were flying Spanish flags. Spain was an ally of Britain. But Littlejohn was not fooled. When his flag signals were not answered, he tried to escape.
However, Berwick's damaged rigging meant it could not go fast. Within four hours, the leading French ships were close enough to fire. Martin had sent two ships of the line, Duquesne and Censeur, to chase Berwick. They were supported by the frigates Alceste and Minerve. The frigate Vestale also joined the chase without orders.
These ships quickly caught up to Berwick. At 11:00 AM, the lead ship, Alceste, opened fire. It was commanded by Lieutenant Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille. Minerve, Vestale, and the larger ships of the line quickly approached.
For an hour, Littlejohn tried to outrun his pursuers. He hoped to meet Hotham's fleet coming from Leghorn. Berwicks return fire caused a lot of damage to Alceste. Lejoille was badly wounded in his arm and leg. Alcestes front mast was also shot down.
Just as Alceste began to fall back, a cannonball from Alceste hit Berwick's deck. It struck Captain Littlejohn in the head, killing him instantly. The remaining British officers saw their captain fall. They also saw the rest of the French ships getting closer. They quickly decided to surrender. As Vestale arrived and opened fire, Lieutenant Nesbit Palmer, the senior officer, lowered the British flag. Shortly after, Duquesne pulled alongside and fired, not knowing Berwick had surrendered.
Aftermath
Besides Captain Littlejohn, Berwick had very few other casualties. Only four men were wounded. This was likely because the French did not want to damage the ship too much. They mostly aimed at its temporary rigging. On Alceste, seven men were wounded, including Lejoille. No other French ships had losses.
The British crew were taken off Berwick. They were shared among the French ships. They were not allowed to take any belongings except the clothes they wore. British historians later said they were "shamefully treated." The British officers were later exchanged. They were found innocent at a court-martial for the loss of the ship. Historians like William James and William Laird Clowes blamed Hotham for the loss. They felt he was too impatient to sail to Leghorn. He left a vulnerable ship behind.
Berwick was taken to Gourjean Bay by Alceste. The ships were repaired there before going to Toulon. On March 12, the French ship of the line Mercure joined them. It had been damaged in a storm. The rest of Martin's fleet sailed across the Gulf of Genoa.
The next day, Hotham's fleet found the French. They chased them in a running battle. They captured two French ships of the line, Ça Ira and Censeur. Hotham chose not to attack further. Martin retreated to Îles d'Hyères. Berwick and Mercure joined him later. The damaged ships, including Berwick and Alceste, went to Toulon for repairs. Berwick was then added to the French Navy under the same name.
Lejoille was given command of Berwick. But his wounds were too serious for him to return to duty right away. He spent eight months recovering. During this time, he was promoted. He later fought in the Battle of the Nile in 1798. He also captured HMS Leander in another battle. Lejoille was killed in action later by shore guns at Brindisi.
As a French ship, Berwick was later involved in another battle in 1795. It served for ten years. It was recaptured by the British at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It was later wrecked on the Spanish coast.
See Also
