Skirmish of Loch nan Uamh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skirmish of Loch nan Uamh |
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| Part of the Jacobite rising of 1745 | |||||||
 Loch nan Uamh |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 British-Hanoverians from Royal Navy |
 Jacobites from: French privateers |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Captain Noel |
Captain Rouillee Captain Lorry |
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| Strength | |||||||
| Three sloops-of-war (smaller than the two French frigates) | Two frigates | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 29 men killed and 85 wounded | ||||||
The Skirmish of Loch nan Uamh was a small battle that happened on May 2, 1746. It was part of the Jacobite rising of 1745, a time when people tried to put the Stuart family back on the British throne. In this fight, the British Royal Navy battled against French ships called privateers. These privateers were helping the Jacobite rebels.
Contents
What Happened Before the Skirmish?
After the Jacobites lost the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746, two French privateer ships arrived. These ships, named Le Mars and La Bellone, came from Nantes, a city in France. They dropped anchor at Loch nan Uamh on April 30, 1746.
A Small Mix-Up
Privateers often used a black symbol, called a cockade, as their sign. This was also the symbol for the British-Hanoverian supporters. Because of this, Jacobite rebels on shore mistakenly fired at the French ships. However, the privateers quickly raised the French flag, and everyone realized the mistake.
Important Passengers and Cargo
Le Mars was supposed to unload important supplies, including the famous Loch Arkaig treasure. But the British Navy was getting close, so the ship hesitated. Instead, Le Mars took on board some Jacobite leaders who were trying to escape. These included James Drummond, 3rd Duke of Perth and Sir Thomas Sheridan.
The Battle at Loch nan Uamh
On May 2, 1746, three British ships quietly entered the loch. As the British ships came closer, Captain Antoine Rouillé of Le Mars decided to stay put. But Captain Claude Lory of La Bellone decided to sail away.
The First Shots
This allowed the British ship HMS Greyhound to fire a powerful broadside (a shot from all guns on one side) at Le Mars. This attack caused many deaths on Le Mars. Eyewitnesses said the ship's decks were covered in blood. The crew panicked, but they were forced to keep fighting.
Fierce Fighting on the Water
Then, La Bellone and HMS Greyhound began to fight each other. La Bellone's mast was broken by a British broadside. The British tried to board La Bellone, but she fired two more broadsides. HMS Greyhound had to move away. This gave Le Mars a chance to start sailing.
Escape and Repairs
HMS Terror tried to stop Le Mars, but a shot from La Bellone damaged her. La Bellone then led Le Mars to a bay at the end of Loch nan Uamh. There, Le Mars began to fix her damage. Meanwhile, La Bellone kept fighting the British ships.
Onlookers and Damage
Hundreds of people watched the battle from the shore. HMS Greyhound even fired at them to stop them from taking the gold and supplies that had been unloaded. HMS Baltimore, along with HMS Greyhound and HMS Terror, tried to board the French ships. But the captain of HMS Baltimore was hurt, and his ship was badly damaged. She lost her anchor and two masts. HMS Baltimore then left to get help. La Bellone hit HMS Greyhound's main mast and set fire to her hand grenades. Le Mars was in bad shape, hit many times above and below the water. She had 29 men killed and 85 wounded.
What Happened After the Skirmish?
The French ships managed to escape from the battle. However, another French ship returned in September. This ship successfully rescued the Jacobite leader Charles Edward Stuart, who had been hiding. Both French privateers, Le Mars and La Bellone, were captured by the Royal Navy the following year.
See also
