BATTLE OF SAN DOMINGO

(Redirected from Action of 6 February 1806)

The naval 'Battle of San Domingo' was fought on 6 February 1806 near Santo Domingo, off the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, when a British squadron under Vice-Admiral Duckworth defeated a smaller French squadron under Rear-Admiral Leissegues.
The French squadron of five ships of the line had escaped the British blockade of Brest late the previous year and been chased to the West Indies by Duckworth.
The French ships, not quite ready to sail, and with part of their crews ashore (including Rear-Admiral Leissegues), weighed anchor after seeing the British ships approach. The British ships moved to cut them off and cross their "T". After forming line of battle, the British ships caught up and, after a tough fight lasting two hours, captured three of the French ships, while ''Imperial'' 130 and then ''Diomede'' 74 went aground and were wrecked, and then burnt about 2 days later. The three smaller French ships then escaped and weren't pursued. ''Agamemnon'' lagged behind for much of the battle, and the smaller British ships weren't involved.
''Jupiter'' was taken into the Royal Navy and renamed ''Maida'', while ''Brave'' sank on her way back to England. The British suffered 74 killed and 264 wounded, the French suffered perhaps 1,510 casualties.
'Ships involved:'

Contents

Britain (John Duckworth)

France (Leissegues)

External links

Britain (John Duckworth)

'Windward line'

''Superb'' 74 (flag) - 6 killed, 56 wounded

''Northumberland'' 74 - Damaged, 21 killed, 79 wounded

''Spencer'' 74 - Damaged, 18 killed, 50 wounded

''Agamemnon'' 64 - 1 killed, 13 wounded

'Lee line' (''Canopus'' was abeam of ''Spencer'')

''Canopus'' 80 (Captain Francis William Austen) - 8 killed, 22 wounded

''Donegal'' 74 - Damaged, 12 killed, 33 wounded

''Atlas'' 74 - Damaged, 8 killed, 11 wounded

'Line to windward'

''Acasta'' 40 (frigate)

''Magicienne'' 36 (frigate)

''Kingfisher'' 16 (ship-sloop)

''Epervier'' 14 (brig)

France (Leissegues)

'Line of battle'

''Alexandre'' 80 (Captain Pierre-Elie Garreau) - Captured

''Imperial'' 130 (flag, captain Julien-Gabriel Bigot) - Wrecked, burnt

''Diomede'' 74 - Wrecked, burnt

''Jupiter'' 74 - Captured

''Brave'' 74 - Captured

'Inshore line'

''Felicite'' (frigate)

''Cornelie'' (frigate)

''Diligente'' (ship-corvette)

External links

★ Account

★ Information