Amazone.27s journey Action of 24 March 1811
hms amelia, john christian schetky, 1852, norwich castle
amazone, commanded captain bernard-louis rosseau, attempted sail cherbourg again on 23 march 1811. on occasion rosseau evaded blockade of le havre , dawn on 24 march weathering point of cape barfleur. frigate passed phare de gatteville lighthouse, few miles destination, spotted british ship of line sailed british fleet anchorage @ st helens, 74-gun hms berwick under captain james macnamara, sailing approximately 12 nautical miles (22 km) offshore. macnamara took berwick in pursuit, seeking cut off rosseau s advance, , french captain managed evade berwick taking shelter in small bay 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west of lighthouse.
navigation through rocks of bay had been difficult, , entered bay amazone s rudder had been torn away, rendering ship unmanoeuverable. amazone trapped, macnamara called rest of cherbourg squadron, frigate hms amelia under captain frederick paul irby , brig-sloops hms goshawk under commander james lilburn , hms hawk under commander henry bourchier. force required remain substantial distance offshore rocky coastline posed considerable danger british ships. macnamara s plan wait high tide , bring squadron closer inshore bombard french frigate surrender. waited, squadron joined niobe le havre under captain john wentworth loring. @ 16:00 tides optimal attack , niobe, amelia , berwick sailed bay. however, rosseau had situated amazone in strong position, protected close attack rocks , shoals , in consequence british ships fire wore around, resulting in scattered , inaccurate fire. advanced, british ships came under fire amazone, killed 1 sailor on berwick , killed 1 , wounded on amelia, while british fire had no effect on french ship. @ 18:00, macnamara withdrew ships bay, 3 vessels having suffered considerable damage rigging , sails amazone s shot.
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