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Foreign News
November 1, 1805
Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger
Norfolk, Virginia
What is this article about?
Vice-Admiral Villeneuve reports from Vigo on a naval engagement on 3 Thermidor, Year 13, with a British squadron of 15 ships. French-Spanish fleet maintained wind advantage amid fog; two Spanish ships missing, possibly captured. Low casualties: 44 killed, 95 wounded. Pursuing damaged British fleet after failed re-engagement.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
PARIS, August 21.
MINISTRY OF THE MARINE.
Vice-Admiral Villeneuve, to the Minister of the Marine and of the Colonies.
On board his Majesty's ship the Bucentaure, in the road of Vigo, 10th Thermidor year 13.
Monseigneur--I have rendered you an account of the engagement that I had on the 3d Thermidor, with the English squadron consisting, I believe, of fifteen ships of the line, and several frigates and sloops of war. I have had the honour to inform you at the same time of the several manœuvres by which I contrived to preserve the advantage of the wind in the action and to disconcert the project that the enemy, had manifested of placing the rear of my squadron between two fires.
The fog which covered us had prevented me from giving, during the battle, the orders that it might require; but, after a cannonade of about three hours, the enemy having stood away, I had every reason to think I had the advantage of the action, when the first clear weather made known to me that there were two Spanish ships missing of the fleet. I flattered myself at first that they had stood away for a Spanish port; but as I have heard nothing of them, and have learned since that one of them was dismasted, I have reason to think that they may have fallen to leeward and drifted amidst the enemy.
In vain did I use every effort on the 4th and 5th to force the English admiral to a new engagement; he constantly employed every means to avoid it. On the 7th, perceiving him no more, I steered for Ferrol, to unite there under my flag the squadron of his Imperial Majesty and that of his Catholic Majesty, commanded by lieutenant general Grandallana.
I struggled for two days against a strong gale from the north east, and a high sea, which obstructed my voyage so much, that I determined to anchor at Vigo, for the purpose of landing my wounded, with some sick men of the land troops that are on board the squadron, and to take in water, which the Achille and Algesiras stood in need of, having been unable to stop a sufficient time in the West-Indies to provide themselves with their complement.
In my engagement of the third, we fought only at a great distance, and I send you a statement of the killed and wounded, which is very insignificant.
Your excellency may depend that I shall remain but a short time in this road, and that as soon as I have taken in my water, I shall seek after the English squadron, without, however, neglecting the mission that is entrusted to me. As the admiral who fought me had most certainly three of his ships disabled from keeping the sea, I do not think he has more than twelve remaining
I cannot sufficiently praise the talent and noble conduct of admiral Gravina: all the Spanish ships behaved with the greatest bravery; but I am still at a loss to comprehend the event of the two ships which are missing. However your excellency conceives that two ships unrigged may have drifted into the enemy's line, without it being possible for me to afford them any succour, since the fog entirely prevented my seeing their state and position.
I beg you to assure his majesty the emperor, that I did every thing possible to attack the enemy anew; that I obstinately pursued him; and that he always declined the combat. Be also kind enough to assure his majesty that I cannot bestow sufficient encomiums on the captains and crews of the squadrons I have the honour to command; and that if we have the good fortune to fall in with the squadron that I fought, we will give it a good account of ourselves.
I pray you to accept my respect.
VILLENEUVE.
IMPERIAL SQUADRON,
UNDER THE ORDERS OF ADMIRAL VILLENEUVE.
Statement of the men killed and wounded in the engagement of the 3d Thermidor, year 13.
Bucentaure--3 killed, 3 wounded--among the last is a lieutenant de vaisseau.
Formidable--4 killed, 6 wounded--petty officers, seamen and soldiers.
Indomptable--1 killed, 1 wounded--among the last is an ensign de vaisseau.
Neptune--1 killed, 7 wounded--petty officers, seamen and soldiers.
Pluto--8 killed, 22 wounded--among the last are a lieutenant de vaisseau and two midshipmen.
Mont-Blanc--6 killed, 11 wounded--among the last a midshipman.
Atlas--10 killed, 32 wounded--the commander, two lieutenants and one enseigne de vaisseau, two midshipmen and two land officers are among the wounded.
Berwick--2 killed, 8 wounded--the captain de fregate and two midshipmen, among the wounded.
Intrepid--5 killed, 5 wounded--among the killed are the commander and the enseigne.
Swiftsure--none.
Scipion--none.
Aigle--4 killed--sailors and soldiers.
Algesiras--none.
Achille--none.
Total. 44 killed, 95 wounded.
Names of the Spanish ships which have had men killed and wounded.
Argonaute, 4 killed, 3 wounded.
According to the statement delivered in by
Terrible, 1 killed, 4 wounded.
the chief of the staff of
America, 3 killed, 8 wounded.
the Spanish squadron.
Espagne, 3 killed, 6 wounded.
11 21
On board the Bucentaure, in the road of Vigo, 12th Thermidor, year 13.
The Commissary of the squadron.
CUVELIER.
MINISTRY OF THE MARINE.
Vice-Admiral Villeneuve, to the Minister of the Marine and of the Colonies.
On board his Majesty's ship the Bucentaure, in the road of Vigo, 10th Thermidor year 13.
Monseigneur--I have rendered you an account of the engagement that I had on the 3d Thermidor, with the English squadron consisting, I believe, of fifteen ships of the line, and several frigates and sloops of war. I have had the honour to inform you at the same time of the several manœuvres by which I contrived to preserve the advantage of the wind in the action and to disconcert the project that the enemy, had manifested of placing the rear of my squadron between two fires.
The fog which covered us had prevented me from giving, during the battle, the orders that it might require; but, after a cannonade of about three hours, the enemy having stood away, I had every reason to think I had the advantage of the action, when the first clear weather made known to me that there were two Spanish ships missing of the fleet. I flattered myself at first that they had stood away for a Spanish port; but as I have heard nothing of them, and have learned since that one of them was dismasted, I have reason to think that they may have fallen to leeward and drifted amidst the enemy.
In vain did I use every effort on the 4th and 5th to force the English admiral to a new engagement; he constantly employed every means to avoid it. On the 7th, perceiving him no more, I steered for Ferrol, to unite there under my flag the squadron of his Imperial Majesty and that of his Catholic Majesty, commanded by lieutenant general Grandallana.
I struggled for two days against a strong gale from the north east, and a high sea, which obstructed my voyage so much, that I determined to anchor at Vigo, for the purpose of landing my wounded, with some sick men of the land troops that are on board the squadron, and to take in water, which the Achille and Algesiras stood in need of, having been unable to stop a sufficient time in the West-Indies to provide themselves with their complement.
In my engagement of the third, we fought only at a great distance, and I send you a statement of the killed and wounded, which is very insignificant.
Your excellency may depend that I shall remain but a short time in this road, and that as soon as I have taken in my water, I shall seek after the English squadron, without, however, neglecting the mission that is entrusted to me. As the admiral who fought me had most certainly three of his ships disabled from keeping the sea, I do not think he has more than twelve remaining
I cannot sufficiently praise the talent and noble conduct of admiral Gravina: all the Spanish ships behaved with the greatest bravery; but I am still at a loss to comprehend the event of the two ships which are missing. However your excellency conceives that two ships unrigged may have drifted into the enemy's line, without it being possible for me to afford them any succour, since the fog entirely prevented my seeing their state and position.
I beg you to assure his majesty the emperor, that I did every thing possible to attack the enemy anew; that I obstinately pursued him; and that he always declined the combat. Be also kind enough to assure his majesty that I cannot bestow sufficient encomiums on the captains and crews of the squadrons I have the honour to command; and that if we have the good fortune to fall in with the squadron that I fought, we will give it a good account of ourselves.
I pray you to accept my respect.
VILLENEUVE.
IMPERIAL SQUADRON,
UNDER THE ORDERS OF ADMIRAL VILLENEUVE.
Statement of the men killed and wounded in the engagement of the 3d Thermidor, year 13.
Bucentaure--3 killed, 3 wounded--among the last is a lieutenant de vaisseau.
Formidable--4 killed, 6 wounded--petty officers, seamen and soldiers.
Indomptable--1 killed, 1 wounded--among the last is an ensign de vaisseau.
Neptune--1 killed, 7 wounded--petty officers, seamen and soldiers.
Pluto--8 killed, 22 wounded--among the last are a lieutenant de vaisseau and two midshipmen.
Mont-Blanc--6 killed, 11 wounded--among the last a midshipman.
Atlas--10 killed, 32 wounded--the commander, two lieutenants and one enseigne de vaisseau, two midshipmen and two land officers are among the wounded.
Berwick--2 killed, 8 wounded--the captain de fregate and two midshipmen, among the wounded.
Intrepid--5 killed, 5 wounded--among the killed are the commander and the enseigne.
Swiftsure--none.
Scipion--none.
Aigle--4 killed--sailors and soldiers.
Algesiras--none.
Achille--none.
Total. 44 killed, 95 wounded.
Names of the Spanish ships which have had men killed and wounded.
Argonaute, 4 killed, 3 wounded.
According to the statement delivered in by
Terrible, 1 killed, 4 wounded.
the chief of the staff of
America, 3 killed, 8 wounded.
the Spanish squadron.
Espagne, 3 killed, 6 wounded.
11 21
On board the Bucentaure, in the road of Vigo, 12th Thermidor, year 13.
The Commissary of the squadron.
CUVELIER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Naval Affairs
War Report
What keywords are associated?
Naval Engagement
English Squadron
Spanish Ships Missing
Thermidor Year 13
Vigo Anchorage
Admiral Villeneuve
What entities or persons were involved?
Vice Admiral Villeneuve
Admiral Gravina
Lieutenant General Grandallana
Where did it happen?
Road Of Vigo
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Road Of Vigo
Event Date
3d Thermidor Year 13
Key Persons
Vice Admiral Villeneuve
Admiral Gravina
Lieutenant General Grandallana
Outcome
44 killed, 95 wounded in imperial squadron; spanish: argonaute 4 killed 3 wounded, terrible 1 killed 4 wounded, america 3 killed 8 wounded, espagne 3 killed 6 wounded (total 11 killed 21 wounded); two spanish ships missing, possibly captured; three english ships disabled.
Event Details
Villeneuve reports engagement with English squadron of fifteen ships of the line and frigates on 3d Thermidor; preserved wind advantage and avoided envelopment amid fog; three-hour cannonade at distance; enemy withdrew; two Spanish ships missing after fog cleared, one dismasted; pursued enemy on 4th and 5th without success; proceeded to Ferrol then anchored at Vigo due to gale; plans to resume pursuit after provisioning.