Action of 7 July 1799

Action of 7 July 1799
Part of theNapoleonic Wars
Date 7 July 1799 Location Bay of Gibraltar Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
	Flag-Lieut.Frederick Maitland(POW)
Strength
1Frigate(34 guns)	1Cutter(18 guns)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	1Cuttercaptured

Theaction of 7 July 1799was a minor naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars in which the Spanish 34-gun frigateNuestra Señora del Carmencaptured theRoyal Navy's 18-gunHired armedcutterPenelope,which was under the command of SirFrederick Maitland.

Background

In June 1799, the French and Spanish fleets under AdmiralsMazarredoandBruix,amounting to forty sail of the line, and upwards of thirty frigates and smaller vessels, joined up atCartagena.On 7 July lookouts atGibraltarsaw the combined fleet close to theBarbaryshore.

Some of the Spanish ships amused themselves by firing at two vessels belonging to theAlgerines.Admiral Jervis,Earl of Saint Vincent,who was on board the 44-gun shipHMSArgo,at anchor in the bay and on the eve of his departure forEngland,sent Lieutenant Maitland in thePenelopeto reconnoiter and ascertain the cause of the firing.Maitland set sail towardsCeuta.

Action

Anxious to gain the most accurate information, he stretched across the Gut with very light winds during the night, that was so pitchy dark and calm, that the cutter was unperceived by the combined fleet and so close among them, that the words of command in French and Spanish could be distinctly heard.

At daybreak on the 8th he found himself nearly within gunshot of the enemy's advanced ships, whose boats were instantly ordered by signal from the Spanish Admiral Mazarredo, to tow theVivo,a brig of 16 guns, alongside thePenelope;but on their arrival within shot from thePenelope,the reception she astonished them with was so spirited, that the Spaniards dropped astern again and retired, and a faint hope of escape appeared between the British sailors, for there being no wind, the cutter's boats were kept ahead all the forenoon, towing to the southward. Then every ship in that fleet, except one frigate, actually turned their heads to the southward to give chase to the cutter.

A breeze now springing up, the Spanish frigateNuestra Señora del Carmen,armed with 34 guns,sailed up and placing herself about a cable's length on the cutter's weather-beam, fired a broadside. Maitland told his crew to lie down upon the deck till the frigate had discharged all her guns, but the frigate's fire was so heavy that it destroyedPenelope's rigging, rendering her unmanageable.

WhenPenelopestruck her colours,an officer from the brigVivoboarded and demanded that Lieutenant Maitland give up his sword. Maitland refused, stating that he had struck to the frigate. A boat from theNuestra Señora del Carmenarrived shortly and sent away the boat fromVivo.Penelopehad on board a large sum of money, intended forMenorca,that had not been unloaded in the rush quit Gibraltar. When her crew found there was no chance of escape from the combined fleets, they made an attempt to plunder the treasure, which Maitland prevented.

When her crew found there was no chance of escape from the combined fleets, they made an attempt to plunder the treasure, which Lieutenant Maitland most honourably and successfully resisted, alleging that, as public property, it was lawful prize of the captors.

A boat took Maitland to thefirst ratePrincipe de Asturias,which bore the flag of AdmiralGravina.The admiral received him into his cabin and treated him with the utmost kindness.

Aftermath

The day after his arrival at Cadiz, Admiral Mazarredo sent his captain to tell Maitland that the admiral was occupied in refitting his ships and so could not to see him. However, the admiral had stated that in a few days, when the combined fleet left port, Maitland would be released without an exchange for a Spanish officer held prisoner by the British.

When the fleet departed the Spanish returned Maitland to Gibraltar, as promised.Maitland then accompanied St. Vincent when he returned to England in August 1799.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Tucker, Jedediah Stephens.Memoirs Of Admiral, The Right Honorable, The Earl Of St. Vincent
• Marshall, John(1823–1835)."Index".Royal Naval Biography.London: Longman and company.

External links

• http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=1684