Ireland, France, and the Atlantic in a Time of War by Thomas M. Truxes

Author:Thomas M. Truxes [Truxes, Thomas M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317133445
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2017-04-21T00:00:00+00:00

5 Prize-taking

Its role in maritime strategy and ultimate success in the Seven Years’ War

Daniel A. Baugh

Near the end of March 1757, the Two Sisters of Dublin, en route to its home port from Bordeaux, was captured by the Caesar privateer based in Bristol. The capture occurred on March 25, at a point 18 leagues (about 50 miles) south of Ushant, the prominent island at the western tip of Brittany. It appears therefore that the ship’s captain had chosen to navigate northward by a direct route rather than sailing in more open waters to the westward where interception would be less likely.1

The Two Sisters carried papers that caused its captain to feel safe, and eventually it was released by the High Court of Admiralty. But French merchants were plainly apprehensive. The most shocking news had come in mid-July 1755 before war was declared (in May and June 1756). A squadron that British leaders had sent to the entrance of the Gulf of St Lawrence to intercept French warships known to be carrying French regiments to Canada fired upon and engaged those warships. When London learned that the attack had occurred, the ministry expected the French to declare war. But for a number of reasons the French government did not do so, the most immediate being that they wanted their overseas trade to come home unmolested. After a three-week delay, London gave orders to capture the trade anyway. The object was to deprive France of shipping and seamen with which to mount a possible invasion of the British Isles.

National security trumped legal niceties. Orders issued by the Admiralty on August 6, 1755, directed Royal Navy ships – only navy ships, no privateers – to intercept French merchant ships, particularly those returning from across the ocean, and convey them to English ports. The ships, cargoes, and crews were to be “detained” – that was the word used – unmolested until “his Majesty’s Pleasure shall be known.” It was stated that the ships taken were not prizes; they were merely “detained.” If a peaceful accommodation were to be reached, ships, cargoes, and crews would be released. The French naturally regarded this as ridiculous and outrageous, and the seizures had no legal justification. Imprisoned seamen would suffer and some cargoes would spoil. In early April 1756, the senior admiral at Plymouth received an Order in Council directing, understandably, that “French ships laden with Fish” were to be taken out to sea and “sunk in deep water.”2

Captures by Royal Navy warships continued. Sir Edward Hawke was ordered back to sea in late February. Six warships at Brest were known to be ready for sea, and the Admiralty feared that they might position themselves to intercept a convoy of three outbound East Indiamen. He was ordered to accompany the convoy 150 leagues westward of Ushant, and after leaving them in the care of the Hampshire, a fifty-gun cruiser, to return to the Bay of Biscay and cruise off either Brest or Rochefort “in such manner as may be

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