Order of battle in the Croisière de Bruix

The Croisière de Bruix (or Bruix' expedition of 1799) was a naval campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars. Planned and commanded by French Vice-Admiral Étienne Eustache Bruix, the operation was an attempt to restore French control of the Mediterranean Sea, lost at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798. Taking command of the French Atlantic Fleet based at Brest, Bruix mustered one of the largest and best trained French fleets to take to sea during the war. Brest was under close blockade by the British Channel Fleet, but Bruix arranged for misleading intelligence regarding an impending invasion of Ireland to fall into British hands, which drew the blockade fleet under Lord Bridport away to the north.[1] On 25 April 1799 the French fleet of 25 ships of the line sailed into the Atlantic unopposed, sighted the following day by the frigate HMS Nymphe. Reports reached Bridport soon afterwards, but he remained on station off Ireland, anticipating a French attack.[2]

An engraving of the French admiral, Étienne Eustache Bruix, by B.Charpentier.

With his route clear, Bruix sailed southwest. On 30 April the fleet passed the Spanish naval base of Ferrol, anticipating a union with the Spanish squadron stationed there, but the Spanish had already sailed and the two forces missed one another.[3] The first British opposition to Bruix advance came on 4 May, when he found the British Mediterranean fleet under Vice-Admiral Lord Keith arrayed between his force and the principal Spanish fleet base of Cádiz. This prevented the Spanish and French fleets from joining together, Bruix instead taking advantage of the prevailing winds to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar unopposed.[4] Keith set off in pursuit, gathering his forces off Port Mahon on Menorca while the French fleet made for Toulon and the main Spanish fleet, which had followed the French and British through the Straits, reached Cartagena.[5] As Bruix resupplied and convoyed reinforcements to the embattled French armies in Northern Italy, Keith remained on station off Cartagena. His operation was hindered by a confused command structure: Keith was only acting commander of the Mediterranean Fleet while Earl St Vincent remained on shore at Gibraltar and Port Mahon, with only such brief sojourns with the fleet as his failing health permitted.[6] Keith and St. Vincent issued contradictory orders throughout the campaign, Keith intent on pursuing the French while St. Vincent was preoccupied with the threat from the Spanish.[7] This problem was compounded by the behaviour of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, commander in the Eastern Mediterranean and subordinate to Keith and St. Vincent. Nelson, embroiled in the complex politics of the Kingdom of Naples and increasingly under the influence of his lover Emma, Lady Hamilton, repeatedly refused direct orders to participate in the campaign.[8]

In early June Keith's fleet investigated Toulon but found the French absent, although a French frigate squadron was intercepted and captured off the port.[9] Turning west, Keith sailed to Genoa but again found that the French had departed ahead of the British, Bruix successfully uniting with the Spanish off Cartagena on 22 June and sailing on 24 June with a fleet of more than 40 ships of the line; at the time the largest naval force in the world.[10] Turning southwest, the combined fleet sailed through the Straits of Gibraltar on 7 July intending to return to Brest. Keith remained off Menorca for sometime, resupplying his ships and repeatedly ordering Nelson to take over protection of the island base, orders which Nelson completely disregarded.[11] Keith's fleet was joined during this period by reinforcements sent from the Channel Fleet under Sir Charles Cotton and Cuthbert Collingwood, but it did not follow the allies through the Straits until 29 July, 22 days behind Bruix.[12] For the next two weeks, Keith chased the Bruix northwards towards the French coast, the British fleet gaining on the French day by day, arriving off Brest on 14 August to discover that Bruix and the combined fleet had arrived safely in the harbour only the day before.[13]

Although Bruix did manage to affect the union of the main French and Spanish battle fleets, the campaign was inconclusive. The strategic situation in European waters remained unchanged; by mid-August 1799 the Royal Navy still controlled the Mediterranean unopposed, free to plan and implement the seizure of French territories in the region without impediment.[14] In Northern European waters the huge allied fleet at Brest presented a considerable threat but remained under blockade by the Channel Fleet. With the exception of a series of fruitless expeditions in 1801 there were no further major French or Spanish operations at sea before the Peace of Amiens brought the war to a temporary close in 1801.[15]

Allied fleets

French Atlantic Fleet
Ship Rate Guns Commander Notes
Océan First rate 120 Vice-amiral Étienne Eustache Bruix
Captain Alain-Adélaïde-Marie de Bruillac
With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Invincible First rate 110 Commodore Louis Lhéritier With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Terrible First rate 110 Commodore Yves Haouen With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Républicain First rate 110 Captain Charles Berrenger With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Indomptable Third rate 80 Captain Chambon With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Formidable Third rate 80 Commodore Pierre-Julien Thréouart With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Jemmapes Third rate 74 Captain Julien Cosmao With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Mont-Blanc Third rate 74 Captain Esprit-Tranquille Maistral With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Tyrannicide Third rate 74 Captain Zacharie Allemand With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Batave Third rate 74 Captain François Henri Eugène Daugier With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Constitution Third rate 74 Captain Julien Le Ray With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Duquesne Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Maurice-Julien Quérangal With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Fougueux Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Marie Bescont With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Zélé Third rate 74 Captain Dufoy With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Redoutable Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Augustin Moncousu With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Wattignies Third rate 74 Captain Antoine Louis de Gourdon With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Tourville Third rate 74 Captain Jean-Baptiste Henry With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Cisalpin Third rate 74 Captain Mathieu-Charles Bergevin With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Jean Bart Third rate 74 Captain François-Jacques Meynne With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Gaulois Third rate 74 Captain Gabriel Siméon With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Convention Third rate 74 Captain Charles-Hélène Le Bozec Delayed leaving Brest, joined the fleet on 26 April. Remained during campaign until 13 August.
Révolution Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Nicolas Rolland With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Jean-Jacques Rousseau Third rate 74 Captain Julien-Gabriel Bigot de la Robillardière With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Dix-Août Third rate 74 Captain Jacques Bergeret With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Censeur Third rate 74 Captain Antoine-Jean-Baptiste Faye With the fleet 25 April. Detached to Cadiz on 4 May in sinking condition. Exchanged on 12 July for Spanish ship San Sebastian but never sailed again.
Alliance Third rate 74 Captain Antoine-Jean-Baptiste Faye Former Spanish ship San Sebastian exchanged for unseaworthy Censeur at Cadiz on 12 June.
Romaine Fifth rate 44 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Créole Fifth rate 40 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Bravoure Fifth rate 40 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Cocarde Fifth rate 36 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Fraternité Fifth rate 36 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Fidèle Fifth rate 32 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August. Armed en flute
Berceau Corvette 20 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Tactique Corvette 20 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Biche Aviso 8 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
Découverte Aviso 8 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August
During the campaign several contre-amirals accompanied the fleet but did not have designated flagships, moving as required. They were Jean-Louis Delmotte, Jacques Bedout, Jean-François Courand, Alain-Joseph Dordelin and Charles Linois. Two ships of the line were damaged in a collision around 12 June and remained at Toulon for repairs, rejoining the fleet on 9 July, but they are not named in the sources.
Sources: James, pp. 254–268; Quintin
Spanish Fleet
Ship Rate Guns Commander Notes
Conception First rate 112 Teniente-General José de Mazzaredo
Brigadier Antonio de Escaño
Capitán Francisco Uriarte
With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Mexicano First rate 112 Jefe de escuadra Domingo de Nava
Capitán José Gardoqui
With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May, four men killed. Detached at Cadiz on 21 July.
Santa Ana First rate 112 Teniente-General Domingo Grandallana
Brigadier Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros
With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Detached at Cadiz on 21 July after badly damaged in grounding.
Conde de Regla First rate 112 Jefe de escuadra Antonio de Córdova
Brigadier José de Escaño
With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Principe de Asturias First rate 112 Teniente-General Federico Gravina
Brigadier Juan Vicente Yañez
With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Reina Luisa First rate 112 Joined Spanish fleet at Cartagena after 17 May under command of Domingo de Nava. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Neptuno Third rate 80 Jefe de escuadra Juan Villavicencio
Capitán Bernardo Muñoz
With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Bahama Third rate 74 Capitán José Aramburu With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Conquistador Third rate 74 Capitán Cosme Churruca With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Oriente Third rate 74 Brigadier Nicolás Estrada With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Detached at Cartagena and crew transferred to Guerrero.
Guerrero Third rate 74 With the Spanish fleet after 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Infante don Pelayo Third rate 74 Capitán Cayetano Valdés With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
San Francisco de Asis Third rate 74 Brigadier José de Goicoechea With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
San Francisco de Paulo Third rate 74 Capitán Agustín Figueroa With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
San Joaquin Third rate 74 Capitán Marcelo Espínola With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
San Pablo Third rate 74 Brigadier Luis Vallabriga With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
San Telmo Third rate 74 Capitán Juan José Martínez With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Soberano Third rate 74 Capitán Rafael Villavicencio With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August.
Atocha Frigate 40 Capitán Ignacio Olaeta
Perla Frigate 34 Capitán Francisco Moyuna
Carmen Frigate 34 Capitán Manuel Bustillos
Santa Matilde Frigate 40 Capitán José González Detached at Cartagena, 17 May.
Vigilante Brig 12 Teniente José de Córdoba
Descubridor Brig 12 Teniente Juan Coronado
Vivo Brig 12 Teniente Juan Deslobes
Sources: James, pp. 254–268; Férnandez Duro, pp. 188–190

Royal Navy

Mediterranean Fleet
Ship Rate Guns Commander Notes
HMS Ville de Paris First rate 112 Captain Walter Bathurst Flagship of Admiral Earl St Vincent between 10 May and 2 June when he retired sick. Detached from fleet to Port Mahon 2 – 15 June.
HMS Queen Charlotte First rate 100 Vice-Admiral Lord Keith
Captain John Irwin
Joined fleet on 30 May as flagship of Rear-Admiral Whitshed. Became Keith's flagship on 13 June.
HMS Barfleur Second rate 98 Rear-Admiral James Hawkins-Whitshed
Captain George Barker
Flagship of Lord Keith at start of campaign. Made Whitshed's flagship on 13 June.
HMS Prince George Second rate 98 Rear-Admiral Sir William Parker
Captain William Bowen
HMS London Second rate 98 Captain John Child Purvis
HMS Princess Royal Second rate 98 Captain John Dixon
HMS Namur Second rate 90 Captain William Luke
HMS Foudroyant Third rate 80 Captain William Brown Detached on 30 May to reinforce squadron at Palermo.
HMS Gibraltar Third rate 80 Captain William Kelly
HMS Montagu Third rate 74 Captain John Knight Engaged inshore off Toulon on 3 June.
HMS Northumberland Third rate 74 Captain George Martin Detached on 30 May to reinforce squadron at Palermo.
HMS Marlborough Third rate 74 Captain Thomas Sotheby
HMS Warrior Third rate 74 Captain Charles Tyler
HMS Hector Third rate 74 Captain John Elphinstone
HMS Defence Third rate 74 Captain Lord Henry Paulet
HMS Majestic Third rate 74 Captain Robert Cuthbert Detached on 30 May to reinforce squadron at Palermo.
HMS Edgar Third rate 74 Rear-Admiral Thomas Frederick
Captain John McDougall
On detached service at Tétouan. Joined fleet at Gibraltar on 10 May. Badly damaged in storm of 17 May, repaired at Port Mahon and rejoined fleet 22 May.
HMS Leviathan Third rate 74 Rear-Admiral John Thomas Duckworth
Captain Henry Digby
Flagship of Menorca squadron. Joined fleet on 20 May. Detached on 30 May to reinforce squadron at Palermo.
HMS Centaur Third rate 74 Captain John Markham Menorca squadron, joined fleet on 20 May. Engaged inshore off Toulon on 3 June. Captured Perrée's squadron on 19 June near Toulon.
HMS Bellerophon Third rate 74 Captain Henry D'Esterre Darby Menorca squadron, joined fleet on 20 May. Detached on 8 June to reinforce squadron at Palermo.
HMS Powerful Third rate 74 Captain William O'Bryen Drury Menorca squadron, joined fleet on 20 May. Detached on 8 June to reinforce squadron at Palermo.
HMS Captain Third rate 74 Captain Sir Richard Strachan Joined fleet on 30 May with Rear-Admiral Whitshed's squadron. Captured Perrée's squadron on 19 June near Toulon.
HMS Defiance Third rate 74 Captain Thomas Revell Shivers Joined fleet on 30 May with Rear-Admiral Whitshed's squadron.
HMS Bellona Third rate 74 Captain Sir Thomas Thompson Joined fleet on 30 May with Rear-Admiral Whitshed's squadron. Captured Perrée's squadron on 19 June near Toulon.
HMS Repulse Third rate 74 Captain James Alms Joined fleet on 30 May with Rear-Admiral Whitshed's squadron.
HMS Success Fifth rate 32 Captain Shuldham Peard Joined off Cadiz on 3 May.
HMS Emerald Fifth rate 36 Joined in the Mediterranean. Captured Perrée's squadron on 19 June near Toulon.
HMS Santa Teresa Fifth rate 36 Joined in the Mediterranean. Captured Perrée's squadron on 19 June near Toulon.
HMS Ethalion Fifth rate 38 Joined in the Mediterranean.
HMS Stag Fifth rate 32 Captain Joseph Sydney Yorke Joined on 8 August.
Sources: James, pp. 254–268
Cotton and Collingwood's reinforcement
Ship Rate Guns Commander Notes
HMS Prince Second rate 98 Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton
Captain Samuel Sutton
Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Formidable Second rate 98 Captain Edward Thornbrough Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS St George Second rate 98 Captain Sampson Edwards Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Neptune Second rate 98 Captain James Vashon Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Glory Second rate 98 Captain Thomas Wells Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Triumph Third rate 74 Rear-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood
Captain Thomas Larcom
Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Dragon Third rate 74 Captain George Campbell Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Impetueux Third rate 74 Captain Sir Edward Pellew Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Terrible Third rate 74 Captain Jonathon Faulknor Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Superb Third rate 74 Captain John Sutton Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Pompee Third rate 74 Captain Charles Stirling Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
HMS Canada Third rate 74 Captain Michael de Courcy Detached from Channel Fleet. Joined Keith's fleet off Menorca on 7 July.
Sources: James, pp. 254–268

Notes

  1. Clowes, p. 381
  2. James, p. 256
  3. James, p. 268
  4. Mostert, p. 346
  5. James, p. 261
  6. Clowes, p. 384
  7. James, p. 266
  8. Mostert, p. 356
  9. "No. 15162". The London Gazette. 23 July 1799. p. 741.
  10. James, p. 265
  11. Adkins, p. 61
  12. James, p. 267
  13. Woodman, p. 120
  14. Rodger, p. 463
  15. Gardiner, p. 99

References

  • Adkins, Roy & Lesley (2006). The War for All the Oceans. Abacus. ISBN 978-0-349-11916-8.
  • Clowes, William Laird (1997) [1900]. The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-013-2.
  • Férnandez Duro, Cesáreo (1902). Armada Española desde la Union de los Reinos de Castilla y Aragón, Toma VIII. Madrid: Instituto de Historia y Cultura Naval.
  • Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) [1996]. Fleet Battle and Blockade. Caxton Editions. ISBN 978-1-84067-363-0.
  • James, William (2002) [1827]. The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 2, 1797–1799. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-906-9.
  • Mostert, Noel (2007). The Line upon a Wind: The Greatest War Fought at Sea Under Sail 1793 – 1815. Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-7126-0927-2.
  • Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon (in French). S.P.M. ISBN 2-901952-42-9.
  • Rodger, N.A.M. (2004). The Command of the Ocean. Allan Lane. ISBN 0-7139-9411-8.
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