French capture of Gorée (1804)

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A French force from Cayenne under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Jean-Michel Mahė recaptured Gorée from the British on 18 January 1804.

The vessels consisted of a naval schooner Vigie and three privateers. The troops consisted of a contingent from the 8th Demi-Brigade and another from the Cayenne Volunteers.[1]

The French force stopped at Dakar, Senegal, on its way. At Dakar it added the schooner Rosalia and a detachment of troops from the 46th Brigade, and requisitioned the privateer Mon Oncle Thomas, from Rochelle, to join the expedition.[1] Mon Oncle Thomas had put into Dakar to request an extension of her letter of marque. The Commandant promised to renew the letter on condition that Mon Oncle Thomas joined the expedition.[2]

The French force of some 500–600 men anchored off the island late in the evening of 17 January. Next morning 240 troops in eight boats landed east of the town. They met resistance from the 40–70 men of the British garrison and civilians. The British suffered 9 men killed and 10 wounded; the French suffered 43 men killed and 32 wounded. Facing an overwhelming force, Colonel John Frazer, the British commander, surrendered and signed terms of capitulation.[3] The French then occupied the town.[1]

The French put the garrison aboard a sloop and sent them to Dakar. There the French made a cartel of the schooner Marengo and put their British captives on board. Marengo stopped at Teneriffe to replenish her supplies and arrived at Falmouth on 17 April.

The French vessels[]

Vessel Type Captain Guns Complement (crew and troops)
Vigie Schooner Mahé 2 + 14 swivels 90
Renommée Schooner Citizen Renaud 14 87
Les Amis Schooner Citizen Baudrier 14 85
Oiseau Schooner 10 80
Rosalia ensign de vaisseau Ducraneau 2 30
Mon Oncle Thomas[4] Ship One time capitaine de vaisseau Auguste Papin, and acting Commodore 20 230

Notes and citations[]

Citations

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c James (1902), pp. 298–299.
  2. ^ Revue historique des Antilles, (1828), Issues 1-6, p.41.
  3. ^ "No. 15695". The London Gazette. 21 April 1804. pp. 497–498.
  4. ^ Demerliac (2003), p. 279, n°2208.

References

  • Demerliac, Alain (2003). La Marine du Consulat et du Premier Empire: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1800 à 1815 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 9782903179304. OCLC 492784876.
  • James, William (1902). The naval history of Great Britain (1800–1805). 3 (New six volume ed.). London: Macmillan.

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