situation during action, and defeating the attempts made to force that position, was a lesson in naval tactics, that will ever be deservedly regarded with admiration; and our approbation must be divided between the skill displayed by Sir S. Hood, in directing these masterly manoeuvres, and the bravery and precision with which they were executed by those under his orders.
The capture of St. Christopher’s having rendered the presence of the squadron no longer safe, as they were within the range of shells, and an enemy’s fleet of nearly double their force within a few miles, Sir Samuel Hood prepared to quit his anchorage, which he did, in the same dexterous manner that he gained it. On the 19th March, the squadron anchored in St. John’s road, Antigua, and on the 22nd, sailed to join Sir George Rodney, who had recently arrived from England, at Antigua.
Early in the following month, when the fleet under Admiral Rodney was at St. Lucia, the Count de Grasse, having embarked an army of 5,500 men, and a considerable train of artillery and battering cannon, endeavoured to elude the vigilance of the English cruizers off Martinique, and push for St. Domingo; he was, however, so narrowly watched, that the French fleet were discovered in the night of the 7th; and being immediately pursued and overtaken, the battle of the 9th, and victory of the 12th April, were the consequences[1].
- ↑ The engagement of the 12th of April commenced about seven A.M.: It was fought in a large basin of water, lying among the islands of Guadaloupe, Dominique, the Saints, and Marigalante; both on the windward and leeward of this basin, by very dangerous shores. As soon as day broke, Admiral Rodney threw out the signal for close action; and every vessel in his fleet obeyed it most scrupulously and literally. The British line, instead of being, as usual, at two cables’ length distance between every ship, was formed at the distance of only one. As each came up, she ranged close alongside her opponent, passing along the enemy for that purpose, giving and receiving, while thus taking her station, a most dreadful and tremendous fire. The action continued in this manner till noon; when Admiral Rodney resolved to carry into execution a manoeuvre, which, if successful, he expected would gain him a complete and decisive victory; for this purpose, in his own ship, the Formidable, supported by the Namur, the Duke, and Canada, he bore down with all sail set on the enemy’s line, within three ships of the centre, and succeeded in breaking completely through it. As soon as he had accomplished this, the other ships of his division fol-
