Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/299

Rh  3000 troops, destined for an attempt upon the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, sailed from Spithead March 14, 1781. The fleet reached Porto Praya without any accident; but whilst there, was unexpectedly attacked by two French 74’s, and three 64’s, under the command of M. de Suffrein, who had been detached in pursuit of the British armament. It appears to have been the opinion of Commodore Johnstone and most of his officers, that had the enemy stood in, and anchored in a seaman-like and judicious manner, the result of the battle would have been fatal to the English, who were not in the least prepared for such a visit. The whole of the Indiamen must inevitably have been either destroyed or taken; perhaps many of the squadron would have shared the same fate, unless they had put to sea. Fortunately, the French ships brought up without any order; their sails flying about, and in great confusion, firing at random among the British men of war and merchantmen. In about three quarters of an hour after Commodore Johnstone had opened his fire, M. de Suffrein cut his cable, and stood to sea, followed by the whole of his squadron, with the exception of his second a-head, the Hannibal of 74 guns, which remained some time longer exposed to a most tremendous fire from every ship in the British fleet. At length, her cable being either shot through or cut, she wore round, and drifted out of the bay a complete wreck; all her masts and bowsprit soon after fell overboard; in this shattered condition she proceeded on unmolested, and joined her companions, who went off before the wind in a line a-breast. So much time elapsed ere Commodore Johnstone went in pursuit, that it was late in the evening before he had approached near the enemy. Being then apprehensive that a further continuance of the chace would draw him so far to leeward as to preclude the possibility of regaining his anchorage, by which the merchantmen would be without protection, and the object of his expedition defeated; he came to the resolution of hauling his wind, and returning to Porto Praya. In this conflict, the Fortitude and Hinchinbrooke, Indiamen, were taken, and carried to sea; but the latter was recaptured the next day. The Terror bomb was also boarded by the enemy; but her Commander, Captain Wood, by his good management, extricated himself from the danger he was in of being taken, and escaped with the loss of his foremast and bowsprit. The Infernal put to sea, and was captured; but on the approach of the squadron, the enemy abandoned her, first taking out Captain Darby and several of his crew, one of whom was slain and two wounded. The loss sustained by the British in this action amounted to 32 killed, 130 wounded, and 20 made prisoners.

Commodore Johnstone soon after proceeded towards the Cape of Good Hope; but learning on his approach, that M. de Suffrein had reached False Bay on the 21st June, and by landing a body of troops placed the colony in a state of security, he resolved to make an attempt on some Dutch Indiamen, in Saldanha Bay. In this he perfectly succeeded; for Having at length regained his liberty, Captain Darby was advanced to Post rank Jan. 15, 1783; but we find no further