160:
146:
51:
887:
distract any watchers on the shore, Pigot brought his ships across the entrance to the inlet, attracting the defenders' attention away from the harbour. This enabled the boats to come alongside the shipping in the port undetected, each vessel keeping to the shallows close inshore until they reached their targets. At 01:00 on 21 April the attack commenced with a heavy volley of
784:. The wind was strengthening however and Ogilvy eventually decided that it was too dangerous to risk wrecking his ships on the shore in the conditions. At 17:00 both British ships were able to fire several broadsides at the French frigate without response, but there was no noticeable damage and the wind remained strong and so Ogilvy retired for the night to a safe distance.
588:
and the elimination of the privateer base at Jean-Rabel contributed towards a reduction in privateer activity in the region and cemented
British control of the Northern Caribbean sea lanes, although British forces were unable to make an impact on French control of Saint-Domingue itself, and withdrew
886:
During the evening of 20 April the sea was calm with a strong easterly current, which enabled Pigot's squadron to close within 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) of the port of Jean-Rabel unobserved. The squadron's boats, commanded by the ships' junior officers, then approached the shore silently. To
605:, where both nations maintained extensive and lucrative colonies, was an important theatre of conflict. Although by 1797, Britain maintained a measure of regional maritime supremacy, the French colonies were strongly held and provided numerous and well defended harbours from which warships and
936:
and a second unnamed were in
British hands, their captors sailing the nine prizes out of the port and towards Pigot's waiting ships. All that remained of the prizes in Jean-Rabel harbour were two rowing boats, which had been dragged up the beach before the attack began. All these vessels were
45:
949:
and destroying a port used frequently by privateers to store their prizes. It was not enough however to solidify the
British presence in Saint-Domingue and by the end of 1797, British forces had withdrawn entirely from the colony. Pigot, Ogilvy and Parker all sent despatches to the
879:. Having gathered the squadron, Pigot brought his ships to Jean-Rabel at 15:00 on 20 April to repeat this earlier victory. Remaining out of sight to the northwest until night fell, the crews began preparations for a cutting out expedition, in which parties of sailors in
799:
in the calmer weather. Recognising that their ship could not escape and faced impossible odds, the French officers took the only available option and deliberately drove their ship onshore at 07:00, setting the vessel on fire as they evacuated.
558:). The second engagement took place four days later when a force of boats launched from a British frigate squadron attacked the town of Jean-Rabel itself, capturing a large number of merchant ships in the harbour that had been seized by French
958:
notes that Pigot neglected to give credit by name to the junior officers who participated in the operation. Pigot was a notoriously unpopular officer – six months later he would be beaten and stabbed to death by his own crew in the infamous
651:
The privateers took many of these captured ships to small harbours along the northern coast of Saint-Domingue. There the privateers thought they and their prizes would be safe from the
British squadron under Rear-Admiral
937:
American-flagged ships, although their papers of ownership had in most cases been sent to Cap-Français. French casualties in the operation were not reported, although the
British assault force did not lose a single man.
632:, in which Spain, which also maintained substantial Caribbean colonies, declared war on Britain. In response, British forces in the Caribbean were split, with the majority attached to a fleet under Rear-Admiral
1316:
1311:
581:, which had recently entered the war on the French side. As a result, the waters of the Northern Caribbean were lightly defended, resulting in an increase in the activity of French privateers.
689:
objected to their orders, considering that the journey was too dangerous given the proximity of Parker's squadron. However they were overruled and she sailed in mid-April 1797. Shortly after
735:
701:
394:
334:
628:
The rest of the
Northern coast of Saint-Domingue was still in French hands however, and in the autumn of 1796 the balance of power in the Caribbean shifted with the declaration of the
883:
of the squadron would row into the fortified bay under cover of darkness and attempt to board and capture the vessels in the harbour before sailing them out to the waiting squadron.
349:
895:
batteries overlooking the port. Unable to determine friend from foe in the harbour, the guns instead fired on the frigates in the bay, Pigot ordering his ships to return fire.
780:
and capture or destroy the French ship. At 16:15 the
British warships examined the mouth of the inlet, straying into dangerously shallow water in their efforts to close with
404:
424:
478:
444:
434:
419:
609:
could launch attacks against
British trade convoys. British attacks against the French colonies had resulted in few successes: one such was the occupation of the port of
399:
369:
309:
644:. With British forces distracted, the French privateer fleets were able to launch a series of attacks against commerce in the Northern Caribbean, capturing numerous
429:
364:
304:
270:
409:
414:
374:
379:
324:
1151:
473:
389:
449:
186:
569:
as warships and privateers launched from French colonies sought to disrupt the lucrative trade between
Britain and the British colonies in the
772:
anchored in shallow water off the rocky shoreline. Ogilvy relayed the frigate's location to Parker and was ordered to enter the inlet with
263:
945:
These operations firmly established
British control of the waters around Saint-Domingue, eliminating a significant opponent in the French
891:
from the boats as British sailors swarmed onto the captured merchant vessels. Fighting was brief, although the gunfire had alerted the
93:
716:. Bissett meanwhile sailed westwards until he encountered Parker's squadron off Môle-Saint-Nicolas on 15 April. Parker had three
256:
1287:
1268:
1246:
1223:
1204:
660:
on the Northeastern coast insisted that these vessels come to the capital; the governors ordered the French frigate
468:
319:
1256:
955:
843:
825:
180:
1321:
662:
629:
488:
483:
329:
314:
222:
812:
retired. French casualties are unknown, while both British ships escaped without loss and only minor damage.
359:
299:
656:, which based at Môle-Saint-Nicolas. In early April 1797, the French civilian governors at the capital of
1326:
764:
sailing through the Tortuga Channel between the northern coast of Saint-Domingue and the small island of
1306:
493:
35:
384:
598:
524:
461:
151:
768:. Giving chase, the large warship pursued the frigate to Mostique Inlet near Jean-Rabel, where
498:
505:
653:
344:
164:
610:
354:
1192:
1093:
1058:
728:
670:
and back, collecting all prize vessels that lay in harbour there and at the nearby town of
202:
8:
829:
1235:
1140:
1098:
1063:
847:
739:
528:
339:
280:
209:
30:
1283:
1264:
1242:
1219:
1200:
951:
836:
717:
536:
199:
1156:
694:
618:
1175:
880:
765:
574:
573:. In the spring of 1797, most British forces in the region were deployed in the
1160:
746:
614:
551:
176:
82:
1145:
657:
294:
1300:
865:
835:, to recapture them. Pigot was commander of a frigate squadron consisting of
645:
602:
566:
454:
108:
95:
820:
Alerted to the presence of the large number of prize ships at Jean-Rabel by
854:
667:
633:
804:
s ammunition stores detonated at 08:47, destroying the ship completely as
712:, the French ship did not offer battle but instead turned for the port of
876:
713:
641:
570:
540:
50:
1237:
The Frigates, An Account of the Lighter Warships of the Napoleonic Wars
671:
606:
559:
547:
532:
78:
1317:
Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars involving Great Britain
871:. Pigot had a reputation as a successful coastal raider: on 22 March,
915:
721:
248:
1197:
The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV
215:. Subsequently a squadron of three frigates and two smaller vessels.
888:
637:
622:
543:
218:
875:
had attacked and destroyed a number of small French vessels off
44:
1312:
Naval battles of the French Revolutionary Wars involving France
930:
892:
693:
departed Cap-Français, a cruising British frigate, the 32-gun
749:, and he despatched the latter ships to Marégot in search of
578:
555:
86:
57:
Map of Saint-Domingue with the location of the action marked.
565:
The engagements came during a campaign for supremacy in the
972:
858:
523:
consisted of two connected minor naval engagements of the
753:, while his flagship put into port for fresh provisions.
617:
in 1793. From here Royal Navy warships could control the
989:
987:
1261:
The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 2, 1797–1799
1123:
1121:
1106:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1011:
999:
984:
1118:
1071:
1280:
Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon
1023:
531:. The first engagement saw an overwhelming British
1234:
1144:
640:in February 1797 before unsuccessfully attacking
613:on the North-Western tip of the French colony of
1298:
142:
1277:
978:
824:s unsuccessful cruise, Parker ordered Captain
550:on the Northern coast of the French colony of
264:
1278:Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003).
1155:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
16:Naval Battle off the coast of Haiti in 1797
954:recounting the action, although historian
677:
271:
257:
1232:
1133:
1112:
1213:
1139:
1092:
1057:
1017:
1005:
993:
1152:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
648:vessels trading with British colonies.
1299:
1191:
1077:
278:
1255:
1127:
1088:
1086:
1053:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1038:
815:
795:returned, both ships opening fire on
252:
554:(which later gained independence as
546:in Moustique Inlet near the town of
828:, commander of the British frigate
589:from the island later in the year.
13:
1083:
1044:
720:at his disposal, his own flagship
601:British and French rivalry in the
14:
1338:
1263:. London: Conway Maritime Press.
1149:. In Coats, Ann Veronica (ed.).
666:, based in the port, to sail to
158:
144:
49:
43:
1214:Gardiner, Robert, ed. (2001) .
708:was significantly smaller than
1199:. London: Chatham Publishing.
756:On the afternoon of 15 April,
1:
1185:
592:
1176:UK public library membership
940:
857:and two smaller vessels the
787:On the morning of 16 April,
7:
10:
1343:
1233:Henderson, James (1994) .
1102:. 3 Jun 1797. p. 517.
1067:. 3 Jun 1797. p. 516.
979:Quintin & Quintin 2003
36:War of the First Coalition
1216:Fleet Battle and Blockade
621:, a vital artery for the
599:French Revolutionary Wars
525:French Revolutionary Wars
462:Saint-Domingue expedition
290:
243:9 merchant ships captured
229:
193:
170:
136:
61:
41:
28:
23:
966:
704:, spotted her. Although
577:against the colonies of
535:force consisting of two
630:Treaty of San Ildefonso
1161:10.1093/ref:odnb/22247
171:Commanders and leaders
1322:1797 in the Caribbean
1193:Clowes, William Laird
539:attack and destroy a
230:Casualties and losses
109:19.91833°N 73.20000°W
1282:(in French). S.P.M.
521:Battle of Jean-Rabel
24:Battle of Jean-Rabel
1218:. Caxton Editions.
898:By 04:00, the ship
584:The destruction of
469:Ravine-à-Couleuvres
114:19.91833; -73.20000
105: /
1327:Haitian Revolution
1099:The London Gazette
1064:The London Gazette
816:Raid on Jean-Rabel
611:Môle-Saint-Nicolas
529:Haitian Revolution
499:Môle-Saint-Nicolas
489:2nd Port-au-Prince
315:1st Port-au-Prince
300:Croix-des-Bouquets
282:Haitian Revolution
31:Haitian Revolution
1307:Conflicts in 1797
1174:(Subscription or
927:Citizen Snow Hill
718:ships of the line
636:, which captured
537:ships of the line
514:
513:
247:
246:
200:ships of the line
132:
131:
1334:
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1055:
1042:
1036:
1021:
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685:The officers of
619:Windward Passage
360:Port-Républicain
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189:(a.k.a. Billiet)
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69:15–21 April 1797
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20:
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1141:Laughton, J. K.
1138:
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1119:
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1107:
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1024:
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1004:
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985:
977:
973:
969:
943:
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683:
678:Destruction of
654:Sir Hyde Parker
595:
575:Leeward Islands
517:
516:
515:
510:
484:Crête-à-Pierrot
286:
281:
279:
277:
242:
187:Simon Billiette
179:
159:
157:
145:
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128:British victory
113:
111:
107:
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56:
55:
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34:
17:
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5:
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1319:
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1295:
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1275:
1269:
1257:James, William
1253:
1247:
1241:. Leo Cooper.
1230:
1224:
1211:
1205:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1181:
1132:
1130:, p. 101.
1117:
1113:Henderson 1994
1105:
1082:
1080:, p. 334.
1070:
1043:
1041:, p. 100.
1022:
1010:
998:
983:
970:
968:
965:
942:
939:
853:under Captain
842:under Captain
817:
814:
747:Edward Crawley
745:under Captain
736:William Ogilvy
734:under Captain
700:under Captain
682:
676:
615:Saint-Domingue
594:
591:
552:Saint-Domingue
512:
511:
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503:
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494:Saint-Domingue
491:
486:
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476:
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458:
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452:
447:
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437:
432:
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425:Petite-Rivière
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405:Grande-Rivière
402:
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177:William Ogilvy
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83:Saint-Domingue
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1305:
1304:
1302:
1291:
1289:2-901952-42-9
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1270:0-85177-906-9
1266:
1262:
1258:
1254:
1250:
1248:0-85052-432-6
1244:
1239:
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1231:
1227:
1225:1-84067-363-X
1221:
1217:
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1208:
1206:1-86176-013-2
1202:
1198:
1194:
1190:
1189:
1177:
1162:
1158:
1154:
1153:
1147:
1146:"Pigot, Hugh"
1142:
1136:
1129:
1124:
1122:
1115:, p. 34.
1114:
1109:
1101:
1100:
1095:
1089:
1087:
1079:
1074:
1066:
1065:
1060:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1040:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1029:
1027:
1020:, p. 81.
1019:
1018:Gardiner 2001
1014:
1008:, p. 63.
1007:
1006:Gardiner 2001
1002:
996:, p. 61.
995:
994:Gardiner 2001
990:
988:
981:, p. 70.
980:
975:
971:
964:
962:
957:
956:William James
953:
948:
938:
935:
932:
928:
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827:
823:
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811:
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771:
767:
763:
759:
754:
752:
748:
744:
743:
737:
733:
732:
726:
725:
719:
715:
711:
707:
703:
702:James Bissett
699:
698:
692:
688:
681:
675:
673:
669:
665:
664:
659:
655:
649:
647:
643:
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635:
631:
626:
624:
620:
616:
612:
608:
604:
603:Caribbean Sea
600:
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582:
580:
576:
572:
568:
567:Caribbean Sea
563:
561:
557:
553:
549:
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487:
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455:War of Knives
453:
451:
448:
446:
443:
441:
438:
436:
433:
431:
428:
426:
423:
421:
420:2nd Verrettes
418:
416:
413:
411:
408:
406:
403:
401:
400:1st Verrettes
398:
396:
393:
391:
388:
386:
385:Saint-Raphaël
383:
381:
378:
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152:Great Britain
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60:
52:
46:
40:
37:
32:
27:
22:
1279:
1260:
1236:
1215:
1196:
1164:. Retrieved
1150:
1135:
1108:
1097:
1073:
1062:
1013:
1001:
974:
960:
946:
944:
933:
926:
922:
918:
911:
907:
903:
899:
897:
885:
881:ship's boats
872:
868:
861:
855:Robert Otway
849:
838:
831:
821:
819:
809:
805:
801:
796:
792:
788:
786:
781:
777:
773:
769:
761:
757:
755:
750:
741:
730:
723:
709:
705:
696:
690:
686:
684:
679:
668:Port-de-Paix
661:
658:Cap-Français
650:
634:Henry Harvey
627:
596:
585:
583:
564:
520:
518:
439:
370:2nd Tannerie
355:Les Gonaïves
330:Fort-Dauphin
320:Cap-Français
310:1st Tannerie
238:
221:
211:
204:
137:Belligerents
29:Part of the
1094:"No. 14015"
1078:Clowes 1997
1059:"No. 14015"
904:Two Sisters
877:Puerto Rico
760:discovered
642:Puerto Rico
597:During the
571:West Indies
541:French Navy
410:Las Cahobas
395:3rd Tiburon
350:2nd Tiburon
345:La Bombarde
335:1st Tiburon
295:Bois Caïman
112: /
1301:Categories
1186:References
1178:required.)
1128:James 2002
1039:James 2002
844:John Cooke
826:Hugh Pigot
672:Jean-Rabel
607:privateers
593:Background
560:privateers
548:Jean-Rabel
533:Royal Navy
440:Jean-Rabel
430:2nd Dondon
415:Mirebalais
375:Saint-Marc
365:1st Dondon
305:Morne Pelé
185:Commander
181:Hugh Pigot
100:73°12′00″W
97:19°55′06″N
79:Jean-Rabel
1259:(2002) .
1195:(1997) .
952:Admiralty
941:Aftermath
916:schooners
822:Harmonie'
806:Thunderer
802:Harmonie'
789:Thunderer
774:Thunderer
758:Thunderer
731:Thunderer
506:Vertières
479:Plaisance
445:2nd Irois
435:1st Irois
325:Marmelade
241:destroyed
205:Thunderer
1166:25 March
1143:(2004).
963:mutiny.
961:Hermione
947:Harmonie
934:Industry
919:Columbia
902:; brigs
889:musketry
873:Hermione
869:Penelope
832:Hermione
797:Harmonie
782:Harmonie
770:Harmonie
762:Harmonie
751:Harmonie
710:Harmonie
691:Harmonie
687:Harmonie
680:Harmonie
663:Harmonie
646:American
638:Trinidad
623:Jamaican
586:Harmonie
527:and the
239:Harmonie
223:Harmonie
194:Strength
74:Location
850:Mermaid
810:Valiant
793:Valiant
778:Valiant
766:Tortuga
742:Valiant
714:Marégot
625:trade.
544:frigate
474:Kellola
390:Trutier
380:Léogane
219:frigate
212:Valiant
33:and the
1286:
1267:
1245:
1222:
1203:
1172:
931:sloops
908:Abiona
893:cannon
866:cutter
839:Quebec
450:Jacmel
165:France
149:
125:Result
967:Notes
912:Sally
900:Polly
862:Drake
724:Queen
706:Janus
697:Janus
579:Spain
556:Haiti
87:Haiti
1284:ISBN
1265:ISBN
1243:ISBN
1220:ISBN
1201:ISBN
1168:2012
929:and
925:and
923:Juno
910:and
864:and
859:brig
848:HMS
846:and
837:HMS
830:HMS
808:and
791:and
776:and
740:HMS
738:and
729:HMS
722:HMS
695:HMS
519:The
340:Acul
235:None
210:HMS
208:and
203:HMS
66:Date
1157:doi
1303::
1120:^
1096:.
1085:^
1061:.
1046:^
1025:^
986:^
921:,
914:;
906:,
727:,
674:.
562:.
81:,
1292:.
1273:.
1251:.
1228:.
1209:.
1170:.
1159::
272:e
265:t
258:v
89:)
85:(
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