Action Of 2 January 1783

The action of 2 January 1783 was a minor naval battle that took place in the Caribbean Sea during the last stages of the American War of Independence. Severe fighting between a Royal Navy frigate HMS ''Magicienne'' and a French frigate ''Sibylle'' went on for nearly two hours, but in that time both frigates were reduced to wrecks.

Events

Background

Captain Thomas Graves was in command of HMS ''Magicienne'' and was part of the British blockade off Cap-François, Saint-Domingue by the Royal Naval Jamaica station.

Off Cap-François into the open sea, a French convoy was sighted by HMS ''Endymion''. At 0630 the ''Endymion'' made a signal that the convoy was French. The French convoy had sailed from Cap-François on 27 December 1782 carrying goods and money to Chesapeake Bay. A ship of the convoy had strayed and steered toward the British ship. At 0900 the ''Endymion'' came up with her and captured what turned out to be the ''Celerity'', a rich prize valued at 20,000 Francs. Meanwhile, the ''Magicienne'' came up to assist in shifting the prisoners and goods. At 0930 ''Endymion'' signalled ''Magicienne'' to chase to the northeast. Kergariou-Locmaria decided to steer toward the British in order to draw them away from the convoy and signalled the convoy to continue on its course.

Action

Graves then set about clearing his ship for action. Shortly after, the three leewardmost of the French vessels bore away and followed the French convoy. The French warships raised their colours and prepared to give battle.

At 1230 the ''Magicienne'' closed up with the smaller ship, the French sloop ''Railleur'' of 14 guns, and a short action took place. After having fired two broadsides into the sloop, the French frigate ''Sibylle'' dropped back to assist the struggling ''Railleur'', and ''Magicienne'' moved away. ''Sibylle'' was rated at 600 tons and mounted twenty-six 12-pounders and six 6-pounders. She had been coppered and was a fast-sailing frigate. She had a crew of 271 men under the Comte de Kergariou-Locmaria.''Sibylle'' was a member of a five-ship class of 32-gun frigates designed by Sané. ''Magicienne'' sailed on and soon got on the port quarter of the ''Sybille''. The guns were practically muzzle to muzzle as men hurled shot by the hand and frequently at each other through the port holes with half pikes and gun rammers to distract each other from firing.

At 1415 the ''Magicienne'' had nearly silenced the ''Sybille’''s fire and the British began to hope and expect that the French would soon surrender. Then, a French shot brought down ''Magicienne''’s mizzen and fore-topmast. The wreck fell clear of the ''Sybille'' and she fell astern. Just after ''Magicienne''’s masts fell, a broadside from the British ship cleared ''Sybille''’s forecastle and killed eleven men. Kergariou was struck down on the quarterdeck and his men thought he was dead for some time but he was only wounded. Lieutenant de vaisseau Charles Gabriel Morel d'Escures, the second in command, continued the action.

About 1420 the ''Magicienne’''s fore and main masts went overboard. ''Sybille'' now made off as ''Endymion'' and ''Emerald'' were seen to approach.Levot, ''Gloires maritimes'', p. 257 ''Magicienne'' was unable to do anything except fire every available gun into her stern. The action had lasted for an hour and forty-five minutes.

Aftermath

The ''Magicienne'' was towed by ''Endymion'' and ''Emerald'' and went to Jamaica a fortnight later. The only prize, the ''Celerity'', never made port and was lost on a rock on 9 January off the island of Heneaga. The ''Sybille'' had been severely damaged and was captured on 22 January 1783 by HMS ''Hussar'' under Thomas McNamara Russell.Winfield (2008), p.202. Thomas Graves later produced two engravings of the battle, one representing its beginning, and the other its end.Levot, ''Biographie bretonne'', vol.2, p. 10

References

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Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving France
Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War
Conflicts in 1783
1783 in the Caribbean
Naval battles of the Anglo-French War (1778–1783)