''Cygne'' was an 16-gun brig of the

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

, launched in 1806.

Career

On 10 November 1808, under Lieutenant Menouvrier Defresne, ''Cygne'' departed Cherbourg, part of a squadron under Rear-Admiral Hamelin also comprising the frigates , , and the brig . bound for

Martinique Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...

.François Marie 2ème Denis de Keredern de Trobriand
/ref> The next day, the ships of the squadron were scattered. On 13, ''Cygne'' captured the Portuguese ship ''Miliciano'' and set her ablaze. Arriving near Pelham_Brenton),__(Thomas_Tudor)_and_the_schooner__(William_Dowers)._On_12_December,_''Cygne''_passed_the_northern_cape_of_Martinique;_seeing_that_he_would_be_overhauled_by_the_British_squadron_before_reaching_ Pelham_Brenton),__(Thomas_Tudor)_and_the_schooner__(William_Dowers)._On_12_December,_''Cygne''_passed_the_northern_cape_of_Martinique;_seeing_that_he_would_be_overhauled_by_the_British_squadron_before_reaching_Saint-Pierre,_Martinique">Saint-Pierre,_Menouvrier_Defresne_decided_to_drop_anchor_under_a_shore_battery_at_ Pelham_Brenton),__(Thomas_Tudor)_and_the_schooner__(William_Dowers)._On_12_December,_''Cygne''_passed_the_northern_cape_of_Martinique;_seeing_that_he_would_be_overhauled_by_the_British_squadron_before_reaching_Saint-Pierre,_Martinique">Saint-Pierre,_Menouvrier_Defresne_decided_to_drop_anchor_under_a_shore_battery_at_Rivière_de_l'_Anse_Céron">Anse_Céron.Troude,_p._520 Two_of_the_British_brigs_then_dropped_anchor_in_positions_that_cut_''Cygne''s_retreat_to_Saint-Pierre,_while_the_other_ships_launched_boats_to_attempt_a_Naval_boarding.html" ;"title="Rivière_de_l'_Anse_Céron.html" ;"title="Saint-Pierre,_Martinique.html" ;"title="Edward_Pelham_Brenton.html" ;"title="rtinique, ''Cygne'' was chased by the frigate (Augustin Collier), the corvette (George Le Geyt), the brigs (John Brown), (Edward Pelham Brenton">Pelham Brenton), (Thomas Tudor) and the schooner (William Dowers). On 12 December, ''Cygne'' passed the northern cape of Martinique; seeing that he would be overhauled by the British squadron before reaching Saint-Pierre, Martinique">Saint-Pierre, Menouvrier Defresne decided to drop anchor under a shore battery at Rivière de l' Anse Céron">Anse Céron.Troude, p. 520 Two of the British brigs then dropped anchor in positions that cut ''Cygne''s retreat to Saint-Pierre, while the other ships launched boats to attempt a Naval boarding">cutting out boarding.Troude notes that Defresne reported seven boats each carrying about 50 men, while James states that only 68 men were involved. ''Cygne'' sank three before they reached her. ''Circe'' approached with her crew ready for boarding, but was repelled by a grapeshot broadside, while the surviving boats reached ''Cygne''s stern; the party was repelled and 17 men were taken prisoner. The next day, ''Cygne'' found herself becalmed; Defresne attempted to move his ship by having her hauled from the shore by infantrymen and by using her oars, and progressed towards Saint-Pierre, under fire from ''Amaranthe''. However, due to a navigation error, ''Cygne'' ran aground and started taking water. As the other British ships closed within range, Defresne ordered ''Cygne'' abandoned and

scuttled Scuttling is the deliberate sinking of a ship. Scuttling may be performed to dispose of an abandoned, old, or captured vessel; to prevent the vessel from becoming a navigation hazard; as an act of self-destruction to prevent the ship from being ...

by fire.Troude, p. 521 Defresne was offered a

sword of honour The ''Sword of Honour'' is a trilogy of novels by Evelyn Waugh which loosely parallel Waugh's experiences during the Second World War. Published by Chapman & Hall from 1952 to 1961, the novels are: ''Men at Arms'' (1952); ''Officers and Gent ...

by the city of Saint-Pierre for his defence. As a token of esteem, Brenton gifted him a sword belt, and Lieutenant Hay, a dagger. The wreck was discovered in 1991 and was explored the next year. A scale model of the ship is on display at the

Musée national de la Marine The Musée national de la Marine (National Navy Museum) is a maritime museum located in the Palais de Chaillot, Trocadéro, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It has annexes at Brest, Port-Louis, Rochefort ( Musée National de la Marine de ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

.Maquette de bateau, Cygne, brick, 1806-1808
/ref>

Notes

Citations

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cygne (1806) Age of Sail corvettes of France Ships built in France 1806 ships Abeille-class brigs Captured ships