Affair of Fielding and Bylandt, 31st December 1779

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Affair of Fielding and Bylandt

31^st December 1779
Part of : The American War of Independence (1775/04/19 - 1784/01/14)
Previous action : Action of 1779-12-21 21.12.1779 - 22.12.1779
Next action : Operations against Charleston 1.1780 - 5.1780


Dutch Republic

Dutch Squadron, Lodewijk van BylandtDutch Naval Sailor Service 1718-1793
Ship Name	Commander	Notes
Name : Prinses Royaal Fredrika Sophia Wilhelmina (64) 1769-1785 Dutch 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line		Fleet Flagship
Name : Zwieten (44) 1759-1782 Dutch 44 Gun 4th Rate Frigate	NaumanDutch Naval Sailor
Name : Argo (40) 1772-1787 Dutch 40 Gun 4th Rate Frigate	Jan Hendrik van KinsbergenDutch Naval Sailor Service 1735-1819
Name : Valk (24) 1770-1799 Dutch 24 Gun 6th Rate Corvette	SilvesterDutch Naval Sailor
Name : Alarm (24) 1774-1799 Dutch 24 Gun 6th Rate Ship	MulderDutch Naval Sailor

Great Britain

British Squadron, Charles FieldingBritish Naval Sailor Service 1756-1778
Ship Name	Commander	Notes
Name : Namur (90) 1756-1804 British 90 Gun 2nd Rate Ship of the Line	Charles FieldingBritish Naval Sailor Service 1756-1778	Fleet Flagship
Name : Centaur (74) 1759-1782 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line	John Neale Pleydell NottBritish Naval Sailor Service 1746-1764
Name : Courageux (74) 1761-1796 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line	Lord Constantine John Phipps (2^nd Baron Mulgrave)British Naval Sailor Service 1759-1792
Name : Thunderer (74) 1760-1780 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line	The Hon. Robert BoyleBritish Naval Sailor Service 1748-1780
Name : Valiant (74) 1759-1826 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line	Samuel Granston GoodallBritish Naval Sailor Service 1750-1801
Name : Portland (50) 1770-1817 British 50 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line	Anthony HuntBritish Naval Sailor Service 1744-1782
Name : Buffalo (30) 1777-1783 British 30 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line	Hugh BromedgeBritish Naval Sailor Privateer Service 1744-1782
Name : Emerald (32) 1762-1793 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate	Samuel MarshallBritish Naval Sailor Service 1753-1787
Name : Camel (24) 1776-1784 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Ship	Richard Rodney BlighBritish Naval Sailor Service 1750-1813
Name : Seaford (20) 1754-1784 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship	Isaac PrescottBritish Naval Sailor Service 1752-1814
Name : Hawk (10) 1761-1781 British 10 Gun Unrated Sloop	Richard MurrayBritish Naval Sailor Service 1749-1783
Name : Wolf (8) 1754-1781 British 8 Gun Unrated Sloop	Martin ColeBritish Naval Sailor Service 1742-1781

Notes on Action

DescriptionTRN4
On the last day of the year 1779 a British squadron under Captain Charles Feilding came up with a large Dutch convoy in charge of the Dutch Rear-Admiral van Bylandt, who had with him two sail of the line and two frigates. It was notorious that the Dutch ships were laden with naval stores and other contraband of war for the French. Captain Feilding requested permission to search these ships, but it was refused him; and van Bylandt declared that he would fire if any such search were attempted. Next day, however (January 1st), boats were sent from the British ships, on which the Dutch fired, and the British warships replied by opening on the Dutch. His honour being now satisfied, van Bylandt struck, though no blood had been shed in the interchange of compliments. Captain Feilding refused to accept the surrender, and returned to port with nine prizes, which were all condemned in due course.

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

TRN4William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

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Affair of Fielding and Bylandt

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