San Miguel

Posted by Robert Boon on Friday 27th of January 2017 00:51

1782 Oct 11th

Last night Wind N W. A strong breeze sprang up, and drove several of the enemy's line of battles ships from their moorings, and this morning we discovered one nearly under the King's bastion, and several others within cannon shot. The King's bastion began a cannonade upon her, when she finding it impossible to bear off, struck her colours, and ran ashore off Ragged-staff, where Captain Curtis went, and took possession of her, and brought the crew to land. She proves to be the San Miquel of 70 guns and 650 men. The others with some damage and difficulty made their escape.

1782 Oct 14th

The guns and stores of the San Miquel have been taken out, to make her float.

1782 Nov 11th

The San Miquel is in New Mole, where the enemy's mortar boars have endeavoured to damage her. Yetsreday they fired several rounds.

1782 Nov 27th

The gun and mortar boats came over and fired at the San Miquel, several shells fell in the New Mole, and about the Mole Parade, some few wounded.

1782 Dec 7th

The gun and mortar boats came into the bay and fired particularly about the New Mole, supposed to be intended for the San Miquel. A shell some time past, fell into her and exploded, but did not do her any other damage than splitting some of her timber.

A Circumstantial Journal of the Long and Tedious Blockade and Siege of Gibraltar (1784)

A large number of RN ships and British Army units stationed at Gibraltar shared £30000 in bounty and prize money for the destruction of the Floating Batteries before Gibraltar on 13/14 September 1782 and the capture of the San Miguel on 11 October 1782.

The London Gazette 9 November 1784 Issue:12594 Page:4

The entry for HMS San Miguel shows a capture date of 1782/09/10 for the San Miguel, which must be incoreect based on the above.