Gunboat No. 26 ➡ 1797 Growler

Posted by Robert Boon on Wednesday 15th of February 2017 13:21

On the 20th of December [1797], in the middle of a dark night, close off Dungeness, the british gun-brig Growler, of ten 18-pounder carronades and two long guns, and 50 men and boys, commanded by lieutenant John Hollingsworth, escorting, in company with some other ships of war, a coasting convoy, was surprised, boarded, and, after the loss of her commander, second officer, (both mortally wounded,) and several of her crew, carried, by the two french lugger-privateers Espiégle, of ten french 4~pounders and at least 80 men, commanded by captain Duchesne, and Rusé, of eight 4-pounders and at least 70 men, captain Denis Fourmentin; and both of whom mistook the Growler, in the first instance, for a merchant vessel. Having, at a very trifling loss, possessed themselves of the british gun-brig, the two
privateers succeeded, the next morning, in reaching Boulogne with their prize; and, as might naturally be expected, captains Duchesne and Fourmentin experienced from the inhabitants the most joyous reception. This was not all. The french minister of marine wrote the two captains a very flattering letter; which, indeed, was no less than they deserved.

The Naval History of Great Britain 1793-1820 by William James (1826) Vol 2 page 135