Vengeance

Posted by Brian on Wednesday 13th of January 2016 23:36

1761 - His Majesty's ship Vengeance, of 28 guns (9 and 4 pounders) 200 men commanded by Capt. Nightingale, is arrived at Plymouth with two prizes; one named the Entreprenant, pierced for 44, but now only carrying 26 guns (12 and 6 pounder) with 203 men, being equipped for war, and merchandise and loaded with various kinds of goods for St. Domingo with which she sailed from Bordeaux on the 8th instant: The other, a small privateer carrying 4 carriage and 4 swivel guns with 43 men which the vengeance fell in with off the Lizard on the 23rd inst. Capt. Nightingale gives us the following relation of his engagement with the Entreprenant; that he got up close along side of her at five o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th when the action immediately began, and continued for three quarters of an hour, in which time the Vengeance was five times on fire, (twice was imagined from the enemy's wads setting fire to the main rigging) that the Vengeance rigging and sails being so much shattered that the ship was not under command, the enemy ran his bow sprit over her taffrail for boarding, that was there-in prevented and the Vengeance sheered off to repair her rigging and sails. As soon as the ship was in condition, Capt. Nightingale got up again close to the enemy when the engagement was renewed for an hour when the Entreprenant sheered off and bore away. That the Vengeance being a second time disabled in her masts and rigging ???? Capt. Nightingale got again within pistol shot of the enemy, and renewed the engagement, which continued for an hour and a half when the enemy called for quarter. The Entreprenant had 15 men killed and 24 wounded. The Vengeance had 6 killed and 27 wounded, most of the dangerously and two of them are since dead.

Posted by Brian Stephens on Saturday 26th of April 2014 17:19

1759 on impressment service - The Gentleman's magazine. v. 29 (1759) p. 344 - Friday 27
The Golden Lion, a Greenland ship, belonging to Liverpool, in entering that port, was boarded by two men of war's tenders, the commanding Lieutenant declaring he would press every man of the crew unless they would enter voluntarily. The crew stood upon their defence, and confined their officers; the King's lieutenant called out to the Vengeance man of war, to fire into the Golden Lion; but the crew being 60 in number, kept him and his people on deck to share the same fate with themselves. The Vengeance fired away, and then within pistol shot, and several of her nine pounders besides raking the ship, fell in the town and did some damage. The crew of the golden Lion filled her sails & got into harbour & gave bond, according to act of parliament, and renewed their protection; nevertheless, the press gangs pursued them to the custom-house, seized Capt. Thompson, the commander, and five of his men, and wounded a women desperately who was only a spectator.