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Robert
Corbet
and the Africaine
The
following has been extracted from a variety of sources.
The main body is from the Dictionary of National
Biography. That which appears in square brackets
comprises additional material.
As far as Robert's lineage is concerned
no connection to the ancient Shropshire Corbet family has
so far been discovered. His great grandfather was Thomas
Corbet, a merchant from Dunganon, Tyrone. His grandfather
was the Reverend Francis Corbet, Dean of St Patrick's,
Dublin; his parents were Robert Corbet of Wexford,
Ireland, a captain in the Royal Navy and Susannah
Woodward.
DICTIONARY OF
NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Robert Corbet
(d.1810), captain in the navy, of an old Shropshire
family', attained the rank of lieutenant on 22 December
1796; having served with distinction during the
operations on the coast of Egypt in 1801, in command of
the Fulminette cutter, was promoted to be commander on 29
April 1802. On the renewal of the war he was put in
commandof the Bittern brig, and sent to the
Mediterranean, where he won high praise from Nelson, then
commander-in-chief of the station, and especially by the
capture of the Hirondelle privateer. (Nelson Despatches,
vi. 51, 58, 363)) In April 1805 he was appointed, by
Nelson, acting captain of the Amphitrite, but he was not
confirmed in the rank till 24 May 1806. Shortly
afterwards he commissioned the Nereide frigate, and in
her took part in the operations in the Rio de la Plata.
[George III (known
as Farmer George) was on the throne of England (25
October 1760 to 29 June 1820) and Napoleon Buonoparte
ruled France. Wellington was pursuing the Peninsular
(War) campaign which became part of Britain's second war
with Napoleon which lasted from 1805 to 1815. Napoleon
(1808) invaded Portugal and crowned his brother as king
of Spain. Portugal and Spain being the peninsula referred
to earlier. The two countries had appealed for assistance
from Britain.]
He then passed on
to the Cape of Good Hope, and in August 1808 was sent to
Bombay to refit. His conduct at Bombay, in taking on
himself the duties of senior officer and breaking through
the routine of the station, drew on him the displeasure
of the commander-in chief, Sir Edward Pellew, afterwards
Viscount Exmouth, who represented that Corbet's letters
and actions were unbecoming.
[GENTLEMEN'S MAGAZINE: Volume 79: Admiralty Office -
April 1 1809:
This Gazette (London Gazette) announces the capture of
the French letter of marque L'Iphigenie, pierced for 18
guns, and 26 men, by the Franchise, Captain Dashwood, and
also La Gola Mouche Imperial corvette, pierced 14 guns,
and 80 men, by the Nereide, Capt. Corbett.]
The ship's company of the Nereide also preferred a
complaint against him of cruelty and oppression. Corbet ,
in reply, demanded a court-martial; and Pellew, not being
able to form a court at Bombay, ordered the ship to
return to the Cape of Good Hope, in order that he might
be tried there. This was, unfortunately, not explained to
the men, who, conceiving that their temporate complaint
had been unheeded, broke out into open mutiny. The mutiny
was quelled, and when the ship arrived at the Cape, ten
of the ringleaders were tried, found guilty, and
sentenced to death, protesting their innocence of any
evil design, beyond a wish for the ship to return to the
Cape so that their grievances might be enquired into. One
of the ten was left for execution, but the other nine
were pardoned. When this trial was over, that on Corbet
began. No charges of diabolical cruelty were ever more
simply put, or more clarly proved, even if they were not
admitted. It was acknowledged that the number of men
flogged was very great; that the cat (of nine tails) in
ordinary use had knots on the tail, and that the backs of
the sufferers wer habitually pickled; that the
boatswain's mates and other petty oficers were encouraged
to thrash the men without any formality - an irregular
punishment known as 'starting,' and that these startings
were administered with thick sticks. There were numerous
other minor charges, and Corbet, making no attempt to
refute the evidence, based his defence on the necessities
of his position and the custom of the service. The ship's
company, he urged, was exceptionally bad; drunkenness,
malingering and skulking were everyday offences;
desertion was frequent; the petty officers were as bad as
or worse than the men; 'severity was necessary to reform
their conduct and perhaps it was used.'
The prisoner was,
strangely, acquitted on all the counts except on that of
having caused men to be punished 'with sticks of an
improper size and such as are not usual in his majesty's
service,' and for this alone he was reprimanded. The
admiralty, however, wrote (4 Aug. 1809) to express high
disapproval 'of the manifest want of management, good
order, and discipline' in the ship, and strongly
condemned and prohibited 'starting,' which they
pronounced 'unjustifiable,' and 'extremely disgusting to
the feelings of the British seamen.'
After the
court-marshal, however, Corbet resumed the command of the
Nereide, and on 21 Aug. 1809 had an important share in
the capture of the Caroline frigate and other vessels in
St Paul's Bay in the Isle of Bourbon. (JAMES, Nav. Hist.
ed. 1860 v. 58)
The Caroline was
received into the service as the Bourbonnaise, and Corbet
appointed to command her for the voyage to England. He
arrived at Plymouth in the spring of 1810, and was
immediately appointed to the Africaine, under orders to
go out to the station from which he had just come. The
Africaine had been some time in commission, and her men
were extremely averse to receiving their new captian, who
was reported to be a monster of cruelty. They forwarded a
round-robin to the admiralty, expressing their
determination not to let Corbet come on board. But the
ship was in Plymouth Sound, and the Menelaus dropped
alongside ready to fire into her. The mutiny was thus
repressed almost before it broke out, and Corbet gpoing
on board read his commission and assumed command. Some
further display of illwill was repressed without undue
severity, and during the passage out to Mauritius the
ship's company seem to have been well satisfaied with
their lot. On 11 Sept. 1810 they sighted Mauritius.
[By the 16th of September Corbet and his ship the
Africaine were involved in action against the French at
St Paul, Isle of Bourbon. The Isle of Bourbon is now
called Reunion and is at long. 22'S and lat. 56'E. (420
miles to the east of Madagascar.) It is still a French
possession. It covers an area of 970 sq. miles. The
capital is St. Denis.
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE VOL. 80
St Paul's, Isle of Bourbon, Sept. 29th.
Sir, My letter of the 16th inst. with its inclosures from
Commodore Rowley, will have prepared the Honourable the
Governor in Council for the detailed account of our
operations since that period; and which in justice to the
steadiness, bravery and good conduct of his Majesty's and
the Honourable Company's troops, I feel it my duty to
enter into minutely; trusting that the names of those
excellent officer's, whom it has been my particular good
fortune to have had the honour to command, may be
noticed, in proportion to the great national service
which they have performed, and the honour acquired by his
Majesty's and the Honourable Company's troops, in an
attack upon the town, batteries, posts, and shipping of
St Paul's - His Majesty's ships: Nereide and Otter, and
the Honourable Company's cruizer Wasp, with 168 Officers
and men, who were embarked on the 16th inst. at Fort
Duncan, island of Roderiques, arrived off Fort Lewis,
Isle of France, on the evening of the 13th, and joined
his Majesty's ship Raisonable, Commodore Rowley, and
Sirius; early the next morning, the 19th, the seamen and
troops destined for the attack, amounting to 604, were,
according to an arrangement made by Capt. Corbet, and
approved by the Commodore, put on board the Nereide, and
towards evening, the squadron stood for the Isle of
Bourbon; on the morning of the 26th being off the East
end of the island. - At five A.M. on the 23d inst. the
troops were disembarked to the southward of point de
Galotte, seven miles from St. Paul's, and immediately
commenced a forced march, with a view of crossing the
causeways that extend over the lake, before the Enemy
should discover our debarkation or approach to the town,
which we were fortunate enough to effect; nor had they
time to form in any force until we had passed the
strongest position. By seven o'clock we were in
possession of the first and second batteries, Lambousiere
and La Centiere, when Capt. Willoughby of the Royal Navy,
who commanded a detachment of about a hundred seamen on
shore, and to whose zeal, activity and exertions I feel
most indebted, immediately turned the guns upon the
Enemy's shipping, from whose fire, which was chiefly
grape and well directed, within pistol shot of the shore,
we suffered much being necessarily exposed to it during
our movements upon the beach, and through the town. From
the battery La Centiere, Capt. Imlack was detached with
the second column, composed of one hundred and forty-two
of the 2d battalion of the 2d regiment of Bombay Native
Infantry and 12 Europeans, to take possession of the 3d,
or battery of La Neuf, deserted by the Enemy. On his way
thither, he fell in with and was opposed by the entire
force of the French, who had concentrated and taken up a
very strong position behind a stone wall, with eight
brass field pieces, six-pounders, upon their flanks. This
post was instantly charged in the most gallant manner by
that Officer and his men. - The Enemy however maintained
their position; and Capt. Hannor, of the 56th regiment,
was ordered to proceed with the third Column to his
support, who charged, and took two of the Enemy's guns.
The action now became warm, but never doubtful. The Enemy
being reinforced from the hills, and having also received
one hundred and ten troops of the line from the French
frigate La Caroline, and the squadron not being able to
stand in to support us, our movements being endangered by
their fire, except at intervals, which they always took
advantage of, Capt. Willoughby was directed to spike the
guns of Lambousiere and La Centiere, and with the seamen
to man the third battery La Neuf, continuing to fire upon
their shipping. By this arrangement, Capt. Forbes, who
with the reserve had covered those batteries, was enabled
to advance against the Enemy. who, after an honourable
resistance, were compelled to give way. Their remaining
guns being carried by that excellent officer, a
sufficient number of men were ordered to act as light
troops, and to pursue the Enemy, whilst the 2d column,
with part of the reserve, advanced against the 4th and
5th batteries, La Pierre and La Caserne, which fell into
our hands without opposition, and whose entire fire was
immediately directed against the Enemy's shipping. By
half past eight o'clock, the town batteries, magazines,
light brass field pieces, 117 new and heavy iron guns of
different calibres and all the public stores, were in our
possession, with several prisoners. The instant the
squadron perceived that the object in landing had
succeeded, and that they could, with safety to the
troops, stand in effectually, they immediately anchored
close to the Enemy's shipping, which, after a short
firing, surrendered. The entire of the batteries being
destroyed, and the town completely commanded by our
squadron, the troops were re-embarked by eight o'clock
that evening. - Herewith I have the honour to annex a
return of the shipping, guns and stores taken and
destroyed upon this occasion. I have also the honour to
enclose a return of the killed, wounded and missing; and
though our loss has been severe, it is not equal to what
might have been expected from the nature of the attack,
the position and the strength of the Enemy, and the
number of guns, to which our little force was exposed at
different times during the morning. - To the judicious
arrangements of Commodore Rowley, the cordial cooperation
and support of the rest of the officer's of his Majesty's
navy, and personal exertions and assistance of Capt.
Corbett in landing the entire force from his Majesty's
ship La Nereide, I impute the happy termination and
ultimate success of this enterprize. On the 22d, late in
the evening, the enemy appeared in some force upon the
hills, and a heavy column was observed advancing from St.
Denis, which I since understand to have been under the
immediate command of Gen. De Bruslyes; the Commodore and
myself now agreed upon the propriety of landing a
sufficient force to destroy all public property; and
accordingly the marines, with a few sailors under Capt.
Wiloughby, were ordered upon this service, when I had an
opportunity of again witnessing the the steadiness and
good conduct of the seamen and Royal Marines, who
effectually burnt an extensive Government store of
considerable value; the remaining stores were only saved,
from some doubt existing respecting their being public
property. - On the morning of the 23d the entire force
was put in boats to re-land and attack the Enemy, whose
retreat, however, to St. Denis, during the night,
prevented the necessity of any farther debarkation. The
Commandant, St Michel, being disposed to enter into
negotiations, with the concurrence of Commodore Rowley
the preliminary articles were drawn up, a copy of which
is enclosed; and the Commandant accompanying me on board
his Majesty's ship Raisonable, they were signed, subject
to the confirmation or rejection of the Commander in
Chief General De Brusleys. on the 24th all the remaining
stores were delivered over by the head of the police, and
fatigue parties from the squadron and troops were ordered
to embark on board the Honourable Company's re-captured
ship Streatham, which together with the Europe were
placed under the orders of their former commanders. From
the 25th to the 28th, the whole of the guns, &c. were
finally destroyed, our guards continuing to mount
regularly in the town for the protection of the
inhabitants and their property. The frigate, La Caroline,
with the other shipping, are making all possible
preparation for sea; and it is hoped that all the
necessary arrangements will be made for the troops
returning to Roderiques by the 3d of next month. - I
cannot conclude this dispatch without mentioning the
obligations I am under to Lieut. Reman, of the Bombay
Engineers, through whose exertions I was enabled to give
a plan of attack to the Officers in command of columns,
and who, upon the entire of this service, has been
zealous and indefatigable. I beg also to notice the
exertions of Ensign Pearce, of the 56th regiment, who,
being attached to my personal Staff, has rendered me the
most essential services.
HENRY S. KEATING.
(Further mention of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Keating is
to be found in 'Rivals in Eden' by William McAteer,
p.328. This is a history of the French sett;ement and
British conquest of the Seychelles (1742-1818). There it
says that letters from him, at St Denis, 17 May 1811 are
filed with the India Office Library, London.)
To Francis Warden, Esq. Chief Secretary to Government,
Bombay.
(Here follows the Articles of Capitulation, which are of
no importance, as the Island was not retained; and also
an account of the Artillery and Stores captured.)
Total of killed, wounded, and missing, Sept. 22, Isle of
Bourbon: 15 killed, 58 wounded, 3 missing.
Names of Officers wounded. - Royal Marines, Lieut. J.R.
Pye; second Lieutenant Matthew Howden. - 2d Batt. 3d
Native Infantry, Lieut. Grant; Subidam Shaik Solomon.
(Signed)
H. O'NEIL, Major of Brigade.
H.S. KEATING.
Transmitted by Admiral Bertie.
Raisonable, St Paul's Road, Sept. 29 (1809).
Sir, Having acquainted you by my letter of the 28th
August with the reason which induced me to request the
assistance of Lieut.-col. Keating, commanding the troops
at Roderique, to co-operate with his Majesty's ships in
an attack on St Paul's, I have now further to acquaint
you, that being joined by the Nereide, Otter and Wasp
schooner, having on board a detachment of the 56th
regiment, and of the 2nd regiment Native Infantry,
amounting in the whole to 368 men, under the command of
Lieut.-col. Keating, and the Sirius having joined, we
proceeded at dusk, on the evening of the 20th, for the
Isle of Bourbon. The force intended to be landed were,
the detachment of his Majesty's and Company's troops,
reinforced by the marines of the squadron, and a party of
about 100 seamen from this ship and the Otter, under the
command of Capt. Willoughby, whose zeal induced him to
volunteer the command of so small a party. As secrecy and
dispatch were esential to the success of the Expedition,
the whole of this force, amounting to 604 men, were
embarked with five additional boats on board the Nereide,
Capt. Corbet, who from his perfect acquaintance with the
coast, as well as his known skill and activity, was
intrusted (sic) with this important service. - On our
approach towards the bay of St Paul's, to prevent
suspicion, the Nereide preceded the other ships; and
being anchored close to the beach, the whole of the
detachment were landed with the greatest celerity,
without any alarm being given to the Enemy, and proceeded
towards the batteries, which were successionally stormed
and carried with the greatest gallantry, and several of
the guns pointed on the ships in the roads. In the mean
time the squadron stood into the bay, and according to
the plan agreed upon, when the movements of the troops
enabled them to act, opened their fire on the shipping,
which was warmly returned by La Caroline frigate, the
Indiamen, her prizes, and those batteries which, from
their distance from the first point of attack, were
enabled to continue their fire; but these being finally
carried, our ships prepared to anchor, and the Sirius
having already taken a close raking position a-head of La
Caroline, they found it necessary to surrender, having
made an honourable resistance; and by nine o'clock the
whole of the batteries, town, and shipping, were in
possession of his Majesty's troops and squadron. - The
squadron having anchored in the Roads close off the town
of St Paul's, immediate exertions were made to secure La
Caroline and the rest of the shipping, whose cables being
cut had drifted on shore, and they were hove off without
material injury. - The guns and mortars at the different
batteries and on the beach being spiked, their carriages
burnt or destroyed, and magazines blown up under the
directions of Capt. Willoughby, the whole of the troops,
marines, and seamen, were embarked soon after dark on
board of the different ships. Thus, Sir, have we
completely succeeded in the objects of the Expedition, by
the capture of the Enemy's shipping, the destruction of
all the defences of the only safe anchorage on the
Island, and which has always been a place of shelter for
their cruisers and prizes, when prevented from entering
the ports of the Isle of France, besides the rescue of
property to an immense amount out of the hands of the
Enemy. - It is impossible for me to do justice to, or
sufficiently express the high sense I entertain of the
gallantry and skill of Lieut.-col. Keating, which were
equally conspicuous in planning and conducting this
affair; and the bravery shewn by the troops, in
successively carrying the batteries, was eminently
distinguished. - I beg leave to refer you for details, to
Lieut.-col. Keating's letter; and am happy to say he
mentions in high terms the conduct of Capt. Willoughby,
the officers, seamen and marines, employed on this
occassion. I need scarcely say that I received every
support and assistance from the Captains of his Majesty's
ships whom I had the good fortune to have placed under my
command. That might be expected from officers of their
known merit and experience; and I have only to regret
that their ability and zeal had not more room for
exertion, as, to prevent interference with the movements
of the troops on shore, the services of the ships were
necessarily much limited. - The loss of the detachment in
killed and wounded, considering the nature of the service
the troops had to perform, and the advantages of the
position on the part of the Enemy, was not so great as
might have been expected: I herewith enclose a list of
the killed and wounded of the ships of the squadron:
among the latter I have particularly to regret Lieut.
Lloyd and Lieut. Howden, of the Royal Marines, both of
the Raisonable, with the party on shore, who have been
always zealously forward on occasions for service; the
damages sustained by the ships of the squadron are
immaterial. - On the morning of the 22nd we could have
but little communication with the shore, on account of
the surf on the beach; but we observed the Enemy
collecting on the heights, and in the afternoon they
appeared in force, advancing to the town from St. Denis,
upon which it was considered advisable by Lieut.-col.
Keating and myself, to destroy the stores containing the
public property. From the state of the surf on the beach,
the marines were selected for this service, with a small
party of seamen: and Capt. Willoughby again volunteered
his services on the occasion. The Lieut.-col. himself
accompanied the party; and a large and valuable magazine,
the only one we could ascertain to be public property,
was fired, and the party re-embarked without loss. On the
morning of the 23d, the troops, marines, and seamen, all
in boats, were in readiness to land under cover of the
Nereide, when we were informed that the Enemy, under the
command of Gen. de Bruleys, had retreated to St. Denis in
the night. The Commandant St. Michael being disposed to
negotiate, the Lieutenant-col. and myself agreed to sign
the terms, of which the enclosed is a copy, since which
time the troops and seamen have been actively employed in
shipping the property found in the public stores,
consisting of provisions and some ordinance stores, and a
part of the cargoes of the captured Indiamen, which had
not been fired at the same time as the others, the
supposition of its being private property; the cargoes of
the Indiamen alone being valued by them at 3,000,000 of
dollars. - As the Captains of the captured Indiamen were
found in this place, I have replaced them in their former
situations, with such of their people as we can collect,
and are fitting their ships for sea. A strong party has
also been employed completing the destruction of the
batteries, by bursting the guns and mortars, or heaving
them off into deep water, carrying off the shot and
shells, &c. I have given the charge of the Caroline
to Lieut. Bluett, first of this ship, to whose steadfness
and good conduct I feel much indebted, but on this and
many other occasions. The Sapphire sailed on the 24th,
and the Boadicea on the 25th, to resume the blockade of
the Isle de France. [Isle of France or Isle de France was
originally, and is now, Mauritius.] I had to regret the
loss of the services of the former, which from baffling
winds did not join us until the 23d. - I forward these
dispatches by the Nereide; and beg to refer you for
farther particulars to Capt. Corbet, who can give you
every information relative to these islands, and to whom
I feel highly indebted for the assistance I have received
from him on every occasion. - The Wasp schooner will be
dispatched this evening for Bombay. I beg to add, that
the Commander, Lieut. Watkins, has shewn much zeal and
attention in the performance of every duty he has been
employed upon. A Return of Officers, Seamen, and Marines
killed, wounded, and missing, belonging to his Majesty's
ships under the command of Josias Rowley, Esq.; Captain
of his Majesty's ship Raisonable, in action with the
Enemy at St. Paul's and its Vicinity, Island of
Buonoparte, 21st September.
Killed. -
Raisonable, 1 able seaman, 1 private marine. - Boadicea,
1 private marine. - Sirius, 2 private marines. - Nereide,
1 able seaman. - Otter, 1 private marine.- Total 7.
Wounded. - Raisonable, 1 Lieutenant (4th), 1 able seaman,
1 Lieutenant of marines (2d), 3 private marines. -
Boadicea, 1 Lieutenant of marines (1st), 1 Corporal, 2
private marines. - Nereide, 1 Corporal, 4 private
marines. - Otter, 1 able seaman,. - Sirius, 2 private
marines. - Total 18.
Missing. - Sirius, 1 ordinary seaman.
Names of Officers wounded. - Raisonable, Lieut. Lloyd
(4th), Matthew Howden, Lieutenant of Marines. - Boadicea,
--- Pye, Lieutenant of marines.]
12 October, one month after the sighting of Mauritius by
Corbet and the officers and crew of the Africaine:
DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY
During the previous month things had gone badly for the
English squadron. The Sirius, Magicienne, and the Nereide
had been destroyed. (see WILLOUGHBY, NISBET JOSIAH), and
the Iphigenia had been captured. (see CHADS, HENRY DUCIE)
[Rivals in Eden by William McAteer: In a daring attack on
a French squadron anchored in the natural harbour of
Grand Port, on the Isle de Franc'es sputh-east coast, two
British frigates, the Sirius and Magicienne, were
grounded and destroyed and two others, the Iphogenie and
Nereide were taken. About 2000 British seamen were
captured. (The references given in the notes: British
source material Admiralty dispatch to Ranier, ADM 2/937
PRO, and captains logs ADM 51 PRO.]
Corbet learned at the same time that two sail seen in the
distance were the French frigates Astree and the
Iphigenie (the former Iphigenia). He stood towards them;
was joined by Commodore Rowley in the Boadicea frigate,
together with the Otter and the Staunch; and the capture
of the French ships appeared probable. It was not till
the morning of the 13th that the Africaine was close up
with the French ships; they were then within two or three
hours' sail of Port Louis,and the Boadicea was some five
miles dead to leeward. Corbet, fearing they might escape
opened fire on the Astree, [Editorial Note: But the aim
was wild and ineffective and she inflicted no serious
loss to the French.) which immediately returned it.
[Their aim, however was deadly and effective.] In her
second broadside a roundshot took off Corbet's right
foot, and a splinter smashed his right thigh. He was
carried below, and died a few hours afterwards. But
meantime the Africaine, overpowered by the two French
ships, all her officers being killed or wounded, having
sustained a total loss of 163 killed and wounded out of a
complement of 295, and being dismasted and helpless,
struck her flag. In the afternoon, when the Boadicea with
the Otter and the Staunch) came up, the French fled,
leaving their prize, which was recaptured without
difficulty. (JAMES, v. 176)
[GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE: Volume 81
Admiralty Office - February 12 1811
This Gazette contains a Dispatch from Vice-Admiral
Bertie, Commander-in-Chief of all vessels at the Cape of
Good Hope, with inclosures from Commodore Rowley and
Captain Gordon. The dispatch of Admiral Bertie, which is
dated Africaine, Isle of Bourbon, October 13, refers to
the late gallant but unfortunate attack on the Isle de
Passe, the details of which have already been published.
The Admiral observes, that the momentary superiority
obtained by the Enemy in consequence of that unfortunate
event, had been promptly and decisively crushed by the
zeal, skill and intrepidity of Captain Rowley, of the
Boadicea, who, left alone, and unsupported but by the
never failing energies and resources of his active and
intelligent mind, in a few hours not only retook his
Majesty's ships, Africaine and Ceylon, but captured also
the largest frigate possessed by the Enemy in the Indian
seas, and had thus restored the British naval
pre-eminence in that quarter. To the gallant Corbett of
the Africaine, who's meritous eagerness to check the
truimph of an exulting Enemy impelled him to an unequal
conquest, in which he nobly fell, the Admiral pays a just
tribute of praise.
The capture of the Ceylon and Windham Indiamen by the
Enemy is also noticed - the first dispatch from Captain
Rowley which is dated St Paul's Road, September 21
notices as having been chased off the Isle of France. The
second dispatch relates that the Boadicea in company with
the Otter, sloop and Staunch, gunbrig, sailed to attack
the Astrea and Iphigenea frigates then in the offing and
that being joined in the chase by the Africaine and that
her, by her superior sailing closed with the Enemy and
becoming unmanageable under the fire of both ships, was,
after a gallant contest compelled to strike. The
Boadicea, being prevented by light and variable winds,
from affording her the least assistance.
The Africaine had 36 killed and 71 wounded including
Captain Corbett among the former.
(Editorial Note: Captain R Corbett, R.N., commander HMS
Nereide, Cape (of Good Hope) Station, 1808-10. Killed in
action October 1810 Mauritius while Captain of HMS
Africaine.)
It was suggested that the reason the Africaine fell to
the enemy was because the men refused to fight,
preferring to die rather than win Corbett a victory.
However this was disproved by the evidence of the
master's mate on the Africaine, Captain Jenkin Jones.
Rumour also suggested that Corbett had been shot by his
own men but this was also disproved along with the idea
that unwilling to survive the loss of his ship he tore
the bandages from his wounds and allowed himself to bleed
to death. (Records of Corbett's Court-Martial and
official letters can be seen at the Public Record
Office.)
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and/or indexes etc provided the author's name
and URL are cited as the source if they are published
on another website, used in any publication
or are printed or copied in any form,
and provided the copy is not sold.
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