Sea battle with the 'Lion"
On the 9th of July, the Loin, of 58 guns, Capt. Brett, being in lat. 47.57. N. and West of the meridian of the Lizard 39 leagues, bore down on two French men of war, one of 64 guns and the other of 16. At 5 o’clock the Lion ran along-side the large ship, and began to engage with pistol-fire, and continued in that situation till 10; during which time they kept a continual fire at each other; when, the Lion’s rigging being cut to pieces, her mizen-mast, mizen top-sail, main-yard, fore top-sail-yard, and main-top-sail-yard shot away, all her lower masts and top masts shot through in many pieces, so that she lay muzzled in the sea, and could do nothing with her sails, the French ship sheered off, and in less than an hour was out of sight, the Lion nor being able to follow her. The small ship, in the beginning of the engagement made two attempts to rake the Lion; but was soon beat off by her *strern-chace, and after that lay off at a great distance. The Lion had 45 men killed outright, and 107 wounded, 7 of whom died of their wounds soon after; Capt. Brett was wounded and very much bruised in the arm; the Master had his right arm shot off in the beginning of the engagement; and the Lieutenants were all wounded two hours before the action was over, yet would not leave the deck, but continued encouraging the men to the last, excepting the First Lieutenant who was carried off at 9 o’clock, not being able to stand any longer. The Lion has put into Plymouth to refit.- In other accounts of the action, we have a contrast of bravery and cowardice. “Thirteen cannon-shot [say they] entered upon the quarter-deck, betwixt the mizen-mast and bulk-head, besides grape and musket-shot, and every one quartered at those guns were killed, except two men and a boy. The Captain was wounded in the left arm at the first broadside, and soon after in the left foot, and was knocked down several times with splinters, so that he was black and blue all over; yet he moved up and down upon the deck all the time, and was covered in blood and brains. Cant. Brett called upon his Captain of marines several times; but he could not be found. At last, Mr. Leach, the Chaplain of the Lion, discovered him between two trusses of hay; but he refused to fight. The Chaplain thereupon took his arms from him, put himself at the head of the marines, rallied them thrice on the poop, and encouraged them to behave like brave Britons, till he was shot dead upon the spot. The French had 160 men killed and 140 wounded.”
Scots Magazine, vol. 7, July 1745, pages 345 & 346. Original document digitised by GOOGLE.
*A chase gun, usually distinguished as bow chaser and stern chaser (or just chaser for short) was a cannon mounted in the bow (aiming forward) or stern (aiming backward) of a sailing ship. They were used to attempt to slow down a ship either pursuing or being pursued, typically by damaging the rigging and thereby causing the target to lose performance.
Scots Magazine, vol. 7, July 1745, pages 345 & 346. Original document digitised by GOOGLE.
*A chase gun, usually distinguished as bow chaser and stern chaser (or just chaser for short) was a cannon mounted in the bow (aiming forward) or stern (aiming backward) of a sailing ship. They were used to attempt to slow down a ship either pursuing or being pursued, typically by damaging the rigging and thereby causing the target to lose performance.
Example of a sailing ship using its stern-chase gun
