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GRACIEUSE
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Taken by BLANCHE off Curacoa on 21 October 1804. |
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- 1805 Tender to HERCULE, flagship of Rear-Ad. DACRES, and commanded by Midshipman John Bernhard SMITH of that ship.
- On 9 April 1805 SMITH fell in with and captured a large Spanish schooner sailing from San Domingo to Porto Rico with passengers.
He then chased a French sloop but gave up after a few shots when she sailed under the guns of San Domingo and went after a brig which proved to be an American.
Later a schooner, identified by his Spanish prisoners as a French national vessel, stood out of San Domingo, so he hauled out with his prize to get more searoom.
The French schooner approached to with a musket-shot and opened fire with muskets and guns to which GRACIEUSE replied.
The Frenchman made two attempts at boarding but both were repulsed so he made for the land firing his stern-chasers.
SMITH followed, firing grape and canister, until his enemy ran ashore on Point Vizoa.
Because of reefs SMITH hove-to about half a mile off land until he saw the schooner sweeping along the shore when he went in and ran him ashore on Point de Selina, the crew getting off over the bowsprit. - When he closed in a boat with intention of hauling him off he found that, because of so many shot holes between wind and water, the schooner had completely filled.
The following morning he sent the boats back under Messrs. HIGGINS and M'GILL to bring off a beautiful long brass 12-pounder and destroy the vessel.
Midshipman Robert MARLEY and seamen Thomas KNOX and Joseph LIGO were wounded in the action, the number of enemy casualties could not be determined but the French had been seen carrying their wounded into the bushes. - 1807 Lieut. BOYD, tender to VETERAN at Port Royal.
In December 1807 GRACIEUSE and the schooner GIPSY were ordered by Vice Ad. DACRES to escort a valuable licensed trader, bound for Vera Cruz from Port Royal, as far as Cape Antonio at the extreme south-west of Cuba.
On their way back they fell in with and captured the Spanish privateer schooner JULIANA, mounting four 20-pounder carronades and one long brass 18-pounder.
GIPSY was the first to close and consequently suffered more damage to her rigging so Lieut. BOYD sent her in to Port Royal with the prize.
The enemy lost eight killed and six wounded out of 83 on board. She had been out from Trinidad in Cuba for three months but had made no captures.
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