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HAWKE
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The French LUTINE taken by CARYSFORT and AGAMEMNON in the Leeward Is on 24 March 1806.
Renamed BUZZARD in 1812.
Sold in 1814. |
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- 1809 Henry BOURCHIER, 02/1809, Channel.
On 1 February 1811 Lieut. Methuselah WILLS was sentenced to be dismissed his ship for neglect of duty. - Capt. BOURCHIER captured the French privateer FURET (16), on 7 February 1811.
On 24 March Capt. MACNAMARA in BERWICK had called in AMELIA, GOSHAWK and HAWKE to anchor off a small rocky bay about 1 mile to the westward of Barfleur lighthouse where he had trapped a French frigate of the largest class.
He was hoping to make an attack with boats but had to abandon that plan when the tides proved too rapid.
When NIOBE joined them the three larger ships went in as close as they could to bombard the frigate and the following day the French set fire to her. - On 16 August 1811 Lieut. David PRICE in HAWKE's jolly boat cut out a French vessel near Barfleur under fire from shore batteries.
Two days later when cruising off St. Marcou, BOURCHIER observed sails on the skyline.
They proved to belong to a French convoy bound for Barfleur and escorted by 3 brigs armed with 12 to 16 guns apiece and 2 large luggers carrying 8 to 10 guns each.
When they hauled out from their convoy HAWKE hove-to to receive them and an action commenced within half-pistol-shot until they succeeded in driving two of the brigs and both luggers ashore together with 15 of the convoy.
When the third brig attempted to rake her HAWKE wore and went aground allowing some of the convoy which had already struck to make their escape.
While lightening ship under continuous musket fire from the shore BOURCHIER sent his boats under his 2nd lieutenant, David PRICE, the master, Mr SMITH, and the gunner, Mr WHEELER, to destroy or bring out as many enemy vessels as they could.
They succeeded in bringing out the brig HERON, pierced for 16 guns and laden with ship-building timber, and three transports, No 710, CONCORD and L'AMIABLE AMIE. - The remaining beached vessels were found to be bilged.
During this time the marines and small-arms men under the command of the purser, Henry CAMPLING, provided covering fire against the troops ashore.
HAWKE lost only 1 man killed, seaman Peter HULL, and 4 wounded, Mr HOLMES, carpenter; Andrew PETERSON, gunner's mate; John MONTEITH and William PERKIS, seaman.
Damage was limited to sails and running rigging apart from small leaks due to the grounding.
BOURCHIER escorted his prizes back to Spithead. - 1811 George WYNDHAM, 08/1811, off Cherbourg.
Lieut. PRICE took a small gig into the river Isere and brought out a French schooner under musket fire from the shore.
On 21 October 1811 he reconnoitred Barfleur and discovered a lugger and several brigs there.
An attack was mounted by Capt. Steven DIGBY of THEBAN (36) using THEBAN's barge under Lieut. John MAPLES with HAWKE's gig under Lieut. PRICE and her cutter under Mr SMITH. - PRICE and SMITH were hailed by a French guard boat and made a dash for the nearest brig which PRICE succeeded in boarding although two of his companions were killed and four wounded and he himself was first felled by a musket butt and then disarmed in a fight with the French captain.
Meanwhile PRICE was frustrated by netting on his side of the brig and fell back towards the harbour entrance where he found the gig also retreating under the impression that the Lieutenant had been killed.
PRICE however, when he discovered his boats had gone, resolved to swim for it rather than be taken prisoner and he was in a bad way when the cutter picked him up; three months later a four inch length of French bayonet was found in his upper thigh.
THEBAN'S barge went to investigate a buoy and took no part in the attack. - HAWKE was renamed BUZZARD in 1812.
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