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SABINE
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(18) |
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The French LE REQUIN taken by Capt. ROSENHAGEN of VOLAGE (22) in the Mediterranean on 28 July 1808.
Sold in 1818. |
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- 1810 Joseph BATT, 05/1810.
- 1811 George PRICE, 10/1810, Cadiz.
- When General Graham agreed to assist the Spaniards in making a landing behind the French lines around Cadiz in February 1811, SABINE was included in the squadron (ST. ALBANS, DRUID, COMUS, SABINE, TUSCAN, EPHIRA, STEADY and REBUFF) under Capt. BRACE in ST. ALBANS.
3,000 British troops were embarked in the naval vessels together with 7,000 Spaniards under General La Pena, who was to be commander in chief, in a numerous fleet of Spanish transports.
The intention was to land between Cape Trafalgar and Tariffa. - On 21 February the British naval part put to sea and, finding it impracticable to make a landing in the original area, proceeded to Algiciras where the troops were landed and marched to Tariffa.
Because of the impassable roads the artillery and stores were taken to Tariffa in the ship's boats.
The Spanish part of the expedition did not reach Tariffa until the 27th. - On 5 March La Pena marched the Spanish force across the front of Victor's army, which consisted of 9,000 men in three divisions with fourteen guns, and disappeared over the horizon.
Graham found himself deserted by his allies and suddenly assailed by a French army double his own in numbers and occupying the Barossa heights.
He attacked at once and in an hour and a half killed and wounded 2300 of the enemy, slew two generals and captured six guns, an eagle and 500 prisoners.
The British losses were heavy 1200 or one man in every four.
After the fighting was over La Pena returned and claimed the victory.
When the Spaniards refused to supply the British with food or help to bury the dead, Graham marched off the field and refused further co-operation. - At the end of May 1811 SABINE was cruising off the mouth of the Gualdalquivir and Capt. PRICE made plans to attack the five French privateers lying in the roadstead at Chipiona which had been preying on commerce along the coast.
On the night of the 26th. he brought the brig in as close as possible and launched his boats under the command of Lieut. USHERWOOD, with Lieut. FINNUCANE and Mr SETTLE, the master.
The three boats each took a privateer, although they were moored under a battery and protected by their crews and soldiers, with only one casualty, marine private John SHURRY, who received a musket ball in the arm. - The privateers were: GUARDIA DE VIA, CANARI and MADINA, each armed with two 4-pounders and carrying 25 men.
The crews had been marched all the way from Antwerp to serve on them.
The prizes were sent in to Cadiz.
The following day, in company with PAPILLON, SABINE encountered another of the privateers and a prize between Rota and Chipiona.
In spite of heavy fire the French vessel refused to surrender until PAPILLON had run her down.
All her crew were saved.
Among the prisoners taken in these vessels were 12 British deserters. - 1812 Edward WROTTESLEY, Mediterranean, where he had been serving with the gunboat flotilla at Cadiz.
- 1814 Ditto, convoy to W. Indies.
Cdr. WROTTESLEY died in Newfoundland on 28 July 1814. - 1815 William HALL, 07/1814, Spithead for Africa.
- 1817 Alexander CAMPBELL, Jamaica.
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