La Melpomène — 22 October 1793
Generated illustration. Not a historical photograph. A British 64. Not a portrait.
Overview
The 345 men at quarters stay on Agamemnon 345 Men — Sardinia Chase. The 30 January 1793 appointment stays on Agamemnon Appointment — 30 January 1793. This note covers the named 22 October chase only.1
The Chase
Nelson’s letter to Hood, dated Agamemnon, 22 October 1793, at noon, Cagliari W.S.W. fourteen or fifteen leagues, says he tried to take one of those fine frigates. Had the wind not failed, she must have surrendered or sunk from the look of her hull: they were just getting alongside when a light air headed them off. Nemesis had parted a few days before.
The enclosed log says five sail were seen at two a.m. At daylight the chase hoisted National colours and fired stern-chasers. At nine she hauled up, shattered, to rejoin her consorts. Agamemnon’s main topmast was shot to pieces; main-mast, mizen-mast, and fore-yard were badly wounded. One man was killed and six wounded. A later letter from Tunis, 8 November 1793, names the chased frigate Melpomène. This page does not choose a gun-count for her. The 345-men figure stays on Agamemnon 345 Men — Sardinia Chase.2
Spoken veer-orders stay off this page. The 1795 Ça Ira stern pass stays on Agamemnon Ca Ira — Hundred-Yard Stern.
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Footnotes
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345 men / three-hour chase only: Agamemnon 345 Men — Sardinia Chase. Appointment only: Agamemnon Appointment — 30 January 1793. ↩
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Letter to Hood, 22 October 1793, Cagliari W.S.W. 14 or 15 leagues; fine frigate; wind failed; hull near sinking; just getting alongside; Nemesis parted; log: five sail at 2 a.m.; National colours at daylight; stern-chasers; chase shattered at nine; main topmast shot to pieces; one killed, six wounded. Later Tunis letter 8 November 1793 names Melpomène. @nicolas1844dispatches vol. 1, pp. 334–337 (1844). Do not state a gun-count for Melpomène on this page. Do not recopy the 345-men figure as the claim of this page. ↩