frigate action frigate action confused larger fleet action took place waters time minor naval engagement royal_navy frigate french_navy frigate action formed minor atlantic campaign campaign culminated battle glorious june unusual french ship french hands days time engagement previously british ship seized french battle squadron converted french service sea main fleets detached pursuit dutch merchant ship encountered smaller independently cruising british frigate hms captain immediately attacked larger ship engagement lasting hour minutes successfully forced captain surrender discovering number british prisoners war decks subsequently taken britain extended legal case ensued admiralty captain prize money awarded victory ultimately successful testimony defeated french captain proving case claiming prize money lawsuit harm career later served battle prominent admiral background spring newly declared faced famine effort secure required food supplies large quantities ordered french american colonies united_states gathered large convoy merchant vessels virginia april convoy sailed europe admiral expecting meet squadron admiral route main admiral held lord howe ships sailed soon passed encountered british convoy sailing newfoundland convoy unprepared encounter escorted frigate captain squadron included ships line smaller warships ordered attack convoy brief chase merchant ships captured run ship line british vessel offering resistance face overwhelming odds crew removed ship taken aboard flagship remained rest campaign replaced french sailors taken squadron hastily refitted sea service french_navy command given captain operated scout squadron detached chasing dutch merchant ship separated dutch convoy attacked fleet separated ships turned europe dutch ship tow french fleets squadrons searched convoy royal_navy equally active number squadrons independently sailing warships main fleet lord howe ship small gun frigate hms captain cruising signs french convoy sighted sails ahead battle immediately advanced strange sails soon revealed dutch merchant ship bearing cast tow prepared battle meeting approaching british frigate broadside engagement fought close range little ships exchanging hour minutes surrendered ship heavily battered exchange main knocked mainmast hull severely damaged suffered man killed wounded crew casualties heavier approximately men aboard french losing men killed wounded dutch ship initially escaped later captured value eventually included prize money paid success considered impressive historian ship carried pounder cannon contrast pounder guns pounder larger ship slightly larger crew men aboard days crew come immediately cruise longer acquainted vessel french crew aftermath placed boarding party aboard discovered officer british sailors held prisoners decks original crew ship men freed joined prize crew bringing ship britain rest crew including captain remained flagship subsequent campaign witnessed battle glorious june captured lord howe fleet french fleet defeated losing seven ships convoy passed safely north battle eventually reached france interception cruising british squadrons returned britain frigate classed admiralty salvage prize laws salvage meant proportion prize money paid crew significantly reduced declaration grounds judgement capture french taken french harbour properly condemned french prize court commissioned french_navy normal legal requirement termed complete prize behalf men brought legal challenge ruling high_court admiralty determine status judge sir heard evidence number parties including deposition captain described admiral standing orders fit captured warships sea continued service campaign considering evidence ruled legitimate prize setting forth ship war normal prize rules apply case prize money purchase frigate authorised paid plymouth july result case damage career junior officers promoted action given command larger frigate went serve battle admiral death historian speculated legal case probably reason denied accompanied successful frigate action stage war decades later battle actions recognised attached awarded application british participants living
Frigate action of 29 May 1794