action september action september inconclusive minor naval engagement small french_navy british_royal_navy squadrons northeastern sumatra near french revolutionary wars french squadron comprised frigates engaged commerce raiding operation british trade routes passing captured parts dutch_east_indies posed considerable threat weakened british naval forces region british force consisted gun ships line hastily paired oppose eastward advance french squadron french squadron commanded left base july cruising ceylon sailing eastwards movements far unopposed british forces east indies concentrated simon town west east raiding shipping september squadron sailed eastwards attack september french removing supplies captured british merchant ship east large sails spotted sent drive french attack scattered british shipping ports region british ships substantially larger individual french vessel frigates numerous afford significant damage battle sought drive achieve outright victory september frigates formed line battle successfully engaging arrogant victorious inflicting damage preventing supporting french frigates particularly suffered late morning sides british retiring madras repairs anchored king island eventually background start french allied forces completely driven indian_ocean colonies french allied falling british invasions significant french presence nearby islands squadron frigates periodically operated british trade british confident supremacy split forces large squadron based simon town cape colony sir smaller dispersed force operating dutch_east_indies based captured port important trading ports calcutta madras bombay largely valuable trade routes supported march significant french reinforcements dispatched squadron frigates sailed command lost squadron left frigate forced return port running aground joining replacement frigate squadron enjoyed progress seizing british portuguese ships including squadron dispatched primarily increase french military presence enforce decree abolish slavery agricultural economy island depended slavery remain profitable colonial committee simply ignored decree arrived matter taken sent agents ensure ruling carried supported soldiers general louis arrival port louis june agents confronted large body heavily armed militia opposed abolition slavery ordered attack general refused agents sent sea small corvette eventually returning europe remained ships joining squadron force divided sending corvette patrol remaining frigates comprising schooner took eastwards july unaware scattered forces region sent scout ahead squadron arrived ceylon captain attacking ship august turned gun british dispatch frigate board british captors discovered documents revealing exact extent strength intentions captain unable warn allied ships small frigate british warship instead arranged false information passed fictional british battle squadron madras sufficient deter lingering area raiding sweep coast squadron sailed eastwards september raided capturing number merchant ships september seized small merchant ship favourite northeastern coast sumatra route attack british port following morning squadron transferred rice prize large sails appeared distance northeast sails belonged gun british ships line hms arrogant captain hms victorious captain ships sent cape start august orders engaged protecting british trade china news reached region lucas ordered clark join search french battle lucas sighted french september approximately nautical miles east point northeastern tip sumatra determined new arrivals probably hostile formed frigates line battle investigate lucas clark conferred clark believing ships french ships line lucas correctly insisted frigates accompanied captured captains agreed pursue french bring battle possible determined approaching ships british ships line turned away unwilling risk suffering severe damage pointless engagement powerful opponents squadron attempted seek shelter coastal waters closely pursued lucas ships british nautical miles french morning september wind dropped french frigates sailing line slowly eastwards northern coast sumatra british ships close battle inevitable gave orders line seize weather lucas led arrogant path intercept lucas opened fire lead french ship range yards british ship able fire captain reply french volley away ensign arrogant progressively came fire french line passed distant joining exchange fire suffered damage sails rigging arrogant temporarily winds dropped completely victorious hit captain clark forced retire wounded struck thigh debris french ship passed range arrogant leaving ship isolated lucas unable participate lieutenant victorious assumed command ordered ship engage french string signal flags hoisted arrogant light winds victorious soon surrounded french frigates port bow port beam firing ship line approximately yards wind suddenly returned victorious badly damaged wind turn distant arrogant exposed ship stern repeatedly winds remained unreliable victorious took damage half hour french ships remaining outside arcs fire british ship damage taken early combat rendered unable continue action ship gradually fell line south captain turned away sweeps reach ship tow secured arrogant slowly coming range ordered squadron turn away north shots fired long range victorious summary table guns refers cannon carried ship including guns taken consideration calculating rate carried aboard broadside weight records combined weight shot fired single simultaneous discharge entire broadside aftermath losses sides heavy arrogant damaged early battle lost seven killed wounded victorious bore french attack suffered killed wounded including clark british ship sufficient repair continue engagement arrogant cannon sail rigging victorious badly damaged crew unfit duty french ships suffered damage casualties reported losses aftermath damaged early took casualties hit heavy fire later battle lost dead wounded captain remainder squadron suffered lighter losses lucas clark remained sumatra basic repairs completed arrogant took victorious tow leading damaged ship madras repairs arriving october abandoned plans attack sailed northwards ships underwent extensive repairs replacing lower masts october squadron swept eastwards ceylon coast turning west hoped supply depots provide support squadron remained winter control indian_ocean trade routes british action described inconclusive british historian achieve decisive result scathing criticism clark accusing failing properly prepare battle effectively ship fire battle actually sought decisive result unwilling risk damage mission orders raid british trade routes engage heavy warships suffer consequent damage battle severely curtailed opportunities prey british merchant shipping lucas sought block passage aware ships large powerful outnumbered engagement particularly given size main french line composed ships batteries pounder long guns including massive frigates sea considers winds favourable lucas able cut capture french frigates attempted boarding action ships line numerous crews probably successfully seized
Action of 9 September 1796