Battles of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras (2): Cybèle v Minerva, 4 January 1792

We are in the northern Indian Ocean, west of India for the second battle of the revolutionary and Napoleonic era.

Cybèle and Minerva (closest to camera) 'cruising together'.

This action, historically a non-action, was a follow-up from the previous Battle of Tellicherry and occurred during the Third Mysore War as part of the on-going 'phony war' between Britain and France.

James' and Troude's histories, written later in the century, provide slightly different accounts.

James states “It appears, however, that the Cybele and Resolue afterwards got under way and put to sea, attended by the Minerva and Phoenix; who cruised with them several days, and also brought to some vessels under French colours without interruption. M. Saint-Felix subsequently despatched the Resolue on another service; and Commodore Cornwallis did the same with the Phoenix. The Minerva and Cybele were thus left cruising together; but, although the two commodores kept each other’s company for some days, we hear of no further altercation between them.”

Troude reports “On 4th January 1792, the frigate Cybèle mounted by the chief of division Saint-Félix, was met by night by the English frigate Minerva, commanded by Commodore Comwallis, who fired a cannon shot. This superior officer pretended to have been mistaken and gave as an excuse that, in the position of the English opposite Typpo Saïb, he should visit all the ships he encountered.”

So, either 'no altercation' or a single, ranging shot that caused some ructions but did not develop into a more serious exchange. Does not seem to be much of an action for a wargame.

I decided that it would be good to include it as a ship-to-ship duel, to the 'death'. That'd make more of a game and get me/us in the swing for re-fighting later ship-to-ship actions that occurred once the nations were actually at war.

James' and Troude's descriptions provide three important pieces of information: the names of the ships and captains (flags of both fleets), they were running parallel and that it was night. There is no distance listed for visibility at night in the rules, so we decided to use the option 'light and fog' which is 300 mm and 600 mm for gun flashes.

Julian and Stephen made the significant trek over and up respectively to join me for this small game—"the most fun that you'll have with just two ships" as I sold it to Stephen. He took the rôle of Cornwallis on the Minerva, Julian of Saint-Félix aboard Cybèle. Julian and I worked through the rules, as necessary.

Minerva wore to starboard to intercept Cybèle.

(The cloth that I used for this game is a deep blue. For some reason my phone's camera made it grey. A good 'mistake' under the circumstances of a night action!)

Cybèle ahead, increasing the gap between the two. 

The run and pursuit continued, with the ships criss-crossing.

Cybèle reduced sail, and Minerva gained some 'ground' (sea?).

Would Minerva ever catch up?

The ships crossed paths once more.

Minerva was closing in and sailing significantly faster (thanks to Cybèle's deliberate slowing).

(Note the blue cloth) Minerva unleashed her port broadside of double shot at point blank range, killing 18 of Cybèle's crew and disabling three of her starboard broadsides. What could Cybèle do in reply? Nothing. Julian had forgotten to load the starboard broadside! "I was focussed on my strategy and forgot the tactics." he admitted.

We play 'for keeps', but not for sheep stations, so Stephen said, "C'mon, no captain would have left that broadside unloaded." But Julian was adamant and happy, As 'umpire' (of sorts), I thought that we should leave it too. "Part of the game."

Minerva sailed on, pleased with the result.

Attempting another criss-cross, Minerva was surprised when Cybèle ran into her, fouling the two ships.

This was the strategy that Julian was focussed on. Cornwallis sent a boarding party across to Cybèle, whose crew stood by to defend.

An intense mêlée raged on the decks of Cybèle as the ships drifted. It looked like 'Tellicherry all over again' as the English got on board and captured the upper deck. But more and more of the French crew joined the fight (aided by Julian's dice being impeccable and of the right magnitude at every stage), so the boarders were driven back to the ship's edge and then back to Minerva all together.

It had been an intense struggle. The crew of Cybèle was reduce by 70 men, including Saint-Félix himself. Minerva's lost 124 marines and sailors.

With Saint-Félix dead, the French second in command had no desire to try to capture Minerva. For his part, Cornwallis was content to see the ships cut away from one another. The official reports would tell that 'no further altercation occurred', although that which did was significantly more in this parallel, miniature universe.

It was a fantastic day, a fine game and a wonderful gathering of three friends with the same interest (obsession). I did not move a ship and I had an absolute ball. The fellas enjoyed themselves.

- Stephen reported that "I've never had so much fun from so few figures."

- Julian that "It was a blast!"

As readers of this blog know, I don't do speaking in code so will take them both at their words!

About the game

Rules: Action Under Sail, second edition 1977

Nominal scale (none is given in the rules): turns represent ~1.5 minutes, ground scale 1/3000 (1 mm to 3 m)

Ships: 1/3000 scale Navwar (Minerva) and stratch-built (Cybèle)

That's it for things nautical for a while. I/we move to Saint Domingue for the next action in this "ultimate 'Napoleonic' world series".

I originally had action no. 3 as the Battle of Croix-des-Bouquets which occurred on 22nd March 1792, but reading Dubois and Garrigus' excellent "Slave Revolution in the Caribbean 1789–1804" revealed a description from the Philadelphia General Advertiser of October–November 1791 of a significant action at one of Gallifet's plantations on 20th September 1791. The other book by Dubois "Avengers of the New World" (finally) arrived at our PO box yesterday, so I'll collect it today. I'm hoping that there might be more detail of the attack on the (former) slave's barricade on 20/9/91. There may well be other, early actions that I will include.

Regardless, whether from 20/9/91 or an earlier action, it will be action no. 3 and it will be some time before it makes it to the table. I have zero figures painted, in fact, I have only washed the ones that I have earmarked and am still considering which figs I'll use to represent the régiments du Haut du Cap and Petite Anse.

Whether I do this at lightning speed and manage late April, or the more likely target of May-June (or even later), is of no matter. I am fortunate to be 'booked' for games at John's and Julian's for two week's time and the 1st April (no joke), respectively.

Games, painting, reading/research. I continue to be one happy little vegemite!

References

James, W (1902) The naval history of Great Britain : from the declaration of war by France in 1793, to the accession of George IV. Vol. I. First Published 1822. Macmillan and Co. Limited, London. p. 132.

Troude, O (1867) Batailles navales de la France. Tome Second. Challamel Ainé, Paris. pp. 268–270.