Times of the Islands Spring 2017

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
there on duty, but not having enough men for maneuvering,
I found the circumstance too pressing to wait for
them.
The vessel appeared after a few moments, having
passed the tip of the island and chased us, being two
small leagues to our rear; it did not take us long to realize
that they had superior speed; however, the distance
which separated us left me the hope that they would not
catch up with us until night. At three thirty, the vessel had
closed in considerably; the Dauphin, which had stayed
within shouting distance downwind from me, cut down
his fore-topmast, although the sea and wind were favorable
to sailing with light sails. I signaled to him to assume
chase at the speed which he would deem the less disadvantageous
in his situation; he maintained his speed, and
I somewhat succeeded in this maneuver which forced the
enemy to decide which one of the two vessels [to chase],
giving me the confidence that the Dauphin would escape.
I hoped that he [the enemy vessel] would abandon pursuit
of the Dauphin and try to catch up with me, thinking
that the frigate which was following him would be able to
capture the Dauphin. He fired a few cannon shots as he
passed him, but at too great a distance to threaten the
Dauphin.
I used all the means at my disposal to reach maximum
speed. Unfortunately, nothing succeeded nor made
up for the disadvantages of not having a hull sheathed
with copper, of having last been careened a year ago, and
for the lack of stability caused by the quantities of water
casks and other objects of considerable weight which I
was obliged to put ashore on Turk island.
At five o’clock the vessel having approached me
within short range, and not firing, I lowered the English
flag to raise the French flag, and warned him with my
cannon which I had kept retracted, he responded with
his chase ordnance. The exchange of fire continued
between one and the other for approximately twenty-five
minutes; I aimed the guns in such a manner as to cause
damage to his masts, which might delay him and give
me time to escape, but did not succeed. At five thirty
the enemy caught up with me and followed downwind
at pistol shot range, I then opened fire with the battery
that I had managed to arm with the remaining personnel.
At the same time, he fired upon us broadside with
his entire battery and his muskets. Having employed all
the means of defense against such superior forces, I had
From top: The illustration depicts two English frigates in pursuit of
another vessel.
“Island of Fort Castries,” corresponding to modern Gibbs Cay, is
clearly marked on this 18th century French map of the Turks Islands.
the painful duty to surrender the King’s corvette, after
having thrown into the sea all the signals and instructions
pertaining to my mission. We were boarded by the
English vessel named the Resistance, carrying 56 guns;
her escort, which was not functioning properly, caught up
with us three quarters of an hour later, the distance and
the already obscure night had caused her to lose sight of
the Dauphin, which I have since learned happily arrived
at Port-de-Paix, on the coast of Saint-Domingue.
Among the casualties which the Coquette sustained
on this occasion, is the Sieur Courdoux, auxiliary lieutenant,
who received a gunshot wound to the hand, losing
use of it, and a strong concussion to the chest, caused by
a flying fragment of wood. The praises that his conduct
commands, the great number of campaigns at the King’s
service, and the seriousness of his wound, are grounds
for hoping to obtain the graces of His Majesty.
DEREK GARDNER TCNM COLLECTION
Times of the Islands Spring 2017 65