AL3364

Thanks for this welcome ! For bruce d : I am mainly looking for information on the entrance of Rear-Admiral Penrose’s squadron in the River Gironde (from 27 March 1814) and on the capture of the French flotilla of Blaye on 2 April 1814. During this last action the french flotilla, which proceeding drown from Blaye to Talmont was intercepted by the advanced boats of British squadron under Lieutenant Dunlop of the Porcupine. On the approach of the boats, the french vessels were run on shore (2 miles near the citadel of Blaye) and their crews, with about two hundred soldiers from Blaye, lined the beach to protect them ; Lieutenant Dunlop landing with a detachment of seamen and marines, drove them with losses in the wood and remained till the tide allowed the greater part of the vessels to brought off. I think I have made a tour of the books dealing with these events (ex: The Naval Chronicle ; Royal Naval Biography ; Napier’s History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France etc…) and currently I would like to be able to discover more precise and first-hand information, taken from the logbooks of the ships under rear-admiral Penrose (including HMS Porcupine, Reynard and Belle Poule) and, why not, from the memories of british sailors. Ideally I hope to be able to reconstruct the course of the action of April 2, 1814 and determine (thanks to the information contained in the logbooks) the exact position of the Blaye flotilla when it was intercepted and attacked. I also know that, in addition to Lieutenant Dunlop, Midshipman Thomas Vernon Watkins of HMS Reynard (slightly wounded), Lieutenant Patrick Robertson of the Royal Marines and Midshipman J. Hall of HMS Belle Poule took part in the action near Blaye on April 2, 1814. I would like, if possible, information on them and their services in the Royal Navy. For mtaylor : On your advice, I’m going to open a new topic in the search area ; thanks.

Thank you for that compliment. I think that you always manage in a country when you speak a few words of the local language (you just have to know the essential words!) Write on the other hand is more complicated !

Dear Allanyed, I thank you for your welcome and I am delighted to see that you appreciate France (and its specialties!). I will post an introduction about myself and also send a PM to Frollick as you advise. I apologize in advance for my bad English (partly from the translator Reverso!). Adrien L. (BORDEAUX - France)

Hello, I live in Bordeaux (France) and I am interested in the entry of Rear-Admiral Penrose’s squadron in Gironde in March 1814 and the capture of the French flotilla of Blaye on 2 April 1814. I apologize in advance for my bad English (partly from the translator Reverso!) and thank you in advance to all members of the forum who can help me with my research. Adrien L. (BORDEAUX - France)

To the attention of USS Frolick Dear Sir, Interested in the entry of Rear-Admiral Penrose’s squadron in Gironde in March 1814 and the capture of the French flotilla of Blaye on 2 April 1814, I wished to consult the logbooks of the various English ships who composed this squadron, including HMS Porcupine and HMS Reynard. In the course of my research, I came upon your post which mentions the logbook of HMS Reynard. Would it be possible, if you have copies of this logbook, to send me photos for the period 28 March - 12 April 1814? I would also like to thank you for any other copies of documents you send me on this subject. Thank you in advance for your response, Best regards, Adrien L. (BORDEAUX - France)