The action of 10 August 1805 was a minor naval engagement between two frigates of the British Royal Navy, and the French Navy as part of the Napoleonic wars. After an hour of action "Didon" surrendered to "Phoenix".
Background.
Thomas Baker took command of HMS "Phoenix" on 28 April 1803. He was assigned to the Channel Fleet under Admiral William Cornwallis, and on 10 August 1805 he came across the 40-gun French frigate off Cape Finisterre.
Prior to the sighting "Phoenix" had intercepted an American merchant, en route from Bordeaux to the United States. The American master had been invited onto "Phoenix", sold the British some of his cargo of wine, and had toured "Phoenix" before being allowed to continue on his way. "Phoenix" had at this time been altered to resemble from a distance a large sloop-of-war. "Didon", which was carrying despatches instructing Rear-Admiral Zacharie Allemand's five ships of the line to unite with the combined Franco-Spanish fleet under Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, intercepted the American merchant and from him received news that a 20-gun British ship was at sea and might be foolish enough to attack "Didon".
"Didon"'s commander, Captain Captain Pierre Milius, decided to await the arrival of the British ship, and take her as a prize.
Battle.
On 10 August 1805, the two vessels met off Cape Finisterre. "Phoenix" was able to approach and engage "Didon" before the French realised that she was a larger frigate than they had anticipated. At 8am "Didon" hoisted French colours and an hour later the fighting commenced. "Didon" opened fire upon "Phoenix" still coming down but "Phoenix" made no return and Captain Baker intended to pass and engage to leeward of the French ship. In the meantime "Didon" raked the British frigate while Baker therefore determined to close with his adversary. "Phoenix" ranged up alongside "Didon" and engaged within pistol shot but was to far windward and having too much way upon her soon drew ahead of the French ship. "Didon" took advantage of this by luffing across the stern of "Phoenix" and poured in a raking broadside. She then bore up and again raked "Phoenix" and was about to do this again but Baker counteracted the movement. The French crew then made a vigorous but unsuccessful attempt to board in which the Royal Marines were able to repel the French boarders. After this had lasted about three quarters of an hour a breeze sprung up and caused "Didon" to forge ahead by which more guns from "Phoenix" were brought to bear and they became again engaged broadside to broadside. The superiority of the fire of "Phoenix" however soon began to tell and after a short time the two ships separated.
"Phoenix", having repaired her damages, was about to renew the action when "Didon"'s foremast soon toppled over. This caused more damage to the already damaged foremast leaving her an unmanageable wreck. With this situation and the heavy casualties "Didon" soon struck her colours at .
The action lasted several hours, with Baker on one occasion having his hat shot off his head. "Phoenix" had twelve killed and 28 wounded; the French sustained losses of 27 killed and 44 wounded.
Consequences.
By intercepting the ship carrying the despatches for Allemand, Baker had unwittingly played a role in bringing about the Battle of Trafalgar, but he was to play an even greater role a few days later, possibly even staving off an invasion of England. In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General service Medal with clasp "Phoenix 10 Augt. 1805" to all surviving claimants from the action.
While sailing to Gibraltar with his prize in tow, Baker fell in with the 74-gun on 14 August. The following day the combined fleet under Villeneuve, heading for Brest and then on to Boulogne to escort the French invasion forces across the Channel sighted the three British ships. Villeneuve mistook the British ships for scouts from the Channel Fleet and fled south to avoid an action. A furious Napoleon raged 'What a Navy! What an admiral! All those sacrifices for nought!' Villeneuve's failure to press north was a decisive point of the Trafalgar Campaign as far as the invasion of England went, for abandoning all hope of fulfilling his plans to secure control of the Channel Napoleon gathered the Armée d'Angleterre, now renamed the Grande Armée, and headed east to attack the Austrians in the Ulm Campaign.
The British ships altered their course and made for Plymouth, where they arrived on 3 September, having prevented an attempt by their French prisoners to capture "Phoenix" and retake "Didon".
Citations.
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