JEUNE RICHARD privateer

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aukepalmhof
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JEUNE RICHARD privateer

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Feb 28, 2017 1:32 am

Of the French privateer JEUNE RICHARD I could not find much, French sources on the internet does not mention the action with the WINDSOR CASTLE, (one source mentioned her as built in 1797 as the POINT DE LODI later renamed in POMPÉE before she got the name JEUNE RICHARD, her homeport Bordeaux and under command of Captain Nicolas Rousse?) So in the French maritime history it was not an imported action.
Schooner rigged, (the Cuba 13c stamp show her as a full rigged barque vessel.) Tonnage 250 ton.
At the time of action she had a crew of 92 men and an armament of 6 - 9pdrs. and one 16 pdr. on a swivel and 8 – 12 pdrs. Other sources give she had only 8 – 12 pdrs.

She was six days out on a fresh cruise, armed with 8 long 12 pdrs. and 92 men when the action took place.
After the action a crew list was found on the JEUNE RICHARD contained a roll of 120 men, and from this it can only be constructed that she had already made a prize or two.
On her previous cruise she had taken six of which apparently, only the POPE had proven stubborn, but she had finally succumbed to an over-whelming number of boarders, the crew of the POPE lost 3-4 men.
Shortly before noon on 01 October 1807 when the packet came within gun range, the privateer hoisted the French flag and started firing her guns. The packet replied with her stern chasers, and a sort of desultory running battle took place for a little of an hour by which time the privateer was closed in to the packet with a broadside in readiness and a party prepared to board.
In an aggressive manner the French captain hailed over for the packet to strike her colours. Upon receiving a firm refusal he closed in alongside the packet’s starboard quarter, fired his broadside, and grappled the packet. The privateer broadside put ten of Rodger’s men out of action. The casualties aboard the privateer at this moment in time is not recorded but they were probably of a similar number. The high boarding nets were frustrating the French boarding party and they hacked away at it with their swords and cutlasses, two men had what resembles sickles on long poles and they were trying to cut the ridge rope that held up the netting. As soon as they began their attempt to board, ten men were ready to repulse them, they thrust their pikes and cutlasses through the netting and brought down nine of ten and this action persuaded the rest to retire.
The French captain then tried to get the vessel clear of the packet so that he could make full use of his cannons but the packets main yard was caught up in the schooner rigging. Unable to extricate his schooner. Unable to extricate his schooner the French captain made another attempt to board.
While they prepared for this Captain Rodgers had managed to manoeuvre one of his 6 pdr. guns so that it would bear on the schooner deck. It was loaded with double grape shot, a canister shot and a package containing 100 musket balls. He waited for the moment when they made the move and then fired. It devastate the boarding party, completely demoralised them, and those that were not dead crippled or benumbed abandoned their quarters and scrambled to safety. Seeing this Captain Rodgers had the schooner‘s bowsprit lashed to the packet and then rallied 4 or 5 men to follow him aboard he privateer. There was little resistance, just a short scuffle here and there and after a short time Rodgers and his five men commanded the deck. Many had fled below deck fearing another raking blast from the 6 pdr, they now had no other option but surrender. Because those below still outnumbered him. Rodgers ordered them up one by one and as they did so they were placed in their own irons which they had on deck in readiness to place on the British.
The JEUNE RICHARD had 21 men killed, 33 wounded. On the WINDSOR CASTLE 3 were dead but 10 others were seriously wounded and all the rest were slightly wounded or injured in some way.
Captain Rodgers took his prize to Barbados. It was against the British Post Office regulations for any of their packet ships to take prizes, however, as the Admiralty graciously waived its right to prize money in favour of the WINDSOR CASTLE and the Post Office made a concession, the captain and crew got the prize money as well as a purse of £130 from the Merchants of England. The captain was presented with a sword of honour and a silver cup.
After arrival in Barbados the JEUNE RICHARD disappears from the history books, fate unknown.

British Virgin Islands 1970 15c sg250, scott? . Cuba 1971 13c sg1847, scott?, 1987 1p sgMS?, scott? More info is given on the WINDSOR CASTLE on http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=8437
Source: Internet and Log Book Volume 12 page 90-94 and written by E.J. Hogan.
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