The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 | Page 6

1782 430 Suffren's views of the naval situation in India 433 Tactical oversights made by Suffren 434 Inadequate support received by him from his captains 435 Suffren goes to Pondicherry, Hughes to Trincomalee 436 The second battle between Suffren and Hughes, April 12, 1782 437 Suffren's tactics in the action 439 Relative injuries received by the opposing fleets 441 Contemporaneous English criticisms upon Hughes's conduct 442 Destitute condition of Suffren's fleet 443 His activity and success in supplying wants 443 He communicates with Hyder Ali, Sultan of Mysore 443 Firmness and insight shown by Suffren 445 His refusal to obey orders from home to leave the Indian Coast 446 The third battle between Suffren and Hughes, July 6, 1782 447 Qualities shown by Hughes 449 Stubborn fighting by the British admiral and captains 449 Suffren deprives three captains of their commands 449 Dilatory conduct of Admiral Hughes 450 Suffren attacks and takes Trincomalee 450 Strategic importance of this success 451 Comparative condition of the two fleets in material for repairs 451 The English government despatches powerful reinforcements 452 The French court fails to support Suffren 452 The fourth battle between Suffren and Hughes, Sept. 3, 1782 453 Mismanagement and injuries of the French 455 Contrast between the captains in the opposing fleets 456 Two ships of Suffren's fleet grounded and lost 457 Arrival of British reinforcements under Admiral Bickerton 458 Approach of bad-weather season; Hughes goes to Bombay 458 Military situation of French and English in India 459 Delays of the French reinforcements under Bussy 460 Suffren takes his fleet to Achem, in Sumatra 460 He returns to the Indian coast 461 Arrival of Bussy 461 Decline of the French power on shore 461 The English besiege Bussy in Cuddalore by land and sea 462 Suffren relieves the place 462 The fifth battle between Suffren and Hughes, June 20, 1783 463 Decisive character of Suffren's action 463 News of the peace received at Madras 463 Suffren sails for France 464 His flattering reception everywhere 464 His distinguishing military qualities 465 His later career and death 466
CHAPTER XIII.
EVENTS IN THE WEST INDIES AFTER THE SURRENDER OF YORKTOWN.-- ENCOUNTERS OF DE GRASSE WITH HOOD.--THE SEA BATTLE OF THE SAINTS.--1781-1782.
Maritime struggle transferred from the continent to West Indies 468 De Grasse sails for the islands 469 French expedition against the island of St. Christopher, January, 1782 469 Hood attempts to relieve the garrison 470 Manoeuvres of the two fleets 471 Action between De Grasse and Hood 472 Hood seizes the anchorage left by De Grasse 473 De Grasse attacks Hood at his anchorage 474 Hood maintains his position 475 Surrender of the garrison and island 475 Merits of Hood's action 476 Criticism upon De Grasse's conduct 477 Rodney arrives in West Indies from England 479 Junction of Rodney and Hood at Antigua 479 De Grasse returns to Martinique 479 Allied plans to capture Jamaica 479 Rodney takes his station at Sta. Lucia 480 The French fleet sails and is pursued by Rodney 480 Action of April 9, 1782 481 Criticism upon the action 483 The chase continued; accidents to French ships 484 The naval battle of the Saints, April 12, 1782 485 Rodney breaks the French line 488 Capture of the French commander-in-chief and five ships-of-the-line 489 Details of the action 489 Analysis of the effects of Rodney's manoeuvre 491 Tactical bearing of improvements in naval equipment 493 Lessons of this short naval campaign 495 Rodney's failure to pursue the French fleet 496 Examination of his reasons and of the actual conditions 497 Probable effect of this failure upon the conditions of peace 498 Rodney's opinions upon the battle of April 12 499 Successes achieved by Rodney during his command 500 He is recalled by a new ministry 500 Exaggerated view of the effects of this battle upon the war 500 Subsequent career of De Grasse 501 Court-martial ordered upon the officers of the French fleet 502 Findings of the court 502 De Grasse appeals against the finding 503 He is severely rebuked by the king 503 Deaths of De Grasse, Rodney, and Hood 504
CHAPTER XIV.
CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF THE MARITIME WAR OF 1778.
The war of 1778 purely maritime 505 Peculiar interest therefore attaching to it 506 Successive steps in the critical study of a war 507 Distinction between "object" and "objective" 507 Parties to the war of 1778 507 Objects of the different belligerents 508 Foundations of the British Empire of the seas 510 Threatened by the revolt of the colonies 510 The British fleet inferior in numbers to the allies 511 Choice of objectives 511 The fleets indicated as the keys of the situation everywhere 513 Elements essential to an active naval war 514 The bases of operations in the war of 1778:-- In Europe 515 On the American continent 515 In