Series 06: Papers concerning Henri de Freycinet’s command of the Phaéton

SAFE/MLMSS 10275/Box 2/Folder 2
SAFE/MLMSS 10275/Box 4/Items 3-5

series

1803-1868

Textual Records, Manuscript Cartographic Materials

9650182

1 folder and 3 items of textual material

In 1804, the French brig Phaéton, under the command of Henri de Freycinet, explored the river Escaut [Scheldt], an important link from northern France through Anvers [Antwerp] to the North Sea. Henri de Freycinet was then instructed to navigate from Flessingue [Vlissingen] to Hellevoetsluis. In July 1805, the French Navy dispatched the Phaéton with the Voltigeur to the Antilles on a mission. On 25 March 1806, the Phaéton and her sister-ship Voltigeur (under the command of Jacques St Cricq) encountered HMS Reindeer off Puerto Rico. In the conflict, Henri de Freycinet was hit by a cannonball on his right leg. The next day, on 26 March, the HMS Pique (under the command of Captain Charles Ross) was sailing from Santo Domingo to Curaçao when she encountered the two French Navy vessels. In the fierce battle that ensued, Henri de Freycinet had his right arm taken off by a cannonball. He was imprisoned in Jamaica but released a few weeks later in a prisoner exchange and returned to France. The British took the Phaéton into service and renamed her HMS Mignonne, and the Voltigeur became HMS Pelican.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

This series, comprising 38 separate documents, includes official documentation relating to the commissioning of the Phaéton, several official accounts of the decisive battle with the British off Puerto Rico, a list of the officers and crew on board, certified lists of sick, killed or wounded personnel, three sketch-drawings of naval engagements, and commentaries on the battle compiled by members of the Freycinet family after Henri de Freycinet's death. Most have the Laage archive stamp Dossier 199.

1. Extract of letter from the Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies in Paris to the Commissioner General of the Navy at Anvers [Pierre-Victor Malouet], 16 Vendémiaire an 12 [9 October 1803] (2 pages on a single sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eooo), instructing that while waiting for the deployment of the Phaéton and Voltigeur, the brigs can be used to study the river l’Escaut. Extract signed by Malouet.
2. Copy of letter from the Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies in Paris to the Commissioner General of the Navy at Anvers [Pierre-Victor Malouet], 21 Vendémiaire an 12 [14 October 1803] (1 page, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eo1), copy signed by Malouet.
3. Short note from Malouet (Commissaire-Général de la Marine), 5 [Pluviôse?] an 12 [26 January 1804?] (1 page on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eo3).
4. Copy of despatch from the Ministre de la Marine to the Commissioner General of the Navy at Anvers [Pierre-Victor Malouet], 19 Vendémiaire an 13 [11 October 1804] (2 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eo2), copy signed by Malouet.
5. On Anvers Marine letterhead of Pierre-Victor Malouet (Commissaire-Général de la Marine), 24 Vendémiaire an 13 [16 October 1804], signed by Malouet (2 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eoo), with instructions for Freycinet’s navigation of the Phaéton on the river Escaut with Monsieur Guigon, to be repeated with the Voltigeur. Then he will anchor at Flessingue [Vlissingen] and bring back the necessary number of seamen to arm five gunboats.
6. Practical observations on the navigation of the river Escaut aboard the Phaéton, [1804?] (7 pages, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-1), being a report by Henri de Freycinet [in his right hand], heavily edited with some sections crossed out.
7a. ‘Plan de Sortie pour l’armee navale de l’Escaut’, [in unknown hand], [1804?] (12 pages, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-1)
7b. Hand drawn map on tracing paper of the harbour & position of ships in the Scheldt estuary. (Catalogued separately at Call No.: SAFE/M Ser 4 000/1 MLMSS 10275/Map 1).
8. Letter signed, from Malouet to Henri de Freycinet in Anvers Harbour, 16 Brumaire an 13 [7 November 1804], on letterhead of Commissaire-Général de la Marine (1 page on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eoo oo), giving Freycinet a new assignment to Flessingue.
9. On Anvers Marine letterhead of Pierre-Victor Malouet (Commissaire-Général de la Marine), 26 Brumaire an 13 [17 November 1804], signed by Malouet (2 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 Eoo ooo) with instructions for Freycinet’s navigation of the Phaéton from Flessingue to Hellevoetsluis.
10. Letter signed, No. 131, from [Pierre-Victor] Malouet to Henri de Freycinet in Hellevoetsluis, sent from Anvers, 1 Fructidor [19 August 1805?] (1.5 pages on a single folded sheet, seal, postmark, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 262 A-5), concerning the poor health of Louis de Freycinet, who needs a month’s rest.
11. Letter signed, No. 168, from [Pierre-Victor] Malouet to Henri de Freycinet, sent from Anvers, 14 Fructidor an 13 [1 September 1805] (2.5 pages on a single folded sheet), informing him that Mr de St Cricq will replace Louis de Freycinet as Commander of the Voltigeur.
12. Autograph letter signed, from Henri de Freycinet to ‘Mon Général’, written on board the Phaéton in Fort-de-France Harbour, Martinique, 21 February 1806 (4 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-4). [Probably the last document written with his right hand.]
13. Account of the battle on 25 March against HMS Reindeer, written on 26 March 1806 at sea on board the Phaéton (3 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-6), in which Freycinet was hit by a cannonball on his right leg. With 13 signatures including Henri de Freycinet's.
14. Account of the battle on 25 March against HMS Reindeer, 26 March 1806 (3 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-2), second manuscript copy of the account, no signatures.
15. Account of the battle on 26 March against HMS Pique, written on 27 March 1806 at sea on board the Phaéton (4 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-7), in which Freycinet lost his right arm. With 14 signatures on the last page, including Henri de Freycinet's.
16. Account of the battle on 26 March against HMS Pique, 27 March 1806 (4 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-7), first manuscript copy of the account; no signatures.
17. Account of the battle on 26 March against HMS Pique, 27 March 1806 (2 pages on a single sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-7), second manuscript copy of the account, no signatures.
18. Roll of the officers and crew of the Phaëton, [after 26 March 1806] (4 pages on a single folded large sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-5), giving name, place of birth, rank, comments/observations, wounded. Many were wounded on 26 March 1806. (Located at Box 4/Item 3)
19. Certified list of sick personnel out of service for the manoeuvre on board the Phaëton on 25 March 1806, [Jamaica, 2 April] 1806 (1 page, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-9), signed by Commander Freycinet (with a left-handed signature) and 3 others.
20. Certified list of four personnel on the Phaëton wounded during the conflict on 25 March 1806 with HMS Reindeer, Jamaica, 2 April 1806 (1 page, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-6). List includes Henri de Freycinet, signed by Commander Freycinet (with a left-handed signature) and 3 others.
21. Certified list of personnel wounded or killed in the conflict on 26 March 1806 with HMS Pique, Jamaica, 2 April 1806 (2 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-8), signed by Commander Freycinet (with a left-handed signature) and 3 others.
22. Copy of letter from Admiral Ja. W. Dacris to General Ferrand, Capitaine Général de l’Île St-Domingue, sent from HMS Shark, Port Royal, Jamaica, 13 May 1806, translated 29 June 1806 (1 page, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-16), concerning the prisoner exchange.
23. ‘Rencontre d’un Brig Anglais, vis à vis le Texel’, [1806] (1 page, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-6). Sketch showing the first and second positions of the Phaéton, Voltigeur and Reindeer in their encounter [on 25 March 1806].
24. ‘Combat du 26 Mars 1806’, [1806] (1 page on a large folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-7). Sketch showing the first and second positions of the Phaéton, Voltigeur and Pique in their encounter off the coast of Saint-Domingue. (Located at Box 4/Item 4)
25. Rough draft of account following the capture of the Phaéton and Voltigeur, the exchange of prisoners and their return to France [in Freycinet’s left hand], [December 1806] (1.5 pages on a single sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-12), ink & pencil.
26. Copy of the Report to the Secretary of the Navy by Henri de Freycinet, commander of the corvettes Phaéton and Voltigeur, 1 December 1806, [December 1806] (large booklet of 25 pages, secured with green ribbon, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-1), unsigned and in the hand of an unknown copyist. (Located at Box 4/Item 5)
27. ‘Extrait du rapport de Mr Henri DeSaulses de Freycinet lieutenant de vaisseau commandant le brig le Phaéton (au Ministre de la Marine) fait à Rochefort le 1er Décembre 1806’, [December 1806] (9 pages on three sheets, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-10), in a secretarial hand, with a few amendments made in different hand.
28. Confidential notes written by Henri de Freycinet (in left-sloping hand) addressed to Monsieur Forestier, Chief of the 1st Division of the Ministère de la Marine, written in Paris, 23 April 1807 (3 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-11) concerning the distinguished conduct of some of his officers in the unfortunate conflict involving the Phaéton and the Voltigeur.
29. ‘Note sur le Phaéton, brick de l’Etat’, in an unknown hand, unsigned, [after 1806] (2 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-15), describing the events of [25 and 26 March 1806], indicating that the commander of the Voltigeur, Alexandre [Jacques] St Cricq, took no part in the conflict that saw Freycinet and his second in command Monsieur Ransonnet give distinguished service. On [25 March], Freycinet was injured in the shin and Ransonnet in the hand. The next day, Freycinet was injured in the shoulder and his right arm smashed. Amputation was considered necessary and this was carried out immediately by his surgeon, Mr Lantoure [Lantour].
30. ‘Note sur Henri de Freycinet’, [in the hand of Louis de Freycinet?], [1840?] (half page on a single sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-2).
31. ‘Note Campagne du Phaëton’, [in the hand of Louis de Freycinet], [1840?] (1 page on a single sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-21), being a list of points to cover and questions to answer.
32. ‘Note sur Henri de Freycinet’ [in the hand of Louis de Freycinet], [1840?] (4 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-3), relating to the sailing of the Phaéton and the Voltigeur from Hellevoetsluis to the Antilles.
33. ‘Note sur Henri de Freycinet’ [in the hand of Louis de Freycinet], [1840?] (2 pages on a single sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-13), relating to events after the capture of the Phaéton. Transcription of an account by Jérome Frideric Pérolle Lamarche, born 20 July 1780 at St Lô (Manche).
34. ‘Brick le Phaéton’, being notes by Louis René (Lodoïx) de Freycinet including a sketch of the combat between the Phaéton, Voltigeur and Reindeer, [after 1840?] (12 pages in total, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-19 and E-5).
35. Letter signed, from A. [B]anon in Toulon to ‘Commandant’, 26 November 1864 (5 pages on two folded sheets, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-18), concerning the author’s father, M. Banon, who took part in the conflict on the Phaéton.
36. ‘Combat du Brig le Reindeer et de la Pique (frégate) contre le Phaéton et le Voltigeur’, [after 1824] (4 pages on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-20), in an unknown hand, with corrections and pencil annotations, extracted from [William] James ‘Naval History of Great Britain, Vol IV page 324-27’ [published 1822-24].
37. ‘Combat de la Pique contre le Phaéton et le Voltigeur 1806’, [1832 or later] (10 pages in total on paper watermarked 1832, secured with brown string, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-20), extracted from [William] James ‘Naval History of Great Britain, Vol IV page 324-27’ [published 1822-24], comprising a French translation and a transcript in English.
38. ‘Extrait des Batailles navales de la France….’, published in Paris, 1868, page 466, [1868] (1 page on a single folded sheet, with Laage archive stamp, Dossier 199 E-20), concerning the 1806 battle of the Phaéton, Voltigeur and Pique ships.

Chronological

French, English

Out of copyright:
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