Battle of San Domingo
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The naval Battle of San Domingo was fought on 6 February 1806 near Santo Domingo, off the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, between a British squadron under Vice-Admiral Duckworth and a smaller French squadron under Rear-Admiral Leissegues.
The French squadron of five ships of the line had escaped the British blockade of Brest late the previous year and been chased to the West Indies by Duckworth.
The French ships, not quite ready to sail, and with part of their crews ashore (including Rear-Admiral Leissegues), weighed anchor after seeing the British ships approach. The British ships moved to cut them off and cross their "T". After forming line of battle, the British ships caught up and, after a tough fight lasting two hours, captured three of the French ships, while Imperial, 130, and Diomede, 74, went aground. The three smaller French ships then escaped and weren't pursued. Brave sank on her way back to England. Jupiter was taken into the Royal Navy and renamed Maida.
Ships involved:
British
Starboard column
Superb, 74 (flag)
Northumberland, 74
Spencer, 74
Agamemnon, 64
Lee column (Canopus was abeam of Spencer)
Canopus, 80
Donegal, 74
Atlas, 74
Frigates etc. (to windward)
Acasta 40
Magicienne, 36
Kingfisher, 16
Epervier, 14
French
Line of battle
Alexandre, 80
Imperial, 130 (flag)
Diomede, 74
Jupiter, 74
Brave, 74
Frigates (inshore)
Felicite
Cornelie
Diligente
The British suffered 74 killed and 264 wounded, the French suffered perhaps 1510 casualties.
[[1] (http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_IV/Vol_IV_P_191.htm)] account
