The Battle of Diamond Rock
Today, 31st May, marks the anniversary of the capture of HMS Diamond Rock by a French / Spanish squadron led by Captain Cosmao-Kerjulien in 1805. HMS Diamond Rock is an island formed by a volcanic plug which occupies a strategic position between Martinique and St Lucia, which had been audaciously fortified by Commodore Sir Samuel Hood in early 1804. Hood officially commissioned Diamond Rock as a sloop and Lieutenant James Wilkes Maurice of the Centaur was placed in command.
Lt Robert Carthew ReynoldsIn order to deflect attention from the fortification of the rock, one of the Centaur's other lieutenants, Robert Carthew Reynolds, led an expedition to cut out the French brig Le Curieux, from Fort Royal harbour, Martinique. Reynolds was the son of Captain Robert Reynolds of the Amazon frigate, which together with HMS Indefatigable, had driven the French 74 Les Droits de L'Homme ashore in Hodierne bay during the celebrated frigate engagement in January 1797. Young Reynolds had been present during the Droits de L'Homme engagement, serving as a fifteen year old midshipman aboard the Indefatigable. The Fort Royal cutting out expedition was a success, Reynolds succeeded in securing the French brig but was severely wounded in the process. On returning to the Diamond Rock squadron Reynolds was immediately promoted to commander of the prize. Sadly, he was never able to take up his new command, he did not recover from his wounds, and died several months later. Robert Carthew Reynolds was buried with full naval honours on Diamond Rock, the only man ever to be interred there.
Together with 120 men, Maurice held Diamond Rock and controlled the strategic strait until Napoleon himself ordered Admiral Villeneuve to recapture the position. Cosmao-Kerjulien's fleet of sixteen ships blockaded the rock for for fifteen days, cutting off all supplies. Maurice and his men withdrew to the summit of the rock and continued to defend their position from the bombardment of two seventy-fours, a frigate, a corvette, a schooner, and eleven gunboats until lack of water forced them to surrender. The garrison were briefly held prisoner by the French before being exchanged and repatriated. Maurice was court martialled for the loss of his "ship", but exonerated and commended for his conduct.
The images below the cut were sketched on the rock by Joseph Constantine Stadler who subsequently published a folio of etchings titled Picturesque Views of the Diamond Rock.
Stuart and Eggleston have written an excellent book, His Majesty's Sloop-of-War Diamond Rock, which I can highly recommend. It's been out of print for a number of years but it's still widely available second hand.
Cannon being hauled up from the Centaur by the Cable
Centaur Battery
A Lodgement under the Rock on the South-west Side
The passage upon the Rock, with the Mail-Coach
Officers of HMS Centaur
Lt Robert Carthew ReynoldsIn order to deflect attention from the fortification of the rock, one of the Centaur's other lieutenants, Robert Carthew Reynolds, led an expedition to cut out the French brig Le Curieux, from Fort Royal harbour, Martinique. Reynolds was the son of Captain Robert Reynolds of the Amazon frigate, which together with HMS Indefatigable, had driven the French 74 Les Droits de L'Homme ashore in Hodierne bay during the celebrated frigate engagement in January 1797. Young Reynolds had been present during the Droits de L'Homme engagement, serving as a fifteen year old midshipman aboard the Indefatigable. The Fort Royal cutting out expedition was a success, Reynolds succeeded in securing the French brig but was severely wounded in the process. On returning to the Diamond Rock squadron Reynolds was immediately promoted to commander of the prize. Sadly, he was never able to take up his new command, he did not recover from his wounds, and died several months later. Robert Carthew Reynolds was buried with full naval honours on Diamond Rock, the only man ever to be interred there.
Together with 120 men, Maurice held Diamond Rock and controlled the strategic strait until Napoleon himself ordered Admiral Villeneuve to recapture the position. Cosmao-Kerjulien's fleet of sixteen ships blockaded the rock for for fifteen days, cutting off all supplies. Maurice and his men withdrew to the summit of the rock and continued to defend their position from the bombardment of two seventy-fours, a frigate, a corvette, a schooner, and eleven gunboats until lack of water forced them to surrender. The garrison were briefly held prisoner by the French before being exchanged and repatriated. Maurice was court martialled for the loss of his "ship", but exonerated and commended for his conduct.
The images below the cut were sketched on the rock by Joseph Constantine Stadler who subsequently published a folio of etchings titled Picturesque Views of the Diamond Rock.
Stuart and Eggleston have written an excellent book, His Majesty's Sloop-of-War Diamond Rock, which I can highly recommend. It's been out of print for a number of years but it's still widely available second hand.
Cannon being hauled up from the Centaur by the Cable
Centaur Battery
A Lodgement under the Rock on the South-west Side
The passage upon the Rock, with the Mail-Coach
Officers of HMS Centaur