Battle of Basque Roads
Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Basque Roads which began on the night of the 11th of April 1809 and lasted for three days. The fleet, which was charged with destroying French ships anchored off the Île-d'Aix, was under the command Admiral Lord Gambier, however it was Lord Cochrane who led the attack. Gambier famously failed to bring his fleet in to follow up Cochrane's initial attack with fire ships and rockets. Despite Gambier's caution, the engagement was hailed as a notable victory and Gambier received the thanks of Parliament. This was too much for Cochrane to bear; he publicly accused Gambier of failing in his duty and Gambier demanded a court martial to clear his name. The court martial found in Gambier's favour but the reputation of both Gambier and Cochrane was seriously damaged by the affair
Gambiers prevarication and Cochrane's frustration was lampooned in this 1809 print by Charles Wilson around the time of the court martial.
The British Museum's catalogue record described the print as follows:
"Admiral Gambier sits primly in his cabin, conducting a religious service for himself and a dissenting minister who stands behind his chair (left). On the right Lord Cochrane, holding a drawn sword, and a sailor, holding a boatswain's whistle, urgently but vainly try to attract his attention. Gambier chants from a book: 'Moab my wash pot is, my Shoe, o'er Edom I will throw'. Cochrane, who wears a cocked hat, officer's coat and trousers, exclaims: "Why Adml, D------n their Eyes they'l escape if we don't make haste". The boatswain: "Your shoe won't do for the French Fleet I think we had better throw some shells Your Honor". The lank-haired minister, with raised hands, exclaims sanctimoniously: "oh the wicked Dog he has put us quite out, he is insensible of the beauties of Divine Poetry". Beside the unmoved Gambier is a table with writing-materials. A large volume of 'Sternhold & Hopkins' lies on a report 'for the Admiralty'; beside it (torn) is a 'Plan of [Basque] Roads'. On the ground is an open 'Log Book' with a torn page. By Gambier are a bundle of 'Congreve [Ro]cketts' and a telescope. On the wall is a 'Map of the Holyland' [having more resemblance to Spain] showing 'Jerusalem'. On the right are the slanting windows of the admiral's cabin in the stern; a cannon projects through a port-hole."
Hornblower's path crosses Gambier's in Flying Colours when he escapes from France and returns to the Channel Fleet with the Witch of Endor.
A midshipman came into the cabin as they ate breakfast.
"The fleet's in sight from the masthead, sir," he reported to Hardy.
"Very good." As the midshipman went out again Hardy turned back to Hornblower."I
must report your arrival to His Lordship."
"Is he still in command?" asked Hornblower, startled. It was a surprise to him that the
government had left Admiral Lord Gambier in command of the Channel Fleet for three years, despite the disastrous waste of opportunity at the Basque Roads.
"He hauls down his flag next month," said Hardy, gloomily. Most officers turned gloomy when discussing 'Dismal Jimmy'. "They whitewashed him at the court martial, and had to leave him his full three years."
Gambiers prevarication and Cochrane's frustration was lampooned in this 1809 print by Charles Wilson around the time of the court martial.
The British Museum's catalogue record described the print as follows:
"Admiral Gambier sits primly in his cabin, conducting a religious service for himself and a dissenting minister who stands behind his chair (left). On the right Lord Cochrane, holding a drawn sword, and a sailor, holding a boatswain's whistle, urgently but vainly try to attract his attention. Gambier chants from a book: 'Moab my wash pot is, my Shoe, o'er Edom I will throw'. Cochrane, who wears a cocked hat, officer's coat and trousers, exclaims: "Why Adml, D------n their Eyes they'l escape if we don't make haste". The boatswain: "Your shoe won't do for the French Fleet I think we had better throw some shells Your Honor". The lank-haired minister, with raised hands, exclaims sanctimoniously: "oh the wicked Dog he has put us quite out, he is insensible of the beauties of Divine Poetry". Beside the unmoved Gambier is a table with writing-materials. A large volume of 'Sternhold & Hopkins' lies on a report 'for the Admiralty'; beside it (torn) is a 'Plan of [Basque] Roads'. On the ground is an open 'Log Book' with a torn page. By Gambier are a bundle of 'Congreve [Ro]cketts' and a telescope. On the wall is a 'Map of the Holyland' [having more resemblance to Spain] showing 'Jerusalem'. On the right are the slanting windows of the admiral's cabin in the stern; a cannon projects through a port-hole."
Hornblower's path crosses Gambier's in Flying Colours when he escapes from France and returns to the Channel Fleet with the Witch of Endor.
A midshipman came into the cabin as they ate breakfast.
"The fleet's in sight from the masthead, sir," he reported to Hardy.
"Very good." As the midshipman went out again Hardy turned back to Hornblower."I
must report your arrival to His Lordship."
"Is he still in command?" asked Hornblower, startled. It was a surprise to him that the
government had left Admiral Lord Gambier in command of the Channel Fleet for three years, despite the disastrous waste of opportunity at the Basque Roads.
"He hauls down his flag next month," said Hardy, gloomily. Most officers turned gloomy when discussing 'Dismal Jimmy'. "They whitewashed him at the court martial, and had to leave him his full three years."