Speedy vs. Papillon – 3-4 February 1798
In early February 1798, a protracted combat took place off the Spanish Atlantic coast between the sloop Speedy and a larger French privateer. Although it eventually proved inconclusive, the officers and crew of the British vessel gained great credit for their brave and skilful conduct.
The year of 1797 had ended most auspiciously for Commander Hugh Downman of the sloop Speedy. His four-hour chase of three Spanish privateers and a lugger on 21 December, some twenty miles off the north-west coast of Spain had resulted in the capture of a small lugger (Pilgrim 3), and the driving of her two consorts into Vigo. The new year started just as happily with his capture on 1 January of La Oliva 4, a Spanish schooner. Therefore, it was probably no surprise when several weeks later the newspapers published Downman’s account of another exploit, made all the more impressive by the fact that it was accompanied by a most complimentary comment from the exacting commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent.
The Speedy had been launched in 1782 but had fallen into French hands on 9 June 1794 when under Commander George Eyre. Nine months later, the Inconstant 36, Captain Thomas Fremantle, had restored her to British colours. Her armament consisted of fourteen 4-pounder cannons and twelve half-pound swivel guns giving her a broadside weight of metal of 28 pounds , and she had a crew of 90 men. Commander Downman, a 32-year-old Devonian of humble origins but high intellect, was an excellent seaman who had been promoted to his rank just seven months earlier, after catching the eye of St. Vincent when serving aboard his flagship.
At daylight on 3 February, some fifty miles west of Vigo, the Speedy fell in with a strange brig which approached with all sail set. At 3 p.m.at a range of half a mile the stranger hauled her wind and opened fire. For the next two and a half hours the two vessels maintained a relentless cannonade until the enemy brig tacked away and set sail. A heavy swell was running, rendering much of the cannon fire between the two vessels harmless, although the Speedy had suffered damage to her foretopmast and running rigging. The stranger would prove to be the French privateer brig Papillon 18, mounting fourteen guns (four twelve-pounders and ten 8-pounders), making her broadside weight of metal more than double that of the Speedy. She was manned by 160 men.
Giving chase to the Papillon (despite the disparity in firepower), the Speedy was able to keep her within range for the next two hours, until at about 7.30 the failing wind carried the privateer out of gunshot. Despite manning the sweeps (large oars) to move the ship, Commander Downman’s men were unable to close the gap on the enemy, and towards midnight they had the mortification of seeing the privateer open fire on a prize which the British vessel had taken the day before. Realising that their capture was imminent, the Speedy’s prize crew aboard the vessel, consisting of her sailing master (Mr Marshall) and a dozen men, battened down their twenty-six Spanish prisoners below deck and took to a boat to make good their escape.
Throughout the night the Speedy maintained her pursuit of the Papillon, and she was rewarded at daybreak on the 4th when a fresh breeze carried her within range of the privateer. The enemy tried to shake off her persistent pursuer using both full sail and sweeps, but at noon, and in the words of Captain Downman ‘finding she had the heels of us’ , the Papillon suddenly shortened sail, wore ship, and stood towards the Speedy, a red flag flying prominently from her main-topgallant masthead. As her primary role was catching merchant ships, not fighting warships, the privateer’s captain must have considered he had a good chance of defeating the smaller Speedy.
At 12.30 the action recommenced at pistol-shot, the wind being on the Speedy’s port quarter, and it continued unabated for an hour and a half until the privateer’s fire began to weaken. Sensing his opportunity, Captain Downman prepared to board, but the Papillon immediately wore ship and came up to the wind on the starboard tack, the Speedy at this time being close up on her starboard quarter. The damage aloft to the braces and bowlines had caused the British sloop’s yard to swing around causing its sail to lose the wind . Sensing that this accident provided an opportunity to escape, the Papillon turned to run before the wind with all sail once more. The Speedy finally wore ship and for twenty minutes the two ships exchanged musket fire. With Downman’s lower mast secured and studding sails set, the chase then continued until 7 p.m. when the Frenchman disappeared from sight.
Shortening sail, the Speedy began to look for her prize – she fell in with that vessel at daylight and re-took possession from the French prize crew of ten men. Then the Speedy, with her lower masts, bowsprit, main boom, both topmasts and most of the yards shot through, and her standing and running rigging in tatters, headed for Lisbon for repairs.
In his letter to the Earl of St. Vincent dated 16 February from the Tagus, Downman reported casualties of five men killed and four badly wounded, the former including Lieutenant Richard Dutton and the boatswain, Mr Johnston. Forwarding the letter to the Admiralty, St. Vincent commended the action by the Speedy against a superior opponent, labelling it a ‘great honour to her captain, officers, and company’.
Two years later the Speedy would gain everlasting fame with a series of spectacular exploits under the command of Captain Lord Cochrane, before falling into French hands again when captured by a French fleet in 1801. Commander Downman was deservedly posted captain later in 1798, and he eventually rose to the rank of admiral before his death at the age of 93 in the middle of the 19th century.