Action of 29 June 1694

The Action of 29 June 1694 is a sea battle during the War of the Grand Alliance on 29 June 1694, when a force of 9 French ships, under Jean Bart, recaptured a French convoy, which had earlier that month been taken by the Dutch, and the 8-ship escorting force, under Hidde de Vries.

Context

In 1692 and 1693 there were massive harvest failures in France, leading to acute famine and epidemics. From 1693 to 1694 over 2 million people died.
Therefore France needed to import large quantities of grain from neutral countries like Poland, Sweden and Denmark.

On May 29 1694, Jean Bart was instructed to sail to Norway, to escort a hugh fleet of 120 ships full of grain to France. The convoy didn't wait for the arrival of Bart's squadron and left under the protection of 3 neutral warships (2 Danish and one Swedish).

The Battle

The convoy was immediately captured by the Dutch without a shot being fired.
Jean Bart searched for the convoy and found in on June 29 at 3:00 a.m. before the Dutch island of Texel. Despite having less guns than the Dutch, at 5:00 a.m. Jean Bart attacks the Dutch flagship of Hidde de Vries.

After a fierce battle which lasted only half an hour, the "Prins Friso" was captured, with Hidde de Vries severely wounded and taken prisoner. Two other Dutch ships were also taken, with the remaining five fleeing to their harbor.

The Dutch loses amounted to 100 killed, 129 wounded and 455 prisoners.

Jean Bart repaired the damage to his ships and took the convoy to Dunkirk, where it arrived on July 3, received by an enormous crowd is celebrating their hero.

On July 5, Jean Bart, his son François Cornil and his brother-in-law were invited to Versailles and congratulated by King Louis XIV in person.
Jean Bart was raised into the nobility on August 4 1694.

Hidde de Vries died of his wounds on July 1.

hips involved

France (Jean Bart)

*"Maure" 54 (flag)
*"Fortuné" 50
*"Adroit" 44
*"Jersey" 50
*"Comte" 50
*"Mignon" 50
*"Bienvenu" 24 (merchantman)
*"Portefaix" 24 (merchantman)
*"Biche" (corvette)

Netherlands (Hidde de Vries)

*"Prins Friso" 58 (flag) - Captured by "Maure"
*"Zeerijp" 34 - Captured by "Fortuné"
*"Statenland" 50 - Captured by "Mignon"
*"Amalia" 58
*"?" 54
*"?" 50
*"?" 50
*"?" 40
*120 or more merchant ships - captured that day or soon after

Links

* [http://jb.collection.free.fr/Biographie/Texel.htm An account of the battle by Jean Bart (French)]
* [http://www.ville-dunkerque.fr/histoire/texte5.htm La Bataille du Texel (French)]