French frigate Poursuivante (1798)

The "Poursuivante" (“chaser”) was a "Désirée" class frigate of the French Navy.

In June 1800, the "Poursuivante" took part in a battle off Dunkirk under capitaine de frégate Oreille. In 1802, she departed Flushing to ferry troops to Saint-Domingue, under capitaine de vaisseau Jean-Baptiste Philibert Willaumez. She arrived as the Haitian Revolution raged. The ships "Duguay-Trouin", "Annibal" and "Swiftsure", as well as frigate "Précieuse", "Infatigable" were also in Haiti. General Pamphile Lacroix ordered the Blacks of the island drown, and the ships started throwing the Blacks of the island overboard. Only Willaumez refused the ordered, arguing that “sailors of the French Navy were no executioners” [http://www.winterludes.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=907] .

On the 18 May 1803, the Treaty of Amiens was cancelled and war broke out between France and the United Kingdom. On the 28 June 1803, The "Poursuivante", en route for Saint-Domingue with the 16-gun corvette "Mignonne", encountered a British convoy, and was chased by the HMS "Hercules". Largely out-gunned, the "Poursuivante" managed to manoeuver behind the "Hercules" and rake her, disturbing her operations enough to be able to reach harbour. "Mignonne" was captured by HMS "Goliath"

In October, the "Poursuivante" reffited in Baltimore, from where she departed in March 1804. During her journey back to France, she met and evaded another British ship. Willaumez was promoted to vice-admiral on his return.

She was converted to a hulk in Rochefort in June 1806.

External links

* [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/marine-imperiale/chronologie/1803/06_28.htm LE COMBAT DE LA POURSUIVANTE]
* [http://www.histoire-empire.org/articles/jerome/le_mariage_de_jerome.htm]
* [http://www.histoire-empire.org/correspondance_de_napoleon/1804/mai_02.htm 16 - 30 Mai 1804 ]