with N.R. Omell, London.
In correspondance with Rear Admiral James Richard Dacres, Renard’s Captain, Jeremiah Coghlan describes spotting a ship off Haiti at 11am on Friday 20th April, 1805. A chase began before the ship was identified as the French privateer the General Ernouf (20 guns), who was under the command of Captain Paul Gerande Pointe. After the General Ernouf shortened sail and opened fire, the two ships engaged in an action lasting just 35 minutes. Such was the ferosity of fire from the Renard that a fire started on board the General Ernouf resulting in a dramatic explosion and the ship sinking. Coghlan noted only 55 of the 160 sailors on board the French vessel survived but commented that not a man who survived the explosion drowned. The Renard suffered significant damage to her sails and rigging but there no losses and only nine men wounded.
Jeremiah Coghlan was one of the most renowned frigate captains in the Napoleonic Wars, with many legendary feats of daring to his name. C.S. Forester is supposed to have based his fictional character Hornblower on Coghlan.
