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Researching and writing an article on the battle of Lissa 1811 Wildfire1961 14:33, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

Contents 1 Welcome to the Military history WikiProject! 2 Re: Orientation Page? 3 help 4 Thanks 5 Battle of Lissa (1811) 5.1 Strategic background 5.2 The Action 5.2.1 Sighting and dispositions 5.2.2 Starboard tack 5.2.3 Turning 5.2.4 Port tack 5.2.5 The chase 5.3 Aftermath 5.4 Battle of Vyazma Edits 5.5 Adoption 5.6 The Military history WikiProject Newsletter: Issue IX - November 2006

[edit] Welcome to the Military history WikiProject!

[edit] Re: Orientation Page?

Well, we'll see what we can do about putting something together. In the meantime, if you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Kirill Lokshin 16:52, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] help

can I help you to find your way in the military history wikiproject? Wandalstouring 16:53, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks

Thank you to Kirill and Wandalstouring. Kirill, you information box was of help - it's pointed me at some pages I needed to read. Wandalstouring, I've created a stub on the Battle of Lissa (1811). When I've written the whole article I'll ask you to look at it, and suggest any improvements that might occur to you to put me on the right road. Wildfire1961 18:50, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Battle of Lissa (1811)

[edit] Strategic background

By 1811 Napoleon controlled most of the mainland coast of the Adriatic. Britain however controlled the small island of Lissa, near Split. Lissa was being used as a base by smugglers infiltrating British goods into Europe in defiance of Napoleon's Continental System, and by privateers preying on the coastwise trade. It was also the base of a small British squadron, likewise there to disrupt trade and communications. The island was thus a thorn in Napoleon's flesh in the eastern Mediterranean.

A french frigate squadron led by Commodore Bernard Dubourdieu and based at Ancona had attempted to take Lissa the previous autumn, but had failed, having insufficient troops. Early in 1811, 500 additional Italian troops had been assigned, and Dubourdieu's squadron, with the associated transports, had sailed from Ancona on 11th March.

[edit] The Action

[edit] Sighting and dispositions

At 3am on the 13th, Active was some distance from the rest of the flotilla, to the nort north west, or windward, about a mile off Post St. George. She caught sight of Dubourdieu's squadron in the darkness, sent up the night signal for "enemy in sight", and bore up to rejoin the flotilla.

At about 6am, Dubourdieu began the attack, bearing down on Hoste's ships in two lines. The starboard was led by Favorite, followed by Flore, Bellona and Mercure. The port was led by Danae, followed by Corona and Carolina. As they bore down, Hoste formed his ships into a line led by Amphion, followed by Active, Volage and Cerberus. The British then began to beat up towards the allies.

By 9am The two forces were almost in range. Hoste was on the starboard tack heading towards the island, close to the shore. The allies had the wind on their starboard quarter, Favorite standing somewhat ahead of Danae. Just before the engagement began, Hoste sent an inspirational signal to the flotilla, in memory of his old mentor and friend:- "Remember Nelson".

[edit] Starboard tack

Favorite headed for the Amphion and Active, hoping to pass between them to break Hoste's line. However, the British ships were in such close order that this proved to be impossible. Favorite therefore steered for the Amphion's starboard quarter, intending to board. The boarding party was cleared from Favorite's bow by a single charge of 750 musket balls, fired from a howitzer on Amphion's quarterdeck. Among the dead was Dubourdieu himself.

By this time, unable to break the line, the allies were sailing parallel to the British. Danae and Corona engaged Volage and Cerberus, with Carolina to far aft for her guns to bear.

Meanwhile Favorite stood on, apparently with the intention of forereaching on the Amphion, crossing her bows and raking her.

[edit] Turning

At about 9-40am, Hoste ordered the flotilla to wear together, being at this time about 100 yards from the shore. At this point Favorite, following Amphion round on a larger arc, ran aground on the rocks.

During the manoeuvre, Cerberus had her rudder jammed by a shot so Volage completed the turn first and led the line towards the east, the British now being on a bow-and-quarter line rather than line astern. As the British line made to the eastward Flore passed astern of Amphion, raking her in the process, and took up a position on her lee quaurter, while Bellona took up position on her weather quarter, both firing into her fiercely.

[edit] Port tack

Amphion tried to remedy her situation by crossing the Flore's bows. She achieved this at 11-15am, raking Flore in the process, and taking up a position on her lee bow. After another five minutes' gunnery, the Flore seemed to strike, but because of the damage to her yards was unable to clear away a boat to take possession.

Bellona in her turn had passed astern of both the Flore and the Amphion and now engaged Amphion from the leeward. Amphion's gunnery was so effective that Bellona was compelled to strike at 11-55.

Hoste now sent the signal "General Chase".

Meanwhile at the head of the line Danae closed with the much lighter Volage, intending to batter her into submission. However Danae's captain was in for a nasty surprise. Instead of being armed with long nine pounders, Volage was armed with 32 pounder carronades. This meant that the two ships were firing nearly the same broadside weight of metal, with Volage's being concentrated in much heavier balls. Danae therefore withdrew to windward, to a range which would allow her to batter Volage without reply from the short-range carronades. Volage increased the charges of gunpowder to try and increase her range, but the greater recoil dismounted the light carronades, leaving her with a single six pounder to defend herself.

Astern of Volage, Cerberus had regained control of her steering, and was engaged with the Corona. But the Cerberus was 90 men below complement, and was almost disabled by the Corona's fire. Carolina was some distance to windward, and not engaged.

[edit] The chase

Amphion was now too badly damaged in the masts, sails and rigging to take any further part in the chase, although she managed to lower a punt with an officer and a few hands to take possession of Bellona. Active made sail to close the action to the east. Seeing her coming up, Danae and Carolina made off eastwards to take shelter under the batteries of Lessina, a few miles distant. Active managed to close the Corona at 1:45pm. They continued fighting until 2:30, when the Corona at last struck her colours.

[edit] Aftermath

[edit] Battle of Vyazma Edits

With all due respect, I'm not entirely happy with your edits of my "Battle of Vyazma" article, particularly your changing my diction, and eliminating a couiple of key footnotes. The footnote about Kutusov's experience at the Battle of Durrenstein in 1805, particularly, is relevent to Vyazma and should have remained.

Perhaps we should discuss? Thanks.

Kenmore 01:06, 29 October 2006 (UTC)kenmore

Thanks for your reply regarding the "Battle of Vyazma". I agree that "discombolutated", although semantically correct, was perhaps not the best word to use stylistically, so it's good that you replaced it. On the other hand, I think that "beleaguered" is better than "beset" to describe the Russian pressure on Davout in the days leading up to the battle.

There are certain nuances and historical details regarding the Battle of Vyazma that I am eager to keep in the article. Although I welcome the editing of others, I don't want these details eliminated from the narrative or the footnotes, as without them, I think the reader misses out on certain nuances of the battle which are important to understanding it as a whole.

I will admit that my writing needs work...there are many aspects of the narrative that are awkward (mechanics, etc.). I realize also I'm walking a tightrope, so to speak, regarding my attention to detail: there's a point at which it may get obsessive, thus ruining the article's clarity and narrative flow.

If you have experience as a copyeditor, then by all means, I look favorably on your editing of the Vyazma article, as long as certain details are not changed.

Putting the accent mark on "Eugene" is excellent!

As for the Battle of Lissa, it's a mystery to me...I know nothing about it. I will look it up in an excellent Greenhill encyclopedia on the Napoleonic Wars I have(by Digby Smith, do you read his stuff?), and I'll copy and paste the information here so you can incorporate it into your article if you see it fit.

I look forward to working with you!

Kenmore 03:08, 29 October 2006 (UTC)kenmore

ZZ Lissa (nowadays Vis), 13 March 1811, naval clash

An Austrian island in Dalmatia, 50 km south of Split (Spalato).

A British victory over the French.

(This was the only naval action of note this year.)

French Forces: Captina Dubourdieu commmanding: 6 frigates; Flore, Danae, Favorite & Corona (44 guns each) and Bellona & Carolina (32). Also the brig Mercure, two schooners, a xebec and a gunboat. 276 guns, 2,500.

French losses: 600 killed and wounded, 800 captured; Favorite destroyed, Corona & Bellona taken. Captain Dubourdieu killed.

British Forces: Captain W Hoste: Frigates Amphion, Active, Cerberus & Volage, 124 guns, 1,000 men.

British losses: ca 200 killed and wounded.

Source: Bodart.

The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book, by Digby Smith, Greenhill Books, 1998 (page 356)

[edit] Adoption

Hello, Wildfire1961! I see that you have expressed an interest in being adopted by an experienced editor. I accept your request, being an experienced editor myself. Whether you want to learn about wiki markup, find something to do, or just talk to somebody, I'm the one you can talk to - just leave a message on my talk page. One thing I can see right off the bat is that you could use a subpage for the article you're writing, instead of having it on the space reserved for leaving you messages. Good luck with Wikipedia and be sure te drop me a line if you have any questions! --Daniel Olsen 03:57, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Military history WikiProject Newsletter: Issue IX - November 2006

The November 2006 issue of the Military history WikiProject newsletter has been published. You may read the newsletter, change the format in which future issues will be delivered to you, or unsubscribe from this notification by following the link. Thank you.

This is an automated delivery by grafikbot 23:24, 26 November 2006 (UTC)