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A Cold November
Day
Marshal
Conflans' fleet left Brest on November 14, just as the weather improved
enough for the blockading British fleet to reestablish their position
after seeking shelter at Torbay. It wasn't until November 17 that
Hawke was made aware of Conflans' move, and the Vice-Admiral made haste
to Belle Isle, where he expected to find the fugitive French fleet.
"Concluding
that their first rendezvous would be Quiberon, the instant I received
the intelligence I directed my course tither with pressed sail.
At first, the wind was driving hard at south by east and south, and drove
us considerably westward. But on the 18th and 19th, though variable,
it proved more variable." (Hawke, 1759)
At
0830 on the 20th, the frigate Maidstone signaled that it had spotted the
French fleet, which was indeed off of Belle Isle. The French had
engaged a small squadron of frigates and bombs under Commodore Duff which
had been blockading French transports in the Gulf of Morbihan. When
the approaching British fleet was sighted, Duff's crew cheered in relief,
and the French broke off pursuit.
Marshal
Conflans directed his fleet to retreat to Quiberon Bay. The objective
was for the French to take up defensive positions among the dangerous
shoals abundant in the bay. The French would use the rough seas
and their own familiarity of the region to their advantage.
A sound theory to be sure, unfortunately, the French were not talented
enough to execute the plan.
When
Hawke sighted the French fleet, he ordered his ships into line and began
the pursuit. In these conditions, the superior seamanship of the
British allowed the Royal Navy to carry more sail than their French counterparts.
The French were caught before they could enter the bay and assume their
defensive posture.
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