CHAPTER XII
THE FINAL NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST INDIES. HOOD AND DE GRASSE. RODNEY AND DE GRASSE. THE GREAT BATTLE OF APRIL 12, 1782
Capture and Destruction near Ushant of a great French Convoy for the West Indies opens the Naval Campaign of 1782 [195]
Attack upon the Island of St. Kitts by de Grasse and de Bouillé [197]
Hood sails for its Relief from Barbados [197]
His Plan of procedure [198]
Balked by an Accident [199]
He Succeeds in dislodging de Grasse and taking the Anchorage left by the French [200]
Unsuccessful Attempt by de Grasse to shake Hood's position [203]
St. Kitts nevertheless compelled to Surrender owing to having insufficient Land Force [205]
Hood Extricates himself from de Grasse's Superior Force and Retires [205]
Rodney arrives from England and joins Hood [205]
Project of French and Spaniards against Jamaica [206]
De Grasse sails from Martinique with his whole Fleet and a large Convoy [207]
Rodney's Pursuit [208]
Partial Actions of April 9, 1782 [209]
British Pursuit continues [211]
It is favored by the Lagging of two Ships in the French Fleet, April 11 [211]
An Accident that night induces de Grasse to bear down, and enables Rodney to force Action [212]
The Battle of April 12 begins [214]
A Shift of Wind enables the British to Break the French Order in three places [217]
Consequences of this Movement [218]
Resultant Advantages to the British [219]
Practices of the opposing Navies in regard to the Aims of Firing [219]
Consequences Illustrated in the Injuries received respectively [220]
Inadequate Use made by Rodney of the Advantage gained by his Fleet [220]
Hood's Criticisms [220]
Hood's Opinion shared by Sir Charles Douglas, Rodney's Chief-of-Staff [222]
Rodney's own Reasons for his Course after the Battle [222]
His Assumptions not accordant with the Facts [223]
Actual Prolonged Dispersion of the French Fleet [224]
Hood, Detached in Pursuit, Captures a small French Squadron [224]
Rodney Superseded in Command before the news of the victory reached England [225]
The general War Approaches its End [226]