ENGAGEMENT (continued)

When the adverse fleets approach each other, the courses are commonly hauled up in the brails, and the top-gallant sails and stay sails furled. The movement of each ship is chiefly regulated by the main and fore-top sails, and the jib; the mizen-top sail being reserved to haften or retard the course of the ship, and, in fine, by filling or backing, hoisting or lowering it, to determine her velocity.

The frigates, tenders, and fire-ships, being also hauled upon a wind, lie at some distance, ready to execute the admiral's orders, or those of his seconds, leaving the line of battle between them and the enemy. If there are any transports and store-ships attendant on the fleet, these are disposed at a still further distance from the scene of action. If the fleet is superior in number to that of the enemy, the admiral usually selects a body of reserve from the different squadrons, which will always be of use to cover the fire-ships, bomb-vessels, &c. and may sail into the line in any case of necessity: these also are stationed at a couvenient distance from the line, and should evidently be opposite to the weakest parts thereof.

And here it may not be improper to observe, with an ingenious French author (M. De Morogues), that order and discipline give additional strength and activity to a fleet. If thus a double advantage is acquired by every fleet, it is certainly more favourable to the inferior, which may thereby change it's disposition with greater facility and dispatch than one more numerous, yet without being separated When courage is equal to both, good order is then the only resource of the smaller number. Hence we may infer that a smaller squadron of ships of war, whose officers are perfectly disciplined in working their ships, may, by it's superior dexterity, vanquish a more powerful one, even at the commencement of the fight; because the latter being less expert in the order of battle, will, by it's separation, suffer many of the ships to remain useless or not sufficiently near to protect each other.

The Gauls, says Vegetius, had the advantage of the Romans, in their numbers: the Geramns have their stature; the Spaniards their strength and numbers united; the Africans their artifice and opulence; the Greeks their policy and prudence; but the Romans have triumphed over all by their discipline.

The signal for a general engagement is usually displayed when the opposite fleets are sufficiently within the range of point-blank shot, so that they may level the artillery with certainty of execution, which is near enough for a line of battle. The action is begun and carried on throughout the fleet, in the manner we have already described between single ships, at which time the admiral carries little sail, observing, however, to regulate his own motions by those of the enemy. The ships of the line mean while keep close in their stations, none of which should hesitate to advance in their order, although interrupted by the situation of some ships a-head, which has negligently fallen astern of her station.

Such is now the practice of naval war, that the necessary order of battle, and the fabric of our ships, very seldom permit the assault of boarding, unless in single actions. No captain ought therefore to abandon his station in the line, under any pretence whatsoever, unless his ship is too much disabled to continue the combat. The small quantity of sail carried on this occasion will permit the bulk of the fleet, although somewhat impaired, to continue their cannonade a long time without quitting the line.

Reference Works