FIRST OF JUNE. The battle of the Glorious First of June was so named because it was fought at a point over 400m. from the mainland and reached a decision on June 1, 1794. It arose out of an attempt by the British to intercept, and by the French to protect, a large consignment of corn which the latter, faced by famine as a result of the bad harvest of 1793, had purchased in America. This convoy, consisting of over 1 oo vessels, sailed from the Chesapeake at the beginning of April 1794, protected by Admiral Vanstabel with four battleships. Villaret-Joyeuse, the French commander-in-chief at Brest, intended to meet him with his main fleet in the latitude of Brest, some doom. from the coast. He sent out five ships as forerunners on April so, and himself prepared to follow as soon as possible. Lord Howe, commanding the British Channel fleet, sailed from Spithead on May 2, with 34 sail of the line ; unfortunately he was hampered with a convoy, and was forced to detach eight ships for its protection; but six of them were to rejoin him with all speed after reaching the latitude of Cape Finisterre.
Howe, with the remainder of the fleet, was off Ushant on May 5, and there ascertained that Villaret had not sailed. Not wishing, however, to prevent him from doing so—for he was as willing to fight Villaret as to capture the convoy—he made no attempt to watch Brest, but advanced in a westerly direction along the 47th parallel, thus putting himself between the convoy and the main French fleet. Meeting with no one, he eventually returned to Ushant, arriving there on the 19th, and finding Brest empty. Vil laret had sailed on the 16th with 25 ships—he was shortly joined by one of his advance guards—and had passed close by the British fleet in foggy weather. Howe, without even waiting for the six ships which were to have rejoined him next day, immediately turned in pursuit.
Early on May 28, the French were sighted some ten miles to windward. The British were further from Brest than they, which seems to have puzzled Villaret, who, as soon as he had definitely ascertained the position, began to retreat. But Howe, who had collected his fastest vessels into a flying squadron, signalled a gen eral chase, and several English ships got into action with the rear French ship, the enormous "Revolutionaire," which was made unfit for action at the expense of a smaller English vessel. On the 29th, Howe, who naturally desired the windward position— especially in view of the particular plan which he wished to put into execution—determined to break the French line from to leeward. His van ships failed to pierce the enemy, but Howe him self in the "Charlotte," stationed in the centre, broke through the French line towards the rear, and was followed by several of his ships. In the process they surrounded the three rearmost of the French, and Villaret, in order to save them, was compelled to run to leeward. He was too late to prevent them from being rendered unfit for further immediate fighting. The British thus gained the weather-gauge and had, in two days, reduced Villaret's strength to 22, while they themselves still had 25 fit for action. The 3oth was foggy, and Howe was content to keep contact with Villaret, who edged to leeward, hoping to meet the remaining four ships of his advance squadron. This he was fortunate enough to do. On the 31st the fog cleared at mid-day, but Howe preferred to post pone his final attack until June I.
Lord Howe's plan, which he executed on the final day of the battle, was designed to overcome the French withdrawing tactics so often employed by them. Operating from the leeward position, the French would fire at the masts and sails of the British as they advanced, retreating as soon as the latter approached close range, and repeating this manoeuvre till the British were rendered im mobile. Howe, instead of engaging the French on the same tack while still to windward, proposed to break through their line at all points, and engage from to-leeward, thus preventing their retreat. This was a counsel of perfection, for not every ship could be ex pected to break through, but each one that did would prevent the withdrawal of the corresponding Frenchman. The attack pro duced a during which seven or eight British ships broke through, and the result was the capture of six French ships and the sinking of another. Villaret succeeded in drawing off the re mainder, and the British pursuit lacked direction, Howe, who was nearly 7o, being exhausted after five days and nights with no rest. The convoy escaped capture ; but the British, who were depressed with the lack of success attending the war on land, were disposed to forgive this oversight in their jubilation at obtaining a first class victory at sea.