If the wind comes a-head more than six points, and less than twelve, the fleet, changing the tack, will manoeuvre in the same way as if it had come a-head not more than six points. If two fleets are in sight in this case, that advantage of the weather gage will be gained by the fleet that was before to leeward.
We must close this part of our subject with the interesting inquiry, how to change from the line of battle to the order of retreat, the wind coming forward. This may be done whether the wind come forward or aft, by first re-forming the line of battle, and then changing from that to the order of retreat. This is the most certain, but not the shortest method. It bas, however, this advantage, that it does not so quickly communicate the inten tion to the enemy.
This double manoeuvre requiring, however, con siderable time, and as circumstances are not always favourable, it may be performed in the manner re presented in Plate DXIX, Fig. 5, and which may be described as follows. The fleet having fallen off, the leader of the van goes four points free, while the rest of the ships stand on together close hauled, in order to gain the wake of the leader and each other respectively. When the centre ship has ar rived at the angular point, that is, in the wake of his second-a-head, that wing is formed. The other wing will be easily formed, if (the first wing con tinuing to sail four points free) the ships of the other wing bear away four points free together, running on parallel courses with the first wing. The ships of the wing now forming must adapt their sail to place themselves on the proper line of bearing, which will be effected when each first, second, and third, &c. ship of one Wing bears, from the corresponding ship of the other wing, in a line perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
Of cutting the enemy's line.
The splendid consequences that resulted from Lord Rodney's cutting the French line on the 12th of April 1782, afforded the most ample and satis factory proofs of the advantages of the theory which Mr. Clerk of Eldin was the first to demon strate as possible, and of which Paul Hoste seemed to have had some indistinct glimpses. We shall therefore conclude our paper by an account of the series of manoeuvres which has rendered this bat tle so illustrious in the history of naval tactics.
On Monday the 8th of April 1782, signal was made from the British cruisers off Fort Royal Bay, Martinico, that the French fleet, attended by a number of transports, were then under way. The British fleet immediately weighed from Crosse Islet Bay, St. Lucia, and stood after them to the north ward, under the west end of Martinico, and soon got sight of part of their men of war. The pursuit was continued, during the night, with all the sail that could be made, directed by the enemy's night signals, the wind blowing a fresh gale at N.E. by E. At two in the morning the Valiant, being to windward, discovered the enemy under the north end of the Island of Dominica. At three o'clock the fleet brought to by signal, the enemy at that time bearing nearly north.
In Fig. 6, A represents the British fleet at two in the morning of the 9th of April, discovering part of the French fleet, under the north end of Dominica at F. At three o'clock, brought to by signal; at half past five, the signal was thrown out to prepare for battle, the line to be formed at two cables length asunder, and the fleet to fill and stand on. G, the position of the French fleet at five in the morning, on the starboard tack, working to windward in the channel, between Dominica and Guadaloupe, where they had a steady breeze. H, one of the enemy's ships, at this time so far to leeward, that she must have been taken, had not the wind failed us, while she had it so fresh as en abled her soon to recover her station.
In Fig. 7, A represents the van of the British having at length gained the breeze, fetched up with the centre of the enemy, still upon the starboard tack, when they were fired upon about nine o'clock, and for an hour sustained a distant cannonade from as many of the enemy's ships as could be brought to bear upon them. The centre and rear of the British fleet was at this time becalmed under the island of Dominica, as B. F represents the French, not all in order of battle, some of their ships en deavouring to work to windward.