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Battle Between The Comet And The British Hibernia
Paintings By Thomas Whitcombe
1763-1824
Thomas Whitcombe, a British artist of the day described the Comet as a 16-gun schooner, but in reality she only carried 14 guns. The Hibernia outclassed the Comet by a great deal, and should have sunk her, except for the daring skills of Captain Thomas Boyle and his crew on the intrepid Comet! Whitcombe was a first-quality painter, but his British prejudice shows itself. The only reason Captain Boyle on the Comet allowed the Hibernia to sail away, was because after putting so many men on prize ships as prize crews, he was severely short-handed, and did not consider the Hibernia worth taking. By that point, both ships were badly damaged, and the Hibernia in no way looked as good as this British artist portrayed. Whitcombe painted these in 1814, whilst Captain Tom Boyle was still terrorizing the British merchant fleet, so he can be excused for portraying his own nation's role in this affair in a positive light.
According to Captain Thomas Boyle's journal: "At 6 PM coming up with the chase fast, called all hands to quarters, and got all clear for action. Could discover yellow sides and ports, which I took to be false ports. At 7 PM the ship began to take in sail. She took in her skysails, royals, topgallant and lower studding sails. I took in sail also and furled the square sail, going so directly before the wind had not an opportunity of seeing his broadside, distinctly. At half past 7 luffed up and gave him one of our bow guns, which he immediately returned with his stern chasers. We then closed and in a few minutes the action begun and was warmly contested on both sides—at 20 minutes before 10 PM we had all the running rigging, with the boom top-in-lift, shot away—was compelled to haul off to repair—at this time we had one killed and a number wounded. The ship had boarding nettings, reaching nearly up to her tops.
In a very short time we had repaired the damages and recommenced close action again, within half pistol shot, when he again shot away the boom top-in-lift. I was compelled to work the main boom with the peake haulyards. Made several attempts to board him but was not able to effect it. We kept up a continual fire on both sides; I shot across his bows and raked him several times, within 20 yards of him, but his tremendous height prevented much execution. At half past 12, midnight, fresh breeze; he now attempted to run us down, and so far succeeded as to run his jib-boom into our mainsail, a little below the gaft, and come with his bows against our stern, without doing any damage to our hull, though, he tore our mainsail all to pieces, broke the main gaft and unshipped the main boom. In this situation we attempted to board him, but could not succeed, he having quick way, and her height so great our men could scarcely touch the bobstays from our taffil rail; though not withstanding we had several of our men almost on her bobstays. We shot several of his men who were on his bowsprit and forecastle, and took two of their boarding pikes from them as they reached down at us. He appeared to have many men on his forecastle, and splinter nets from his mainmast aft; hauled off again to repair, and bend another mainsail. At 1 AM had completely repaired and commenced close action again, which lasted until 3 AM at which time we had our jib stay, main shrouds, boom top-in-lift and fore gaft haul-yards shot away—his fire appeared considerably slackened, our braces, topsail haulyards and main topsail sheets were also shot away, and the schooner was rendered almost unmanageable, many of the breechings of the guns parted. I thought proper to haul off till daylight; began repairing but found we were much more cut than I expected. The ship was about two miles from us at daylight, could count 14 ports on one side distinctly, guns in most of them. I determined to refit completely before I would again renew the action. The Islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Tortola in sight and at very little distance, I found the ship running before the wind, would drive me close to the harbour of St. Thomas, before I could refit, and renew the action, and my not being in a situation to stand a chase, should any men of war make their appearance, and from information I understood several were at St. Thomas, I very reluctantly abandoned the idea of again renewing the action.
We had three men killed and 16 wounded, myself among the number at the commencement of the action, (tho' slightly). Mr. Edward Black, prize-master, Mr. John Baney, master's mate and Thomas Selma, carpenter, were the three killed. Six men badly wounded, the master of marines amongst them, and 10 slightly wounded." The Niles Register of February 26, 1814 reported that the Hibernia was a British privateer commanded by John Lannon, carried 22 guns, a large force of men and was of 800 ton burthen weight. The Niles Register also attributed the Hibernia's great height above the water level as to why the Comet hadn't captured her. They said that the battle lasted eight hours, and the Hibernia, badly damaged, put into St. Thomas for repairs.
The Hibernia Returns To Port In St. Thomas For Repairs
(Obviously not looking as beat-up as she really was, since the artist was British)
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