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The Attack on Brest was an amphibious landing on June 18, 1694 by the English in an attempt to seize the French port of Brest, as part of the War of the Grand Alliance. June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ...
Events February 6 - The colony Quilombo dos Palmares is destroyed. ...
Brest (lol) is a city in Brittany, or the Bretagne région, north-west France, sous-préfecture of the Finistère département. ...
Nine Years War redirects here. ...
Prelude When the fleet of Tourville left Brest for the Mediterranean, a plan was made to attack and destroy the harbour of Brest and all ships which lay there. Anne Hilarion de Contentin, comte de Tourville Anne Hilarion de Contentin, comte de Tourville Anne Hilarion de Contentin, comte de Tourville (1642–1701) was a French naval commander who served under King Louis XIV. Aged 17, a Knight of Malta, he fought his first naval fight on a frigate of...
The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ...
A fleet was assembled in Portsmouth under command of Admiral Berkeley, consisting of 36 warships, 12 fireships and 40 transport ships, carrying an invasion army of 10,000 soldiers under command of general Talmash.
But the invasion plan had been briefed to the French, which started immediately to organize the defense of the city and the rocky coast around it. The organizer of this defense was the reknown Vauban, builder of many fortresses around France. The bad weather kept the English fleet in its harbour for a month, giving the French just enough time to prepare a warm reception. Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban (May 15, 1633 - March 30, 1707), commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and in breaking through them. ...
the Battle The English fleet finally left for Brittany and anchored on June 17 near Camaret Bay, close to the mouth of the harbour of Brest. Talmash proposed to land in Camaret Bay. Therefor the Marquess of Carmarthen sailed on his ship the Peregrine into the bay on a reconnaissance mission. One of Carmarthen's companions was John Cutts.
On his return Carmarthen reported seeing a formidable opposition and advised against an attack. But Talmash and Berkeley suspected that he overrated the danger, and decided to attack the next morning. Camaret Bay is a small bay on the north coast of Brittany, France. ...
John Cutts, Baron Cutts of Gowran,(1661-1707), British soldier and author, came of an Essex family. ...
On June 18, Caermarthen was ordered to enter the bay with eight vessels and to batter the French defenses. Talmash followed with about a hundred boats full of soldiers.
Soon, Caermarthen learned that the situation was much worst than he has estimated the previous day. Batteries which had then escaped notice, opened on the ships a fire so murderous that several decks were soon cleared. He also saw great bodies of regular troops. He tried to warn Talmash, but he wouldn't listen.
Talmash ordered his men to pull for the beach. A terrible fire mowed down the troops faster than they could get on shore. He had himself scarcely sprung on dry ground when he received a wound in the thigh from a cannon ball, and was carried back to his skiff.
His men reembarked in confusion.
Ships and boats made haste to get out of the bay, but did not succeed till 400 seamen and 700 à 800 soldiers had fallen.
Many soldiers were trapped because the tide had turned and their boats were aground. 466 soldiers were made prisoners.
The French only lost 45 killed and wounded.
Aftermath The action was a complete disaster.
Talmash died of his wounds on his return in Plymouth.
The public grief and indignation for the treachery were loudly expressed.
Later historians have accused Marlborough of sending the Camaret Bay letter in May 1694, betraying the expedition to Brest to the French. This letter however only exists in a French translation and might very well be a forgery, destined to damage Marlborough's reputation. John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in his Garter robes John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (May 26, 1650 - June 16, 1722), in full The Most Noble Captain-General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Earl of Marlborough, Baron Churchill of Sandridge, Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, KG, PC (in addition...
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