BATTLE OF MARTINIQUE – Two manuscripts, "Combat Naval du 17 Avril 1780 Position des Armées Avant le combat," and "Combat du 19 May 1780." n.p., c. 1780-1783.
BATTLE OF MARTINIQUE – Two manuscripts, "Combat Naval du 17 Avril 1780 Position des Armées Avant le combat," and "Combat du 19 May 1780." n.p., c. 1780-1783.
BATTLE OF MARTINIQUE – Two manuscripts, "Combat Naval du 17 Avril 1780 Position des Armées Avant le combat," and "Combat du 19 May 1780." n.p., c. 1780-1783.
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PROPERTY OF THE LATE COMTE LOUIS DE CHASTELLUX
BATTLE OF MARTINIQUE – Two manuscripts, "Combat Naval du 17 Avril 1780 Position des Armées Avant le combat," and "Combat du 19 May 1780." n.p., c. 1780-1783.

Details
BATTLE OF MARTINIQUE – Two manuscripts, "Combat Naval du 17 Avril 1780 Position des Armées Avant le combat," and "Combat du 19 May 1780." n.p., c. 1780-1783.

Three pages total, 457 x 292mm, bifolia, blindstamped "ARCHIVES DE CHASTELLUX" on the verso of both bifolia (several dampstains, marginal tears clear of text).

A pair of illustrated period battle charts detailing the action from the Anglo-French battles at Martinique in the Spring of 1780. On 17 April 1780 a Royal Navy fleet under Sir George Rodney challenged a numerically superior French fleet under the command of the Compte de Guichen. Due to missed signals between Rodney and his subordinates, the battle which could have turned out to be a narrow British victory ended in stalemate. After separating and repairing their damaged ships, on 7 May the two fleets began maneuvering once again, attempting to gain advantage. On 15 May, the fleets again engaged, as well on the 19th. Both actions resulted in stalemate, but short on provisions, the French sailed away, and Rodney, in a similar situation, chose not to pursue. The first chart depicts the Battle of Martinique in a series of ten charts, each depicting the opposing lines of battle and their movements (a figure of a child's head blowing indicates the direction of the wind). Ten phases of the battle are shown while a chart at the top offers the names of the ships in the French fleet together with the number of guns on each. The second chart, composed in a similar manner, depicts the final encounter of 19 May 1780. Provenance: François-Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux (1734-1788) – by descent to the consignor.

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