The Action of 25 January 1797 saw Captain Alonso de Torres y Guerra’s 1 Spanish ship-of-the-line defeat Commander Earl George Stewart’s 3 British frigates and 1 sloop.
Torres’ 74-gun San Francisco de Asís was anchored off Cadiz, protecting arriving merchant ships.
Moreover, she had lost her anchor in a storm and was driven into the open ocean.
Stewart was in the area with 3 frigates (32-gun Lively, Meleager & Niger) and 2 sloops (14-gun Fortune & Raven. He had orders to raid enemy shipping.
At dawn, 25 January, Torres was sailing back to Cadiz. He saw Stewart 11 leagues from Cadiz, sailing northeast. He hailed Stewart, believing him friendly. When Stewart failed to respond, Torres alerted his crew. Stewart turned towards him with the frigates and a sloop. He had Torres outgunned and outnumbered. His faster, lighter ships would harry and harass Torres. Torres would either surrender, be destroyed, or be boarded. Spain’s naval gazette recounts the ensuing events:
Siege of Cuidad Rodrigo
“They began to pursue the Asís, confident in their sail advantage and force superiority, since very soon it became known they consisted of 2 40-gun frigates, another 34-gun and a 28-gun corvette. At 1 o’clock, they were in range. The ship Asís affirmed its Spanish flag, already prepared for such unequal combat. The enemies responded by dropping their English flags.
Asís opened fire.
She retreated without intermission until 4 o’clock.
2 frigates alternately flayed her with shrapnel. She fired her 4 stern-chasers, with liveliness and success. From time to time, she luffed to present her side. The frigates couldn’t resist her broadsides, which forced them to halt due to damage & casualties. The frigates broke off at 4 o’clock.
Having consulted with each other, the English commanders returned to combat at 4:30.
They continued until 5 o’clock when they retired. Dusk, in addition the situation of being stuck on the coast between Huelva and Ayamonte, led Torres to turn back. He decided to pass between the enemies, firing on them from both sides. At his approach, they fled, escaping in the dark.”
Torres lost 2 dead, 12 wounded. He took minor damage. Stewart’s casualties aren’t known.
The Spanish claim a frigate lost its foremast. English naval sources don’t mention this battle.
Stewart’s career wasn’t affected. Torres was knighted & inducted into the Order of Alcántara. He received the fief of Corral de Caracuel & an annual income of 15,800 Reales. The Action is one of the few instances of a single ship-of-the-line fighting off multiple attackers.
San Francisco de Asís would be repaired for the Battle of Cape St Vincent.
Action of 25 January 1797 Written by Garrett Anderson
