GEORGE BOWEN, Esq
Admiral of the White
This officer is of a respectable Welsh family. He attained the rank of Post-Captain, Feb. 14, 1781, and commanded the Montagu, of 74 guns, in the partial action between Rear-Admiral Graves and the Count de Grasse, off the Chesapeake, Sept. 5, in the same year[1].
The Montagu afterwards accompanied the squadron under Sir Samuel Hood to the West Indies, and Captain Bowen was present at all that officer’s brilliant achievements on the Leeward Island station, an account of which will be found under the head of Retired Captain John N. Inglefield. He also shared the glories of the memorable 12th April, 1782, when the British fleet under Rodney, defeated that of France commanded by de Grasse, who it will be remembered was
- ↑ Rear-Admiral Graves sailed from Sandy Hook, Aug. 31, 1781, and on the 5th of the following month discovered the enemy’s fleet at anchor off Lynnhaven Bay, just within Cape Henry, extending across the entrance of the Chesapeake. The Count de Grasse no sooner perceived the British fleet, than he got under sail and stood to sea, forming his line of battle, as the ships drew from under the land.
The British force amounted only to nineteen sail of the line, that of the French to twenty-four; so that the enemy had a superiority of no less than five line-of-battle ships. It was past four P.M. before Rear-Admiral Graves edged away and brought them to action, which was even then by no means general; the van and part of the centre being the only ships engaged. Towards sunset, the French van bore away to get more in a line with their centre, for its support; and soon after their whole fleet put before the wind, when the firing ceased. The loss sustained by the British on this occasion, consisted of 90 men killed and 246 wounded; among the latter was Captain Mark Robinson, who lost a leg.
The rival fleets continued for five days in sight of each other, repairing their damages and manoeuvring, until the Count de Grasse had obtained his object by covering the arrival of M. de Barras, with his squadron and charge from Rhode Island; when be retired with his fleet to the Chesapeake, and anchored across that river, so as to block up the passage. Upon which Rear-Admiral Graves followed the resolutions of a Council of War, and returned to New York.
