The 1779 battle
between Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis at Flamborough Head was one where
history and legend entwined to dwarf actions involving
more ships and significant action. This famous battle of
the American Revolution became a symbol for the Americans
– resolute, determined, and willing to press forward
regardless of the odds – and the British – indefatigable
and devoted to duty. Within these pages, Lardas examines
the ships, their captains, and the battle. Even though
Richard Pearson eventually surrendered, he did so only
after he accomplished his mission, protecting a convoy of
merchant ships, and a second enemy warship came to John
Paul Jones’ aid.
There are seven chapters in
this slim volume. “Design and Development” discusses naval
architecture of the 1700s, with pertinent information
about Indiamen in general and Bonhomme
Richard in particular, and two-decker warships in
general and HMS Serapis in particular.
“The Strategic Situation” summarizes the war and events
that impacted this fateful meeting. “Technical
Specifications” examines the structure, armament, and
sails and rigging, while “The Combatants” focuses on the
men, the officers, and the marines. The beginning of each
ship’s cruise, the opening stages of battle, and the
battle itself are covered in “Combat.” “Statistics and
Analysis” looks at who had what advantages and the
difference between what’s on paper and the raw numbers.
The final chapter, “Aftermath and Conclusion,” covers what
happened after the surrender, how it affected other
countries’ decisions in entering the war, and what
happened to the captains and ships following their battle
off the Yorkshire coast.
The book is filled with
illustrations in color and in black and white; each
includes a caption to clearly identify what is shown.
Highlighted diagrams and inserts provide additional
information on the vessels, copper bottoms, great guns,
hand weapons, press gangs, biographies on the captains,
quarterdeck views from both ships, and
Paul Jones the Pyrate. Color maps delineate the vessels’
movement. Also included are a bibliography, an index, and
a chronology of the captains and the ships, which
encapsulates on two pages the high points found within the
book. It begins in 1731 with Pearson’s birth and concludes
in 1806, when he died.
This is a thorough, yet
concise and very readable account of this battle. Lardas
provides a plethora of information without getting bogged
down in complicated, nautical details and language. It’s
an excellent introduction for anyone who wants to know
about this event, and provides readers with sufficient
background knowledge to allow them to read and understand
more in-depth accounts.
Review Copyrighted ©2013
Cindy Vallar
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Pirates
and Privateers
