Action of 31 May 1809: Caroline captures an East India Company convoy

Background. In November 1808, a French squadron under Commodore Jacques Hamelin sailed to Isle de France to disrupt British trade. Their strategy involved using fast, well-armed frigates to capture merchant ships. The East India Company operated heavily armed convoys carrying valuable goods from India and the Far East. Following the hurricane season, Hamelin ordered his ships to operate in the Bay of Bengal in late spring 1809.

The Convoy. The British convoy, consisting of three East Indiamen, had departed the Hooghly River on 2 May 1809. Under the command of John Dale in the Streatham, the ships initially mistook the approaching French frigate for a missing vessel. It took half an hour for Dale to realize the danger. The convoy was carrying goods worth over £500,000, making it a significant target for French commerce raiders.

The Engagement. The three East Indiamen fought back with their own cannon batteries but were ultimately defeated one by one due to being less powerful, less maneuverable, and less trained than the French frigate. Only the smallest ship escaped. Casualties included six killed and four wounded on the British side, while the French lost one killed and three wounded. This action was the first in a series of French attacks on convoys in the region.