According
to the newspaper l’Etoile died rear admiral Hamelin caused by heavy
fevers. He commanded in 1799 la Naturaliste as part of the expedition of
captain Baudin.
A
letter from Cadiz reported that in the night of 29-30 August the flotilla of
San Petri seized two vessels loaded with oxen and grain. Rear admiral baron des
Rotours send three prizes towards Rota.
Puerto
Santa Maria, 30 August. French troops captured the village Trocadero and the
area between the fortress Matagorda and Saint Louis en even some gun chaloupes
that failed to escape. The intention was now to bombard the Spanish flotilla
with ‘hot shot’ to force her to enter the harbour of Caraques while since
Trocadero was captured this was last remaining shelter place. There was a
possibility that they would join the French ships while the sailors were unpaid
and unfamiliar with the government of the cortes. When this flotilla was
disabled there were no longer a large number of [Spanish] gun chaloupes
guarding the coasts of Cadiz making a French landing much more easier. A French
division of the squadron was stationed off the South point of Cadiz to prevent
the supply of African grain to Cadiz.
