Fight of the French brig Cygne against a British boat party, 12th December 1808, by Auguste Étienne François Mayer (1805–1890)
Arriving near Martinique, Cygne under the command of Lieutenant Menouvrier Defresne was chased by the frigate HMS Circe ( Captain Augustin Collier), the corvette Stork ( Commander George Le Geyt), the brigs HMS Morne Fortunee ( Captain John Brown), Amaranthe (Captain Pelham Brenton), Epervier (Captain Thomas Tudor) and the schooner Express ( Captain William Dowers). On 12 December 1808, Cygne passed the Northern cape of Martinique; seeing that he would be overhauled by the British squadron before reaching Saint-Pierre, Menouvrier Defresne decided to drop anchor under a shore battery at Anse Céron.
Two of the British brigs then dropped anchor in positions that cut Cygne′s retreat to Saint-Pierre, while the other ships launched boats to attempt a cutting out boarding. Cygne sank three before they reached her. Circe approached with her crew ready for boarding, but was repelled by a grapeshot broadside, while the surviving boats reached Cygne′s stern; the British party was repelled and 17 men were taken as prisoner.
The next day, Cygne found herself becalmed; Defresne attempted to move his ship by having her hauled from the shore by infantrymen and by using her oars, and progressed towards Saint-Pierre, under fire from Amaranthe. But due to a navigation error, Cygne ran aground and started taking water. As the other British ships closed within range, Defresne ordered Cygne abandoned and scuttled by fire.
Defresne was offered a sword of honour by the city of Saint-Pierre for his defence. As a token of esteem, Brenton gifted him a sword belt, and Lieutenant Hay, Brentons first, a dagger.
