The Croisière de Bruix (also known as Bruix's expedition of 1799) was a French naval campaign of the War of the Second Coalition. Planned and commanded by Vice-admiral Étienne Eustache Bruix, the operation was an attempt to restore French control of the Mediterranean Sea, lost at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798. Taking command of the French Atlantic Fleet based at Brest, Bruix mustered one of the largest and best trained French fleets to take to sea during the war. Brest was under close blockade by the British Channel Fleet, but Bruix arranged for misleading intelligence regarding an impending invasion of Ireland to fall into British hands, which drew the blockade fleet under Lord Bridport away to the north.Clowes, p. 381 On 25 April 1799 the French fleet of 25 ships of the line sailed into the Atlantic unopposed, sighted the following day by the frigate HMS Nymphe. Reports reached Bridport soon afterwards, but he remained on station off Ireland, anticipating a French attack.James, p. 256
With his route clear, Bruix sailed southwest. On 30 April the fleet passed the Spanish naval base of Ferrol, anticipating a union with the Spanish squadron stationed there, but the Spanish had already sailed and the two forces missed one another.James, p. 268 The first British opposition to Bruix advance came on 4 May, when he found the British Mediterranean fleet under Vice-Admiral Lord Keith arrayed between his force and the principal Spanish fleet base of Cádiz. This prevented the Spanish and French fleets from joining together, Bruix instead taking advantage of the prevailing winds to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar unopposed.Mostert, p. 346 Keith set off in pursuit, gathering his forces off Mahón on Menorca while the French fleet made for Toulon and the main Spanish fleet, which had followed the French and British through the Straits, reached Cartagena.James, p. 261 As Bruix resupplied and convoyed reinforcements to the embattled French armies in Northern Italy, Keith remained on station off Cartagena. His operation was hindered by a confused command structure: Keith was only acting commander of the Mediterranean Fleet while Earl St Vincent remained on shore at Gibraltar and Mahón, with only such brief sojourns with the fleet as his failing health permitted.Clowes, p. 384 Keith and St. Vincent issued contradictory orders throughout the campaign, Keith intent on pursuing the French while St. Vincent was preoccupied with the threat from the Spanish.James, p. 266 This problem was compounded by the behaviour of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, commander in the Eastern Mediterranean and subordinate to Keith and St. Vincent. Nelson, embroiled in the complex politics of the Kingdom of Naples and increasingly under the influence of his lover Emma, Lady Hamilton, repeatedly refused direct orders to participate in the campaign.Mostert, p. 356
In early June Keith's fleet investigated Toulon but found the French absent, although a French frigate squadron was intercepted and captured off the port. Turning west, Keith sailed to Genoa but again found that the French had departed ahead of the British, Bruix successfully uniting with the Spanish off Cartagena on 22 June and sailing on 24 June with a fleet of more than 40 ships of the line; at the time the largest naval force in the world.James, p. 265 Turning southwest, the combined fleet sailed through the Straits of Gibraltar on 7 July intending to return to Brest. Keith remained off Menorca for sometime, resupplying his ships and repeatedly ordering Nelson to take over protection of the island base, orders which Nelson completely disregarded.Adkins, p. 61 Keith's fleet was joined during this period by reinforcements sent from the Channel Fleet under Sir Charles Cotton and Cuthbert Collingwood, but it did not follow the allies through the Straits until 29 July, 22 days behind Bruix.James, p. 267 For the next two weeks, Keith chased the Bruix northwards towards the French coast, the British fleet gaining on the French day by day, arriving off Brest on 14 August to discover that Bruix and the combined fleet had arrived safely in the harbour only the day before.Woodman, p. 120
Although Bruix did manage to affect the union of the main French and Spanish battle fleets, the campaign was inconclusive. The strategic situation in European waters remained unchanged; by mid-August 1799 the Royal Navy still controlled the Mediterranean unopposed, free to plan and implement the seizure of French territories in the region without impediment.Rodger, p. 463 In Northern European waters the huge allied fleet at Brest presented a considerable threat but remained under blockade by the Channel Fleet. With the exception of a series of fruitless expeditions in 1801 there were no further major French or Spanish operations at sea before the Peace of Amiens brought the war to a temporary close in 1801.Gardiner, p. 99
Allied fleets French Atlantic Fleet Ship Rate Guns Commander Notes Océan First rate 120 Vice-amiral Étienne Eustache BruixCaptain Alain-Adélaïde-Marie de Bruillac With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Invincible First rate 110 Commodore Louis Lhéritier With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Terrible First rate 110 Commodore Yves Haouen With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Républicain First rate 110 Captain Charles Berrenger With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Indomptable Third rate 80 Captain Chambon With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Formidable Third rate 80 Commodore Pierre-Julien Thréouart With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Jemmapes Third rate 74 Captain Julien Cosmao With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Mont Blanc Third rate 74 Captain Esprit-Tranquille Maistral With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Tyrannicide Third rate 74 Captain Zacharie Allemand With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Batave Third rate 74 Captain François Henri Eugène Daugier With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Constitution Third rate 74 Captain Julien Le Ray With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Duquesne Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Maurice-Julien Quérangal With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Fougueux Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Marie Bescont With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Zélé Third rate 74 Captain Dufoy With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Redoutable Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Augustin Moncousu With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Wattignies Third rate 74 Captain Antoine Louis de Gourdon With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Tourville Third rate 74 Captain Jean-Baptiste Henry With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Cisalpin Third rate 74 Captain Mathieu-Charles Bergevin With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Jean Bart Third rate 74 Captain François-Jacques Meynne With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Gaulois Third rate 74 Captain Gabriel Siméon With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Convention Third rate 74 Captain Charles-Hélène Le Bozec Delayed leaving Brest, joined the fleet on 26 April. Remained during campaign until 13 August. Révolution Third rate 74 Captain Pierre-Nicolas Rolland With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Jean-Jacques Rousseau Third rate 74 Captain Julien-Gabriel Bigot de la Robillardière With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Dix-Août Third rate 74 Captain Jacques Bergeret With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Censeur Third rate 74 Captain Antoine-Jean-Baptiste Faye With the fleet 25 April. Detached to Cádiz on 4 May in sinking condition. Exchanged on 12 July for Spanish ship San Sebastian but never sailed again. Alliance Third rate 74 Captain Antoine-Jean-Baptiste Faye Former Spanish ship San Sebastian exchanged for unseaworthy Censeur at Cádiz on 12 June. Romaine Fifth rate 44 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Créole Fifth rate 40 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Bravoure Fifth rate 40 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Cocarde Fifth rate 36 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Fraternité Fifth rate 36 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Fidèle Fifth rate 32 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August. Armed en flute Berceau Corvette 20 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Tactique Corvette 20 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Biche Aviso 8 With the fleet 25 April – 13 August Découverte Aviso 8 With the fleet 25 April – 13 AugustDuring the campaign several contre-amirals accompanied the fleet but did not have designated flagships, moving as required. They were , Jacques Bedout, Jean-François Courand, Alain-Joseph Dordelin and Charles Linois. Two ships of the line were damaged in a collision around 12 June and remained at Toulon for repairs, rejoining the fleet on 9 July, but they are not named in the sources.Sources: James, pp. 254–268; Quintin Spanish Fleet Ship Rate Guns Commander Notes Conception First rate 112 Teniente-General José de MazzaredoBrigadier Antonio de EscañoCapitán With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Mexicano First rate 112 Jefe de escuadra Domingo de NavaCapitán José Gardoqui With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May, four men killed. Detached at Cádiz on 21 July. Santa Ana First rate 112 Teniente-General Domingo GrandallanaBrigadier Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Detached at Cádiz on 21 July after badly damaged in grounding. Conde de Regla First rate 112 Jefe de escuadra Brigadier José de Escaño With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Principe de Asturias First rate 112 Teniente-General Federico GravinaBrigadier Juan Vicente Yañez With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Reina Luisa First rate 112 Joined Spanish fleet at Cartagena after 17 May under command of Domingo de Nava. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Neptuno Third rate 80 Jefe de escuadra Capitán Bernardo Muñoz With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Bahama Third rate 74 Capitán José Aramburu With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Conquistador Third rate 74 Capitán Cosme Churruca With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Oriente Third rate 74 Brigadier Nicolás Estrada With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Detached at Cartagena and crew transferred to Guerrero. Guerrero Third rate 74 With the Spanish fleet after 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Infante don Pelayo Third rate 74 Capitán Cayetano Valdés With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. San Francisco de Asis Third rate 74 Brigadier José de Goicoechea With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. San Francisco de Paulo Third rate 74 Capitán Agustín Figueroa With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. San Joaquin Third rate 74 Capitán Marcelo Espínola With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. San Pablo Third rate 74 Brigadier Luis Vallabriga With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. San Telmo Third rate 74 Capitán Juan José Martínez With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Soberano Third rate 74 Capitán Rafael Villavicencio With the Spanish fleet 14 May. Badly damaged in storm on 17 May. Reached Brest with combined fleet 13 August. Atocha Frigate 40 Capitán Ignacio Olaeta Perla Frigate 34 Capitán Francisco Moyuna Carmen Frigate 34 Capitán Manuel Bustillos Santa Matilde Frigate 40 Capitán José González Detached at Cartagena, 17 May. Vigilante Brig 12 Teniente José de Córdoba Descubridor Brig 12 Teniente Juan Coronado Vivo Brig 12 Teniente Juan DeslobesSources: James, pp. 254–268; Férnandez Duro, pp. 188–190
Royal Navy