ABSTRACT
In mid-October Stratford advised Dundas that the long wait at Besika would soon end. 1 The orders of the 20th arrived aboard Britannia at 15.00 on the 21st. Although the squadrons would enter the Straits, only two sail and four steamers from each were required in the Bosphorus ‘for the present’. The senior Captain, Lushington, Albion was detailed to take Vengeance, Sampson, Retribution and Niger to join Wasp and attend the Ambassador’s requisitions. 2 While waiting three hours for the necessary firman, the wind shifted to the north-west, preventing an early start. The battleships were finally towed out at 03.00 on the 22nd, followed by Rear-Admiral de Tinian, Gomer with Henri IV, Jupiter and two more steamers. The remaining ships departed under tow soon after daybreak, making for anchorages in the Dardanelles. As they approached the Straits the NNE wind increased to gale force and the ships anchored off the European castles, although Napoleon towed Ville de Paris up to Lampsaki. 3 The British ships remained at anchor until daybreak on the 29th, when Britannia and Vengeance, towed by Furious and Inflexible, made for English Bay. The others followed under sail, but anchored after Arethusa and Rodney grounded. The following day Retribution towed Vengeance up to the Bosphorus, and the other ships assembled at English Bay. Dundas boarded Furious and pressed on to interview Stratford, leaving Captain Graham in command. Shortly after passing the French off Gallipoli Furious ran aground, forcing Dundas to shift into Tiger. He arrived off Therapia early on 1 November, hours before the advanced squadron, and Hamelin.
