Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie

British map depicting the locations of Forts Mercer, Mifflin, Red Bank, the positions of the grounded Augusta and Merlin and other vessels

Reynolds was the commander aboard HMS Augusta, a ship of the line bearing 64 guns, which was part of the advance British fleet[lower-alpha 1] in the effort to reach Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War. John Hazelwood, Commodore of the Pennsylvania Navy and Continental Navy, planned for the defence of the Delaware River approach to Philadelphia during the Siege of Fort Mifflin, which lasted approximately three weeks.[11]

On 12 October 1777, General Howe[lower-alpha 2] issued orders to capture the two newly constructed American forts, Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer, which were preventing a British naval attempt to resupply British troops occupying Philadelphia by way of the Delaware River. The British shore batteries established on the Pennsylvania side of the river opened fire on Fort Mifflin, while Colonel Carl von Donop, in command of some 2000 Hessian mercenary soldiers landed on the New Jersey shore and attacked Fort Mercer. At this time the British fleets were advancing up river to lend support to von Donop by bombarding both Forts Mercer and Mifflin. As von Donop's men assaulted Fort Mercer, Reynolds' advanced Delaware River squadron proceeded up river via the eastern or main channel with the intention of bombarding Fort Mifflin. At the same time Reynolds' fleet were to engage the American galleys harboring off Red Bank in order to draw them away from supporting the Hessian attack on Fort Mercer, however, there was no way for Reynolds' fleet and von Donop's land forces to communicate and coordinate their efforts, which proved ineffectual.[12][13][lower-alpha 3]

Hazelwood's fleet immediately engaged Reynolds' fleet, forcing him to withdraw down river. With the river tidewater now receding, Reynolds' ship, along with HMS Merlin grounded and stuck fast in a sand bar during an effort to go around the obstacles placed in the river, leaving the Augusta tilted at its starboard side. While being engaged by Hazelwood's fleet Reynolds had the crew remove stores of supplies in an effort to lighten its load and free the vessel, but the attempt was futile as more time was needed[15] as a fire broke out below deck and quickly spread, forcing Reynolds and his crew to abandon ship. Shortly thereafter, just past noon, before all of the crew could escape, the fire reached the powder magazine and the Augusta exploded, killing some of the crew members.[16][17][lower-alpha 4] The Augusta blew up with such great force it was heard 30 miles (48 km) away in Trappe, Pennsylvania.[18][3][lower-alpha 5] Before leaving the scene, Reynolds had the Merlin set fire to prevent its capture by the Americans. The loss of the Augusta was unexpected and unsettling to the British commanders. After destroying the Merlin Reynolds retreated to the New Jersey shore to a road just south of Billingsport.[19]

Accounts of the explosion vary between the belligerents and among the commanding officer and crew. During their testimony at the inquiry Reynolds or none of the crew could say what actually caused the fire. No one could recall anything that would cause such a fire to break out on the decks or below. Only Midshipman Reid speculated that the fire originated from the cannon wads. Admiral Howe seemed to accept this explanation as very likely when he entered in his diary, "…by some Accident, no other way connected with the circumstances of the action but as it was probably caused by the Wads from her guns, the ship took fire abaft…"[12][20] Naval historian James Fennimore Cooper, in his History of the Navy of the United States, maintains that the Augusta had her stores of supplies lightened before embarking on her mission and that the fire originated in some pressed hay which had been packed into the hull to render the vessel more resistant to shot. American accounts generally maintain that it was the American fire rafts that caused the fire.[18][20][21][22]

Aftermath

Record of any preparation for coordination of the land attack with naval support between Reynolds and von Donop are inconclusive. There was no possible way for the two distant commanders to communicate with each other during the siege. From the beginning it seemed that Reynolds had no way of knowing at what time von Donop would commence his assault. As nightfall approached it would have been reasonable for Reynolds to assume that von Donop's attack might not begin until the next morning.[18]

At his court-martial a month later, on 26 November, presided over by Captain George Ourry aboard HMS Somerset off Billingsport, Captain Reynolds testified, "…I thought it my duty to comply with Admiral Richard Howe's instructions in giving every Assistance to the Hessians: I immediately hoisted the Topsails and sent an Officer to each of the other ships acquainting the Captains that my intention was to go as near the upper Cheveaux de frize as possible, in order to draw the fire of the Galleys from the Hessians, and I desired they would do the same, which they complied with…" Reynolds was acquitted of all charges attributable to the loss of Augusta. Shortly thereafter Reynolds returned to England aboard the transport Dutton,[lower-alpha 6] entrusted with dispatches from Vice-Admiral Lord Howe.[5] Given the delayed activity of the ships' progress trying to bypass the river obstacles by Billingsport, the order to proceed up river, when it finally came, while anticipated, still caught the squadron somewhat unprepared.[12]

Reynolds' next command was over HMS Jupiter, bearing 50 guns, to which he was appointed in July 1778, shortly after her keel laying and completion. Jupiter departed from Portsmouth on 28 August to sail for Elsinore with the Saint Petersburg convoy. On 20 October, cruising off Cape Finisterre, sailing with the frigate HMS Medea, commanded by Captain James Montagu, Reynolds took to chase after the French Triton, a ship of the line bearing 64 guns, commanded by the Comte de Ligondés, initially thinking that she was an East Indiaman before ascertaining her real identity. After a five-hour afternoon chase a ferocious battle commenced in stormy weather at about 6 p.m. Within thirty minutes the Medea, engaging the Triton on her lee quarter while the Jupiter attacked from her windward side, was forced out of the action. Thereafter the difficulty of fighting in the darkness near the shore prevented Reynolds from concluding what he assumed would be a likely victory. During the two-hour engagement the Triton suffered casualties of thirteen men killed and thirty wounded, including her commander who had been obliged to leave the deck, while the Jupiter's casualties included three men killed and eleven wounded. The Triton put into A Coruña to make repairs while the two British vessels made for Lisbon to attend to their own repairs.[5][9]

On 20 September 1780, Reynolds assumed command of HMS Monarch, a ship of the line bearing 74 guns and sailed with Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood's reinforcements headed for the West Indies in late October. He was present at the Capture of Saint Eustatius on 3 February 1781, and was chosen by Admiral George Rodney to depart with the Monarch, HMS Panther and HMS Sybil, and pursue the Dutch frigate Mars.[23] On 4 February Reynolds engaged Mars, forcing her to strike her colours and surrender. During the action the senior officer, Rear-Admiral Willem Krull, was killed. On 29 April, serving under Admiral Hood, Reynolds, still in command of Monarch, was present at the Battle of Fort Royal.[5]

As commander of HMS Monarch, part of the fleet under commander Thomas Graves, Reynolds fought at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781.[24] On 26 January 1782, Reynolds, commander of HMS Monarch, was present at the Battle of Saint Kitts.[9] On 12 April 1782, still in command of the Monarch, serving under Admiral Sir George Rodney, Reynolds participated at the Battle of the Saintes.[25][26]

On 1 April 1779, Reynolds departed Portsmouth with Jupiter and within a few hours came upon and assisted the British sloop HMS Delight, bearing 14 guns, commanded by Admiral John Leigh Douglas, while he was in the process of capturing the French privateer Jean Bart. Reynolds took custody of the prize and carried her into Plymouth so that the sloop could proceed on her Admiralty orders, and he then left the Devonshire port on 4 April to sail in the Bay of Biscay and observe the activities of the French fleet.[5][27]

Reynolds was commissioned captain of a company in the Gloucestershire Regiment of Volunteers, on 22 August 1803.[1][28]