The Chevalier de Bauffremont appears to have had the strongest practical sea experience of the group, despite his junior place in the formal hierarchy. The senior French group mixed naval status, noble rank, and responsibility for the troops carried by the invasion fleet. Bauffremont's practical ability therefore did not translate into straightforward authority over the operation. Command arrangements for a fleet carrying an army could blur naval and military priorities at the moment clear seagoing judgment was most needed.
Notable Point · 43:47-47:42
French commanders and divided authority
The French command group combined differing levels of sea experience, status, and responsibility for the embarked troops.