Battle of Trafalgar

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BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR. BY SOUTHEY.

[Our late war with Spain will leave upon record some very remarkable accounts of great naval battles; but the first years of the century were also remarkable for great naval battles, and the editors of this magazine are persuaded that the interest which recent naval events have awakened in that class of warfare, will make intensely interesting the following description of the great naval battle of Trafalgar, which is

here published from Southey's Life of Nelson. To our young men readers, aside from the vivid description of one of the world's great naval battles, and the heroism and humanity of Nelson, it will be interesting to observe the kindredness of spirit manifested in these brave sons of the sea at the commencement of the century, and that same spirit manifested by our own seamen at the close of the century. Our readers will be struck also with the many points of comparison that exist between Nelson's battle at Trafalgar and Dewey's battle at Manila. — Editors.]

Nelson arrived off Cadiz on the 29th of September, 1805 his birthday. Fearing that if the enemy knew his force they might be deterred from venturing to sea, he kept out of sight of land, desired Collingwood to fire no salute and hoist no colors, and wrote to Gibraltar to request that the force of the fleet might not be inserted there in the Gazette. His reception in the Mediterranean fleet was as gratifying as the farewell of his countrymen at Portsmouth:

the officers who came on board to welcome him, forgot his rank as commander in their joy at seeing him again. On the day of his arrival, Villeneuve (commander of French fleet) received orders to put to sea the first opportunity. Villeneuve, however, hesitated

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when he heard that Nelson had resumed the command. He called a council of war, and their determination was that it would not be expedient to leave Cadiz, unless they had reason to believe themselves stronger by one-third than the British forces. In the public measures of the country, secrecy is seldom practicable, and seldom attempted: here, however, by the precautions of Nelson and the wise measures of the Admiralty, the enemy were for once kept in ignorance; for, as the ships appointed to re-enforce the Mediter-

ranean fleet were dispatched singly, as soon as it was ready, their collected number was not stated in the newspapers, and their arrival was not known to the enemy. On the 9th of October, Nelson sent Collingwood what he called, in his diary, the Nelson-touch. "I send you," said he, "my man dare venture to guess at the very plan of attack, as far as a uncertain position the enemy may be found in: but it is to place you perfectly at ease respecting my intentions, and to give full scope to your judgment for carrying them into effect. We can, my dear Coll, have no little jealousies. We have only one great object in view, that of annihilating our enemies, and getting a glorious peace for our country. No man has more confidence in another than I have in you; and no man will render your service more just than your very old friends, Nelson and Bronte." The order of sailing was to be the order of battle; the fleet in two lines, with an advance squadron of eight of the fastest sailing two-deckers. The second in command having the entire direction of his line, was to break through the enemy, about the twelfth ship from their rear; he would lead through the centre, and the advance squadron was to cut off three or four ahead of the centre. This plan was to be adapted to the strength of the enemy, so that they should always be one-fourth superior to those whom they cut off. Nelson said, "that his admirals and captains, knowing this precise object to be that of a close and decisive action, would supply any deficiency of signals, and act accordingly. In case signals cannot be seen or clearly understood, no captain can do wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy." One of the last orders of this admirable man was, that the name and family of every officer, seaman and marine, who might be killed or wounded in the action, should be, as soon as possible, re-

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turned to him, in order to be transmitted to the chairman of the patriotic fund, that the case might be taken into consideration, for the benefit of the sufferer or his family. On the 21st, at daybreak, the combined fleets were distinctly seen from the Victory's decks, formed in a close line of battle ahead, on the starboard tack, about twelve miles to lee-ward, and standing to the south. Our fleet consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line and four large frigates; theirs of twenty-three and seven large frigates. Their superiority was greater in size and weight of metal than in numbers. They had four thousand troops on board; and the best riflemen who could be procured, many of them Tyrolese, were dispersed through the ships. Little did the Tyrolese, and little did the Spaniards, at that day imagine what horrors the

wicked tyrant whom they served was preparing for their country. Soon after daylight Nelson came upon deck. The 21st of October was a festival in his family, because on that day his uncle^ Captain Suckling, in the Dreadnaught, with two other line of battleships, had beaten off a French squadron of four sail of the line and three frigates. Nelson, with that sort of superstition from which few persons are entirely exempt, had more than once expressed his persuasion that this was to be the day of his battle also; and he was well pleased at seeing his prediction about to be verified. The wind was now from the west, light breezes, with a long, heavy swell. Signal was made to bear down upon the enemy in two lines, and the fleet set all sail. Collingwood, in the Royal Sovereign led the lee-line of thirteen ships; the Victory led the weather-line of fourteen. Having seen that all was as it should be. Nelson retired to his cabin and wrote the following prayer:

May the great God whom I worship, grant to ray country and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory; and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet! For myself individually, I commit my life to him that made me; and may his blessings alight on my endeavors to serve my country faithfully! To Him I resign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to be defended. Amen, amen, amen!

Blackwood went on board the Victory about six. He found him in good spirits, but very calm: not in that exhilaration which

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he had felt upon entering the battle at Aboukir and Copenhagen. He knew that his own life would be particularly aimed at, and seems to have looked for death with almost as sure an expectation as for victory. His whole attention was fixed upon the enemy. They tacked to the northward, and formed their line on the larboard-tack; thus bringing the shoals of Trafalgar and St. Pedro under the lee of the. British, and keeping the port of Cadiz open for themselves. This was judiciously done, and Nelson, aware of all the advantages which it gave them, made signal to prepare to anchor. Villeneuve was a skillful seaman, worthy of serving a better master and a better cause. His plan of defense was as well conceived and as original as the plan of attack. He formed the fleet in a double line, every alternate ship being about a cable's length to windward of her second ahead and astern. Nelson, certain of a triumphant issue to the day, asked Blackwood what he should consider as a victory. That officer answered, that, considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy, their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, and the situation of the land, he thought it would be a glorious result if fourteen were captured. Nelson replied, **I shall not be satisfied with less than twenty." Soon afterwards he asked him if he did not think there was a signal wanting. Captain Blackwood made answer that he thought the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about. These words were'scarcely spoken before that signal was made, which will be remembered as long as the language or even the memory of England, shall endure: —Nelson's last signal: "England expects every man to do his duty!" It was received throughout the fleet with a shout of answer-

ing acclamation, made sublime by the spirit which it breathed and the feeling which it expressed. "Now," said Lord Nelson, "I can do no more. We must trust to the great Disposer of all events, and the justice of our cause. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty." He wore that day, as usual, his admiral's frock coat, bearing on the left breast four stars, of the diflFerent orders with which he was invested. Ornaments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark for the enemy were beheld with ominous apprehension by his

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officers. It was known that there were riflemen on board the

French ships, and it could not be doubted but that his life would be particularly aimed at. They communicated their fears to each other; and the surgeon, Mr. Beatty, spoke to the chaplain. Dr. Scott, and to Mr. Scott, the public secretary, desiring that some person would entreat him to change his dress or cover the stars; but they knew that such a request would highly displease him. "In honor I gained them," he said, when such a thing had been hinted to him formerly, "and in honor I will die with them." A long swell was settling into the Bay of Cadiz; our ships crowding all sail, moved majestically before it, with light winds from the south-west. The sun shone on the sails of the enemy; and their well formed line with their numerous three-deckers, made an appearance which any other assailants would have thought formidable; but the British sailors only admired the beauty and the splendor of the spectacle; and, in full confidence of winning what they saw, remarked to each other, 'what a fine sight yonder ships '

would made at Spithead!" The French admiral, from the Bucentaure, beheld the new — manner in which his enemy was advancing Nelson and Collingwood each leading his line; and, pointing them out to his officers, he is said to have exclaimed, that such conduct could not fail to

be successful. Yet Villeneuve had made his own disposition with the utmost skill, and the fleets under his command waited for the attack with perfect coolness. Nelson's column was steered about two points more to the north than CoUingwood's, in order to cut off the enemjr's escape into Cadiz; the lee-line, therefore, was first engaged. "See!" cried Nelson, pointing to the Royal Sovereign as she steered right for the center of the enemy's line, cut through it astern of the Santa Anna, three-decker, and engaged her at the muzzle of her guns on the star-board side; "see how that noble fellow, Collingwood, carries his ship into action." Collingwood, delighted at being the first in the heat of the fire, and knowing the feelings of his commander and old friend, turned to his captain and exclaimed, "Rotherham, what would Nelson give to be here!" The enemy continued to fire a gun at a time at the Victory, till they saw that a shot had passed through her main top gallant-

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sail; then they opened their broadsides, aiming c-hiefly at her rig-

ging in the hope of disabling her before she could close with them. Nelson, as usual, had hoisted several flags, lest one should be shot away. The enemy showed no colors until late in the action, when they began to feel the necessity of having them to strike. For this reason the Santissima Trinidad, Nelson's old acquaintance, as he used to call her, was distinguishable only by her four decks, and to the bow of this opponent he ordered the Victory to be steered. Meantime an incessant raking fire was kept up upon the Victory.. The Admiral's secretary Iwas one of the first who fell; he was killed by a cannon shot while conversing with Hardy. Captain Adair of the marines, with the help of a sailor, endeavored to remove the body from Nelson's sight, who had a great regard for Mr. Scott; but he anxiously asked: "Is that poor Scott that's gone?" and being informed that it was indeed so, exclaimed, "Poor fellow!" Presently a double-headed shot struck a party of marines, who were drawn up on the poop and killed eight of them, upon which Nelson immediately desired Captain Adair to disperse his men round the ship, that they might not suffer so much from being together. A few minutes afterwards a shot struck the fore-brace bits on the quarter deck, and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle and bruising his foot. Both stopped and looked anxiously at each other, each supposing the other to be wounded. Nelson then smiled and said, "This is too warm work. Hardy, to last long." The Victory had not yet returned a single gun; fifty of her men had by this time been killed or wounded, and her main-top mast, with all her studding sails and their booms, shot away. Nelson declared, that in all his battles he had seen nothing which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on this occasion. At four minutes after twelve she opened her fire from both sides of her deck. It was impossible to break the enemy's line without running on board one of her ships. Hardy informed him of this and asked him which he would prefer. Nelson replied: "Take your choice, Hardy, it does not signify much." The master was ordered to put the helm to port, and the Victory ran on board the Redoubtable, just as her tiller-ropes were shot away. The French ship received her with a broadside; then instantly let down her lower-

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deck ports for fear of being boarded through them, and never afterwards fired a great gun during the action. Her tops, like

those of all the enemy's ships, were filled with riflemen. Nelson never placed musketry in his tops; he had a strong dislike to the practice, not merely because it endangers setting fire to the sails, but also because it is a murderous sort of warfare, by which individuals may suffer, and a commander now and then picked off, though it never can decide the fate of a general engagement. Captain Harvey, in the Temeraire, fell on board the Redoubtable on the other side. Another enemy was in like manner on board the Temeraire so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads lying all the same way. The lieutenants of the Victory seeing this, depressed their guns of the middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished charge, lest the shot would pass through and injure the Temeraire. And because there was danger that the Redoubtable might take fire from the lower deck guns, the muzzles of which touched her side when they were run out, the fireman of each gun stood ready with a bucket of water, which, as soon as the gun was discharged, he dashed into the hole made by the shot. An incessant fire was kept up from the Victory, from both sides; her larboard guns playing upon the Bueentaure and the huge Santissima Trinidad. It had been part of Nelson's prayer that the British fleet

might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing upon the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck, because her great guns were silent; for as she carried no flag, there was no means of instantly ascertaining the fact. From this ship which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top, which, in the then situation of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing, struck the epaulette on his left shoulder, about quarter after one, just in the heat of action. He fell upon his face on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood. Hardy, who was a few steps from him, turning round saw three men raising him up. "They have done for me at last. Hardy!" said he.

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"I hope not!" cried Hardy. "Yes!" he replied, " my backbone is shot through." Yet even now, not for a moment losing his presence of mind, he observed, as they were carrying him down the ladder, that the tiller-ropes which had been shot away, were not yet replaced, and ordered that new ones should be drove immediately; then, that he might not be seen by the crew, he took out his hankerchief and covered his face and his stars. Had he but concealed these badges of honor from the enemy, England perhaps would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar. The cockpit was crowded with wounded and dying men, over whose bodies he was with difficulty conveyed, and laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's birth. It was soon perceived upon examination, that the wound was mortal. This, however, was concealed from all except Captain Hardy, the chaplain and the medical attendants.

He himself being certain, from the sensation in his back and the gush of blood he felt momently within his breast, that no human care could avail him, insisted that the surgeon should leave him and attend to those to whom he might be useful. "For," said he, " you can do nothing for me." All that could be done was to fan him with paper and frequently give him lemonade, to alleviate his intense thirst. He was in great pain and expressed much anxiety for the event of the action, which now began to declare itself. As often as a ship struck the crew of the Victory hurrahed, and at every hurrah, a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eye and marked the countenance of the dying hero. But he became impatient to see Captain Hardy; and as that officer, though often sent for, could not leave the deck. Nelson feared some fatal cause prevented him, and repeatedly cried, "Will no one bring Hardy to me? He must be killed! He is surely dead!" An hour and ten minutes elapsed from the time when Nelson received his wound before Hardy could come to him. They shook hands in silence. Hardy in vain struggling to suppress the feelings of that most painful and yet sublimest moment. "Well, Hardy," said Nelson, "how goes the day with us?" "Very well," replied Hardy, "ten ships have struck, but five of the van have tacked, and show an intention to bear down upon

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the Victory. I have called two or three of our fresh ships around, and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing." "I hope," said Nelson, "none of our ships have struck?" Hardy answered, "there is no fear of that." Then, and not till then. Nelson spoke of himself. "I am a dead man. Hardy," said he, "I am going fast; it will be all over with me soon. Come nearer to me. Let my dear Lady Hamilton have my hair and all other things belonging to me." Hardy observed that he hoped Mr. Beatty could yet hold out some prospect of life. "Oh no," he replied, "it is impossible; my back is shot through; Beatty will tell you so." Captain Hardy then once more shook hands with him, and with a heart almost bursting, hastened upon deck. By this time all feeling below the breast was gone, and Nelson, having made the surgeon ascertain this, said to him, "you know I am gone. I know it; I feel something rising in my breast," putting his hand on his left side, "which tells me so." And upon Beatty's inquiry whether his pain was very great, he replied that it was so great that he wished he was dead. "Yet," said he in a lower voice, "one would like to live a little longer, too." And after a few minutes, in the same undertone, he added: "What would become of poor Lady Hamilton if she knew of my situation?" Next to his country she occupied his thoughts. Captain Hardy, some fifteen minutes after he left the cockpit, returned, and again taking the hand of his dying friend and commander, congratulated him on having gained a complete victory. How many of the enemy were taken, he did not know, as it was impossible to perceive them distinctly, but fourteen or fifteen at least. "That's well," cried Nelson, "but I bargained for twenty." And then in a stronger voice, he said, "Anchor, Hardy, anchor." Hardy, upon this, hinted that Admiral Collingwood would take upon himself the direction of affair. "Not while I live. Hardy," said the dying Nelson, ineffectually endeavoring to raise himself from the bed. "Do you anchor." His previous order for preparing to anchor had shown how clearly he foresaw the necessity of this. Presently, calling Hardy back,

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he said to him in a low voice, "Don't throw me overboard;" and he desired that he might be buried by his parents unless it should please the king to order otherwise. Then reverting to private feeling: "Take care of my dear Lady Hamilton, Hardy; take care of poor Lady Hamilton, — kiss me. Hardy," said he. Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek, and Nelson said, "now I am satisfied.

Thank God, I have done my duty." Hardy stood over him in silence for a moment or two, then knelt again and kissed his forehead. "Who is that?" said Nelson," and being informed, he replied^ "God bless you. Hardy." And Hardy then left him forever. — Nelson now desired to be turned upon his right side, and said^ "I wish I had not left the deck, for I shall soon be gone." Death was indeed rapidly approaching. He said to the chaplain, "Doctor, I have not been a great sinner;" and after a short pause: "Remember that I leave Lady Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country." His articulation now became difficult; but he was distinctly heard to say, "thank God, I have done my duty!"^ These words he repeatedly pronounced, and they were the last words which he uttered. He expired at thirty minutes after four —three hours and a quarter after he had received his wound. Within a quarter of an hour after Nelson was wounded, above fifty of the Victory's men fell by [the enemies' musketry. They, however, on their part were not idle; and it was not long before there were only two Frenchmen left alive on the mizzen-top of the Redoubtable. One of them was the man who had given the fatal wound, he did not live to boast of what he had done. An old quartermaster had seen him fire, and easily recognized him, because he wore a glazed cocked hat and a white frock. This quartermaster and two midshipmen, Mr. Collingwood and Mr. Pollard, were the only persons left in the Victory's poop; the two midshipmen kept firing at the top, and he supplied them cartridges. One of the Frenchmen, attempting to make his escape down the rigging, was shot by Mr. Pollard and fell on the poop. But the old quartermaster as he cried out, "that's he, that's he," and pointed at the other, who was coming forward to fire again, received a shot in his mouth and fell dead. Both of the midshipmen then fired at the same time, and the fellow dropped in the top. When

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they took possession of the prize, they went into the mizzen-top and found him dead, with one ball through his head and another through his breast. The Redoubtable struck within twenty minutes after the fatal fihot had been fired from her. During that time she had been — twice on fire, in her forechains and in her forcastle. The French, as they had done in other battles, made use in this, of fire-balls — and other combustibles, implements of destruction which other nations, from a sense of honor and humanity, have laid aside, which add to the sufferings of the wounded, without determining the issue of the combat; which none but the cruel would employ, and which never can be successful against the brave. Once they succeeded in setting fire, from the Redoubtable to some ropes and canvass on the Victory's booms. The cry ran through the ship and reached the cockpit, but even this dreadful cry produced no confusion; the men displayed that perfect self-possession in danger by which English seamen are characterized; they extinguished the flames on board their own ship, and then hastened to extinguish them in the enemy, by throwing buckets of water from the gang-way. The Spaniards began the battle with less vivacity than their unworthy allies, but they continued it with greater firmness. The Argonauta and Bahama were defended until they each lost about four hundred men: the San Juan Nepomuceno lost three hundred and fifty. Often as the superiority of British courage has been proved against France upon the seas, it was never more conspicuous than in this decisive conflict. Five of our ships were engaged, muzzle to muzzle, with five of the French. In all five the Frenchmen lowered their lower-deck ports and deserted their guns; while our men continued deliberately to load and fire, till

they had made the victory sure. Once, amid his sufferings, Nelson had expressed a wish that he were dead; but immediately the spirit subdued the pains of death, and he wished to live a little longer, — doubtless that he might hear the completion of the victory which he had seen so gloriously begun. — — That consolation that joy that triumph, was afforded him. He lived to know that the victory was decisive; and the last guns which were fired at the flying enemy were heard

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a minute or two before he expired. The ships which were thus flyingwere four of the enemy's van, all French, under Rear- Admiral Dumanoir. They had borne no part in the action; and now when they were seeking safety in flight, they fired not only into the Victory and Royal 'Sovereign as they passed, but poured their broadsides into the Spanish captured ships; and they were seen to back their top-sail, for the purpose of firing with more precision. The indignation of the Spaniards at this detestable cruelty from their allies, for whom they had fought so bravely, and so profusely bled, may well be conceived. It was such, that when, two days after the action, seven of the ships which had escaped into Cadiz came out, in hopes of retaking some of the disabled prizes, the prisoners in the Argonauta, in a body, offered their service to the British prize master, to man the guns against any of the French ships, saying, that if a Spanish ship came along side, they would quietly go below; but they requested that they

might be allowed to fight the French, in resentment for the murderous usage which they had suffered at their hands. Such was their earnestness and such the implicit confidence which could be placed in Spanish honor, that the offer was accepted, and they were actually stationed at the lower-deck guns. Dumanoir and his squadron were not more fortunate than the fleet from whose destruction they fled: they fell in with Sir Richard Strachan, who^ was cruising for the Rochefort squadron, and were all taken. The total British loss in the battle of Trafalgar amounted to one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven. Twenty of the enemy struck; —unhappily the fleet did not anchor, as Nelson, almost with his dying breath, had enjoined; a gale came on from the south-west; some of the prizes went down, some on shore; one effected its escape into Cadiz; others were destroyed; four only were saved, and those by the greatest exertions. The wounded Spaniards were sent ashore, an assurance being given that they would not serve till regularly exchanged; and the Spaniards, with a generous feeling, which would not, perhaps, have been found in any other people, offered the use of their hospitals for our wounded, pledging the honor of Spain that they should be carefully attended there. When the storm, after the action drove some of the prizes upon the coast, they declared that the English.

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who were thus thrown into their hands, should not be considered as prisoners of war; and the Spanish soldiers gave up their own beds to their shipwrecked enemies. The Spanish Vice-Admiral, Alva, died of his wounds. Villeneuve was sent to England, and permitted to return to France. The French government say that he destroyed himself on the way to Paris, dreading the consequences of a court martial. It is almost superfluous to add, that all the honors which a grateful country could bestow, were heaped upon the memory of Nelson. His brother was made an Earl, with a grant of six thousand pounds a year; —ten thousand pounds were voted to each of his sisters, and one hundred thousand pounds for the purchase of an estate. A public funeral was decreed, and a public monument. Statues and monuments also were voted by most of our principal cities. The leaden coffin in which he was brought home was cut in pieces, which were distributed as relics of Saint Nelson —so the gunner of the Victory called them; and when at his interment, his flag was about to be lowered into the grave, the sailors who assisted at the ceremony, with one accord rent it in pieces, that each might preserve a fragment while he lived. The death of Nelson was felt in England as something more than a public calamity: men started at the intelligence and turned pale, as if they had heard of the loss of a dear friend. An object of our admiration and affection, of our pride and of our hopes, was suddenly taken from us: and it seemed as if we had never till then known how deeply we loved and reverenced him. What the country had lost in its great naval hero —the greatest of our own and of all former times, was scarcely taken into the account of grief. So perfectly indeed had he performed his part, that the maritime war, after the battle of Trafalgar, was considered at an end the fleets of the enemy were not merely defeated, but ;

destroyed; new navies must be built and a new race of seamen reared for them before the possibility of them invading our shores could again be contemplated. It was not, therefore, from any selfish reflection upon the magnitude of our loss that we mourned for him: the general sorrow was of a higher character. The people of England grieved that funeral ceremonies, and public monuments, and posthumus rewards, were all which they could now