Introduction
This is simply an introduction to the Battle of
Trafalgar in the words of the surviving Second
in Command of the British fleet - Vice Admiral
Collingwood - and recorded in what is now the
London Gazette. The images are from the
Trafalgar section of Volume V of "The Royal
Navy: A History" by Wm. Laird Clowes published
in 1900.
HMS Victory at her moorings in Portsmouth Harbour,
1828
Admiral Nelson's weather column, at the top,
approaches the combined French-Spanish fleet as
Admiral Collingwood's lee column goes into action. Note:
the order of the British ships differs from those
in Admiral Collingwood's despatch.
Position of HMS Temeraire at about 3 P.M. at which
time "many of the Enemy's Ships having struck their
Colours ......"
HMS Defence and her prize, the San Ildefenso on the
morning of Oct 22nd, 1805. Cadiz, Rota, and wrecked
prizes in the distance
Admiral the Rt Hon William,
Earl of Northesk |
|
|
|
Recorded
in The Gazette (London Gazette), issue
15858, November 6, 1805
Admiralty Office,
November 6, 1805
DISPATCHES, of which the following are Copies, were
received at the Admiralty this Day, at One o'Clock
A. M. from Vice-Admiral Collingwood, Commander in
Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels off Cadiz:
Euryalus, off Cape
Trafalgar
October 22, 1805.
SIR,
THE ever to be lamented Death of Vice-Admiral Lord
Viscount Nelson, who, in the late Conflict with the
Enemy, fell in the Hour of Victory, leaves to me the
Duty of informing my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, that on the 19th Instant, it was
communicated to the Commander in Chief from the
Ships watching the Motions of the Enemy, in Cadiz,
that the Combined Fleet had put to Sea; as they
sailed with light Winds westerly, his Lordship
concluded their Destination was the Mediterranean,
and immediately made all Sail for the Straights' (of
Gibraltar) Entrance, with the British
Squadron, consisting of Twenty-seven Ships, Three of
them Sixty fours, where his Lordship was informed by
Captain Blackwood, (whose Vigilance in watching, and
giving Notice of the Enemy's Movements, has been
highly meritorious) that they had not yet passed the
Streights.
On Monday the 21st Instant, at Daylight, when Cape
Trafalgar bore E. by S. about Seven Leagues, the
Enemy was discovered Six or Seven Miles to the
Eastward, the Wind about West, and very light, the
Commander in Chief immediately made the Signal for
the Fleet to bear up in Two Columns, as they are
formed in order of sailing; a Mode of Attack his
Lordship had previously directed, to avoid the
Inconvenience and Delay in forming a Line of Battle
in the usual Manner. The Enemy's Line consisted of
Thirty-three Ships (of which Eighteen were French
and Fifteen Spanish), commanded In Chief by Admiral
Villeneuve; the Spaniards, under the Direction of
Gravina, wore, with their Heads to the Northward,
and formed their Line of Battle with great Closeness
and Correctness; but as the Mode of Attack was
unusual, so the Structure of their Line was new - it
formed a Crescent convexing to Leeward - so that, in
leading down to their Centre, I had both their Van,
and Rear, abaft the Beam; before the Fire opened,
every alternate Ship was about a Cable's Length to
Windward of her Second ahead and astern, forming a
Kind of double Line, and appeared, when on their
Beam, to leave a very little Interval between them;
and this without crowding their Ships. Admiral
Villeneuve was in the Bucentaure in the Centre, and
the Prince of Asturias bore Gravina's Flag in the
Rear; but the French and Spanish Ships were mixed
without any apparent Regard to Order of national
Squadron.
As the Mode of our Attack had been previously
determined on, and communicated to the
Flag-Officers, and Captains, few Signals were
necessary, and none Were made, except to direct
close Order as the Lines bore down.
The Commander in Chief in the Victory led the
Weather Column, and the Royal Sovereign, which bore
my Flag, the Lee.
The Action began at Twelve o'Clock, by the leading
Ships of the Columns breaking through the Enemy's
Line, the Commander in Chief (Nelson)
about the Tenth Ship from the Van, the Second in
Command (Collingwood)
about the Twelfth from the Rear, leaving
the Van of the Enemy unoccupied; the succeeding
Ships breaking through, in all Parts, astern of
their Leaders, and engaging the Enemy at the Muzzles
of their Guns; the Conflict was severe; the
Enemy's Ships were fought with a Gallantry highly
honorable to their Officers; but the Attack on them
was irresistible, and it pleased the Almighty
Disposer of all Events to grant His Majesty's Arms a
complete and glorious Victory; about Three P.M. many
of the Enemy's Ships having struck their Colours,
their Line gave way; Admiral Gravina, with Ten Ships
joining their Frigates to Leeward, stood towards
Cadiz. The Five headmost Ships in their Van tacked;
and standing to the Southward, to Windward of the
British Line, were engaged, and the Sternmost of
them taken; the others went off, leaving to His
Majesty's Squadron Nineteen Ships of the Line (of
which Two are First Rates, the Santissima Trinidad
and the Santa Anna,) with Three Flag Officers, viz.
Admiral Villeneuve, the Commander in Chief, Don
Ignatio Maria D'Aliva, Vice-Admiral, and the Spanish
Rear-Admiral Don Baltazar Hidalgo Cisneros.
After such a Victory it may appear unnecessary to
enter into Encomiums on the particular Parts taken
by the several Commanders; the Conclusion says more
on the Subject than I have Language to express; the
Spirit which animated all was the same; when all
exert themselves zealously in their Country's
Service, all deserve that their high Merits should
stand recorded; and never was high Merit more
conspicuous than in the Battle I have described.
The Achille (a French 74), after having surrendered,
by some Mismanagement of the. Frenchmen took Fire
and blew up; Two hundred of her Men were saved by
the Tenders.
A Circumstance occurred during the Action, which so
strongly marks the invincible Spirit of British
Seamen, when engaging the Enemies of their Country,
that I cannot resist the Pleasure I have in making
it known to their Lordships; the Temeraire (pictured
left) was boarded by Accident, or Design,
by a French Ship on one Side, and a Spaniard on the
other; the Contest was vigorous, but in the End, the
combined Ensigns were torn from the Poop, and the
British hoisted in their Places.
Such a Battle could not be fought without sustaining
a great Loss of Men. I have not only to lament, in
common with the British Navy, and the British
Nation, in the Fall of the Commander in Chief, the
Loss of a Hero, whose Name will be immortal, and his
Memory ever dear to his Country; but my Heart is
rent with the most poignant Grief for the Death of a
Friend, to whom, by many Years Intimacy, and a
perfect Knowledge of the Virtues of his Mind, which
inspired Ideas superior to the common Race of Men, I
was bound by the strongest Ties of Affection; a
Grief to which even the glorious Occasion in which
he fell, does not bring the Consolation which
perhaps it ought; his Lordship received a Musket
Ball in his Left Breast, about the Middle of the
Action, and sent an Officer to me immediately with
his last Farewell; and soon after expired.
I have also to lament the Loss of those excellent
Officers Captains Duff of the Mars, and Cooke of the
Bellerophon; I have yet heard of none others.
I fear the Numbers that have fallen will be found
very great when the Returns come to me; but it
having blown a Gale of Wind ever since the Action, I
have not yet had it in my Power to collect any
Reports from the Ships.
The Royal Sovereign having lost her Masts, except
the tottering Foremast, I called the Euryalus to me,
while the Action continued, which Ship lying within
Hail, made my Signals, a Service Captain Blackwood
performed with great Attention. After the Action, I
shifted my Flag to her, that I might more easily
communicate my Orders to, and collect the Ships, and
towed the Royal Sovereign out to Seaward. The whole
Fleet were now in a very perilous Situation, many
dismasted; all battered in Thirteen Fathom Water,
off the Shoals of Trafalgar; and when I made the
Signal to prepare to anchor, few of the Ships had an
Anchor to let go, their Cables being shot; but the
same good providence which aided us through such a
Day preferred us in the Night, by the Wind shifting
a few Points, and drifting the Ships off the Land,
except Four of the captured dismasted Ships, which
are now at Anchor off Trafalgar, and I hope will
ride safe until those Gales are over.
Having thus detailed the Proceedings of the Fleet on
this Occasion, 1 beg to congratulate their Lordships
on a Victory which, I hope, will add a Ray to the
Glory of His Majesty's Crown, and be attended with
public Benefit to our Country.
I am, &c.
(Signed) C. COLLINGWOOD.
William Marsden, Esq.
The Order in which
the Ships of the British Squadron attacked the
Combined Fleets, on the 21st of October, 1805:
VAN. Victory. Temeraire. Neptune. Conqueror.
Leviathan. Ajax, Orion. Agamemnon, Minotaur,
Spartiate, Britannia. Africa.
Euryalus. Sirius. Phoebe. Naiad (frigates).
Pickle Schooner. E'ntreprenante Cutter.
REAR. Royal Sovereign, Mars. Belleisle. Tonnant.
Bellerophon. Colossus, Achille. Polyphemus.
Revenge. Swiftsure. Defence. Thunderer. Defiance.
Prince. Dreadnought.
Note: the order of the British ships differs
from those in Clowes illustration (upper left)
(Signed) C.
COLLINGWOOD.
GENERAL ORDER.
Euryalus, October 22, 1805
THE ever to be lamented Death of Lord Viscount
Nelson, Duke of Bronte, the Commander in Chief, who
fell in the Action of the Twenty-first, in the Arms
of Victory, covered with Glory, whose Memory will be
ever dear to the British Navy, and the British
Nation, whose Zeal for the Honor of his King, and
for the Interests of his Country, will be ever held
up as a shining Example for a British Seaman, leaves
to me a Duty to return my Thanks to the Right
Honorable Rear-Admiral, the Captains, Officers,
Seamen, and Detachments of Royal Marines serving oh
board His Majesty's Squadron now under my Command,
for their Conduct on that Day; but where can I find
Language to express my Sentiments of the Valour and
Skill which were displayed by the Officer's, the
Seamen, and Marines in the Battle with the Enemy,
where every Individual appeared an Hero, on who the
Glory of his Country depended; the Attack was
irresistible, and the Issue of it adds to the Page
of Naval Annals a brilliant Instance of what Britons
can do, when their King and their Country need their
Service.
To the Right Honorable Rear Admiral the Earl of
Northesk (pictured
left), to the Captains, Officers, and
Seamen, and to the Officers, Non-commissioned
Officers, and Privates of the Royal Marines, I beg
to give my sincere and hearty Thanks for their
highly meritorious Conduct, both in the Action, and
in their Zeal and Activity in bringing the captured
Ships out from the perilous Situation in which they
were, after their Surrender, among the Shoals of
Trafalgar, in boisterous Weather.
And I desire that the respective Captains will be
pleased to communicate to the Officers, Seamen, and
Royal Marines this public Testimony of my high
Approbation of their Conduct, and my Thanks for it.
(Signed) C.
COLLINGWOOD.
To the Right Honorable Rear-Admiral the Earl of
Northesk and the respective Captains and Commanders.
GENERAL ORDER.
THE Almighty God, whose Arm is Strength, having of
his great Mercy been pleased to crown the Exertion
of His Majesty's Fleet with Success, in giving them
a complete Victory over their Enemies, on 21st of
this Month; and that all Praise and Thanksgiving may
be offered up to the Throne of Grace for the great
Benefits to our Country and to Mankind.
I have thought proper, that as Day should be
appointed, of general Humiliation before God, and
Thanksgiving for this his merciful Goodness,
imploring Forgiveness of Sins, a Continuation of his
Divine Mercy, and his constant Aid to us, in the
Defence of our Country's Liberties and Laws, without
which the utmost Efforts of Man are nought, and
direct therefore that be appointed for this holy
Purpose.
Given on board the
Euryalus, off Cape Trafalgar,
22d Oct. 1805.
(Signed) C.
COLLINGWOOD.
To the respective Captains and Commanders.
N. B. The Fleet having been dispersed by a Gale of
Wind, no Day has yet been able to be appointed for
the above Purpose.
Euryalus, off
Cadiz, Oct. 24, 1805.
SIR,
IN my Letter of the 22d I detailed to you, for the
Information of my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, the Proceedings of His Majesty's Squadron
on the Day of the Action, and that preceding it,
since which I have had a continued Series of
Misfortunes, but they are of a Kind that human
Prudence could not possibly provide against, or my
Skill prevent.
On the 22d in the Morning, a strong southerly Wind
blew, with squally Weather, which however did not
prevent the Activity of the Officers and Seamen of
such Ships as were manageable from getting hold of
many of the Prizes (Thirteen or Fourteen), and
towing them off to the Westward, where I ordered
them to rendezvous round the Royal Sovereign, in Tow
by the Neptune: but on the 23d, the Gale increased,
and the Sea ran so high, that many of them broke the
Tow Rope, and drifted far to Leeward, before they
were got hold of again, and some of them taking
Advantage in the dark and boisterous Night, got
before the Wind, and have perhaps drifted upon the
Shore and sunk; on the Afternoon of that Day the
Remnant of the Combined Fleet, Ten Sail of Ships,
who had not been much engaged, stood up to Leeward
of my shattered and straggled Charge, as if meaning
to attack them, which obliged me to collect a Force
out of the least injured Ships, and form to Leeward
for their Defence; all this retarded the Progress of
the Hulks, and the bad Weather continuing,
determined me to destroy all the Leeward most that
could be cleared of the Men, considering that
keeping Possession of the Ships was a Matter of
little Consequence compared with the Chance of their
falling again into the Hands of the Enemy; but even
this was an arduous Task in the high Sea which was
running.
I hope, however, it has been accomplished to a
considerable Extent; I entrusted it to skilful
Officers, who would spare no Pains to execute what
was possible. The Captains of the Prince and Neptune
cleared the Trinidad and sunk her. Captain Hope,
Bayntun and Malcolm, who joined the Fleet this
Moment from Gibraltar, had the Charge of destroying
four others. The Redoubtable sunk astern of the
Swiftsure while in Tow. The Santa Anna, I have no
doubt, is sunk, as her Side was almost entirely beat
in; and such is the shattered Condition of the Whole
of them, that unless the Weather moderates, I doubt
whether I shall be able to carry a Ship of them into
Port. I hope their Lordships will approve of what I
(having only in consideration the Destruction of the
Enemy's Fleet) have thought a Measure of absolute
Necessity.
I have taken Admiral Villeneuve into this Ship;
Vice-Admiral Don Aliva is dead. Whenever the Temper
of the Weather will permit, and I can spare a
Frigate (for there were only Four in the Action with
the Fleet, Euryalus, Sirius, Phoebe, and Naiad ; the
Melpomene joined the 22d, and the Eurydice and Scout
the 23d) I shall collect the other Flag-Officers,
and send them to England with their Flags, if they
do not go to the Bottom), to be laid at His
Majesty's Feet.
There were Four Thousand Troops embarked, under the
Command of General Coutamin, who was taken with
Admiral Villeneuve in the Bucentaure.
I am, Sir, &c.
(Signed) C. COLLINGWOOD.
|