ship took a distinguished share in achieving the victory. Previously to that memorable event, the Britannia had been
drew up in form of a crescent, and waited for the British fleet, which bore down in a double column, the great commander’s last telegraphic signal being, “England expects every man will do his duty” and nobly indeed was it performed on this memorable day, the battle of Trafalgar being without parallel in the annals of British victory.
The dreadful conflict was begun about noon by Vice-Admiral Collingwood, in the Royal Sovereign, breaking through the enemy’s line, at about the twelfth ship from the rear, in so gallant a manner as to excite general admiration; Lord Nelson at the same time made his way about the tenth ship from the van; the succeeding ships breaking through in all parts a-stern of their leaders, and engaging the enemy at the muzzles of their guns. The attack was irresistible, and its effect decisive. In the midst of this bloody conflict, Lord Nelson was seen on the quarter-deck of the Victory, dressed in full uniform, decorated with the various orders with which his former services had been rewarded, as well by his own sovereign, as by foreign princes. The glitter of these honours fatally pointed him out as a mark for the vengeance of the enemy; he was shewing his satisfaction with the progress of the battle by his customary token of a rapid movement up and down of the stump of his right arm, when a musket-ball, discharged by a marksman on the poop of the Bucentaure, the French Admiral’s flag ship, entered his left shoulder, and producing an immediate paralysis of the lower parts, laid him prostrate. Fully aware of the nature of his wound, his Lordship declared it to be mortal, and sent an officer with his last farewell to his second in command. He then suffered himself to be carried below, where, whilst he lived, he constantly demanded news of the battle, and expressed the most lively satisfaction on being assured that it went on well. Soon after this accident, l’Achille, a French 74, which had struck her colours, took fire and blew up; but about 200 of her men were saved through the generous exertions of the British.
About three P.M., the Spanish Admiral Gravina, with ten sail of the line, some of which had struck, joining the frigates to leeward, bore up for Cadiz; five of the headmost ships in the van, under Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, a few minutes afterwards, tacked and stood to the southward; but the sternmost was intercepted by the British, and the others were subsequently taken by a squadron under the orders of Captain, now Admiral, Sir Richard John Strachan.
At 4h 40’ all firing had ceased; and the British remained in possession of nineteen ships of the line, of which two were first rates, and none under 74 guns; with three flag-officers, namely, Admirals Villeneuve, D’Aliva, and Cisneros. General Contamin, who commanded the land forces embarked in the combined fleets, was also taken prisoner.
On the return of Admiral Gravina to Cadiz, he was immediately ordered to sea; and Vice-Admiral Collingwood, on whom the command of the
