directed by Lord Nelson, in consequence of her heavy rate of sailing, constantly to take a position to windward of him; and, on the morning of the glorious 21st Oct. 1805, he ordered by signal, that she should assume a station as most convenient, without regard to the order of battle; and after-
British fleet had devolved, found it necessary to form a line, in order to cover his disabled ships and the prizes; a heavy gale, however, prevented a renewal of the action; the Spanish Admiral’s ship was dismasted, and he again put into port, leaving in possession of his adversaries a twentieth ship, El Rayo, of 100 guns.
Such an action could not fail of being bloody even to the victors, who lost in killed and wounded 1563 men, besides the host which fell in the single person of their gallant commander. Of the loss sustained by the enemy no return was published; but it may in some measure be judged of, from the facts of two of the prizes, both 74’s, having 400 men killed and wounded in each, and another of the same force, 350. From the tempestuous weather that ensued, only four of the captured vessels could be preserved; of the rest, nine were wrecked (many with their whole crews on board), two burned, and three sunk; among the latter was the Santissima Trinidada, of 140 guns, the largest and finest ship of war ever built. The Santa Anna and another, which had been taken, being driven near the shore of Cadiz, procured such assistance as enabled them to get in. On board the former was the Spanish Vice-Admiral D’Aliva, who had been suffered to remain on account of his dangerous wounds; but his sword had been surrendered by his Captain, and he was reclaimed as a prisoner of war.
Notwithstanding the disasters which attended the prizes, the destruction of the combined fleets was as complete as could be expected under the circumstances of fighting them close to their own shore; had the battle been in the open sea, still fewer would have escaped. As it was, only three of the nine which got into Cadiz, were in a repairable state for a length of time; the others being mere wrecks; and it may be observed that the battle of Trafalgar left to Great Britain the dominion of the sea, with the example of the life and death of Nelson for its preservation.
It is almost superfluous to add, that all the honours which a grateful country could bestow, were heaped upon the memory of the hero. His brother was created an Earl, with a grant of 6,000l. a year; 10,000l. were voted to each of his sisters; and 100,000l. for the purchase of an estate. A public funeral was decreed, and a public monument. Statues aud monuments also were voted by most of our principal cities. His gallant successor, Vice-Admiral Collingwood, was raised to the peerage; gold medals were distributed to the Captains, as on former occasions; and a grand promotion was ordered to commemorate his glorious triumph.
By the following lists will be seen the loss sustained by each British ship, and the manner in which those of France and Spain were disposed of:
