A Short History of H.M.S. VictoryWharton, W. J. L. (William James Lloyd)
History
A Short History of H.M.S. Victory
Wharton, W. J. L. (William James Lloyd)
Great Britain -- History, Naval; Victory (Ship)
The actual number of prizes taken by 5 p.m., on October 21st, were 19;
so that Nelson's desired number was nearly made up; but from their
disabled condition, they were nearly all wrested from us by the gales
that succeeded the battle. Lord Nelson had doubtless foreseen this,
and thence his wish to anchor, and as a matter of fact, most of those
few ships and prizes that did anchor, rode the gale out in safety and
were saved; but the majority of the vessels were either anchorless, or
in such deep water that they could not with convenience anchor.
The "VICTORY'S" trophy, the _Redoutable_, was one of those that sunk
after the action in deep water, and in her, as in many of the other
vessels lost, went down her prize crew of British seamen. The English
fleet were in nearly as disabled a state as their prizes, as might be
expected after such a battle, and it is a matter of wonder that some
of them were not lost on the treacherous shoal that swallowed up so
many of the captured ships.
The enemy's fleet of 33 sail was disposed of as follows:
Taken into Gibraltar 4 }
Burnt by the English 3 } 19 lost to
Sunk by the English 3 } the enemy.
Wrecked during the gale 9 }
Struck, but afterwards got into Cadiz
crippled 2 }
Escaped into Cadiz damaged 4 }
Escaped into Cadiz perfect 4 } 14 saved to
Escaped to the South, but captured by } the enemy.
Sir R. Strachan on the 4th Nov., }
and taken into Plymouth 4 }
On the 22nd, the day after the battle, the breeze was fresh from the
S.S.W., and it was all the ships could do to increase their distance
from the shore, such as were manageable towing those that were totally
dismasted. On the 23rd it blew a gale, and then the misfortunes of the
victors commenced; the hawsers of many of the ships towing parted, and
the English vessels had too much to do to save themselves and one
another, to attempt to get hold of the prizes again, so they drifted
helplessly away, two to be blown safe into Cadiz, but seven to meet an
awful end amongst the breakers of that shallow coast. Five others were
burnt and sunk to ensure their not falling into the enemy's hands
again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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