Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord NelsonBeatty, William
History
Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson
Beatty, William
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805 -- Death and burial
From the time of HIS LORDSHIP'S being wounded till his death, a period
of about two hours and forty-five minutes elapsed; but a knowledge of
the decisive victory which was gained, he acquired of Captain HARDY
within the first hour-and-a-quarter of this period. A partial cannonade,
however, was still maintained, in consequence of the Enemy's running
ships passing the British at different points; and the last distant
guns which were fired at their van ships that were making off, were
heard a minute or two before His LORDSHIP expired.
A steady and continued fire was kept up by the Victory's starboard guns
on the Redoutable, for about fifteen minutes after Lord NELSON was
wounded; in which short period Captain ADAIR and about eighteen Seamen
and Marines were killed, and Lieutenant BLIGH, Mr. PALMER Midshipman,
and twenty Seamen and Marines, wounded, by the Enemy's musketry alone.
The Redoutable had been on fire twice, in her fore-chains and on her
forecastle: she had likewise succeeded in throwing a few hand-grenades
into the Victory, which set fire to some ropes and canvas on the booms.
The cry of "Fire!" was now circulated throughout the ship, and even
reached the cockpit, without producing the degree of sensation which
might be expected on such an awful occasion: the crew soon extinguished
the fire on the booms, and then immediately turned their attention to
that on board the Enemy; which they likewise put out by throwing buckets
of water from the gangway into the Enemy's chains and forecastle, thus
furnishing another admirable instance of deliberate intrepidity. At
thirty minutes past one o'clock, the Redoutable's musketry having
ceased, and her colours being struck, the Victory's men endeavoured to
get on board her: but this was found impracticable; for though the two
ships were still in contact, yet the top-sides or upper-works of both
fell in so much on their upper decks, that there was a great space
(perhaps fourteen feet or more) between their gangways; and the Enemy's
ports being down, she could not be boarded from the Victory's lower nor
middle deck. Several Seamen volunteered their services to Lieutenant
QUILLIAM, to jump overboard, swim under the Redoutable's bows, and
endeavour to get up there; but Captain HARDY refused to permit this. The
prize however, and the Victory, fell off from each other; and their
separation was believed to be the effect of the concussion produced by
the Victory's fire, assisted by the helm of the latter being put to
starboard.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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