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
[10] His LORDSHIP in a few minutes after this called Lieutenant PASCO, Mr.
OGILVIE, and some other Officers, near him, and desired them to set their
watches by the time of that which His LORDSHIP wore.
[11] The Enemy's fire continued to be pointed so high throughout the
engagement, that the Victory did not lose a man on her lower deck; and had
only two wounded on that deck, and these by musket-bulls.
[12] The reader may judge of the Surgeon's feelings at this momentous
period, when informed that that excellent young Officer Mr. RAM was one of
his dearest friends.
[13] The instance here alluded to occurred in the month of July, in the
Victory's return to Europe from the West Indies; and the man survived the
injury thirteen days. HIS LORDSHIP, during the whole of that time,
manifested much anxiety at the protracted sufferings of an individual whose
dissolution was certain, and was expected every hour.
[14] CAPTAIN HARDY deemed it his duty to give this information to Admiral
COLLINGWOOD as soon as the fate of the day was decided; but thinking that
HIS LORDSHIP might feel some repugnance to this communication, he left
directions for Lieutenant HILLS to be detained on deck at his return, till
he himself (Captain HARDY) should come up from the cockpit. Lieutenant
HILLS was dispatched on this mission from the Victory, at the very time
when the Enemy's van ships that had tacked were passing her to windward and
firing at her.
[15] Meaning that in case of HIS LORDSHIP'S surviving till all resistance
on the part of the Enemy had ceased, Captain HARDY was then to anchor the
British Fleet and the prizes, if it should be found practicable.
[16] Alluding to some wishes previously expressed by HIS LORDSHIP to
Captain HARDY respecting the place of his interment.
[17] IT must occur to the reader, that from the nature of the scene passing
in the cockpit, and the noise of the guns, the whole of His LORDSHIP'S
expressions could not be borne in mind, nor even distinctly heard, by the
different persons attending him. The most interesting parts are here
detailed.
[18] Immediately after HIS LORDSHIP expired, Captain HARDY went on board
the Royal Sovereign, to communicate the melancholy event, and the nature of
HIS LORDSHIP'S last orders, to Admiral COLLINGWOOD.
[19] The Redoutable lay alongside and still foul of the Temeraire for some
time after this, and till several Seamen were sent from the latter to the
assistance of the two Officers and men belonging to the Victory who had
before taken possession of the prize.
[20] These were the ships commanded by Admiral DUMANNOIR, and afterwards
captured by the squadron under the command of Sir RICHARD STRACHAN. They
were nearly half an hour in passing to windward, during the whole of which
time they continued firing on the British ships.
[21] About twenty of the Redoutable's guns were dismounted in the action.
Those on that side of her lower deck opposed to the Victory, were all
dismounted except five or six.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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