The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
The above account of the reduction of Calvi is extracted from the
dispatches of the military commander in chief, and affords a very good
idea of the siege.
Lord Hood, who arrived off Calvi on the 27th of June, where he continued
during the siege, in his dispatches to the Admiralty, writes--"The
Journal I here transmit from Captain Nelson, who had the command of the
seamen, will shew the daily occurrences of the siege; and whose zeal and
exertion I cannot sufficiently express--or, of that of Captain
Hallowell--who took it by turns to command in the advanced battery,
twenty-four hours at a time: and, I flatter myself, they, as well as the
other officers and seamen, will have full justice done them by the
general; it is, therefore, unnecessary for me to say more on the
subject."
What Lieutenant General Stuart did say, respecting Captain Nelson's
wonderful exertions and consummate skill, on this occasion, however,
instead of doing him fuller justice, was sufficiently moderate, and very
concise--"The assistance and co-operation of Captain Nelson, the
activity of Captain Hallowell, and the exertions of the navy, have
greatly contributed to the success of these movements."
Can any person of the smallest discernment, for a moment suppose, that a
mind like that of the heroic Nelson, could feel satisfied by such
indiscriminate and cold approbation as is here expressed? The slightest
glance even of his own modest Journal of the siege, must have convinced
every one, had it been given, as he might expect, to the public, of the
prodigious fatigue and perseverance, at least, which this great man
underwent, if it had not demonstrated the astonishing skill and bravery
which he is so well known to have there most eminently displayed.
An intelligent Corsican, now in England, Mr. Casalonga, perfectly
remembers the general estimation in which Captain Nelson was held
throughout the island, for the various prodigies of valour performed
there during the year 1794; particularly, at the siege of the tower of
Mortella, and the towns of Bastia and Calvi. Respecting this last place,
he observes, an official report was sent to the municipality of Ajaccio,
where himself was a member, that during the siege, which was very
obstinate and dangerous, the place being deemed impregnable, Captain
Nelson ran to every direction; and, in spite of a tremendous fire kept
up by the enemy, he erected his battery in such a position as to throw
shot on the besieged; who, perceiving their works destroyed, and public
and private buildings demolished, were soon panic struck, and sued for
capitulation.
Thus, while Captain Nelson was only considered, at home, as making one
among the many brave officers employed in this service, his
distinguished merits were so attractive in the eyes of foreigners, on
the spot, that they ascribed nearly the whole success to his
transcendent abilities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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