English Report of Trafalgar (2)
From
The Hampshire Chronicle
Admiral
Villeneuve was in the Bucentaure in the centre, and the
Prince of Asturias bore Gravina's flag in the rear; but
the French and Spanish ships were mixed without any apparent
regard to order of national squadron. As the mode of our
attack had been previously determined on, and communicated
to the Flag Officers and Captains, few signals were necessary,
and none were made, except to direct close order as the
lines bore down.
The
Commander in Chief in the Victory led the weather column,
and the Royal Sovereign, which bore my flag, the lee.
The
action began at twelve o'clock, by the leading ships of
the columns breaking through the enemy's line, the Commander
in Chief about the tenth ship from the van, the Second in
Command about the twelfth from the rear, leaving the van
of the enemy unoccupied; the succeeding ships breaking through,
in all parts, astern of their leaders, and engaging the
enemy at the muzzles of their guns:-the conflict was severe;
the enemy's ships were fought with a gallantry highly honourble
to their officers, but the attack on them was irresistable,
and it pleased the Almighty Disposer of all Events, to grant
his Majesty's arms a complete and glorious victory.
About
three P.M. many of the enemy's ships having struck their
colours, their line gave way:- Admiral Gravina, with ten
ships, joining their frigates to leeward, stood towards
Cadiz. The five headmost ships in their van tacked, and
standing to the southward, to windward, of the British line,
were engaged, and the sternmost of them taken:-the others
went off, leaving to his Majesty's squadron, nineteen ships
of the line, (of which two are first-rates, the Santissima
Trinidad and the Santa Anna) with three Flag Officers, viz.
Admiral
Villeneuve, the Commander in Chief, Don Ignatio Maria D'Aliva,
Vice Admiral, and the Spanish Rear Admiral Don Baltazar
Hidalgo Cisneros.
After
such a victory it may appear unnecessary to enter into encomiums
on the particular parts taken by the several Commanders;
the conclusion says more on the subject than I have language
to express; the spirit which animated all was the same;
when all exerted themselves zealously in their country's
service, all deserve that their high merits should stand
recorded; and never was high merit more conspicuous than
in the battle I have described.
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