"What a situation am I placed in! as yet, I can learn nothing of
the enemy; therefore, I have no conjecture, but that they are gone
to Syria; and, at Cyprus, I hope to hear of them. If they were gone
to the westward, I rely that every place in Sicily would have
information for me; for, it is too important news to leave me one
moment in doubt about. I have no frigate, or a sign of one. The
masts, yards, &c. for the Vanguard, will I hope be prepared
directly: for, should the French be so strongly secured in port
that I cannot get at them, I shall immediately shift my flag into
some other ship, and send the Vanguard to Naples, to be refitted;
for, hardly any person but myself would have continued on service
so long in such a wretched state."
The following letter of complaint, calculated to blind the Neapolitan
government, as well as the French resident, is a masterpiece of
requisite political duplicity, fabricated at the very instant when he
was receiving every possible assistance.
"Vanguard,
Syracuse, 22d July 1798.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I have had so much said about the King of Naples's orders only to
admit three or four of the ships of our fleet into his ports, that
I am astonished. I understood, that private orders, at least, would
have been given for our free admission. If we are to be refused
supplies, pray send me, by many vessels, an account; that I may, in
good time, take the king's fleet to Gibraltar. Our treatment is
scandalous for a great nation to put up with, and the king's flag
is insulted at every friendly port we look at. I am, with the
greatest respect, your most obedient servant,
Horatio Nelson.
P.S. I do not complain of the want of attention in individuals,
for all classes of people are remarkably attentive to us."
"His Excellency, the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, K.B."
A secret epistle, at the same time, addressed to Sir William and Lady
Hamilton, has these words--
"MY DEAR FRIENDS,
"Thanks to your exertions, we have victualled and watered: and,
surely, watering at the Fountain of Arethusa, we must have victory!
We shall sail with the first breeze; and, be assured, I will return
either crowned with laurel, or covered with cypress."
Though no person in the fleet was acquainted with the harbour of
Syracuse, such was the skill and exertion of the officers that every
ship got safely in: and, full permission having been secured, by the
admirable management and address of Lady Hamilton, not only water, but
other articles of the first necessity, were obtained with the greatest
expedition. Indeed, though there was no proper or regular water-place,
the classical Fountain of Arethusa, that celebrated daughter of Oceanus,
and nymph of the Goddess of Chastity, supplied them copiously with her
pure and traditionally propitious libations; and the hero, it has been
seen, did not fail to anticipate, with becoming gratulations, his sense
of their indisputable efficacy. Such were the exertions of the officers
and men, and such were the facilities, in other respects, which they now
enjoyed, that the whole squadron were in a condition to put to sea by
the 25th.
In the mean time, Admiral Nelson had addressed a letter to the Earl of
St. Vincent, on the 20th instant, stating what he had done since his
last, and his future intentions. "Yesterday," says he, "I arrived here;
where I can learn no more than conjecture, that the French are gone to
the eastward. Every moment, I have to regret the frigates having left
me; to which must be attributed my ignorance of the movements of the
enemy. Your lordship deprived yourself of frigates, to make mine,
certainly, the first squadron in the world; and I feel that I have zeal
and activity to do credit to your appointment: and yet, to be
unsuccessful, hurts me most sensibly. But, if they are above water, I
will find them out; and, if possible, bring them to battle. You have
done your part, in giving me so fine a fleet; and I hope to do mine, in
making use of them. It is my intention to get into the mouth of the
Archipelago; where, if the enemy are gone towards Constantinople, we
shall hear of them directly: if I get no information there, to go to
Cyprus; where, if they are in Syria or Egypt, I must hear of them. We
have a report that, on the 1st of July, the French were seen off Candia;
but, near what part of the island I cannot learn."
Being now ready for sea, and finding that the French fleet had neither
been seen in the Archipelago, nor the Adriatic, nor gone down the
Mediterranean, he concluded that the coast of Egypt must still be the
object of their destination. With this impression on his anxious mind,
it is not to be supposed that he would for a moment hesitate in again
seeking them there, through any consideration of the immoderate heat of
climate, or other experienced or apprehended hardships.
On the 25th of July, accordingly, the British squadron sailed from
Syracuse; and, hoping some positive information might be obtained in the
Morea, he steered first for that coast: having, on the 28th, made the
Gulph of Coron, Captain Troubridge was dispatched with the Culloden,
into the port of Coron; off which place, owing to the usual active
exertion of that able officer, the fleet was not detained longer than
three hours. The Turkish governor, with great pleasure, gave Captain
Troubridge the welcome intelligence, that the enemy had been seen
steering to the south-east, from Candia, about four weeks before. The
captain had, also, during his very short visit, the satisfaction of
observing that the inhabitants of Coron entertained the most serious
apprehensions from the French armament, and expressed the greatest
possible detestation and abhorrence of that people.
The reasons now became evident, which had before seemed unaccountable,
how it happened that the enemy should have been missed by the British
squadron, both in it's passage to Alexandria, and in it's return to
Syracuse. The French, having steered a direct course for Candia, had
necessarily made an angular passage towards Alexandria; while Admiral
Nelson, by immediately proceeding to Alexandria, most materially
shortened the distance. The smallness of his squadron, too, making it
expedient to sail in close order, the space which it occupied was
extremely limited; and, having no frigates to detach on the look out,
the chance of descrying the enemy, unless very near, amid the haze of
the atmosphere in that climate, was prodigiously circumscribed. Under
these circumstances, the distance of about thirty-five leagues, between
Candia and the Barbary coast, must be considered as leaving more than
sufficient space for two of the largest fleets ever known mutually to
pass without the smallest observation of one another. In returning to
Syracuse, the British squadron, by steering up to the northward, while
the enemy kept a southern coast for Alexandria, had the chance of
falling in with them rendered still less likely than before.
Pleased with the information which they had received, though still
unable implicitly to rely on the fact, after such repeated
disappointments, not a moment was lost in carrying all possible sail for
Alexandria.
On the 1st of August, at noon, they had the happiness to descry the port
of Alexandria; with an aspect, however, far different from what it had
before presented to their disappointed view. They perceived, with
delight, that it now appeared filled with ships; and had, soon, the
undescribable transport to behold the French flag flying on board
several of them. A tumult of joy animated every bosom in the British
squadron, at sight of the enemy. The humblest individual felt himself a
hero; and had a great right so to feel, since every individual was
eagerly prepared to risque his life for the safety and glory of his king
and country. The brave admiral was calm, but no mortal can convey to
another the sense of ineffable delight which glowed in every fibre of
his frame. The bliss of his bosom, at this impressive moment, was that
of extatic perfection; for, it admitted not the smallest doubt of
success. His calmness was the result of his piety; for his noble heart
was pouring forth to Heaven the sacred effusions of gratitude,
anticipatory of the glorious conquest which he was about to prove the
honoured medium of atchieving. This perfection of bliss is felt but by a
few favoured mortals, and with none will it consent to abide. That it
was, for a moment, felt by the immortal Nelson, when he first beheld the
French fleet, a due consideration of his entire character, so powerfully
presses on the mind of his biographer, that he cannot resist the
temptation to tender it as an assumed fact.
In a narrative, formed from the minutes of an officer of rank, reported
to be the present Sir Edward Berry, then captain of the Vanguard, first
published in the Naval Chronicle, it is observed, that the pleasure
which the admiral himself felt was perhaps more heightened than that of
any other man, as he had now a certainty by which he could regulate his
future operations. "The admiral had," continues this narrative, and, as
it subsequently appeared, most justly, "the highest opinion of, and
placed the firmest reliance on, the valour and conduct of every captain
in his squadron. It had been his practice, during the whole of his
cruise, whenever the weather and circumstances would permit, to have his
captains on board the Vanguard: where he would fully develope to them
his own ideas of the different and best modes of attack; and such plans
as he proposed to execute, on falling in with the enemy, whatever their
position or situation might be, by night or by day. There was no
possible position in which they could be found, that he did not take
into his calculation, and for the most advantageous attack of which he
had not digested and arranged the best possible disposition of the force
which he commanded. With the masterly ideas of their admiral, therefore,
on the subject of naval tactics, every one of the captains of his
squadron was most thoroughly acquainted; and, on surveying the situation
of,the enemy, they could precisely ascertain what were the ideas and
intentions of their commander, without the aid of farther instructions.
Thus, signals became almost unnecessary; much time was saved; and the
attention of every captain could almost undistractedly be paid to the
condition of his own particular ship: a circumstance from which, on
this occasion, the advantages to the general service were almost
incalculable. It cannot here be thought irrelevant, to give some idea of
what were the plans which Admiral Nelson had formed, and which he
explained to his captains with such perspicuity as to render his ideas
completely their own. To the naval service, at least, they must not only
prove interesting but useful. Had he fallen in with the French fleet at
sea, that he might make the best impression on any part of it that
should appear the most vulnerable, or the most eligible for attack, he
divided his force into three sub-squadrons, viz.
VANGUARD ORION CULLODEN
MINOTAUR GOLIAH THESEUS
LEANDER MAJESTIC ALEXANDER
AUDACIOUS BELLEROPHON. SWIFTSURE.
DEFENCE
ZEALOUS.
Two of these sub-squadrons were to attack the ships of war; while the
third was to pursue the transports, and to sink and destroy as many as
it could. The destination of the French armament was involved in doubt
and uncertainty; but it forcibly struck the admiral that, as it was
commanded by the man whom the French had dignified with the title of the
Conqueror of Italy, and as he had with him a very large body of troops,
an expedition had been planned which the land force might execute
without the aid of their fleet, should the transports be permitted to
make their escape, and reach in safety their place of rendezvous: it
therefore became a material consideration with the admiral, so to
arrange his force, as at once to engage the whole attention of their
ships of war, and at the same time materially to annoy and injure their
convoy. It will be fully admitted, from the subsequent information which
has been received on the subject, that the ideas of the admiral on this
occasion were perfectly just, and that the plan which he had arranged
was the most likely to frustrate the designs of the enemy. It is almost
unnecessary to explain his projected mode of attack at anchor, as that
was minutely and precisely executed in the action about to be described.
These plans, however, were formed two months before an opportunity
presented itself of executing any of them; and the advantage now was,
that they were familiar to the understanding of every captain in the
fleet.
"It has been already mentioned, that the Pharos of Alexandria was
seen at noon on the 1st of August. The Alexander and Swiftsure had
been detached ahead on the preceding evening, to reconnoitre the
port of Alexandria, while the main body of the squadron kept in the
offing. The enemy's fleet was first discovered by the Zealous,
Captain Hood, who immediately communicated, by signal, the number
of ships, sixteen, lying at anchor in a line of battle, in a bay on
the larboard bow, which was afterwards found to be Aboukir Bay. The
admiral hauled his wind that instant; a movement which was
immediately observed, and followed, by the whole squadron: and, at
the same time, he recalled the Alexander and Swiftsure. The wind
was, at this time, north north-west; and blew what seamen call a
top-gallant breeze. It was necessary to take in the royals, to haul
up on a wind. The admiral made the signal to prepare for battle;
and, that it was his intention to attack the enemy's van and centre
as they lay at anchor, according to the plan previously developed.
His idea, in this disposition of his force was, first, to secure
the victory; and, then, to make the most of it, as circumstances
might permit. A bower cable of each ship was immediately got out
abaft, and bent forward. They continued carrying sail; and standing
in for the enemy's fleet, in close line of battle. As all the
officers of the squadron were totally unacquainted with Aboukir
Bay, each ship kept sounding as she stood in.
"The enemy appeared to be moored in a strong and compact line of
battle, close in with the shore; their line describing an obtuse
angle in it's form, flanked by numerous gun-boats, four frigates,
and a battery of guns and mortars on an island in their van. This
situation of the enemy seemed to secure to them the most decided
advantages; as they had nothing to attend to but their artillery,
in their superior skill in the use of which the French so much
pride themselves, and to which, indeed, their splendid series of
land victories are in general chiefly to be imputed.
"The position of the enemy presented the most formidable obstacles:
but the admiral viewed them all with the eye of a seaman determined
on attack; and it instantly struck his eager and penetrating mind,
that "where there was room for an enemy's ship to swing, there was
room for one of our's to anchor." No farther signals were
necessary, than those which had already been made. The admiral's
designs were fully known to his whole squadron; as was his
determination to conquer, or perish in the attempt. The Goliah and
Zealous had the honour to lead inside, and to receive the first
fire from the van ships of the enemy, as well as from the batteries
and gun-boats with which their van was strengthened. These two
ships, with the Orion, Audacious, and Theseus, took their stations
inside the enemy's line, and were immediately in close action. The
Vanguard anchored the first on the outer side of the enemy; and was
opposed, within half pistol-shot, to Le Spartiate, the third in the
enemy's line. The shores of the Bay of Aboukir were soon lined with
spectators, who beheld the approach of the English, and the awful
conflict of the hostile fleets, in silent astonishment.
"Sir Horatio Nelson, as Rear-Admiral of the Blue, carried the blue
flag at the mizen; but, from a standing order of the Earl of St.
Vincent, the squadron wore the white, or St. George's ensign, in
the action. This being white, with a red cross, the first quarter
bearing the union, it occasioned the display of the cross on the
renowned and ancient coast of Egypt.
"So entirely was the admiral resolved to conquer, or to perish in
the attempt, that he led into action with six ensigns, or flags,
viz. red, white, and blue, flying in different parts of the
rigging. He could not bear to reflect on the possibility of his
colours being carried away even by a random shot from the enemy.
"In standing in, the leading ships were unavoidably obliged to
receive into their bows the whole fire of the broadsides of the
French line, till they could take their respective stations: and it
is but justice to observe, that the enemy received their opponents
with great firmness and deliberation; no colours having been
hoisted on either side, nor a gun fired, till our van ships were
within half gun-shot. At this time, the necessary number of our men
were engaged aloft in furling sails, and on deck in hauling the
braces, and other requisite employments, preparatory to casting
anchor. As soon as this took place, a most animated fire opened
from the Vanguard; which ship covered the approach of those in the
rear, who were following in a close line. The Minotaur, Defence,
Bellerophon, Majestic, Swiftsure, and Alexander, came up in
succession; and, passing within hail of the Vanguard, took their
respective stations opposed to the enemy's line. All our ships
anchored by the stern; by which means, the British line became
inverted from van to rear. Captain Thompson, of the Leander of
fifty guns, with a degree of judgment highly honourable to his
professional character, advanced towards the enemy's line on the
outside, and most judiciously dropped his anchor athwart hause of
Le Franklin, raking her with great success; the shot, from the
Leander's broadside, which passed that ship, all striking L'Orient,
the flag-ship of the French commander in chief.
"The action commenced at sun-set, which was at thirty-one minutes
past six, with an ardour and vigour which it is impossible to
describe. In a few minutes, every man stationed at the first six
guns in the fore part of the Vanguard's deck, was down, killed or
wounded, and one gun in particular was repeatedly cleared: one of
the midshipmen was just remarking the escapes he had experienced,
when a shot came, and cut him in two. At about seven o'clock, total
darkness had come on; but the whole hemisphere was, at intervals,
illuminated by the fire of the hostile fleets. Our ships, as
darkness came on, had all hoisted their distinguishing lights, by a
signal from the admiral.
"The van ship of the enemy, Le Guerrier, was dismasted in less than
twelve minutes; and, in ten minutes after, the second ship, Le
Conquerant, and the third, Le Spartiate, very nearly at the same
moment, experienced a similar fate. L'Aquilon, and Le Souverain
Peuple, the fourth and fifth ships of the enemy's line, were taken
possession of by the British at half past eight in the evening.
Captain Berry, at that hour, sent Lieutenant Galway, of the
Vanguard, with a party of marines, to take possession of Le
Spartiate: and that officer returned, by the boat, the French
captain's sword, which Captain Berry immediately delivered to the
admiral; who was then below, in consequence of the severe wound
which he had received in the head during the heat of the attack."
This wound seems to have been inflicted by langridge shot, or a piece of
iron; which, cutting his forehead at right angles, the skin hung over
his face, Captain Berry, fortunately happening to be sufficiently near,
caught the admiral in his arms, and prevented him from falling. It was,
at first, the universal opinion, that their beloved commander had been
shot through the head; and, indeed, the appearance was rendered
dreadfully alarming, by the hanging skin and the copious effusion of
blood. Not a man on board was now solicitous for his own life; every
brave fellow was alone anxious for that of the worthy admiral. This,
however, far from repressing their ardour, served only to animate their
fury, and prompt them, if possible, to still greater exertions. On being
carried into the cockpit, where several of his gallant crew were
stretched with their shattered limbs, and lacerated wounds, the surgeon,
with the most respectful anxiety, quitted the poor fellow then under
his hands, that he might instantly attend on the admiral.
"No," replied the heroic commander, with the utmost composure,
though he had then no hope of surviving, "I will take my turn with
my brave fellows."
"The agony of his wound, in the mean time, greatly increasing, he
became satisfied that the idea which he had long indulged of dying
in battle was now about to be accomplished. He desired to see his
chaplain, the Reverend Mr. Comyn, and begged he would bear his
remembrances to Lady Nelson; and, as the last beneficial office
that he conceived he should be able to perform, he appointed
Captain Hardy, of La Mutine, to be Captain of the Vanguard. Having
expressed a wish to see Captain Louis, of the Minotaur, Captain
Berry had hailed that ship, and the commander came on board. The
admiral was desirous of personally thanking him for the assistance
which he had, in the height of danger, been enabled to render the
Vanguard. "My dear Louis," said the admiral, "farewel! I shall
never, should I survive, forget the obligation I am under to you.
Whatever may become of me, my mind is at peace." He, then, with the
most pious composure, seemed resigning himself to death. As soon as
the surgeon had, according to the express injunctions of the
admiral, paid all necessary attention to every person previously
wounded, he came forward to examine the wound of their commander.
An awful silence prevailed; but it was of short duration, for the
surgeon almost immediately pronounced it to be merely superficial,
and of no dangerous consequence. The pleasing intelligence speedily
circulated through the ship, and the excess of sorrow was
instantaneously converted into the excess of joy: nor did the hero
feel less delighted at hearing the grateful expressions of gladness
from his generous crew, than at the unexpected announcement of his
life's being considered, by the surgeon, as in no sort of danger.
This circumstance, indeed, greatly tended to alleviate his
sufferings during the painful operation of dressing his wounded
forehead.
"At this time, it appeared that victory had already declared itself
in our favour; for, though L'Orient, L'Heureux, and Le Tonnant,
were not taken possession of, they were considered as completely in
our power: which pleasing intelligence Captain Berry had likewise
the satisfaction of communicating in person to the admiral.
"At ten minutes after nine, a fire was observed on board L'Orient,
the French admiral's ship, which seemed to proceed from the after
part of the cabin; and which increased with great rapidity,
presently involving the whole of the after part of the ship in
flames. This circumstance Captain Berry immediately communicated to
the admiral; who, though suffering severely from his wound, came
immediately on deck: where, the first consideration that struck his
benevolent mind was, concern for the danger of so many lives; to
save as many as possible of whom, he ordered Captain Berry to make
every practicable exertion. A boat, the only one that could swim,
was instantly dispatched from the Vanguard; and other ships, that
were in a condition to do so, immediately followed the example: by
which means, from the best possible information, the lives of about
seventy Frenchmen were saved. The light thrown by the fire of
L'Orient on the surrounding objects, enabled the commanders to
perceive, with more certainty, the situation of the two fleets, the
colours of both being clearly distinguishable. The cannonading was
partially kept up to leeward of the centre till about ten o'clock,
when L'Orient blew up with a most tremendous explosion.
"An awful pause, and death-like silence, for about three minutes,
ensued; when the wreck of the masts, yards, &c. which had been
carried to a vast height, fell down into the water, and on board
the surrounding ships. A port fire from L'Orient fell into the
main-royal of the Alexander; the fire occasioned by which was,
however, extinguished in about two minutes, by the active exertions
of Captain Ball.
"After this awful scene, the firing recommenced with the ships to
leeward of the centre, till twenty minutes past ten; when there was
a total cessation of firing, for about ten minutes: after which, it
was revived till about three in the morning; when, it again ceased.
"After the victory had been secured in the van, such British ships
as were in a condition to move, had gone down on the fresh ships of
the enemy. At five minutes past five in the morning, the two rear
ships of the enemy, Le Guillaume Tell and Le Genereux, were the
only French ships of the line that had their colours flying. At
fifty-four minutes past five, a French frigate, L'Artemise, fired a
broadside, and struck her colours: but such was the unwarrantable
and infamous conduct of the French captain, that after having thus
surrendered, he set fire to his ship; and, with part of his crew,
made his escape on shore. Another of the French frigates, La
Serieuse, had been sunk by the fire from some of our ships; but, as
her poop remained above water, her men were saved on it, and were
taken off by our boats in the morning. The Bellerophon, whose masts
and cables had been entirely shot away, could not retain her
situation abreast of L'Orient, but had drifted out of the line to
the lee side of the bay, a little before that ship blew up. The
Audacious, in the morning, was detached to her assistance. At
eleven o'clock Le Genereux and Guillaume Tell; with the two
frigates, La Justice, and La Diane; cut their cables, and stood out
to sea: pursued by the Zealous, Captain Hood, who handsomely
endeavoured to prevent their escape. But, as there was no other
ship in a condition to support the Zealous, she was recalled.
"The whole day of the 2d of August was employed in securing the
French ships that had struck; and which were now all completely in
our possession, Le Tonnant and Timoleon excepted. As these were
both dismasted, and consequently could not escape, they were
naturally the last of which it was necessary to think of taking
possession.
"On the morning of the 3d, the Timoleon was set fire to; and Le
Tonnant had cut her cable, and drifted on shore: but that active
officer, Captain Miller, of the Theseus, soon got her off again,
and secured her in the British line.
"The British force engaged, consisted of only twelve ships of
seventy-four guns, and the Leander of fifty: for, from the over
anxiety and zeal of Captain Troubridge to get into action, his
ship, the Culloden, in standing in for the van of the enemy's line,
had unfortunately grounded on the tail of a shoal, running off from
the island on which were the mortar and gun batteries of the enemy;
and, notwithstanding all the exertions of that able officer, and
his ship's company, she could not be got off. This unfortunate
circumstance was severely felt, at the moment, by the admiral, and
all the officers of the squadron: but their feelings were nothing,
compared to the anxiety, and even agony of mind, which the captain
of the Culloden himself experienced for so many eventful hours.
There was but one consolation which could offer itself to him, in
the midst of the distresses of his situation--a feeble one, it is
true--that his ship served as a beacon for three other ships, viz.
the Alexander, Theseus, and Leander, which were advancing, with
all possible sail set, close in his rear: and which, otherwise,
might have experienced a similar misfortune; and thus, in a greater
proportion still, have weakened our force. It was not till the
morning of the 2d, that the Culloden could be got off: and it was
then found, that she had suffered very considerable damage in her
bottom; that her rudder was beat off; and the crew could scarcely
keep her afloat, with all pumps going. The resources of Captain
Troubridge's mind availed him much, and were admirably exerted, on
this trying occasion. In four days, he had a new rudder made, on
his own deck, which was immediately shipped; and the Culloden was
again in a state for actual service, though still very leaky.
"The admiral, knowing that the wounded of his own ships had been
well taken care of, bent his first attention to those of the enemy.
He established a truce with the commandant of Aboukir; and, through
him, made a communication to the commandant of Alexandria, that it
was his intention to allow all the wounded Frenchmen to be taken
ashore to proper hospitals, with their own surgeons to attend them:
a proposal which was assented to by the French, and carried into
effect the following day. The activity and generous consideration
of Captain Troubridge were again exerted, at this time, for the
general good. He communicated with the shore, and had the address
to procure a supply of fresh provisions, onions, and other
necessary refreshments, which were served out to the sick and
wounded, and which proved of essential utility.
"On the 2d, the Arabs and Mamelukes, who had, during the battle,
lined the shores of the bay, saw with transport that the victory
was decisively on the part of the British fleet: an event, in which
they participated, with an exultation almost equal to that of the
conquerors; and, on that and the two following nights, the whole
coast and country were illuminated as far as the eye could
penetrate, in celebration of the happy event. This had a great
effect on the minds of the prisoners; as they conceived that this
illumination was the consequence not entirely of the defeat of
their fleet, but of some signal success obtained by the Arabs and
Mamelukes over Bonaparte.
"Though it is natural to suppose, that the time and attention of
the admiral, and all the officers of his squadron, were very fully
employed in repairing the damages sustained by their own ships, and
in securing those of the enemy which their valour had subdued, yet
the mind of that great and good man felt the strongest emotions of
the most pious gratitude to the Supreme Being, for the signal
success which, by the Divine favour, had crowned his endeavours in
the cause of his country; and, in consequence, on the morning of
the 2d, he issued the following memorandum to the different
captains of his squadron--
"MEMORANDUM.
"Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 2d Aug. 1798.
"Almighty God having blessed his majesty's arms with victory,
the admiral intends returning public thanksgiving for the same
at two o'clock this day; and he recommends every ship doing the
same, as soon as convenient."
"To the respective Captains of the Squadron."
"At two o'clock, accordingly, public service was performed on the
quarter-deck of the Vanguard, by the Reverend Mr. Comyn; the other
ships following the example of the admiral, though not all exactly
at the same time. This solemn act of gratitude to Heaven, seemed to
make a very deep impression on several of the prisoners, both
officers and men: some of the former remarked--"That it was no
wonder such order and discipline were preserved in the British
navy, when the minds of our men could be impressed with such
sentiments after a victory so great, and at a moment of such
seeming confusion."
On the very same day, the following Memorandum was likewise issued to
all the ships; expressive of the admiral's sentiments of the noble
exertions of the different officers and men of his squadron--
"MEMORANDUM.
"Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, Aug. 2, 1798.
"The admiral most heartily congratulates the captains, officers,
seamen, and marines, of the squadron he has had the honour to
command, on the event of the late action; and he desires they
will accept his most sincere and cordial thanks, for their very
gallant behaviour in this glorious battle. It must strike,
forcibly, every British seaman, how superior their conduct is,
when in discipline and good order, to the riotous behaviour of
lawless Frenchmen. The squadron may be assured, the admiral will
not fail, with his dispatches, to represent their truly
meritorious conduct, in the strongest terms, to the commander in
chief."
"To the Captains of the Ships of the Squadron."
"The praise expressed in this memorandum, could not fail to be
highly acceptable, and gratifying, to every individual in the
squadron; and the observation which it endeavoured to impress on
the minds of all, of the striking advantages derived from
discipline and good order, was so much the effect of recent
experience, that every bosom immediately assented to it's justice.
The benefit of this important truth will not, we trust, be confined
to any particular branch of the British navy: the sentiment of the
Hero of the Nile must infuse itself into the heart of every British
seaman, in whatever quarter of the globe he may be extending the
glory and interests of his country; and will there produce the
conviction, that courage alone will not lead him to conquest,
without the aid and direction of exact discipline and order,
"Let those who desire to emulate, as every British seaman must, the
glory acquired on this signal occasion, pursue the same means;
which, principally, led to it's acquisition. Let them repose the
most perfect reliance in the courage, judgment, and skill, of their
superior officers; and let them aid the designs of these, by
uniformly submissive obedience, and willing subordination: so shall
the British navy continue to prove the admiration of the world,
till time shall be no more.
"Immediately after the action, some Maltese, Genoese, and
Spaniards, who had been serving on board the French fleet, offered
their services in the British; and, being accepted, expressed the
greatest happiness, at thus being freed, as they said, from the
tyranny and cruelty of the French."
It has been thought proper to adopt the description of the battle of the
Nile from this unadorned narrative, not only because it is said to have
been originally sketched by Captain Berry; but because there seems no
small degree of internal evidence that it was originally founded on the
minutes of the hero himself, to whose most glorious victory it adverts
with far less admiration and applause than it probably would have
received from any other pen.
The following Journal of the 1st, 2d, and 3d days of August 1798, said
to have been written by a French officer of high rank, will be found to
comprehend a more just and animated picture of this grand naval
engagement, and it's consequences, than could have been reasonably
expected from what is usually seen of Gallic candour and impartiality.
"The 1st of August 1798, wind west north-west, light breezes, and
fair weather. The second division of the fleet sent a party of men
on shore to dig wells. Every ship in the fleet sent twenty-five
men, to protect the workmen from the continual attacks of the
Bedouins and vagabonds of the country. At two in the afternoon,
L'Heureux made the signal for twelve sail, west south-west; which
we could easily distinguish, from the mast-heads, to be ships of
war. The signal was then made, for all the boats, workmen, and
guards, to repair on board their ships, which was only obeyed by a
small number. At three o'clock, the admiral, not having any doubt
that the ships in sight were the enemy, ordered the hammocks to be
stowed for action; and directed L'Alert and Ruiller brigs of war to
reconnoitre the enemy; who, we soon perceived, were steering for
Bequier Bay, under a crowd of canvas, without observing any order
of sailing. At four o'clock, we saw, over the fort of Aboukir, two
ships, apparently waiting to join the squadron: without doubt, they
had been sent to look into the port of Alexandria. We likewise saw
a brig, with the twelve ships; so that they were, now, fourteen
sail of the line, and a brig. L'Alert then began to put the
admiral's orders into execution, viz. to stand toward the enemy
till nearly within gun-shot, and then to manoeuvre, and endeavour
to draw them towards the outer shoal lying off the island. But the
English admiral, without doubt, had experienced pilots on board; as
he did not pay any attention to the brig's track, but allowed her
to go away, hauling well round all the dangers. At this time, a
small boat, dispatched from Alexandria to Rosetta, voluntarily bore
down to the English brig, which took possession of her,
notwithstanding the repeated efforts of L'Alert to prevent it, by
firing a great many shot at the boat. At five o'clock, the enemy
came to the wind in succession. This manoeuvre convinced us, that
they intended attacking us that evening. The admiral got the
top-gallant yards across; but, soon after, made the signal, that he
intended engaging the enemy at anchor. After this signal, each ship
ought to have sent a stream-cable to the ship astern of her, and
to have made a hawser fast to the cable about twenty fathoms in the
water, and passed the opposite side to that intended as a spring;
_this was not generally executed_. Orders were then given, to let
go another bower anchor; and the broadsides of the ships were
brought to bear upon the enemy, having the ships heads south-east
from the Island of Bequier, forming a line about thirteen hundred
fathoms north-west and south-east, distant from each other eighty
fathoms, and with an anchor out south south-east At a quarter past
five, one of the enemy's ships that was steering to get to windward
of the headmost of the line, ran on the reef east north-east of the
island. She had immediate assistance from the brig, and got afloat
in the morning. The battery on the island opened a fire on the
enemy, and their shells fell ahead of the second ship in the line.
At half past five, the headmost ships of our line being within
gun-shot of the English, the admiral made the signal to engage;
which was not obeyed, till the enemy was within pistol-shot, and
just doubling us. The action then became very warm. Le Conquerant
began to fire, then Le Guerrier, Le Spartiate, L'Aquilon, Le Peuple
Souverain, and Le Franklin. At six o'clock, La Serieuse frigate and
L'Hercule bomb, cut their cables, and got under weigh, to avoid the
enemy's fire. They got on shore; La Serieuse caught fire, and had
part of her masts burnt; L'Artemise was obliged to get under weigh,
and likewise got on shore. The two frigates sent their ships
companies aboard the different line of battle ships. The sloops of
war, two bombs, and several transports that were with the fleet,
were more successful; as they got under weigh, and reached the
anchorage under the protection of the fort of Aboukir. All the van
were attacked on both sides by the enemy, who ranged close along
our line. They had each an anchor out astern, which facilitated
their motions, and enabled them to place themselves in the most
advantageous position. At a quarter past six, Le Franklin opened
her fire on the enemy from the starboard side; at three quarters
past six, she was engaged on both sides. L'Orient, at this time,
began firing from her starboard guns; and, at seven, Le Tonnant
opened her fire. All the ships, from Le Guerrier to Le Tonnant,
were now engaged against a superior force: this only redoubled the
ardour of the French, who kept up a very heavy fire. At eight
o'clock at night, the ship which was engaging L'Orient on the
starboard quarter, notwithstanding her advantageous position, was
dismasted; and so roughly treated, that she cut her cables, and
drove farther from the line. This event gave Le Franklin hopes that
L'Orient would now be able to assist her, by attacking one of the
ships opposed to her; but, at this very moment, the two ships that
had been observed astern of the fleet, and were quite fresh,
steered right for the centre. One of them anchored on L'Orient's
starboard bow; and the other cut the line astern of L'Orient, and
anchored off her larboard quarter. The action, in this place, then
became extremely warm. Admiral De Brueys, who had at this time been
slightly wounded in the head and arm, very soon received a shot in
the belly, which almost cut him in two. He desired not to be
carried below, but to be left to die on deck: he lived but a
quarter of an hour. Rear-Admiral Blanquet, as well as his
aid-du-camp, were unacquainted with this melancholy event till the
action was nearly over. Admiral Blanquet received a severe wound in
the face, which knocked him down; he was carried off the deck,
senseless. At a quarter past eight o'clock, Le Peuple Souverain
drove to leeward of the line, and anchored a cable's length abreast
of L'Orient: it was not known what unfortunate event occasioned
this. The vacant place she made, placed Le Franklin in a more
unfortunate position; and, it became very critical, from the
manoeuvre of one of the enemy's fresh ships, which had been sent
to the assistance of the ship on shore. She anchored athwart Le
Franklin's bows, and commenced a very heavy raking fire.
Notwithstanding the dreadful situation of the ships in the centre,
they continually kept up a very heavy fire. At half past eight
o'clock, the action was general from Le Guerrier to Le Mercure. The
Admiral De Brueys's death, and the severe wounds of Admiral
Blanquet, must have deeply affected the people who fought under
them: but, it added to their ardour for revenge; and the action
continued, on both sides, with great obstinacy. At nine o'clock,
the ships in the van slackened their fire; and, soon after, totally
ceased: and, with infinite sorrow, we supposed they had
surrendered. They were dismasted very soon after the action began;
and so much damaged that, it is to be presumed, they could not hold
out any longer against an enemy so superior by an advantageous
position, in placing several ships against one. At a quarter past
nine o'clock, L'Orient caught fire in the cabin; it soon afterwards
broke out on the poop. Every effort was made to extinguish it; but,
without effect; and, very soon, it was so considerable, that there
was no hope of saving the ship. At half past nine, Citoyen Gillet,
Capitain de Pavilion of the Franklin, was very severely wounded,
and was carried off the deck. At three quarters past nine, the
arm-chest, filled with musket-cartridges, blew up, and set fire to
several places in the poop and quarter-deck, but was fortunately
extinguished. Her situation, however, was still very desperate;
surrounded by enemies, and only eighty fathoms to windward of
L'Orient entirely on fire, there could not be any other
expectation, than falling a prey either to the enemy or the flames.
At ten o'clock, the main and mizen masts fell, and all the guns on
the main-deck were dismounted. At half past ten, Le Tonnant cut her
cables, to avoid the fire of L'Orient. The English ship that was on
L'Orient's larboard quarter, as soon as she had done firing at her,
brought her broadside on Le Tonnant's bow, and kept up a very heavy
raking fire. L'Heureux, and Le Mercure, conceived that they ought
likewise to cut their cables. The manoeuvre created so much
confusion amongst the rear ships, that they fired into each other,
and did considerable damage. Le Tonnant anchored ahead of the
Guillaume Tell; Le Genereux and Timoleon, the other two ships, got
on shore. The ship that engaged Le Tonnant on her bow cut her
cables; all her rigging and sails were cut to pieces; and she drove
down, and anchored astern of the English ship, that had been
engaging L'Heureux and Le Mercure before they changed their
position. Those of the etat-major and ship's company of L'Orient,
who had escaped death, convinced of the impossibility of
extinguishing the fire, which had got down on the middle gun-deck,
endeavoured to save themselves. Rear-Admiral Ganteaume saved
himself in a boat, and went on board of Le Salamine; and, from
thence, to Aboukir and Alexandria. The Adjutant-General Motard,
though badly wounded, swam to the ship nearest L'Orient, which
proved to be English. Commodore Casabianca, and his son, who was
only ten years old, and who gave, during the action, proofs of
bravery and intelligence far above his age, were not so fortunate.
They were in the water, on the wreck of L'Orient's masts, not being
able to swim, seeking each other, till three quarters past ten,
when the ship blew up, and put an end to their hopes and fears. The
explosion was dreadful, and spread the fire all around to a
considerable distance. Le Franklin's decks were covered with
red-hot seams, pieces of timber, and rope, on fire. She was on
fire, but luckily got it under. Immediately after the tremendous
explosion, the action ceased every where, and was succeeded by the
most profound silence. The sky was darkened by clouds of black
smoke, which seemed to threaten the destruction of the two fleets.
It was a quarter of an hour before the ships crews recovered from
the kind of stupor into which they had been thrown. Towards eleven
o'clock, Le Franklin, anxious to preserve the trust confided to
her, recommenced the action with a few of her lower-deck guns; all
the rest were dismounted: two thirds of the ship's company were
killed and wounded, and those who remained prodigiously fatigued.
She was surrounded by enemy's ships, who mowed down the men every
broadside. At half past eleven o'clock, having only three
lower-deck guns that could defend the honour of the flag, it became
necessary to put an end to so disproportioned a struggle, and
Citoyen Martinet, captain of a frigate, ordered the colours to be
struck.
"The action in the rear of the fleet was very trifling, till three
quarters past eleven o'clock, when it became very warm. Three of
the enemy's ships were engaging them, and two were very near. Le
Tonnant, already badly treated, who was nearest the ships engaged,
returned a very brisk fire. About three o'clock in the morning, she
was dismasted, and obliged to cut her cables a second time; and,
not having any more anchors left, she drove on shore. Le Guillaume
Tell, Le Genereux, and Le Timoleon, shifted their births, and
anchored farther down, out of gun-shot. These vessels were not much
damaged. At half past three o'clock, the action ceased throughout
the line. Early in the morning, the frigate La Justice got under
weigh, and made several small tacks to keep near the Guillaume
Tell; and, at nine o'clock, anchored: an English ship having got
under weigh, and making small tacks to prevent her getting away. At
six o'clock, two English ships joined those who had been engaging
the rear, and began firing on L'Heureux and Le Mercure, which were
aground. The former soon struck, and the latter followed the
example, as they could not bring their broadsides to bear on the
enemy. At half past seven, the ship's crew of L'Artemise frigate
quitted her, and set her on fire: at eight o'clock, she blew up.
The enemy, without doubt, had received great damage in their masts
and yards, as they did not get under weigh to attack the remains of
the French fleet. The French flag was flying on board four ships of
the line and two frigates. This division made the most of their
time; and, at three quarters past eleven, Le Guillaume Tell, Le
Genereux, La Diane, and La Justice, got under weigh, and formed in
line of battle. The English ship that was under sail stood towards
her fleet, fearing that she might be cut off; but, two other
enemy's ships were immediately under weigh to assist her. At noon,
Le Timoleon, which probably was not in a state to put to sea,
steered right for the shore, under her fore-sail; and, as soon as
she struck the ground, her foremast fell. The French division
joined the enemy's ships, which ranged along their line on opposite
tacks, within pistol-shot, and received their broadsides, which it
returned: they, then, each continued their route. The division was
in sight at sun-set. Nothing remarkable passed, during the night of
the 2d. The 3d of August, in the morning, the French colours were
flying in Le Tonnant and Timoleon. The English admiral sent a flag
of truce to the former, to know if she had struck; and, on being
answered in the negative, he directed two ships to go against her.
When they got within gun-shot of her, she struck, it being
impossible to defend her any longer. Le Timoleon was aground, too
near in for any ship to approach her. In the night of the 2d, they
sent the greatest part of their ship's company on shore; and, at
noon the next day, they quitted her, and set her on fire.
"Thus ends the journal of the 1st, 2d, and 3d, days of August;
which will ever be remembered, with the deepest sorrow, by those
Frenchmen who possess good hearts, and by all those true
republicans who have survived this melancholy disaster."
To the above anonymous French account, may be added that of the
celebrated scientific traveller, soldier, and artist, Monsieur Denon;
who was one of the chief Sçavans in the Egyptian expedition, and an
anxious spectator of the interesting scene. It is to be remarked that,
though his description of the battle, like that by which it is preceded,
has less want of candour than is commonly found in French narratives of
this nature, neither of them is altogether free from the characteristic
partiality of that boastful nation. Both of them fail to state the true
number of British ships; but, as frequently happens with those who are
not remarkably tenacious of truth, though both make the number greater
than it actually was, they do not agree with each other any more than
with the fact, and thus mutually aid to produce a conviction of their
own want of veracity. Our true force was fifteen sail only.
Denon, in order to gain an accurate view of the expected engagement,
hastened to a lofty tower--
"When," says he, "we had reached the tower which commands the
monastery, we descried a fleet of twenty sail. To come up, to range
themselves in a line, and to attack, were the operations of a
minute. The first shot was fired at five o'clock; and, shortly
after, our view of the two fleets was intercepted by the smoke.
When night came on, we could distinguish somewhat better; without,
however, being able to give an account of what passed. The danger
to which we were exposed, of falling into the hands of the smallest
troop of Bedouins which might come that way, did not draw our
attention from an event by which we were so strongly interested.
Rolls of fire, incessantly gushing from the mouths of the cannon,
evinced clearly that the combat was dreadful, and supported with an
equal obstinacy on both sides. On our return to Rosetta, we climbed
on the roofs of the houses; whence, at ten o'clock, we perceived a
strong light, which indicated a fire. A few minutes afterwards, we
heard a terrible explosion, which was followed by a profound
silence. As we had seen a firing kept up, from the left to the
right, on the object in flames, we drew a conclusion that it was
one of the enemy's ships, which had been set fire to by our people;
and we imputed the silence which ensued, to the retreat of the
English: who, as our ships were moored, were exclusively in
possession of the range of the bay; and who, consequently, could
persevere in or discontinue the combat, at pleasure. At eleven
o'clock, a slow fire was kept up; and, at midnight, the action
again became general. It continued till two in the morning. At
day-break, I was at the advanced posts; and, ten minutes after, the
fleets were once more engaged. At nine o'clock, another ship blew
up. At ten, four ships, the only ones which were not disabled, and
which I could distinguish to be French, crouded their sails, and
quitted the field of battle; in the possession of which they
appeared to be, as they were neither attacked nor followed. Such
was the phantom produced by the enthusiasm of hope!
"I took my station at the tower of Abumandur; whence I counted
twenty-five vessels, half of which were shattered wrecks; and the
others incapable of manoeuvring to afford them assistance.
"For three days, we remained in this state of cruel uncertainty. By
the help of my spying-glass, I had made a drawing of this
disastrous scene; that I might be enabled the better to ascertain,
whether the morrow would be productive of any change.
"In this way we cherished illusion, and spurned at all evidence;
till, at length, the passage across the bar being cut off; and the
communication with Alexandria intercepted, we found that our
situation was altered; and that, separated from the mother-country,
we were become the inhabitants of a distant colony, where we should
be obliged to depend on our own resources for subsistence, till the
peace. We learned, that it was L'Orient which blew up at ten
o'clock at night, and L'Hercule the following morning; and that the
captains of the ships of the line, Le Guillaume Tell and
Genereux--and of the frigates, La Diane and La Justice--perceiving
that the rest of the fleet had fallen into the enemy's hands, had
taken advantage of a moment of lassitude and inaction on the part
of the English, to effect their escape. We learned, lastly, that
the 1st of August had broken the unity of our forces; and that the
destruction of our fleet, by which the lustre of our glory was
tarnished, had restored to the enemy the empire of the
Mediterranean: an empire which had been wrested from them by the
matchless exploits of our armies, and which could only have been
secured to us by the existence of our ships of war.
"The shore, to the extent of four leagues, was covered by wrecks,
which enabled us to form an estimate of the loss that we had
sustained at the battle of Aboukir. To procure a few nails, or a
few iron hoops, the wandering Arabs were employed in burning on the
beach the masts, gun-cariages, boats, &c. which had been
constructed at so vast an expence in our ports."
In both these accounts it is sufficiently manifest, that the French were
fully convinced there could be no possibility of denying their defeat,
however they might seek to disguise the extent of their disaster. The
grand designation of their expensive and numerous armament was thus, at
a single blow, completely frustrated: and, instead of finding
themselves, flushed with success, in a treacherously subjugated country,
with a view of extending their conquest to India; they became, at once,
reduced to depend on their own resources for even their subsistence, in
a distant land, without any other hope of ever returning home, than what
was afforded them by the remote prospect of a peace.
Though Admiral Nelson had written his dispatches for the commander in
chief immediately after this glorious victory, he was unable to send
Captain Berry, of the Vanguard, in the Leander of fifty guns, to the
Earl of St. Vincent, off Cadiz, till the 5th of August.
In a few days after, as if the admiral had foreseen the fate of the
Leander, which it will appear he certainly apprehended, he prepared a
copy of these dispatches to the Earl of St. Vincent; and transmitted it
to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty, by the Honourable
Captain Thomas Bladen Capel, in La Mutine brig, to which he had just
been appointed on Captain Hardy's promotion to the Vanguard. In these
will be seen his own modest and pious account of a victory, perhaps,
without parallel, when duly considered in it's completeness and
consequences.
"Vanguard,
Mouth of the Nile, 7th August 1798.
"SIR,
"Herewith, I have the honour to transmit you a copy of my letter to
the Earl of St. Vincent, together with a line of battle of the
English and French squadrons; also, a list of the killed and
wounded. I have the honour to inform you, that eight of our ships
have already top-gallant yards across, and are ready for any
service: the others, with the prizes, will soon be ready for sea.
In an event of this importance, I have thought it right to send
Captain Capel, with a copy of my letter to the commander in chief,
overland; which, I hope, their lordships will approve: and I beg
leave to refer them to Captain Capel, who is a most excellent
officer, and fully able to give every information; and I beg leave
to recommend him to their lordships notice.
"I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
"Horatio Nelson.
"P.S. The island I have taken possession of; and brought off the
two thirteen-inch mortars, with all the brass guns, and destroyed
the iron ones."
"Evan Nepean, Esq."
His celebrated letter to the Earl of St. Vincent was in the following
words--
"Vanguard,
off the Mouth of the Nile,
3d August 1798.
"MY LORD,
"Almighty God has blessed his majesty's arms, in the late battle,
by a great victory over the fleet of the enemy; whom I attacked, at
sun-set on the 1st of August, off the mouth of the Nile. The enemy
were moored in a strong line of battle, for defending the entrance
of this bay (of shoals;) flanked by numerous gun-boats, four
frigates, and a battery of guns and mortars on an island in their
van: but nothing could withstand the squadron your lordship did me
the honour to place under my command. Their high state of
discipline is well known to you; and, with the judgment of the
captains, together with their valour, and that of the officers and
men of every description, it was absolutely irresistible. Could any
thing from my pen add to the characters of the captains, I would
write it with pleasure; but, that is impossible. I have to regret
the loss of Captain Westcott, of the Majestic, who was killed early
in the action; but the ship was continued to be so well fought by
her first-lieutenant, Mr. Cuthbert, that I have given him an order
to command her till your lordship's pleasure is known. The ships of
the enemy, all but their two rear ships, are nearly dismasted; and
these two, with two frigates, I am sorry to say, made their escape:
nor was it, I assure you, in my power to prevent them. Captain
Hood most handsomely endeavoured to do it; but I had no ship in a
condition to support the Zealous, and I was obliged to call her in.
The support and assistance I have received from Captain Berry
cannot be sufficiently expressed. I was wounded in the head, and
obliged to be carried off the deck; but, the service suffered no
loss by that event. Captain Berry was fully equal to the important
service then going on; and, to him, I must beg leave to refer you,
for every information relative to this victory. He will present you
with the flag of the second in command, that of the commander in
chief being burnt in L'Orient. Herewith, I transmit you lists of
the killed and wounded; and, the lines of battle of ourselves and
the French.
"I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient
servant,
"Horatio Nelson."
"To Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent, Commander in Chief, &c. off
Cadiz."