front rank of commanders, and his bravery and dash were rewarded by the
Order of the Bath, and his advancement to the rank of Rear-Admiral. In
the fight off Cape St. Vincent he not only attacked at close quarters
the "Santissima Trinidad," a great galleon of 112 guns, but with the
aid of the "Culloden" (Captain Trowbridge), which gallantly began
the fight, he fought for nearly an hour this great ship and four
other galleons which had come to her assistance, until the "Blenheim"
(Captain Frederick) and the "Excellent" (Captain Collingwood) came to
assist the English, when Nelson ran the "Captain" alongside the "San
Nicolas," quickly sprang through one of the stern cabin windows, and
leading his men across the Spaniard's deck, boldly boarded the "San
Josef," on the quarter-deck of which he soon received the swords of
the conquered officers. By 5 o'clock the Spaniards were in retreat,
having lost to their enemy four of their finest vessels, and, besides
receiving a blow to their naval power, had considerably minimised
their value to the French in their effort to command the Channel, and
upset the calculations of the Dutch. For the victory Sir John Jervis
was created Earl of St. Vincent, and awarded a pension of £3,000 per
annum, while the unfortunate Spanish Admiral was dismissed in disgrace.
The vessels engaged were: H.M. ships "Victory," "Britannia,"
"Barfleur," "Blenheim," "Prince George," "Captain," "Goliath,"
"Excellent," "Egmont," "Culloden," "Colossus," "Diadem," "Namur,"
"Orion," "Irresistible," and the frigates "Dido," "Lively," "Minerva,"
"Niger," and "Southampton," sloops "Bon Citoyenne" and "Raven," and the
cutter "Fox."
=Camperdown.=--When the battle of Camperdown was fought on October
11th, 1797, Great Britain was in the unfortunate position of standing
isolated among the nations of Europe, and still concerned with the
series of mutinies which had broken out in her fleet owing to the poor
pay and bad food meted out to the seamen who had served their country
so well. As a consequence Britain was, had her enemies but realised
it, in a very precarious position. Fortunately Admiral Duncan had "a
way with him," which enabled him, by a combination of firmness and
reasoning power, to get his men into such a frame of mind as to state
in writing that there was not a man on board the "Venerable" "but
would lose the last drop of blood in his body before they (the enemy)
should obtain any victory over us, therefore, honoured sir, we once
more implore your gracious pardon." Fortunately Duncan's ability to
deal with the mutineers enabled him, at least, to have a fleet of some
pretensions wherewith to meet the enemy. Meanwhile the mutiny at the
Nore had been suppressed, "Admiral" Richard Parker, the leader, hanged,
and some effort made to remedy the grievances of the seamen while
Duncan had been hoodwinking the Dutch.
On October 9th, 1817, Duncan set sail from Yarmouth Roads with 20
ships, 4 cutters, and a lugger, to meet the Dutch fleet which had at
last left the Texel. Just before noon on the 11th, Duncan signalled
to his ships "clear for action and close," and by half-past 12
Vice-Admiral Onslow, in the "Monarch," had got through the enemy's
line and engaged Vice-Admiral Reyntier. Admiral Duncan engaged the
"Vyrheid," the Dutch Admiral's flagship, and after a hard fight lasting
until 2 o'clock, De Winter only struck his ship to the "Venerable"
when he was the only unwounded man on the quarter-deck of his mastless
ship. It is significant of Duncan's character and manliness that when
his opponent offered his sword he refused to take it, saying "rather
a brave man's hand than his sword." On October 16th the victorious
Admiral anchored off the Nore with the eleven ships he had taken, and
next day King George raised him to the Peerage with the titles of Baron
Duncan of Lundie and Viscount Duncan of Camperdown.
The vessels engaged were: H.M. ships "Venerable," "Ardent," "Adamant,"
"Agincourt," "Bedford," "Belliqueux," "Brackel," "Lancaster,"
"Monarch," "Montague," "Monmouth," "Powerful," "Russell," "Director,"
"Isis," "Veteran," "Triumph," the frigates "Beaulieu," "Circe," and
"Martin," the cutters "Active," "Diligent," "King George," "Rose," and
the lugger "Speculator."
=The Nile.=--For over a year hardly a British man-of-war had passed
into the Mediterranean until Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, with
Captain Trowbridge, entered with his fleet to frustrate the pretensions
of Napoleon. There were 13 74-gun ships and 1 of 50 guns; but before
the action commenced on August 1st, 1798, the former had been reduced
to 12 by the grounding of the "Culloden." The French fleet was of
equal proportions; but included several heavier ships: "L'Orient,"
the flagship, a magnificent three-decker carrying 120 guns, and three
others with 80 guns apiece. The French fleet was moored on the edge of
a shoal in a compact line running north-west by south-east. Captain
Foley, with the "Goliath," led the way between the front ships and
Aboukir Island, thus executing a manœuvre which the French Admiral
had thought impracticable. Five ships thus engaged the enemy on the
port or land side, while the "Vanguard," followed up by other ships,
made for the centre of the line. At half-past 6 in the evening the
battle commenced, and by 8 o'clock 8 British ships and an equal number
of French were engaged in one of the most deadly struggles in naval
history.
[Illustration: NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL AND KNIGHT COMMANDER'S
HANOVER BADGE AND STAR.
Awarded to Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher, C.B., K.C.H.]
Early in the contest the French Admiral, de Brueys, had been badly
wounded, but, gallant sailor that he was, refused to go below, and met
his death about this time by a shot that almost cut him in two: even
then his resolute spirit refused to yield, and death only gave his
comrades the power to remove his maimed body. At 9 o'clock his ship,
"L'Orient," was seen to blaze out; but her determined crew stuck to
their guns and fired them until they were literally scorched out of
their places--and then the great ship blew up. So awful was the scene
that the gunners of both fleets were apparently too dazed to fire again
for about a quarter of an hour. Meantime a French lad won undying fame
by his devotion to his father, the Commodore of "L'Orient," and his
name has been immortalised by a British poetess, Mrs. Hemans, who has
so well portrayed the story of the little ten-year-old lad who refused
to leave his mortally wounded father, and despite the fact that, as
a French writer states, "the English seamen made the most strenuous
efforts to save the young Casabianca," he went down to his death with
the father he loved so well.
Just before "L'Orient" blew up, Nelson received a severe wound on the
forehead which was for a time thought likely to prove mortal; but on
hearing that the great vessel had blown up, he gave orders for the
launching of the only boat so that the unfortunate survivors of the
explosion might be rescued. The night with its horrors had exhausted
the fleets, and firing gradually ceased until the day broke at 4
o'clock: by then 6 French ships had hauled down their colours and two
were aground, while the "Tonnant," commanded by the bravest of brave
seamen, Captain Dupetit-Thouars, showed fight to the last, for her
seamen were filled with the spirit of their dead captain, who had his
colours nailed to the mast, and when wounded unto death refused to
yield. Such courage as his must be infectious. With both arms and a leg
shot away, seated in a tub of bran, this defiant and gallant Frenchman
commanded his ship until the conqueror of all--Death--claimed the
victory.
Only 2 French ships-of-war and 2 frigates escaped. The flagship and
the "Arteruise" had blown up, 2 were aground, a frigate had been sunk
when Rear-Admiral Villeneuve endeavoured to get away with the badly
damaged "Tonnant" and 3 others. Of these the "Timeleon" grounded, and
after her crew had got ashore, her captain burnt her; the "Tonnant"
was captured; and only the "Guillaume Tell" and the "Genereux," which
had hardly taken any part in the conflict, escaped with the frigates
"Justice" and "Diane." Not a British vessel went down, but all showed
severe evidence of the fight that had been waged on that August day
in 1798. The victory was due not only to the excellent seamanship of
Nelson, who was raised to the peerage as Baron Nelson of the Nile,
and of Burnham Thorpe, for what Lord St. Vincent described as "the
greatest achievement the history of the world can produce," but to the
superb gunnery of his men, who served their guns with such rapidity and
precision that their opponents were absolutely outclassed.
The ships engaged in the battle were the "Vanguard," "Bellerophon,"
"Orion," "Audacious," "Culloden," "Defiance," "Zealous," "Minotaur,"
"Goliath," "Alexander," "Majestic," "Leander," "Theseus," "Swiftsure,"
and the sloop "Mutine."
=Davison's Medal for the Nile.=--As a souvenir of this historic
sea-fight Mr. Alexander Davison, Lord Nelson's prize agent, presented
to every officer and seaman of Nelson's fleet a medal; gold to
captains and lieutenants, silver to warrant officers, bronze gilt
to petty officers, bronze to seamen and marines. The medal, which is
1¹⁷⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, is illustrated facing page 288. Upon the edge
is impressed FROM ALEXANDER DAVISON ESQ., ST. JAMES SQUARE, A TRIBUTE
OF REGARD. The medals were issued unnamed, but many had their names and
the name of their ship also engraved above the sky-line on the reverse.
The medals, modelled by C. H. Kuchler, were highly prized by all who
received them, from Nelson--who wrote very gratefully to Davison--to
the seamen, many of whom had the medals mounted in gold or silver
frames and wore them suspended from a broad blue ribbon. This is the
first instance of a medal given by a private individual being accepted
and worn in the Service.
=Copenhagen.=--This battle, fought on April 2nd, 1801, will long be
remembered for the gallant conduct of Nelson, who, when Admiral Sir
Hyde Parker signalled "leave off action," placed his glass to his blind
eye and saying, "I really do not see the signal!" ordered his own
signal for close action to be kept flying. Had it not have been for
this daring disregard of orders, Copenhagen would have been among the
failures of our navy, instead of one of its most glorious victories,
for it was one of the most stubborn fights on record. For five hours
Britons and Danes fought with equal courage and determination. For
five hours they fought with equal success, and it was only through
the pertinacity of Nelson that the fortune of war fell to Britain.
This battle has a double significance, for not only did Nelson prove
his great capacity as a seaman, but also gave further evidence of
his humane character; for when the stubborn spirit of the Danes was
likely to lead to useless bloodshed he appealed "to the brothers of
Englishmen--the Danes," to recognise the fact that they were beaten,
and so prevent unnecessary carnage.
It was an action which he knew would be misunderstood and
misrepresented, but he did not falter. Fortunately his message was
received by the Crown Prince in the spirit in which it was sent, and
the battle of Copenhagen, "the most terrible of all" his engagements,
was added to the laurels of the immortal and gentle Nelson, although
because Nelson requested the cessation of hostilities, the Danes
regarded it as a drawn battle.
The following ships were engaged: "Elephant," (Vice-Admiral Nelson's
flagship), "Defiance," "Edgar," "Monarch," "Bellona," "Ganges,"
"Russell," "Agamemnon," "Ardent," "Polyphemus," "Glatton," "Isis,"
"Amazon," "Alcméne," "Blanche," "Désirée," "Jamaica," sloops "Arrow,"
"Dart," "Cruiser," and "Harpy," bomb vessels "Discovery," "Explosion,"
"Hecla," "Sulphur," "Terror," "Volcano," and "Zebra," and the brigs
"Otter" and "Zephyr."
=Trafalgar.=--Napoleon having placed the crown of Italy upon his head
(May 6th, 1805), within a fortnight declared Genoa and the Ligurian
Republic part of the French Empire. He then had hopes that Admiral
De Villeneuve would successfully escort the "Army of England," then
encamped at Boulogne, across the Channel. His plans were, however,
frustrated by the engagement forced upon Villeneuve by Admiral Sir
Robert Calder off Ferrol, while Napoleon, charging his Admiral with
cowardice, caused him to leave the harbour of Cadiz on October 19th,
1805, and the epoch-making battle off Cape Trafalgar was the result.
Owing to light winds, Villeneuve did not make the Atlantic until the
next day, and then his combined fleet of 33 French and Spanish ships
of the line, 5 French frigates, and 2 brigs, were sighted off Cape
Trafalgar by Nelson's look-out ships. It was not until next day,
however, that the fleets formed in battle array. At 6.30 a.m. the
British ships cleared for action. The English fleet comprised 27 sail
of the line, 4 frigates, a cutter and a schooner. Lord Nelson led the
Weather or Northern Division in his flagship the "Victory," while
Vice-Admiral Collingwood led the Lee or Southern Division. Just before
noon the famous signal "England expects every man to do his duty" was
run up, and the battle began. "Engage the enemy more closely" was the
only other signal given by the British Admiral, and that was when the
enemy's ship "Fougueux" had opened fire upon the "Royal Sovereign";
then followed a series of contests between the French and British
ships, which reflect the greatest credit upon the seamen of both
nations.
[Illustration: DAVISON'S MEDAL FOR THE VICTORY OF THE NILE, 1798.]
Nelson, being desirous of engaging the French Admiral's flagship, came
upon the "Bucentaure" at 12.30 p.m., when she fired upon the British
flagship, but, unheedful of the shot from this and seven other ships,
the "Victory" ploughed her way ahead in order to break the enemy's
line. For three-quarters of an hour her guns refused to bark, though
her men were falling fast from the shots which broke through her sides,
and tore her sails to shreds; but at 1 o'clock the "Victory" closely
engaged the "Bucentaure," and so well were the British shots placed
that 20 of the enemy's guns were soon dismounted and, according to a
French estimate, 400 seamen were killed. Leaving the "Bucentaure" the
"Victory" engaged the "Redoubtable" at ten minutes past 1, and the
rigging of the two ships fouling, they were locked in a deadly embrace.
Then the crews of the two vessels fought with exceeding gallantry, for
both were led by brave men, and the "Redoubtable's" captain cheered
his men on to board the "Victory"; indeed, he lowered his main-yard on
to the "Victory's" deck, and his men made a brave effort to capture
her, but those daring Frenchmen who gained her decks paid for their
effort with their lives; not, however, before they had placed 30 of the
"Victory's" crew _hors de combat_.
=Death of Nelson.=--Meanwhile, one of the sharpshooters in the
mizzen-top of the "Redoubtable" had given Viscount Nelson his death
wound. At half-past one the fatal bullet passed through his shoulder
and spine, but Britain's greatest admiral lived long enough to learn
that the victory was his, and he died at 4.30 p.m. satisfied that he
had done his duty. By 5.30 p.m. 18 of the enemy's ships had struck
their colours, and the survivors of the fight were making the best of
their way to Cadiz, but a gale coming on, the British fleet with its
prizes stood out to sea, where some of the prizes foundered with their
crews; others were driven ashore and wrecked, while four were retaken
by the enemy, so that by the time the triumphant fleet sailed into
Gibraltar Bay it only retained 4 prizes. The victory of Trafalgar had,
however, made Britain indisputable mistress of the seas, destroyed the
sea power of France and Spain, and, while it added to the laurels of
British seamen, gave to Nelson a glorious death and secured for him a
resting-place in Westminster Abbey.
The following ships were engaged in the battle: "Victory," "Royal
Sovereign," "Temeraire," "Britannia," "Conqueror," "Neptune,"
"Agamemnon," "Leviathan," "Ajax," "Africa," "Minotaur," "Orion,"
"Belleisle," "Mars," "Thunderer," "Spartiate," "Bellerophon,"
"Achille," "Colossus," "Polyphemus," "Revenge," "Dreadnought,"
"Swiftsure," "Defence," "Defiance," "Prince" and "Tonnant." "Naiad,"
"Sirius," "Euryalus" and "Phœbe" frigates. The cutter "Entreprenaute"
and the schooner "Pickle."
=Gold Medal for Trafalgar.=--As already stated, the gold medal
instituted by George III to reward the officers of Lord Howe's fleet
who took part in the action on "The Glorious" June 1st, 1794, was
afterwards awarded for all great naval victories, and among those who
received them were Nelson's officers--from post-captains upwards--who
took part in the battle of Trafalgar. The gold medal was awarded for
18 different actions, the last award being for the fight between
the "Endymion" frigate of 48 guns and the American 50-gun frigate
"President" on January 15th, 1815. See facing page 280 for smaller
type of medal as awarded to James (afterwards Right Hon. Admiral Lord
James) Gambier of the "Defence" for June 1st, 1794.
[Illustration: HORATIUS COUNT NELSON, K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE]
=Boulton's Trafalgar Medal.=--To commemorate the last and greatest of
Nelson's victories, Matthew Boulton, the partner of James Watt of the
famous Soho Works near Birmingham, decided to strike medals and present
one to each participant in the fight. The medal, 1⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter,
bears on the obverse a fine bust of Nelson, with the inscription
surrounding it HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON. K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. On the
reverse the battle is represented _en cameo_, with the famous signal
on a ribbon running with the line of the medal, and in the exergue
TRAFALGAR OCT. 21 1805. On the edge of the medal is the inscription TO
THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M. BOULTON. The medal was struck in silver
for the senior officers, and in pewter for distribution among the
junior officers and seamen. The intrinsic value of the medal did not,
however, appeal to many of the recipients of the pewter variety, and
they either refused them or threw them overboard. Those who retained
them wore them suspended from a blue ribbon. A few were struck in
bronze as proofs.
=Davison's Trafalgar Medal.=--This medal, generally supposed to have
been struck at the instance of Mr. Alexander Davison for distribution
among the surviving members of the crew of the "Victory," has on the
obverse a shield bearing the arms of Nelson, encircled by a garter
inscribed TRIA · JUNCTO · IN · UNO · ensigned by a bust of Viscount
Nelson, with a laurel branch to the left, and a palm branch to the
right, and on a scroll beneath the shield PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT and
the double inscription ADMIRAL LORD NELSON D. OF BRONTE NATUS SEP. 29TH
1758. HOSTE DEVICTO REQUIEVIT OCT. 21ST 1805 and ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY
MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY. On the reverse is a man-of-war with sails furled,
and above THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR. EXODUS C 15 V 3, whilst below is
VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE & SPAIN OCT
21 1805. Beneath the man-of-war is ~HALLIDAY FECIT~. The medals, 2 in.
in diameter, were struck in pewter or white metal, and were sometimes
framed by the recipients in gold, silver, or gilt metal rims, with a
loop for suspension from a blue ribbon.
=The Official Medal.=--It was not until June 1st, 1847, that it was
made known by a General Order that Her Majesty Queen Victoria had
commanded that a medal should be struck, not only to commemorate
the battle of Trafalgar, but to recognise the services rendered by
her fleets and armies from 1793 to 1815. The medal was ready for
distribution in January 1849, and later the naval services for which it
might be awarded were extended to 1840. The admitted claims totalled
20,900.
[Illustration: (Reverse.)
NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]
[Illustration: SULTAN'S MEDAL FOR ACRE.]
[Illustration: (Obverse.)
NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]
=The Naval General Service Medal.=--Two hundred and thirty bars were
issued with the medal, which bore upon the obverse the bust of Queen
Victoria, as on the Military General Service medal, and the legend
VICTORIA REGINA, with the date +1848+ below, and on the reverse a
figure of Britannia seated upon a sea-horse holding in her right hand
a trident, and in the left an olive branch. The medal, by Wyon, is
suspended by a straight clasp from a white ribbon with blue edges, and
the recipient's name is impressed upon the edge of the medal in Roman
capitals of the same character as those used for the M.G.S. medal.
Officers and warrant officers only had their rank described, and in
the arrangement of the bars the first action was placed nearest the
medal. Although so many bars were issued with the medal, six is the
most awarded to any one man. Dr. Payne has in his collection two with
five bars; one awarded to Thos. Hewitt, midshipman, for 1 JUNE 1794--12
OCTR 1798--4 FEB BOAT SERVICE 1804--CENTAUR 26 AUGT 180'--ALGIERS, and
another awarded to Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas) Ussher,
Kt., C.B., K.C.H., illustrated facing page 284, which also includes 1
JUNE 1794--REDWING 7 MAY 1808--REDWING 31ST MAY 1808--MAGALA 29TH APRIL
1812--2 MAY BOAT SERVICE 1813. This is a particularly rare set of bars,
for only seven of the second were issued, five of the third, seven of
the fourth, and forty-nine of the fifth.
BARS GRANTED WITH THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH THE NAMES OF THE
ACTIONS THEREON
NYMPH, 18 June 1793. 4 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Cleopatre." Captain E. Pellew, who commanded the "Nymph," was
knighted.
CRESCENT, 20 Oct. 1793. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Reunion," which was added to the British Navy under the same
name.
ZEBRA, 7 March 1794. 2 issued. Running the "Zebra" sloop alongside
the bastion of Fort Royal at Martinique, and storming and
capturing the fort.
CARYSFORT, 29 May 1794. None issued. Recapture of the "Caster."
1 June 1794 ("The Glorious First of June"). 576 issued. Defeat of
the French fleet by Lord Howe, capture of 6 sail of the line and
1 sunk. 58 vessels (for list of principal vessels engaged see
page 279).
ROMENY, 17 June 1794. 2 issued. Capture of French frigate "Sybille."
BLANCHE, 4 Jan. 1795. 5 issued. At the end of the conflict she had
a crew of 190. Capture of the French frigate "Pique."
LIVELY, 13 March 1795. 3 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Tourterelle."
14 March 1795. 111 issued. Action with French fleet, and capture
of 2 sail of the line. 22 vessels under Vice-Admiral Hotham were
engaged.
ASTRÆA, 10 April 1795. 2 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Gloire."
{ Action with four
THETIS, 17 May 1795. 3 issued. { French ships, and
{ capture of "La
HUSSAR, 17 May 1795. 1 issued. { Raison" and
{ "Prevoyante."
MOSQUITO, 9 June 1795. None issued. This was not due to delay in
issuing medals, but to the loss of the captain and crew of the
"Mosquito" soon after. Action with, and capture of, privateer.
17 June 1795. 38 issued. Brilliant repulse by Vice-Admiral
Cornwallis, of a fleet four times superior in force. 7 vessels
engaged.
23 June 1795. 201 issued. Action under Admiral Lord Bridport with
French fleet, and capture of 3 sail of the line; the "Formidable"
became the British ship "Belleisle" and the "Tigre" was also
added under its own name. The "Alexander" was a recapture. 29
vessels engaged.
DIDO, 23 June 1795. 1 only } Action with the French
issued. } frigates "Minerve"
LOWESTOFFE, 24 June 1795. } and "Artemise," and
6 issued. } capture of the former.
SPIDER, 25 Aug. 1795. 1 only issued. Action with 2 French brigs,
and capture of 1. This medal realised £33 at the Gaskill sale.
PORT SPERGUI, 17 March 1796. 4 issued to survivors of the
"Diamond," "Liberty," and "Aristocrat." Destroying the batteries
at Port Spergui, and destroying the corvette "Etourdie," 4 brigs,
2 sloops, and 1 lugger.
INDEFATIGABLE, 20 April 1796. 6 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Virginia," in the English Channel.