24 to 25 Vendemiaire Year 14 From midday to 6pm At 2pm it rained, stormy weather, cold westerly wind windy at sunset there was still a squall to the west with wind and rain the enemies stood out to sea From 6pm to midnight the weather improved slightly, but lots of large clouds all over the stormy sky, the wind still a cold westerly, at 11pm the rain returned From midnight to 4am no change in the wind for the rest of the night at 2am the rain returned and continued until 4am weather continually stormy From 4am to 8am at daybreak the sky was completely overcast continual cold westerly wind, the weather brightened up a little above us we could not make out the enemies from the masthead it seems that [they] must have tacked towards the straits, because of the stormy, overcast weather today, we sighted 5 sail of which two were in full view to the south and three fairly close From 8am to midday during the morning the weather cleared up gentle cold west wind sunny, the admiral was on board the *Formidable*. 

25 to 26 Vendemiaire year 14 From midday to 6pm weather clear and hot, gentle WSW breeze, the enemy out to sea and nothing new among the fleet, the sky was overcast on the horizon two enemy frigates hove to near the town and lots of other sails in sight. Admiral Villeneuve left the ship Indontable [*Indomptable*] at 5pm, after dinner same wind and same weather From 6pm to midnight Clear, almost calm weather throughout the watch. 

 
From midnight to 4am Entire sky clear, and calm throughout the watch From four to eight clear and calm weather, at 5am hands were called to clean ship at 7.30 the admiral put his sails out to dry, as did we and several other ships in the fleet. The enemy appeared during the watch numbering five sails, and no movement in the harbour. From eight am to midday Clear weather, hot and calm for most of the watch, at 9.30 we sounded general quarters, sent every man to his post and exercised until 11.15, during the entire watch the enemy was visible numbering five sails during the watch the vessel *Rayo* was busy tripping her anchors no other movements in the fleet. 

26 to 27 Vendemiaire year 14 From midday to 6pm light westerly wind, good weather clear on all sides, at 5pm the admiral called  
the whole fleet to order a moment later for us to double anchor and call all the crew back aboard the enemies appeared numbering four frigates and a schooner one league from the town keeping to the west the wind constantly the same clear and bright weather at 5.30 order to bring the boats aboard and single anchor from 6pm to midnight at 11.30 a boat from the general's ship arrived and told us to raise the SE anchor and remain on the NW at the same time signal to turn at anchor, followed by one to turn on the SE anchor. And being at anchor we sent a boat over to the *Santisima Trinidad* to  
ask her which anchor she was going to raise first she replied that it was the NW and that then she would come on to her SE. This manoeuvre forced us to stay at anchor unable to unmoor without hitting this vessel. The current being strong and the wind in the NNE. 

26 to 27 Vendemiaire year 14 continued from 8 to midday we waited our turn to get under sail but the weather stayed calm the tide against us those who were under sail made no headway, the admiral called us to order for the sick men the enemies took flight still firing cannon shots from time to time at 11am we called a boat from the *Fougueux* and from the *Aigle* for the sick coming from the admiral's ship at 11.30 a SW wind arose calm weather very clear on all sides and very hot 
27 to 28 Vendemiaire year 14 from midday to 6pm several vessels and frigates had passed the town they made short tacks to wait for us since a cold westerly wind had set in at 4pm the admiral signalled the vessels with wind behind them to get under sail we were almost all moving some to lengthen [?] others [?] without sails, the admiral called us to order several times, the first time for the sick, the second time for two ?more oxen that the second cutter had brought aboard, the weather very clear, the enemy always observing us, but from a great distance, forced away by our frigates that were [?keeping watch] at 5.30 the pinnace brought us some fresh bread, at the same time the admiral signalled to the boats under sail to anchor From 6pm to midnight wind changeable NNW to NW very cold, sunny a local boat brought us fresh bread, at 8pm we sheered off the wind coming and decreasing, varying continually towards the north, slight nearly calm 
27 to 28 Vendemiaire year 14 continued From midnight to four in the morning calm the rest of the night a few small gusts of wind from the SE weather overcast on the horizon From 4am to 8am a SE wind, veering towards the south weather overcast on all sides by day the enemy appeared observing us numbering 6 sails, but very distant, at 6.30 the general signalled the fleet to get under way without another signal at 7.30 signal for general quarters we turned at anchor and tripped the anchor straight away but without setting the royals or topsails and made to leave port at 8am we were all under sail apart from the Spanish ship *Rayo* one of the frigates she [?] had fired her broadside without being able to distinguish the result of this precipitate misfortune From 8am to midday At 8.30 we were moving, De Porquer, the local pilot left us stormy weather overcast in all directions cold South wind we had hoisted the royals making sail to the West by the compass the sea was calm the general not having signalled any battle order at 9.30 during a rainy squall with [?light] wind Admiral Dumanoir signalled 'man overboard' he turned as much as possible but it was all in vain the man was lost as we were in the admiral's wake we saw a hat and presumed it belonged to the unfortunate man, the admiral signalled at the same time to the whole fleet to take in a reef on each topsail then finally gathered at 10 am the *Rayo* appeared leaving the bay the end of the channel remained to the SE by E about two leagues distant at 11am the wind changed to the SW with rainy squalls and wind we took in two more reefs on the topsails signalled by the admiral From midday on the 28 to midday on the 29 Vendemiaire From midday to 6pm an American Corvette passed us very close by and was visited by observers at 1pm the admiral signalled to make all sail, regroup, and to advance in three columns at 2 pm the columns were formed, the weather brightened up the wind changed to a moderate westerly we had a quartering breeze at 3pm the admiral signalled to wear and hold the wind the generals took the centre of each column at 3.30 sighted Cadiz to the [?ESE] 
about 5 leagues distant, we had 4 enemy ships behind us to the SW we sent several signals at sunset windy, foggy horizon From 6 to midnight at 8.30 in the evening after having seen several signals made to the enemy we slowed to form the line of battle and spent the entire night executing this manoeuvre the course during the watch was SW by S on which we travelled 11 ¼ miles, with a light fresh WNW wind. 29-30 From midnight to 4am the enemy stayed to windward and signalled several times we had ?grouped together but were not in formation brought to several times under topsails, staysails, jib and flying jib, several vessels passed close by us […]
28 - 29 Vendemiaire an 14 continued The rest of the night light wind calm weather without topsails or royals and  
the enemy still making signals From 4 am to 8 am At 6.30 we sighted land to the SE which we took to be Cadiz and at sunrise we made out 31 sails large and small at 7am the general gave the signal to form a natural line of battle the enemies were already approaching independently the west wind was very light and we could barely ?steer. From 8am to midday changed heading to get ourselves into line because ?hove to we could [not] steer From 8 to midday at 9am order to the fleet to turn about [?] after this we could ?steer the enemies still approaching us wind behind [them] but in disarray [?] because of the lack of wind However they were still gaining the enemy divided into two columns, one came to take the tail of our fleet and the other the head, the wind still light impeding our ability to get into order 29-30 Vendemiaire from midday to 6pm at one the centre of the fleet opened fire the weather overcast on the horizon the wind still insufficient to port even under topsails [torn] at 1.15 the head of the fleet started but we were too far away, at 1.30 the whole fleet had fired at the same moment we began to see a three decker lose its main topmast a moment after this a three decked vessel lost all its masts the Bu[*centau*]re lost its mainmast and topmast at 2.30 Admiral Dumanoir signalled the head to turn about the whole English fleet had gone towards the centre there was so little wind when going about that we were [page torn] with the *Intrepide* but we could not [?get any wind in the sails apart from a little on the bowsprit] at 3pm the *Trenité* had lost all its masts the Bu[*centaure*] looked to be suffering the same fate. 

29 - 30 Vendemiaire continued continuation of midday to 6pm at 3pm our topgallant mast was damaged at 4pm we recommenced firing at 4.30pm a vessel caught fire whose nationality we assumed was English Two english vessels were alongside at the same time we were fighting each other in disorder the two vessels mentioned were de-masted while boarding we saw 15 de-masted vessels including one on fire at 5pm the battle ended, at 5.30 the sun set saw Cape Trafalgar to the East by South 6 or 7 
leagues distant, at 6 in the evening the vessel that was on fire exploded General Dumanoir signalled us to follow his manoeuvre to starboard with topsails, mainsails and topgallants hoisted the weather overcast with a westerly wind From 6pm to midnight Starboard under all sail variable light SW wind, calm sea overcast but mild at midnight tacked into the wind on General Dumanoir's orders who let us know that he wanted us to follow his manoeuvres we were four vessels separated from the fleet From midnight to 4pm After tacking we sheeted the mainsail, trimmed the topsails and topgallants, to approach the general at 1.30 we furled and raised the topsails and topgallants and the furled mainsail This sail setting brought us closer to the admiral weather overcast and a cold wind 
29-30 Vendemiaire continued From 4 in the morning to 8 at 6 we sighted Cape Espartel to the South/ESE 10 leagues distant wind set SSW and SW, cold weather overcast at 6 in the morning took in two reefs on the fore topsail because the fore topmast ?was damaged at 6.30 the lookout at the masthead sighted 27 sails to the NE and one to the SW took in two reefs on the mizzen topgallant signalled our ?situation to the general rainy weather wind the same direction to port 
[?] topsails from 8am to midday rainy weather, wind SSW at 10am we were close behind the *Formidable* and we held this position during the entire watch with our courses and topsails at 11.30 we took in a reef on the general's orders at the same time he signalled 'to north' we assumed he meant to say change to a northerly course. 

EXCERPT 
7-8 Brumaire year 14 From 8 to midday At quarter to nine we were forced to reduce sail, the general having broken his main topsail yard, weather overcast and stormy, with occasional squalls. With this manoeuvre we passed close astern of the admiral Who asked us if we had a pilot from the West Coast aboard, which we did not
8-9 Brumaire year 14 From Midday to 6 o'clock At One O'Clock the *Duguay-Trouin* signalled a sail to NNE the general immediately signalled us to chase it, left the rest behind and set a course for him [time unclear] we were within range and hove to on the port side, lowered the boat and visited him, his name was the Ondermerning Cap[itai]n Robert Graf 120 T[ons] coming from Emden in Prussia, seven weeks out, heading to Guadeloupe [?] 
with a cargo of coal [?earth] and [?merchandise] 
he told us he had encountered three English ships of the line and a brig off Cape Finisterre heading towards the SW two weeks ago, weather foggy under all sail to rejoin the general, at Six O'Clock passed him our news… 
11-12 Brumaire year 14 At half-past Midday the admiral ordered us to chase a ship which was holding to ESE of us, a frigate we put on all sail straight away and chased it. it held position for half an hour, signalling at 1pm she sailed away with the wind behind like us; at 2.30 the admiral signalled to ask if we were catching the ship, we replied that we were a moment later we sighted another sail to the ENE heading aft starboard, at 3.30 the admiral signalled us 'general rallying'; at the same time we reduced sail to meet up with the admiral  
at which point we sighted Cape Finisterre to SSE, at 4pm the admiral signalled us to pass astern at 5pm we were astern of the admiral, who told us he had decided to go and Reconnoitre Cape Priol which would occur during the night watch to pay attention to his manoeuvres and to follow and observe the course of the vessels who were following us From 6pm to Midnight Told the *Duguay-Trouin* of the order given to us by the admiral to cross his stern also during the night  we realised that the ship seen in the day was an enemy by the signals that they made at each point of the watch, they were similar to ours [?] we could make out by moonlight at 10pm we changed course under the wind all sail on the port quarter, the enemy pursuing us always very closely, weather overcast and rainy. From midnight to 2am we heard several cannon shots from the enemies pursuing us, for the duration of the watch light rain and a small Westerly wind always remaining near the general forcing sail From 4am to 8 am [?] raised and lowered to starboard wind SW gentle cold rain for the duration of the watch calm sea course to ENE of the compass, seeing ?making way less than our companions we sent all the crew aft to see if there was a problem with the trim 11-12 Brumaire continued From Eight to Midday foggy weather, calm sea, light wind from the SW at 9.30 the [sky] cleared in the WSW part; at the same time we spotted four sails; at 10 am we saw five also in the SW and at 11 am 8 in the same wind, we still continued our course forcing all sail. from the 12 to the 13 Brumaire year 14 the enemies did not seem to be gaining much on us they numbered 6  
sails we were under sail to match that of the general since he was the slowest of us all weather overcast, good visibility, calm sea at 4.30 the admiral signaled us to pass astern of him, he told us of his plans, above all if the enemies attack us during the night that we should beat a retreat and the good sailers should station themselves abeam of us and the *Duguay-Trouin* to facilitate this movement he also told us that during the night we would make a course ENE by the compass and to pass what he had said above on to the *Duguay-Trouin* he said several other things, but nothing of significance From 6pm to midnight Clear weather with moonlight, calm sea, and light SSW breeze, all sails out except the mainsail; the enemy being always visible to our rear From midnight to 4pm A ship from the enemy fleet seemed to have gained on us, the others did not appear during the night the weather overcast around the horizon good visibility light SSE wind under all sail except the mainsail heavy rain approaching from the rear starboard quarter, very calm sea 
12-13 Brumaire continued From 4 to 8 am clear weather, light SSE breeze almost calm, at five am beat to  
quarters, at 6.30 the admiral signalled us to prepare ourselves, since an enemy frigate had already fired several cannon at us at 7.30 the admiral and our Commander Villesgris decided to attack the enemy at the same time the admiral signalled the Duguay-Trouin to turn into the wind which was cancelled at 8 a.m. the battle commenced that is to say a frigate from the vanguard of our enemy fired at us from time to time the ship Duguay-Trouin began returning fire with a few shots from its aft cannon the fleet approached us little by little but not in formation From 8 a.m. to midday we [turned to] starboard as did the enemies without all sail light SE wind weather overcast and cold at 8.35 we began to open fire, with our aft cannon, followed by the Formidable at 9.30 the ship *Scipion* turned on the admiral's orders to take the tail and advance in a diamond formation which we formed immediately at 10 discovered a sail to the north, we had 8 in sight 5 very close and 3 far away a second frigate came to fire at us, one from the starboard hawse hole and one directly behind we took [?course] from time to time to fire at it from the batteries, at 10 signal to four ships to repeat their signals the enemy ships approached us they were within two cannon shots at 11 order to the fleet to keep the wind on the starboard quarter as we were in formation we moved quickly into line of battle, the enemies were almost in range at 11.30 signal to the fleet to turn into line. 

From the 13th to the 14th Brumaire Year 14 At noon Signal for tacking in an adverse direction. The Enemy commenced  
firing Still the Frigates continued the Signals for tacking in that direction. At One Wind afore the whole squadron tackt The Enemy's fleet tacked also. at half past one the Enemy was reinforced by one ship had four line of Battle ships and four Frigates The Enemy's fire was most Violent to Leeward of us. Our Squadron lay to Windward. At two Oclock the Scipion lost her main top Mast. 

At a quarter past two the *Formidable* struck. at half past two  
the *Scipion* did the same and at three quarters past three our Ship and the *Duguay Trouin* also Struck. The fire was most rapidly kept up on both sides. all our Rigging was cut to pieces Moderate Weather and a Calm Sea alone kept our Masts up. Faithfully translated from the French Language [last page only] by me  
the Undersigned in London the 2nd December 1805 
Which I attest Je de Pinna Not.Pub: