Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-12-24


ing, a mode oi attack his Lordsh,p had
previously directed, to avoid the incouve-
niencs & -delay in forming a line OF battle !
in the usual manner. The enemy:s line
consisted of thity-thrce ships (of wbics'I
lS were Frerch and S Sranish) com.
manded by Admiral Villencuve, the Spa
njards, Under the direction Of Grayina,
were with their heads 70 the northward, SC
formed their fine of battle with great
closeness and correSaess; but as tic mode
OF attack was unusual, so the structure of
their line was new; it. formed crescent
converting To leeward; 80 that, in leading
d,wh 10 theircen.re,l had both theiryan &
rear abah the beam; before tire fire OPEN !
CT, evsrY al nate ship was about cables
length 10 windwsrd of her second, head
and astern forming kind ola double line,
ADD appeared, when on their beam, 10
have very little interval between them
and this without crowding their ships.
Admiral yiIlsneuve was in the Bucen.
isure IL the cenire,and the Pence OF as
tnrlas ore CRAVINGS bag in The rear; u
The French aud Spanish ships wcrs mix.
ed without any apparent regard to order
ofnaiicrel squadron.
AS the mode OF cur attack had been pre-
viously determined on, and communicated
10 the aag. officers and captains, few sig
nails were necessary, and none made, ex-
cep, 10 direct close order as The lines bore
down.
The commander in chief in the Vieto.
~ led the weather column, and the Royal
Sovereign, which bore my flag, the lee.
The ac,ion began at ~ o'clock by the
leading ships of the colsmns breaking The
enemy's line, the commander in Chief a.
bout the tenth ship from the van, the SC.
cond in commend about the twelfth from
The rear, leaving the van of,he enemy un.
occupied the succeeding ships breaking
ihroughin al. parts, astern of their leaders,
add engaging the enemy a, the muzzles Of
| their gunsi the conniel was severe the
enemies SHIPS were fought witha gsliaHtIy
highly honorable TO their officers, but the
attack on them was irresistible and il
plcasedtbe Almighty disposee Of all e.
vents 10 grant his majrsty's arms corr
| piete and glorinAs victory. About 5 p.
NJ. many of the enemies ships having.
struck their colcrs, their line gave way |:
Admirsl CgayiRa, with ten ships jois,ng
their irigagcs 10 lerwatd STOOD toa ards
Cadiz. The FIVE hcadmost ships, IN their.
van tackled, and standing TO the sou b ward,
10 windwsrd OF ii,c Bunsh line, were en-.
gagged, -nd liie stenmost OF them taken !;
The others wen, off, leaving 10 his Males
iy's squadron nineteen ships the line tof
which $50 are first rates, the Ssntisshna
Trinidad and The Santa Anns) wnh three
ing officers, VIZ. Adshirsi Villeneuvs, (,he
commsnder in chief Don Igna,io Maria
D'hhya, Vice ADMIRAL, and the Spanish
iear.adHiral, Don Baltazar HIdalgo Cis-
neros.
| Alter such victory, II may appear un.
| necessary TO enter into encomiuIns on me
| particular psrts taken by TIA several com.
manders the conclusion says NOR. on the
subject than have language TO express:
tho spirit which animated all was the
same when all exert themselves jealous.
ly in their country's service, all deserve
| that their high merit, should stand recor
ded; and never was high merit nsre
conspicuous than in tue battle have de.
! scribcd.
The Achilles "a French ~ after having
surrendered By some Encouragement OF
the Frenchmen, took FIRE and blew up
two hundred of her men were saved BY
the tenders.
a circumstance occurred during the ac-
ton, which so strongly marks The inyinci.
bic spirit OF British seamen, when eneag-
! ing the enemies oftheir country, lha,
have in making it known to their lord
ships; the Temefaire was boarded BY &c ;.
cident or design, by French ship, on one
side, and a Spaniard on The other the
coptes, was. vigorous, bui in the end. The
coRibined ensigns were torn from the
poop, and the British hoisted 10 their pla.
ces.
Such a battle could not be fought with.
out sustaining great loss Of men. | have
not only 10 lament, IN common with the
British Navy, and The British nation, io
the fall of,he Commander IN Chief, the
loss Of Hero. whose name viii be mn
mortal, and his memory ever dear 10 hi,
county but my heart is rent with the
most poignant grief Cor ne death of friend.
to whom, by many years intimacy. and a
perica knowledge Of the virtues of his
mind, which inspired ideas superior 10
the common race ofmen,I w,s bound by