Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-15
NELSON Ar COPENHAGEN.
His Refusal to See the signal of Recall
From Admiral Parker.

Captain Alh I'd Il. Mahan, the great
naval tactcian, has an article on NELSON
In the Battle of Copenhagen in The Cen
tury. As 10 the demeanor of Lord Nelson,
Captain Mahan, quoting from Colonel
Stewart gives the following description
when the signal from the London, No
80, was made, the signal lieutenant report
ed IL 10 him. He continued his walk, and
did not appear 10 take notice OF IT, The
lieutenant, meeting his lordship at the
next turn, asked whether he should repeat
it-by which, If done, the squadron en-.
gagged would retire TO the northward. Lord
Nelson answered. No. Acknowledge il. ,
On the officer returning To the poop, his
lordship called after him, Is No. Is flor
close action) still hoistcdy' The lieutenant
answering In the affirmative, Lord Nelson
said, Mind you keep IL So He now
walked the deck considerably agitated,
which was always known by his moving
the stump of his right arm.
after turn or two he said To me i'm a
quick manner, DO you know what's
shown on board the commander i'm chief,
No. 1922 On asking what that meant, he
answered: Why, to leave off action. Leave
off action, he repeated and then added
with IA shrug, Now, d-n me if / dor
He also observed | believe, to Captain
Foley: You know, Foley, have only one
eye. i have right To be blind sometimes, ;
and then, with an archness peculiar TO his
character, putting the glass to his blind
eye, he exclaimed, l really do not see the
signal.
Professor Laughton, whose authority on
matters relating to Nelson is second to that
Of no one living, has lately told us in his
Life of Nelson" that this little display
was but joke Nelson having received II
message from Parker that he was To use
his own discretion as to obeying the signal
IL so, IL is not improbable that he had in
view the effect of his manner upon the
many bystanders who must have witnessed
the scene in the midst OF yet doubtful and
desperate battle. Ii is the converse Of the
outward bearing which he reprehended in
the lieutenant The moral effect of such
self possession is indescribable. The Mon
arch's midshipman already quoted speaks
thus of wounded and disabled officer on
board of her, when the carnage was
greatest, he encouraged his men by ap-
plauding their conduct and frequently be-
gan huZza, which is of more importance
than might generally be imagined, for the
men have no other communication
throughout the ship, but when shout is
set up it runs from deck to deck, and they
know that their comrades are, some of
them, alive and in good spirits
As Parker's messenger, Captain Otway,
did not reach Nelson until after the signal
was hoisted, it is possible the scene wit
messed by Stewart occurred before Nelson
knew Parker's purpose Parker's private
secretary, who afterward served in the same
capacity with Nelson for two years, has
also affirmed that there was previous I'M
Outstanding between the two admirals
The matter is of less consequence than ap-
pears, for the supreme merit of Lord Mel
son was not the disregarding of the signal
but the sound Judgment and tenacity with
which he refused to incur the risk of Civ
ing ground at that moment. This WAS
wholly his