The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21

Just named, that tho combined fleets Of Franc,
and Spain put TO sea with the fxed purpose Of
daring the hazard Of battle. They numbered
thirty.three ships Of the lino-eightoon French
and fifteen Spanish-ana were accompanied by
five frigates and two briggs, all of which were
French. This great force In It's aggregate was
one. There wore not two separate en-.
titles Of q Fronch feet, and q Spanish
feet acting in concert, as ia often
the case in alliances. Whatever were the
administrative arrangements, for cruising and
for battles. Tho vessels Of the two nations wero
blended In q single mass, at the head Of which
was tho French Admiral, just as the general
direction Of the naval campaign was In the hands
of the French Emperor alone. Tho commander
in-chief was vice,Admiral villonouv e,tho
same that Nelson had pursued TO the West
Indies and back to Europe. Tho commander of
the Spanish contingent, vice-Admiral Gravina,
was less his colleague than his subordinate.
There were also flying In the combined
fleet the flags Of four Junior Admirals, two
French and two Spanish, and the broad
p%ennants Of several Commodores. In tho
allied force there were four tbrcc-decked ships
Of from 100 to 100 guns. all Spanish, of which
one, tho santissima Trinidad, was tho largest
vessel thon aloat. Among Nelson's twenty
seven there werc seven three-deckers OF 90 to
100 guns. but, in tho lower rates, the British
were at a disadvantage, having but ono sO-gun
ship and three sixty-fours, whereas the allies
had six of the former and only one of the latter.
All tho other vessels Of the line Of battle were
seventy-fours, tho normal medium type, upon
which the experience Of most navies Of that day
had fixed as best fitted for the general purposes
Of fleet warfare.
The movements of the allies noticed on Dot. 10th
was communicated to Nelson at halfpast nine
In the morning. Accordinu 70 hi, announced
plan, to cut the enemy of from the Mediter-
ranean, he at once made signals for q general
chase to the southeast, and the British fleet
moved off In that direction with q light south
erly wind. At noon. Nelson sat down In his
cabin to begin his last letter to the possessor
of his heart, Lady Hamilton. Tho words
then written no signed as though conscious
that no opportunity to continue might offer;
the following day, however. no added q few
lines in which tho dominant note was fear
that the enomy might again eludo him by re-
turning into port; an apprehension that expelled
the previous haunting sense of ~inality. There
he laid down the pen, never again to address her
directly. The letter thus abruptly closed by
death was found open and unsigned upon his
desk after the battle: MY dearest beloved
Emma. the dear friend of my bosom: The signal
has been made that the enemy's combined feet
are coming out Of port. We have very little
wind. so that l have no hope of seeing them be-
fore tomorrow. May the God OF battles crown
my cndeavors with success; at all events, l will
take care that my name shall ever be most dear
to you and Horatia, both of whom l love as much
as my own life. And, as my last writing before
the battle will be to you, 80 l hope in God that 1
shall live to finish my letter after the battle.
May heaven bless you, prays your Nelson and
He wrote the same day to his daughter
1Y Lady hamilton addraaofr- Tho lattn.. - Nr...
Nelson Thompson. by which name she
had hitherto been known. In the codicil to his
Will, signed on the morning of the 21st, a few
hours before the battle. he called her, as we shall
his adopted daughter. and desired that she
in future. use the name OF Nelson only. |
The letter ran thus: my Dearest Angel: 1 was |
made happy by the pleasure Of receiving your let
tero Sept. 10, and I rejoice to hear that you are
30 very good a girl and love my dear Lady Hamil-
who most dearly loves you. Give her a kiss
for me. The combined fleets Of the enemy are
now reported to be coming out of Cadiz; there
fore 1 answer your letter. my dearest Horatia, |
70 marx 70 you that you arc ever uppermost in
my thoughts. / shall be sure of your prayers
for my safety. conquest, and speedy return to
dear Merton and our dearest good Lady Hamil- |
Be q good girl; mind what Miss Connor |
says TO you. Receive, my dearest Horatia, the |
parental blessing of your father. |
and Bronte."
The main bodies of the contending fleets did
come in sight OF each other during the Goth. |
and 1t was not until the morning Of the 21st
hat tho British fleet was deserted heading to |
The northward and that of tho allies to the
southwark. the latter being ton or twelve miles |
OF their opponent. In the far distance Cane |
from which the battle takes its name, |
was just visible against the eastern skies. At
'wenty minutes before 7 Nelson made In quick
the signal to Form the order of |
falling which. by his previous Instructions, |
vas to be tho order of battle. and to Prepare
or battle Ten minutes later followed the
command to Bear up" Nelson's ship. the
setting tho example by at once
her course for the enemy. Colling-
wood did the same, and tho ships of tho
divisions fell into tho wake of their
eaders as best they could, for the light
Wind afforded neither the means nor the time
or rennements In handwriting. Fourteen ships
oliowed the Royal Sovereign. which bore Col
flag. while the remaining twelve
in Nelson's division behind the Vic
DRY. The two columns stored east. about a
nile apart, that Of Nelson being to the north
ward, from which circumstance. the wind being
Test-northwest, 1t has been called, commonly.
he weather line. When the development of tho
'ritish movement was recognized by Vile
he saw that fighting was inevitable, and.
Wishing to keep Cadiz. then twenty miles to tho
and eastward, under his lee, he or.
Tered the combined fleets to wear together. The
canty wind. which embarrassed the British, i'm
'eded this manGnvre also. so that it was not
completed till near 10 o'clock. Nelson, however.
'oted its beginning at 7. an6 with grave
oncern. for not only would 1t put the
lilies nearer their port. as 1t was in
ended to do. but 1t would cause vessels
in tho action to find to Toward of them.
Turing the gale which he forcsaw, the dangerous
hoals off Trafalgar, instead of the open refuge
the Straits. The appreciation of the peril
hus entailed led him to make a signal for ali tho
hips to be prepared to anchor after the battle.
or it was not to be hoped that the spars of many
I them would DO in a condition to bear sail.
he result OF the movement of the allies was 10
nvert their order. Their ships. which had been
teering south. now all headed north. The van
ecame the rear; Gravina, who had boon leading
no column. was In the roar ship. and 1t was upon
his rear, but still the southern flank OF the hostile
rraY. that the weight NJ Cnllinpwnoa,a a,..o,.