The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-08

to his MaJesty's squadron nineteen
ships of the line (of which three are
first rates-the Santissin:a, Trini-
dad, and the Santa Anna), with
three Flag Officers, viz, Admiral
Villineuve the Commander in Chief
Don lgnatis D'Alivia, Vice Admil al :;
and the Spanish Rear Admiral, Don
Bathagar Hidalgo -Cisneros.
After such victory it may APP
pear unnecessary to enter into en-
comlums on the particular parts
taken by the several Commanders :;
the conclusion says more on the sub
Ject than | have language to ex.
press; the spirit which animated all
was the same; when all exert them
selves zealously in their couAtry's
service, all derserve that their high
merits should stand recorded; and
never was high merit more conspic.
uOas than in the battle | have de-
scribed
The Achile "a French 40, after
having surrendered by some mis-
management the Frenchman took
ire and blew up; two hundred of
her men were saved by the Tenders.
"A circumstance occurred during
the action which so strongly marks
the lnvincible spirit of British sea-
men when engaging the enemy's of
their country, that | cannot resist
the pleasure l have in making it
known to their Lordships. The
Iemeraire was boarded by accident
or design by a French ship on one
side and a Spaniard on the other:
the contest was vigorous, but in the
end the Combined Ensigns were
torn from the poOps and the British
hoisted in their places. Such bat.
tie could not be fought without sus-
tanning a great loss of men. | have
not only to lament in common with
the British navy and the British
Nation in the fall of the Commander
III Chief, the loss of a hero whose
name will be immortal and whose
memory ever dear to his country:
but my heart is rent with the most
poignant grief for the death of a
friend to whom by many years in.
timacy and a perfect knowledge Of
the virtues of his mind, which in
splred ideas superior to the common
race OF men, [ was bound by the
strongest ties of affection: a grief
to which the glorious occasion IN
which he fell does not bring the
consolation which perhaps it ought.
His Lordship received a musket ball
in his left breast about the middle
OF the action, and sent an officer to
me Immediately with his last fare
we'll, and soon after expired.
have also to lament the loss of
those excellent Officers Captains
Duff, of the Mars, and Cooke, of the
Bellerophen; l have yet heard of
none others. | fear the numbers
that have fallen will be found very
great, when the returns come to
me; but it having blown a gale of
wind ever since the action, l have
not yet had it in my power to col
lect any reports from the ships.
The Royal Sovereign having lost
her masts, except the tottering fore
mast, l called the Euryalus to me
while the action continued, which
ship lying within hail made my
signals-a service Captain Black
wood performed with great atten-
ton; after the action l shifted my
flag to her, that l might more easily
communicate any orders to, and col
lect the ships, and towed the Royal
Sovereign out to seward. The
whole fleet were now in a very peri
lous position, many dismasted, all
sattered, in thirteen fathom of water
off the shoals of Trafalgar; and
when made the signal to prepare
to anchor few of the ships had an
anchor to let 60, their cables being
shot; but the same good Providence
which aided us through the day pre-
served us through the night, by the
wind shifting few points, and
drifting the ships off the land, ex-
cept four of the captured dismasted
ships, which are now at anchor off
Trafalgar, and l hope will ride safe
until these gales are over.
Having thus detailed the proceed
ings Of the fleet on this occasion,
beg to congratulate their Lord
ships on victory which / hope will
add a ray to the glory Of his Ma
jesty's crown, and be attended with
public benefit to our country. 1 am,
&C., (Signed),
G. COLLINGWOOD.
William Marsden, Esq.
The order in which the ships of
the British Squadron attacked the
combined Fleets on the 21st of Oc-
tober, 1906.
VAN. REAR