Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01

| was for close action--and they were no
| disappointed.
| Nelson formed his fleet In two divisions.
| each ip single column. the simplest and
! most flexible order Of attack, says Cap
| tain Mahan. and the one whose regularity
| Is most easily preserved. The single col
umn, however, unfianked sacrifices during
the critical period OF closing the support
given by the rear snip to the leader. and
draws upon the latter the concentrated
fire OF the enemy's line. Although a col
umn OF ships does not possess the sustain
ed momentum OF column Of men. whose
depth and mass combine to drive II
through the relatively thin resistance OF
line and 80 cut the latter in twain, the
results nevertheless are closely analo-
gous. The leaders in either case are sac
rihced-success is won over their pros
trate forms; but the continued impact
upon one part Of the enemy's order Is
essentially a concentration. the issue or
which, il long maintained. cannot be
doubtful. Penetration, severance and the
enveloplng OF one of the parted frag-
ments must bs the result. So, exactly, 1t
was at Trafalgar.
To the British advance the allies OPP
posed the traditional order OF battle. a
long single line. close-hauled. The dis
nearly five miles. Owing to the lightness
OF the breeze, the great number OF ships.
and the inefiiciency of many OF the units
OF the feet the line was very imperfectiy
formed. Ships were not in their places
intervals were OF irregular width. here
vessels were not closed up, there two
overiapped. one masking the others nre.
The general result was that instead OF a
line the allied order showed curve OF
49, van
ships in the British feet, and their al
lied opponents outnumbered them TO the
extent of half dozen.
The Victory. in keeping with the cou-
rage of Nelson, was the van ship OF the
British column. AS it bore the nag Oh
the C0mmander-in chief, II was inevitable
that it would draw down the concen-
trated force Of the enemy's fire, but the
remonstrance Of the officers and the suS-
gestion that another ship should slip
ahead and take the brunt of the fire was
met with a careless laugh and good
natured refusal on the part of the brave
commander. 1t was just before noon that
the French Fougueux opened nre upon
VIce-Admiral Collingwood in the Royal
Sovereign, and as though IL had been a
signal the two admirals' flags broke aut
at their foremast heads. and the ships or
DOtQ meets nOl5LtO lL1AA NiAoiSAAH. ~
wind was light the sea oil-smoOth. and
the giaring sun from out a cobalt sky
bIazed down upon them. Then the gray
powder smoke filed the air in thicker
volumes and the flags and the ships
themselves disappeared in its mist, and
only the Iurid crimson flashes of the
guns shone out 10 tell that the
fight had begun from every battery
that had drawn into range. Two hours
after the battle had begun the allied fleet
was cut in two, the rear enyeloped, and In
process OF being destroyed ia detail. In
the mean time the commander OF the
British fleet lay dying in the cockpit Of
the Victory. Though in eXcruciating
pain. he still gave orders till death sealed
his lips, when the command was given
over 10 CollingwOod- IL had been Mel
sons dying request that both fleet and
prizes should come to anchor as soon as
practicable. This however. was against
the judgment Of the new commander.
The fleet was not anchored. and the Bril-
fish ships and their prizes were ordered
to stand out TO set. But q heavy gale
frustrated their efforts and Of the eigh-
teen prizes captured four were retaken
BY the allied ships, some were driven
ashore and wrecked. some foundered, enc
was scuttled, and OF the total only four
were brought safely TO the British naval
station at Gibraltar bay. 1t was the
greatest Of English naval battles. and the
victory was due TO the genius OF one man,
and he died in the moment OF his triumph.