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Accounts of the Battle
'A Few Remarks Relative to Myself in the Captain, in which my Pendant was Flying on the Most Glorious Valentine's Day, 1797' - draft, written in Nelson's hand and signed by him.
On the 13th February, at 6pm, shifted my Pendant from La Minerve Frigate to the Captain.
Valentine's day, at daylight, signal to prepare for Battle: at 10, saw some
strange Ships standing across the van of our Fleet, on the larboard tack,
which was sailing in two divisions, eight in the weather, seven in the lee,
on the starboard tack. About 11, signal to form the Line, as most
convenient. At twenty-five past 11, the Action commenced in the Van,
then passing through the Enemy's Line. About 1 am, the Captain having
passed the sternmost of the Enemy's Ships, which formed their Van,
consisting of Seventeen Sail of the Line, and perceiving the Spanish Fleet
to bear up before the wind, evidently with an intention of forming their
Line, going large - joining their separated division - or flying from us; to
prevent either of their schemes from taking effect, I ordered the Ship to be
wore, and passing between the Diadem and Excellent, at ten minutes past 1
o'clock, I was in close Action with the Van, and, of course, leewardmost of
the Spanish Fleet. The Ships which I know were the Santa Trinidad, San
Josef, Salvador del Mundo, San Nicolas, San Isidro, another First-rate and
Seventy-four, names not known. I was immediately joined and most nobly
supported by the Culloden, Captain Troubridge. The Spanish Fleet, from
not wishing, I suppose, to have a decisive Battle, hauled to the wind on the
larboard tack, which brought the Ships above mentioned to be the leewardmost
Ships in their Fleet. For an hour the Culloden and Captain supported
this apparently, but not in reality, unequal contest, when the Blenheim,
passing to windward of us and ahead, eased us a little. By this time
the Salvador del Mundo and San Isidro dropped astern, and were fired into in
a masterly style by the Excellent, Captain Collingwood, who compelled them
to hoist English colours, when, disdaining the parade of taking possession
of beaten Enemies, he most gallantly pushed up to save his old friend and
messmate, who was to appearance in a critical situation: the Blenheim having
fallen to leeward, and the Culloden crippled and astern, the Captain at this
time being actually fired upon by three First-rates and the San Nicolas and
a Seventy-four, and about pistol-shot distance of the San Nicolas. The
Excellent ranged up with every sail set, and hauling up his mainsail just
astern, passed within ten feet of the San Nicolas, giving her a most awful
and tremendous fire. The San Nicolas luffing up, the San Josef fell on
board her, and the Excellent passing on for the Santa Trinidad, the Captain
resumed her situation abreast of them, close alongside.
At this time, the Captain having lost her fore-topmast, not a sail, shroud, or rope standing, the wheel shot away, and incapable of further service in the Line or in case, I directed Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard, and calling for the Boarders, ordered them to Board.
The Soldiers of the 69th Regiment, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, with Lieutenant Pierson, of the same Regiment, were amongst the foremost on this service. The first man who jumped into the Enemy's mizen-chains was Captain Berry, late my First-Lieutenant. He was supported from our spritsail-yard; and a soldier of the 69th Regiment having broke the upper quarter-gallery window, jumped in, followed by myself and others, as fast as possible. I found the cabin doors fastened, and the Spanish Officers fired their pistols at us through the windows, but having broke open the doors, the soldiers fired, and the Spanish Brigadier (Commodore, with a distinguishing Pendant) fell as retreating to the quarter-deck. Having pushed on the quarter-deck, I found Captain Berry in possession of the poop, and the Spanish Ensign hauling down. The San Josef at this moment fired muskets and pistols from the Admiral's stern-gallery on us. Our seamen by this time were in full possession of every part: about seven of my men were killed, and some few wounded, and about twenty Spaniards.
Having placed sentinels at the different ladders, and ordered Captain Miller to push more men into the San Nicolas, I directed my brave fellows to board the First-rate, which was done in a moment. When I got into her main-chains, a Spanish Officer came upon the quarter-deck rail, without arms, and said the ship had surrendered. From this welcome information, it was not long before I was on the quarterdeck, when the Spanish Captain, with a bended knee, presented me his Sword, and told me the Admiral was dying with his wounds below. I gave him my hand, and desired him to call to his Officers and Ship's Company that the Ship had surrendered, which he did; and on the quarter-deck of a Spanish First-rate, extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the Swords of the vanquished Spaniards, which as I received I gave to William Fearney, one of my bargemen, who placed them, with the greatest sang-froid, under his arm. I was surrounded by Captain Berry, Lieutenant Pierson, 69th Regiment, John Sykes, John Thompson, Francis Cook, and William Fearney, all old Agamemnons, and several other brave men, Seamen and Soldiers. Thus fell these Ships.
The Victory passing saluted us with three cheers, as did every Ship in the Fleet. The Minerve sent a boat for me, and I hoisted my Pendant on board her, directing Captain Cockburn to put me on board the first uninjured Ship of the Line, which was done; and I hoisted my Pendant in the Irresistible, but the day was too far advanced to venture on taking possession of the Santa Trinidad, although she had long ceased to resist, as it must have brought on a night Action with a still very superior Fleet. At dusk, I went on board the Victory, when the Admiral received me on the quarter-deck, and having embraced me, said he could not sufficiently thank me, and used every kind expression which could not fail to make me happy. On my return on board the Irresistible, my bruises were looked at, and found but trifling, and a few days made me as well as ever.
H. N.
N.B. There is a saying in the Fleet to flattering to omit telling - viz., 'Nelson's Patent Bridge for boarding First-Rates,' alluding to my passing over an Enemy's 80-gun Ship; and another of a Sailor's taking me by the hand on board the San Josef, saying he might not soon have such another place to do it in, and assuring me he was heartily glad to see me.
'A Few Remarks Relative to Myself in the Captain, in which my Pendant was Flying on the most Glorious Valentine's Day 1797.' - this is the version signed by Nelson, Edward Berry and Ralph Miller, sent to William Locker for publication, and in 1799 was re-printed in the Naval Chronicle.
At one p.m., the Captain having passed the sternmost of the Enemy's Ships which formed their van and part of their centre, consisting of seventeen Sail of the Line, they on the larboard, we on the starboard tack, the Admiral made the signal to 'tack in succession'; but I, perceiving the Spanish Ships all to bear up before the wind, or nearly so, evidently with an intention of forming their line going large, joining their separated Division, at that time engaged with some of our centre Ships, or flying from us - to prevent either of their schemes from taking effect, I ordered the ship to be wore, and passing between the Diadem and Excellent, at a quarter past one o'clock, was engaged with the headmost, and of course leeward-most of the Spanish division. The Ships which I know were, the Santissima Trinidad, 126; San Josef, 112; San Nicolas, 80; another First-rate, and Seventy-four, names not known.
I was immediately joined and most nobly supported by the Culloden, Captain Troubridge. The Spanish Fleet, from not wishing (I suppose) to have a decisive battle, hauled to the wind on the larboard tack, which brought the ships afore-mentioned to be the leewardmost and sternmost Ships in their Fleet. For near an hour, I believe, (but do not pretend to be correct as to time), did the Culloden and Captain support this apparently, but not really, unequal contest; when the Blenheim, passing between us and the Enemy, gave us a respite, and sickened the Dons. At this time, the Salvador del Mundo and San Isidro dropped astern, and were fired into in a masterly style by the Excellent, Captain Collingwood, who compelled the San Isidro to hoist English colours, and I thought the large Ship Salvador del Mundo had also struck; but Captain Collingwood, disdaining the parade of taking possession of beaten enemies, most gallantly pushed up, with every sail set, to save his old friend and messmate, who was to appearance in a critical state. The Blenheim being ahead, and the Culloden crippled and astern, the Excellent ranged up within ten feet of the San Nicolas, giving a most tremendous fire. The San Nicolas luffing up, the San Josef fell on board her, and the Excellent passing on for the Santissima Trinidad, the Captain resumed her situation abreast of them, and close alongside. At this time the Captain having lost her foretop-mast, not a sail, shroud or rope left, her wheel shot away, and incapable of further service in the line, or in chase, I directed Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard, and calling for the Boarders, ordered them to board.
The Soldiers of the 69th Regiment, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pierson of the same Regiment, were amongst the foremost on this service. The first man who jumped into the Enemy's mizen-chains was Captain Berry, late my First Lieutenant; (Captain Miller was in the very act of going also, but I directed him to remain) he was supported from our spritsail-yard, which hooked in the mizen-rigging. A soldier of the 69th regiment having broke the upper quarter-gallery window, jumped in, followed by myself and others as fast as possible. I found the cabin-doors fastened, and some Spanish Officers fired their pistols; but having broke open the doors, the soldiers fired, and the Spanish Brigadier (Commodore with a Distinguishing Pendant) fell, as retreating to the quarter deck, on the larboard side, near the wheel. Having pushed on the quarter-deck, I found Captain Berry in possession of the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with my people and Lieutenant Pierson on the larboard gangway to the forecastle, where I met two or three Spanish Officers prisoners to my seamen, and they delivered me their swords.
At this moment, a fire of pistols or muskets opened from the Admiral's stern gallery of the San Josef, I directed the soldiers to fire into her stern; and, calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send more men into the San Nicolas, and directed my people to board the First-rate, which was done in an instant, Captain Berry assisting me into the main chains. At this moment a Spanish Officer looked over the quarter-deck rail, and said - 'the surrendered'; from this most welcome intelligence it was not long before I was on the quarter-deck, when the Spanish Captain, with a bow, presented me his Sword, and said the Admiral was dying of his wounds below. I asked him, on his honour, if the Ship were surrendered? he declared she was; on which I gave him my hand, and desired him to call to his Officers and Ship's company, and tell them of it - which he did; and on the quarter-deck of a Spanish First-rate, extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the Swords of vanquished Spaniards; which, as I received, I gave to William Fearney, one of my bargemen, who put them with the greatest sangfroid under his arm. I was surrounded by Captain Berry, Lieutenant Pierson, 69th Regiment, John Sykes, John Thompson, Francis Cook, all old Agamemnons, and several other brave men, seamen and soldiers: thus fell these Ships.
N.B. - In boarding the San Nicolas, I believe, we lost about seven killed and ten wounded, and about twenty Spaniards lost their lives by a foolish resistance. None were I believe lost, in boarding the San Josef.
HORATIO NELSON
RALPH WILLETT MILLER
E. BERRY
Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen, Rear-Admiral, died of his wounds on board the San Josef. Don Tomas Geraldino, killed on board the San Nicolas when boarded by the Captain.
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