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NELSON AND THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
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Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief
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Apr 05, 2014 04:06PM
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Nelson's flagship the HMS Victory first saw action at the Battle of St. Vincent. This is a reprint of an eyewitness report, Lt. Col. John Drinkwater.Narrative of the Battle of St. Vincent
by John Drinkwater (no photo)Synopsis:
Lieutenant-Colonel John Drinkwater (1762 1844), an army officer, was on board the Minerva, bearing Commodore Nelson's pennant, after the British evacuation from Corsica, when they found themselves in the middle of the Spanish fleet. Having been transferred to another ship, and Nelson to the Captain, Drinkwater thus became an eyewitness of the Battle of St Vincent, 14 February 1797. He made sketches of the positions of the fleet during the battle, that were subsequently praised for their accuracy by naval officers. His Narrative was originally published the same year, but reissued in 1840 with the addition of anecdotes of Nelson, to raise funds for a Nelson testimonial. The original aim of the work was to give due credit to the officers, particularly Nelson, to whom it was felt that Admiral Sir John Jervis had not given sufficient recognition for their part in his most significant victory
Standing proudly in Trafalgar Square in London in Nelson's Column.
This book is only for the avid fan of Nelson and the ships under his command. An interesting read.The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships
by C. Nepean Longridge(no photo)Synopsis
This complete reference includes many photographs previously unavailable to the general public, nearly 200 line drawings, foldout inboard and outboard profiles, deck plans, and standing and running rigging plans.
This short book gives the reader a thumbnail sketch of the life of Lord Nelson. A good starting point for those who are new to the life of Nelson and his accomplishments.Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
by Frederic P. Miller (no photo)Synopsis
Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bront, KB (29 September 1758 - 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He won several victories, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, during which he was killed. Nelson was born into a moderately prosperous Norfolk family, and joined the navy through the influence of his uncle, Maurice Suckling. He rose rapidly through the ranks and served with leading naval commanders of the period before obtaining his own command in 1778. He developed a reputation in the service through his personal valour and firm grasp of tactics, but suffered periods of illness and unemployment after the end of the American War of Independence. The outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars allowed Nelson to return to service, where he was particularly active in the Mediterranean. He fought in several minor engagements off Toulon, and was important in the capture of Corsica and subsequent diplomatic duties with the Italian states. In 1797 he distinguished himself while in command of HMS Captain at the Battle of Cape St Vincent.
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by
Tim ClaytonSynopsis:
Two hundred years ago, Napoleon Bonaparte dominated Europe and threatened Britain with invasion. Against him stood the Royal Navy and the already legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson. In October 1805, a massive naval battle off the coast of Spain decided mastery of the seas, and over the following days and nights, the battleships and their exhausted crews endured a gale of awesome fury. The authors tell this story through the diaries, letters, and memoirs of the men involved, as well as through the eyes of their wives and children.
Thanks, Jerome. That sound like a goody!!!
Admiral Lord Nelson is shot on the quarterdeck of the Victory at Trafalgar. The painting is by Denis Dighton.
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Jerome, Assisting Moderator - Upcoming Books and Releases
(last edited Dec 15, 2014 12:58PM)
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by Terry Coleman (no photo)Synopsis:
Admiral Horatio Nelson captures our imaginations like few other military figures. A mixture of tactical originality, raw courage, cruelty, and romantic passion, Nelson in action was daring and direct, a paramount naval genius and a natural born predator. Now, in The Nelson Touch novelist Terry Coleman provides a superb portrait of Britain's most revered naval figure.
Here is a vivid account of Nelson's life, from his childhood and early career at sea—where a high-placed uncle helped speed his advancement to post captain—to gripping accounts of his greatest sea battles. Readers will witness the Battle of the Nile, where Nelson crushed a French squadron of thirteen ships of the line, and the Battle of Trafalgar, where he died at the moment of his greatest triumph. What emerges is a man of strength of mind amounting to genius, frequently generous, always fascinated with women, often uneasy with his superior officers, and absolutely fearless. Nelson was a ruthless commander, whose instinct was not just to defeat the enemy but to annihilate him.
Sure to appeal to readers of Patrick O'Brian and other seafaring fiction, as well as all military history and naval history buffs, this is a superbly written biography that gives readers the texture and feel of this magnificent life.
Thanks for the good recommendation, Jerome.
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by Alan Schom (no photo)Synopsis:
Early on the morning of October 21st, 1805, the British Fleet, commanded by Admiral Lord Nelson, encountered the French navy a few miles off the Spanish coast near Cape Trafalgar. As it became clear that a fight was inevitable, the French and English ships drew into battle formation. Aboard his flagship Victory, Nelson offered his famous laconic signal to his seamen--"England expects that every man will do his duty"--and gave the order to fire. After over six hours of bloody exchanges the British had achieved an overwhelming victory, Nelson--his fame assured for the ages--lay dead from a sniper's bullet, and Napoleon's dreams of an invasion of England were forever dashed.
Because of its dramatic nature--the one-sidedness of the British victory, Nelson's death at the very moment of triumph--Trafalgar has often been viewed as an isolated feat on the part of the great English commander, or at best the result of a naval campaign begun only months earlier. But as Alan Schom shows in his widely-acclaimed book Trafalgar: Countdown to Battle 1803-1805 this apocalyptic showdown was actually the result of a strategy laid out by the British Admiralty two years earlier, when Napoleon issued orders for the creation of what would have become the largest army flotilla ever before assembled. The Emperor's aim was to invade the British Isles with a force of over 167,000 men conveyed aboard nearly 2,400 vessels--his plan was successfully thwarted not because of the tactical genius of Lord Nelson on a single day of battle, but rather because of the brilliant strategy and remarkable perseverance of the hitherto unsung hero Admiral Sir William Cornwallis.
Until now the facts surrounding this unprecedented military buildup have been largely ignored or misinterpreted by historians. In fashioning his brilliant and gripping reinterpretation of the events leading to the famous battle, Alan Schom has mined the rich and previously unexplored archives of England and France to place Trafalgar in its true historical scope and context. He shows convincingly how Cornwallis (brother of Lord Cornwallis who surrendered to Washington at Yorktown) conducted a brilliant blockade of the French fleet both at Brest and off Spain, effectively ruining Napoleon's invasion plans. He also demonstrates the importance of Prime Minister William Pitt who mustered a powerful army to defend England's shores, while reinvigorating a run-down and demoralized Royal Navy. And by letting them speak across the years from the journals and memoirs they left behind, Schom brings a rich and varied cast of characters to life--from politicians, admirals, and generals, to the common soldiers and sailors of both sides.
This book is far more than just a naval history. It tells the compelling story of the centuries-old French-British rivalry as it appproached its culmination at the dawn of the nineteenth century. Marvelously written, Trafalgar brings a freshness to an episode often recounted but never before fully understood.
Just about everything you want to know about the ships of the line at Trafalgar and how Nelson's tactics carried the day.Victory vs Redoutable: Ships of the Line at Trafalgar
by Gregory Fremont-Barnes (no photo)Synopsis:
Late in the morning on October 21, 1805, warships from the British and combined French and Spanish fleets clashed off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast. After a six month game of cat and mouse across the Atlantic, 27 British ships of the line engaged the Allied force of 33 ships of the line. This was a duel of skill, tenacity and bravery as captains and crews battled for mastery of the seas. This book is an opportunity to relive the action at Trafalgar - read the accounts of sailors who were there, and who experienced the sound of scraping cutlasses and bombarding cannons at one of the most important naval engagements of history. Understand how the guns were operated, learn about the training of crews and study the design and development of the incredible ships which dominated naval warfare of the period, as Gregory Fremont-Barnes reveals the revolutionary tactics used by Nelson to secure a victory that saved Britain from the threat of invasion and ensured British naval dominance for over a century.
An excellent biography of Admiral, Lord Nelson.The Life of Nelson" The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain
by
Alfred Thayer MahanSynopsis:
The most detailed and noteworthy research biography of Lord Nelson's maritime career, his life at sea, battle strategy, ship innovations, and tours of duty. It remains today, one of the most frequently referenced works on the subject of Britain's late 18th- and early 19th-century naval power. This is the first high-quality facsimile edition ever produced, including reproductions of original pull-out maps (one in two-color). It is also the only single-volume reproduction available.
Jill--Thanks for the heads-up on the Mahan biography of Lord Nelson. I never knew such a biography existed. A naval genius describing the life of another naval genius. Certainly worth a perusal.--Jim
You bet, Jim but I don't know how easy it will be to find.
Jill--The Mahan biography of Nelson is free from I-tunes and available for any Mac or IOS device.
--Jim
Jim.......don't forget to cite the book when you mention it in a post, as in #66 and #68. Thanks.
by
Alfred Thayer Mahan
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The other hero of Trafalgar.Trafalgar's Lost Hero: Admiral Lord Collingwood and the Defeat of Napoleon
by
Max AdamsSynopsis:
Trafalgar’s Lost Hero introduces the man whose real-life exploits have been attributed to the likes of Horatio Alger and Jack Aubrey. Never seeking the public acclaim craved by his closest friend and comrade Horatio Nelson, Cuthbert Collingwood was instrumental in forcing the combined French and Spanish fleets into the fateful battle, disabling the enemy’s flagship almost before the fight had begun, and taking command of the British fleet after Nelson’s death. Bristling with action, packed with never-before-published accounts of major engagements from Collingwood’s secret letter book, and bringing a fresh perspective to Britain’s most celebrated naval victory, Trafalgar’s Lost Hero is truly a treat for lovers of naval history and real-life adventure, and a rousing story well told.
Here is a wonderful site concerning the Battle of Trafalgar, complete with maps, illustrations and even a list of those lost in the battle.http://www.nelsonsnavy.co.uk/battle-o...
(Source: Nelsonsnavy.co.uk)
One of the most famous quotes in history: Admiral Nelson's signal to his men at Trafalgar. It has echoed through the years with the British Royal Navy and was a battle cry in WWII.England expects every man will do his duty.
This massive collection of Nelson's letters gives the reader a look at the military man and the personal man.Nelson - The New Letters
by Colin White(no photo)Synopsis:
Nelson - The New Letters, edited by Colin White, presents around 500 of the most important letters uncovered during the course of the epic Nelson Letters Project, a five year search of archives throughout the world. Dating from 1777 and including the earliest extant Nelson letter, this collection shows us both Nelson the officer and Nelson the private man, and, uniquely among the plethora of new Nelson books, it records his life and exploits in his own words. Written in Nelson's free-flowing and conversational style, these letters introduce a very real and human figure bringing us much closer to an otherwise distant historical hero. Colin White's accompanying annotations and essays place Nelson's life and letters in full context. So alongside letters to the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV), Prime Minister Addington, and dignitaries like the King and Queen of Naples, covering treaty negotiations, battle orders and campaign plans, we can also read warm missives to family and friends, informal notes and instructions to colleagues and subordinates and some eloquently passionate letters to Emma Hamilton. Other highlights include Nelson's account of the Battle of Copenhagen; detailed orders for the Trafalgar and Nile campaigns; notes of his careful diplomatic negotiations; his network of personal contacts; and his concern with his public image.
One of Nelson's ships of the line, she was known to her crew as the Billy Ruffian.
HMS Bellerophon
The 74 gun 3rd rate squared rigged ship of the line, in Nelson's day, was one of several hundred ships of all sizes built in England (on the Medway in this case). Most were held in reserve in case of war, particularly with France and Spain, both at home, where there were threats of invasion, and far away in the Americas. Her construction required something more than 3,000 oak trees.
She was named the Bellerophon after the mythical Greek hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus. But sailors had great problems pronouncing the name, as may be imagined, and so Christened her the "Billy Ruffian".
She achieved great fame when, in 1815, Napoleon surrendered to her captain shortly after the battle of Waterloo, but by then she already had a long and distinguished record.
Perhaps more than any other ship of her day the Bellerophon was a reflection of the history of her times, particularly the long conflict between Britain and France, starting in 1793 seven years after the Bellerophon was launched, and ending at Waterloo some 22 years later. The Bellerophon was there at the beginning, she was miraculously still there at the end, and she played a key role in the years in between.
She was the first ship to engage the enemy at the opening sequence of The Battle of the Glorious 1st of June, the start of the naval war against Revolutionary France. She was with the squadron led by Nelson which hunted down and destroyed the French fleet in the Mediterranean at the Battle of the Nile. Here she was extensively damaged, losing all three masts and suffering the highest casualties of any of the British ships when she engaged the huge French flagship L'Orient.
The annihilation of the French Navy at The Battle of the Nile effectively left Napoleon's army stranded in Egypt.
At Trafalgar the Bellerophon's captain received a fatal shot from a French sniper in the rigging of an opposing ship, just one hour before the same fate befell Nelson himself. Her first lieutenant quickly took command and fought off four enemy ships, before capturing a prize to be towed off to Gibraltar - it appears 4th Lt John Douglas took part in this action, boarding and capturing the "Bahama", a large Spanish ship.
HMS Bellerophon later spent months basking in the tropical sun as part of a squadron on the Jamaica Station defending the West Indian colonies, before finally helping to put an end to Napoleon's ambitious plan to invade England and to march on London.
Finally, capturing Napoleon in his attempt to escape to America, the Bellerophon's captain Maitland brought him back to England, before transferring him to HMS Northumberland for his long sail to the South Atlantic - he never set foot on English soil.
Napoleon told captain Maitland that "If it had not been for you English, I should have been Emperor of the East; but wherever there is water to float a ship, we are sure to find you in our way."
(Source: douglas history.uk)
A sample of the real Nelson through his personal papers.Nelson Speaks
by Joseph F. Callo (no photo)Synopsis:
After two centuries of biographies and analyses, Admiral Lord Nelson speaks for himself in this collection of excerpts from his private letters and dispatches.
Not trying to be morbid but Lord Nelson was not a well (or whole) man but it did not seem to slow him down.Nelson's Injuries and Illnesses
Nelson's first sea voyage was to the Caribbean, where he experienced his first ailment – dreadful seasickness, which he suffered for the rest of his life.
Indian Ocean, 1775 Nelson suffered his first attack of malaria, which was so severe that he nearly died. During his delirium he had the famous vision of a radiant, guiding orb and a premonition that: ‘I will be a hero’.
June 1777, during recruiting and impressments duty for the Lowestoffe in Portsmouth, Nelson collapsed with another attack of malaria.
Nicaraguan jungle, March 1780 Nelson was told that he was suffering from gout in his chest; this may have been a misdiagnosis of the recurrent malaria.
1780, San Juan, Nelson was suffering from dysentery, yellow fever, poisoning (a toxic fruit from the machineel tree had fallen into the water) and pains in his chest.
London May 1781, Nelson’s left arm and left leg were troubling him and the fingers of his left hand were white, numb and swollen. Bearing this in mind, it seems a shame that he would later lose his right arm.
In 1782, during a voyage over the Atlantic, Nelson and his crew came down with scurvy after having no fresh fruit or vegetables for weeks. The scurvy was a repetitive ailment and in Nelson’s later years he worked keenly to eradicate it amongst his crews.
West Indies 1784 a recurrent attack of malaria. The feverish sweating made Nelson's head so uncomfortable he shaved his hair off and wore a wig.
On the return voyage from the West Indies in November 1787 Nelson fell so ill with fever that a keg of rum was set by to preserve his body in if he died.
Bastia, May 1794, Nelson was almost killed when a huge shower of earth from a heavy shot landed on him. Only days later he was hit in the face by earth and rocks when a shell exploded. He wrote ‘I got a little hurt this morning’, when in fact he had been blinded in his right eye.
Santa Cruz in Tenerife, July 1797, Nelson received a musket ball shot just above his right elbow. He declares to his crew 'I am killed!' The ship’s surgeon amputated the dangling forearm and gave him opium for the pain. Half an hour later he was giving orders for the battle, dictating letters and trying out his new signature. A month later he was back in London with an infected stump that led to septicaemia, which can be fatal. Georgian medicine had no remedy for septicaemia, but fortunately Nelson survived.
1st August 1798, Aboukir Bay in Egypt, Nelson had a 'damned toothache' before battle, probably caused by his earlier problems with scurvy, which had made his gums soft and spongy and his teeth loose (Nelson had lost so many teeth that his face had partly caved in). During the battle, he was hit above his right eye by a fragment of shot, 'I am killed; remember me to my wife' he announces. Bleeding profusely, pale and concussed, he carried on with the battle. Immediately afterwards he came down with fever. He told people that his head was ‘splitting, splitting, splitting’ and proclaimed that ‘for 18 hours my life was thought to be past hope….I am weak in body and mind, both from this cough and the fever’. He suffered from blinding headaches for the rest of his life. He also (arguably) displayed some erratic behaviour and errors of judgement after this injury.
1799, Palermo, Sicily, Nelson was suffering from depression, headaches, sickness, indigestion, palpitations and breathlessness, which he believed to be heart attacks.
January 1801 Nelson’s doctor was concerned with Nelson’s habit of spending much of the day writing letters with only a candle for light and gave him a green eyeshade, made him bathe his eye in cold water each hour and forbade letter-writing and alcohol.
The Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 saw Nelson suffering from ‘heatstroke’ and vomiting; he was convinced that death was imminent. The illness was severe but not long-lasting.
Gibraltar, 1802, Nelson wrote to Emma that he was suffering from seasickness, toothache, dysentery, fever, a heavy cold and a numb left hand.
About 1pm on 21st October 1805, just off Cape Trafalgar, Nelson was shot through the shoulder and spine and stated: 'I have but a short time to live; my back is shot through.' He died at around 4.30pm.
(Source: Nelsonmuseum)
I knew about some of those illnesses, but when you see them listed, it seems amazing that he could keep going.
Plus I have a sad feeling that he looked nothing like Laurence Olivier who portrayed him in That Hamilton Woman!!!!
From all the portaits I've seen of Nelson, he wasn't as 'robust' as Olivier, but he was a fine looking man.Just think how important portraits were before cameras. We all know the consequences of a portrait for Anne of Cleves!
At least she didn't lose her head for being less than pretty!
Well, I should have said that actually the portrait was flattering. It was the lady herself who didn't appeal to the king, but as you say she was fortunate in surviving their marriage.
A good companion book to that mentioned in post #72.In the Shadow of Nelson: The Life of Admiral Lord Collingwood
by Denis Orde (no photo)Synopsis:
Vice Admiral Cuthbert (Cuddy) Collingwood may have been 10 years older than Horatio Nelson but he was Nelson's close friend from the outset. They served together for over 30 years and only at Trafalgar, was Nelson his superior officer.The relationship is all the stranger as their temperaments greatly differed. Collingwood was reserved, austere and shy but utterly competent which was why Nelson's meteoric career was so closely linked to his. Collingwood's reputation was made in battles such as The Glorious First of June (1794) and Cape St Vincent (1797). Collingwood's career survived reverses; he was court-martialed in 1777 by a commander for whom he had no respect. He was acquitted. Collingwood in The Royal Sovereign led the lee column at Trafalgar. After assuming command of the Fleet on Nelson's death he was the author of the famous Trafalgar Despatch that announced the victory and death of Nelson to the Nation. He became Commander in Chief Mediterranean Fleet but was never to return home. He died at sea in 1810. He is buried beside Nelson in St. Paul's Cathedral.
Visit this link for a description of Nelson's last battle and his death. Quite interesting.http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/lo...
(Source: Eyewitnestohistory)
This is the plaque on the deck of the HMS Victory where Nelson fell at the Battle of Trafalgar.
(This photo of HMS Victory is courtesy of TripAdvisor)
My favorite portrait and probably the most famous of Nelson was painted in 1797 by Lemuel Abbott.
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by Brian Lavery (no photo)Synopsis:
It is difficult to understand Nelson without some idea of the navy to which he belonged. Lavery's book provides all the information, facts and figures that you could possibly want, from the ships, weapons and equipment to how the sailors lived and fought. It is very well illustrated throughout with black and white photographs and diagrams.
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by Peter Goodwin (no photo)Synopsis:
This book does everything it says in the title. It provides a wealth of varied facts, figures and stories relating to every ship in which Nelson served. Like Lavery's, it is copiously illustrated with black and white photographs and diagrams.
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by Margarette Lincoln (no photo)Synopsis:
This catalogue to the exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, for the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, provides the colour illustrations that Lavery's and Goodwin's books lack. And it really comes alive as a result. Also, by contrasting Nelson and Napoleon, the respective heroes of the British and French, it gives many authoritative insights into both men.
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by A-M.E. Hills (no photo)Synopsis:
Apart from his wounds, which are well if imperfectly known (he never wore an eyepatch over his sightless eye), Nelson suffered a range of illnesses. How a man should achieve such success and fame when he was hardly ever in perfect health is examined in this fascinating book.
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by Jane Smith (no photo)Synopsis:
Of all the places in Britain that are associated with Nelson, Portsmouth is probably the most evocative. Now home to his flagship, HMS Victory, the city has many other buildings and landmarks associated with him. This book tells the story of the Portsmouth that Nelson knew.
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by Leo Marriott (no photo)Synopsis:
Another book that does exactly what it claims - to present the varied monuments, landmarks and memorabilia that are associated with Nelson or were made to commemorate him. They are all here, from the ubiquitous Lord Nelson pub signs, to the admiral's final resting place in St Paul's Cathedral. This and Smith's are great guidebooks to those holidays we're supposed to take at home now.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
What's Left of Nelson (other topics)The Story of Nelson's Portsmouth (other topics)
Nelson: A Medical Casebook (other topics)
Nelson and Napoleon (other topics)
Nelson's Ships: A History of the Vessels in Which He Served (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Leo Marriott (other topics)Jane Smith (other topics)
A-M.E. Hills (other topics)
Margarette Lincoln (other topics)
Peter Goodwin (other topics)
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