My Battles > Commodore Horatio Nelson's 'Account of Proceedings'

6. The Battle of Cape St Vincent: Commodore Horatio Nelson's 'Account of Proceedings'

At one p.m. the Captain having passed the sternmost of the Enemy's Ships, Admiral Jervis 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 joining their separated Division, ordered the ship to be wore and passing between the Diadem and the Excellent at a quarter past one o'clock was engaged with the headmost of the Spanish division.

I was immediately joined and most nobly supported by the Culloden, Captain Troubridge. The Spanish Fleet, not wishing (I suppose) to have a decisive battle hauled to the wind. 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.

Captain Collingwood in the Excellent mostly gallantly pushed up with every sail set to save his old friend and messmate who was to appearance in a critical state and ranged up within ten feet of the San Nicolas giving her a most tremendous fire. The San Nicolas luffing up, the San Josef fell on board of her.

At this time the Captain having lost her foretopmast, not a sail, shround or rope left, her wheel shot away and incapable of any further service in he line or chase, I directed Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard and, calling for Boarders, ordered them to board.

The soldiers of the 69th, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pearson of the same regiment, were almost the foremost on this service. The first man who jumped into the enemy's mizzen chains was Commander 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 sprit sail yard, which hooked in the mizzen rigging.

A soldier of the 69th Regiment having broken the upper quarter-gallery window, I jumped in myself, and was followed by 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 fell, as retreating to the quarterdeck. I pushed immediately onwards for the quarterdeck, where I found Captain Berry in possession of the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with my people, and Lieutenant Pearson, on the larboard gangway, to the forecastle, where I met two or three Spanish officers, prisoners to my seamen: they delivered me their swords.

A fire of pistols, or muskets, opening from the 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 quarterdeck rail, and said they surrendered. From this most welcome intelligence, it was not long before I was on the quarterdeck, where the captain, with a bow, presented me his sword, and said the admiral was dying of his wounds. I asked him on his honour if the ship was surrendered. He declared she was: on which I gave him my hand, and desired him to call on 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 sang-froid, under his arm.

Battle off Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797
[By kind permission of Sim Comfort Associates]

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