My Battles > Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson's dispatch

7. The attack on the Spanish gunboats July 1797: Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson's dispatch

To Sir John Jervis, Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean

Theseus, July 4th, 1797

Sir,

In obedience to your orders, the Thunderer bombvessel was placed by the good management of Lieutenant Gourly her present commander ably assisted by Mr Jackson, master of the Ville de Paris, who volunteered his services, within 2500 yards of the walls of Cadiz; and the shells were thrown from her under the directions of Lieutenant Baynes of the Royal Artillery.

The Spaniards having sent out a great number of gunboats and armed launches, I directed a vigorous attack to be made on them, which was done with such gallantry hat they were drove and pursued close to the walls of Cadiz and have suffered considerable loss.

I feel myself particularly indebted for the successful termination of this conquest to the gallantry of Captains Fremantle and Miller, the former of whom accompanied me in my barge and to my coxswain John Sykes, who in defending my person is most severely wounded.

And my praises are generally due to every officer and man, some of whom I saw behave in the most noble manner and I regret it is not in my power to particularise them.

I must also beg to be permitted to express my admiration of Don Miguel Tryason, the commander of the Spanish gunboats. In his barge, he laid my boat alongside and his resistance was such as did honour to a brave officer, eighteen of the twenty-six men being killed and himself and all the rest wounded.

Not having a correct list of our killed and wounded I can only state that I believe about six are killed and twenty wounded.

I have the honour to be sir

Horatio Nelson

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