| Naval history of Great Britain
by
William James |
| 1805 |
Battle of Trafalgar |
48 |
lieutenant (William Ferrie), one lieutenant of marines (John Owen) her boatswain (Andrew Gibson), two master's mates (William Henry Pearson and William Cutfield), one midshipman (Samuel Jago), one first-class volunteer (J. T. Hodge), 67 seamen, and 19 marines wounded.
In her way down astern of the Belleisle, the Mars suffered severely from the heavy raking fire of the ships ahead of her, the San-Juan-Nepomuceno, Pluton, Monarca, and Algésiras. As the Mars was directing her course to cut the line between the first two of these ships, the Pluton, who was to windward of the San-Juan, ranged ahead : whereupon, to avoid being raked by so close an opponent, the Mars hauled up, with the intention to pass on and cut the line ahead of the San-Juan. In attempting this manoeuvre, the Mars was followed and engaged by the Pluton. Having by that time had her rigging and sails greatly damaged, the Mars was obliged to come head to wind in order to avoid running on board the Santa-Ana ; whereby the Mars lay with her stern exposed to the Monarca and Algesiras. At this moment, however, the Tonnant came up, and soon found full employment for both of those ships. Meanwhile, as she paid off in her completely unmanageable state, the Mars became also exposed to a heavy fire from the Fougueux, then with her larboard guns engaging the Belleisle, and presently received into her stern a most destructive fire from the Pluton; a fire that almost cleared the poop and quarterdeck of both officers and men. It was at about 1 h. 15 m. P.M., while Captain Duff was standing at the break of the quarterdeck looking over the side, that a cannon-shot from the Pluton struck him on the breast, knocked off his head, and cast his body in the gangway. The same shot killed two seamen, who were standing close behind their captain. The command now devolved upon Lieutenant William Hennah. By this time succour was at hand ; and,
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