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Naval history of Great Britain
by
William James
1805
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
62 


Redoutable, Téméraire, and Fougueux, swang with their heads to the southward.

Scarcely had the Victory broken away from the group, ere the main and mizen masts of the Redoutable came down. The mainmast, falling on board the Téméraire, carried away the stump of the latter's mizen topmast, broke down the poop-rail and with its wreck encumbered the whole after-part of the ship, This accident put an entire stop to the Redoutable's hitherto formidable musketry (even admitting it to have continued till this time, which we doubt), and her only remaining antagonist prepared to take possession. The mainmast of the Redoutable, as it lay upon the Téméraire's poop, forming a bridge of easy descent, this was soon accomplished ; and, at about 2 h. 20 in. P.M., a portion of the British crew, headed by Lieutenant John Wallace, second of the Téméraire, stepped on board, and took quiet possession of the gallantly fought Redoutable. About the time that this occurrence happened, having got her head well to the southward, the Téméraire was enabled to fire a few of her foremost guns on the larboard side, clear of the Redoutable's bows, at the French Neptune ; whereupon the latter, who also observed the Leviathan approaching, ceased her annoyance and bore away.

Before we enter upon the proceedings of any other ship, we will give a brief description of the damage and loss sustained by the Victory and Téméraire and the two French 74s on board of them. The Victory's mizen topmast, as already stated, was shot away; and her fore and main masts and their yards, bowsprit, jib-boom, main topmast, and cap, and fore and main tops, were badly wounded. All her rigging was cut to pieces, and her spare spars were rendered unfit for use : hull much damaged, particularly in the wales, clamps, and waterways ; and some shot had been received between wind and water. Several beam, knees, and riders were injured, and ports and port-timbers knocked off. The starboard cathead was also shot away, and the starboard bower and spare anchor totally disabled.

The loss on board the Victory will show, that the top-cohorns and musketry of the Redoutable had made ample amends for the comparative silence of her great guns. Beside Lord Nelson and his secretary, the Victory had one captain of marines (Charles W. Adair), one lieutenant (William Ram), two midshipmen (Robert Smith and Alexander Palmer), the captain's clerk (Thomas Whipple *), 32 seamen, and 18 marines killed, two lieutenants (John Pasco and George Miller Bligh), two lieutenants of marines (Lewis Buckle Reeves and J. G.

*  This gentleman was killed by the wind of a round shot, whilst speaking to Mr. (now Sir) George Westphale. He had no wound or scratch on any part of his body, and is perhaps the only instance on record of such an event

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