The Death of Lord Nelson | Page 7

the quarter-deck.
At this period, scarcely a person in the Victory escaped unhurt who was
exposed to the Enemy's musketry; but there were frequent huzzas and
cheers heard from between the decks, in token of the surrender of
different of the Enemy's ships. An incessant fire was kept up from both
sides of the Victory; her larboard guns played upon the Santissima
Trinidada and the Bucentaur; and the starboard guns of the middle and
lower decks were depressed, and fired with a diminished charge of
powder, and three shot each, into the Redoutable. This mode of firing
was adopted by Lieutenants WILLIAMS, KING, YULE, and BROWN,
to obviate the danger of the Temeraire's suffering from the Victory's
shot passing through the Redoutable; which must have been the case if
the usual quantity of powder, and the common elevation, had been
given to the guns.--A circumstance occurred in this situation, which
shewed in a most striking manner the cool intrepidity of the Officers
and men stationed on the lower deck of the Victory. When the guns, on
this deck were run out, their muzzles came into contact with the
Redoutable's side; and consequently at every discharge there was
reason to fear that the Enemy would take fire, and both the Victory and
the Temeraire be involved in her flames. Here then was seen the

astonishing spectacle of the fireman of each gun standing ready with a
bucket full of water which as soon as his gun was discharged he dashed
into the Enemy through the holes made in her side by the shot.
It was from this ship (the Redoutable) that Lord NELSON received his
mortal wound. About fifteen minutes past one o'clock, which was in the
heat of the engagement, he was walking the middle of the quarter-deck
with Captain HARDY, and in the act of turning near the hatchway with
his face towards the stern of the Victory, when the fatal ball was fired
from the Enemy's mizen-top; which, from the situation of the two ships
(lying on board of each other), was brought just abaft, and rather below,
the Victory's main-yard, and of course not more than fifteen yards
distant from that part of the deck where His LORDSHIP stood. The
ball struck the epaulette on his left shoulder, and penetrated his chest.
He fell with his face on the deck. Captain HARDY, who was on his
right (the side furthest from the Enemy) and advanced some steps
before His LORDSHIP, on turning round, saw the Serjeant Major
(SECKER) of Marines with two Seamen raising him from the deck;
where he had fallen on the same spot on which, a little before, his
Secretary had breathed his last, with whose blood His LORDSHIP's
clothes were much soiled. Captain HARDY expressed a hope that he
was not severely wounded; to which the gallant Chief replied: "They
have done for me at last, HARDY."--"I hope not," answered Captain
HARDY. "Yes," replied His LORDSHIP; "my backbone is shot
through."
CAPTAIN HARDY ordered the Seamen to carry the Admiral to the
cockpit; and now two incidents occurred strikingly characteristic of this
great man, and strongly marking that energy and reflection which in his
heroic mind rose superior even to the immediate consideration of his
present awful condition. While the men were carrying him down the
ladder from the middle deck, His LORDSHIP observed that the
tiller-ropes were not yet replaced; and desired one of the Midshipmen
stationed there to go upon the quarter-deck and remind Captain
HARDY of that circumstance, and request that new ones should be
immediately rove. Having delivered this order, he took his
handkerchief from his pocket and covered his face with it, that he might
be conveyed to the cockpit at this crisis unnoticed by the crew.
Several wounded Officers, and about forty men, were likewise earned

to the Surgeon for assistance just at this time; and some others had
breathed their last during their conveyance below. Among the latter
were Lieutenant WILLIAM ANDREW RAM, and Mr. WHIPPLE
Captain's Clerk. The Surgeon had just examined these two Officers,
and found that they were dead,[12] when his attention was arrested by
several of the wounded calling to him, "Mr. BEATTY, Lord NELSON
is here: Mr. BEATTY, the Admiral is wounded."--The Surgeon now,
on looking round, saw the handkerchief fall from His LORDSHIP's
face; when the stars on his coat, which also had been covered by it,
appeared. Mr. BURKE the Purser, and the Surgeon, ran immediately to
the assistance of His LORDSHIP, and took him from the arms of the
Seamen who had carried him below. In conveying him to one of the
Midshipmen's births, they stumbled, but recovered themselves without
falling. Lord NELSON then inquired who were supporting him; and
when the Surgeon informed him, His LORDSHIP replied, "Ah, Mr.