In the Hour of Victory

by Sam Willis

  Le Serieuse caught fire & had part of her Masts burnt L’Artemise was obliged to get under weigh and Likewise got on shore. These two Frigates sent their Ships company’s on board the different Line of battle ships. The sloop of war, two Bombs & several Transports that were with the fleet were more successfull, as they got under weigh & reach’d the Anchorage under the Protection of the Fort of Aboukar. All the van were Attacked on both sides by the Enemy, who rang’d close along our Line, they had each an Anchor out a stern, which facilitated their motions and enabled them to place themselves, in the most advantageous situation.

  At ¼ 6 the Franklin opened her fire upon the Enemy, from the Starbd side & at ¾ past 6 She was Engaged on both sides, L’Orient at the same time began firing from her Starbd Guns. & At 7 the Tonnant open’d her fire. all the ships from the Le Guerrier to the Tonnant were now engaged, against a Superior force. This only redoubled the Ardour of our Ships, who kept up a very heavy & regular Fire. At 8 O’clock at night, the ship which was engaging the L’Orient on the Starbd Quarter notwithstanding her Advantageous position was dismasted and so roughly handled, that She Cut her Cables & drove further from the Line This Event gave the Franklin Hopes that L’Orient would now be able to assist her, by attacking one of the Ships opposed to her, but at this very moment the 2 Ships that been observed a stern of the Fleet, and were quite fresh steered right for the Centre One of them Anchor’d on the L’Orient’s Starbd Bow, and the other Cut the Line a stern of the L’Orient, & Anchored on her Larbd Quarter the action in this place became extremely warm.

  Admiral de Bruey’s, who, at this time, had been Slightly wounded in head & arm, very soon after Received a Shot in the Belly which almost cut him in two, he desired not to be carried below but to be left to die upon Deck, he only lived ¼ of an hour, Rear Admiral Blanquet as well as his Aids de Camp were unacquainted with this melancholy Event, until the Action was nearly over, Adml Blanquet received a Severe wound in his Face which knock’d him down he was carried off the Deck senseless. At ¼ past 8 O’clock the Le Peuple Souverain drove to Leewd of the Line and Anchor’d a cables length abreast of the L’Orient it was not known however what Unfortunate Event occasioned this, the Vacant space she left placed the Franklin in a more unfortunate Position and it became very critical from a Manoeuvre of one of the Enemy’s fresh Ships which had been to the assistance of the Ship on shore, she Anchored across of the Franklin’s Bows & commenc’d a very heavy and Raking Fire; notwithstanding the dreadfull situation of the Ships in the Centre, they continually kept up a very heavy Fire – At ½ past 8 O’clock the Action was general from the Guerrier to the Mercure, and the two Fleets Engaged in the Position indicated in Plan the 2nd. The Death of Admiral de Breuy’s, & the severe wounds of Admiral Blanquet, must have deeply Affected the People who fought under them; but it Added to their Ardour for Revenge, and the Action continued on both sides with great obstinacy. At 9 O’clock the Ships in the Van Slackened their Fire, & soon after totally ceased, & with Infinite Sorrow we Suppos’d they had surrendered. They were dismasted very soon after the Action began and so much damaged that it is to be presumed, that they could not hold out any longer, against an Enemy so Superior by an advantageous Position, having placed Several Ships against one. At ¼ past 9 O’clock the L’Orient caught Fire in the Cabin, it soon afterwards broke out upon the Poop – every effort was made use of to extinguish it, but without Effect, and very soon it became So Considerable, that there were no hopes of saving the Ship. At ½ past 9, Citizen Gillis, Capitaine de Pavillon of the Franklin was very severely wounded, and was carried off the Deck – At ¾ past 9 the Arm Chest, fill’d with Musquet Cartridges, blew up, and set fire to several places in the Poop and Quarter Deck, but was fortunately extinguished; her Situation however was still very desperate, Surrounded by enemies and only 80 fathoms to windward of L’Orient who was entirely on fire there could not be any other Expectation than that of falling a Prey to the Enemy or the Flames. At 10 O’clock the Main & Mizen Masts fell, & all the Guns on the main deck were dismounted. At ¼ past 10 The Tonnant Cut her Cables to avoid from the L’Orient, the English Ship that was on the L’Orient’s Larbd Quarter, as soon as She had done firing at her brought her broad-side on the Tonnant’s Bow, and kept up a very heavy Raking Fire. The Heureux and Mercure conceived likewise that they ought to Cut their Cables, this Manoeuvre created so much confusion amongst the Rear Ships that they fir’d into Each Other & did considerable damage.

  The Tonnant anchor’d a head of the Guillaume Tel, Genereux and Timolion the other 2 Ships got on shore, the Ship that had engaged the Tonnant on her Bow Cut her Cables; all her Rigging & Sails were Cut to pieces & she drove down and anchor’d a stern of the English Ship that had been engaging L’Heureux & Mercure, before they changed their Position – Those of the Etat Major & Ships Company of the L’Orient, who had Escaped Death, convinced of the Impossibility of extinguishing the fire, which had got down on the middle gun Deck, endeavoured to save themselves. Rear Adml Genteaume, saved himself in a Boat, & went on board the Salamine & from thence to Aboukir & Alexandria. The Adjutant General Molaud altho’ badly wounded swam to the Ship nearest to the L’Orient, which prov’d to be An English Ship, Commodore Casa-bianca, & his Son only 10 Years Old, (who during the Action gave proofs of Bravery & Intelligence far above his Age) were not so fortunate they were in the Water upon the wreck of the L’Orients Masts, not being able to Swim, Seeking each other till ¾ past, 10 when the Ship blew up. The Explotion was dreadfull, and spread the Fire all round to a considerable distance. The Franklins Deck was covered with red hot pieces of Timber, Oakum and Rope on Fire. She was on Fire the 4th time but luckily got it under immediately, After the Tremendous Explotion, the Action ceased Every where, & was succeeded by the most profound Silence. The Sky was obscured by thick clouds of black smoak which Seemed to threaten the Destruction of the 2 Fleets. It was ¼ of an hour before the Ships Crews recover’d from the kind of Stupor they were thrown into. Towards 11 O’clock the Franklin, Anxious to preserve the trust confided in her, recommenced the Action with a few of her Lower Deck Guns; all the rest were dismounted, two thirds of Her Ships Company were either kill’d or wounded, and those who remain’d were much fatigued, She was Surrounded by Enemies Ships, some of which were within Pistol Shot, & mowed down the men Every Broadside. At ½ past 11 O’clock, having only 3 Lower Deck Guns that could defend the Honor of the Flag, it became Necessary to put an End to so Disproportionate a Struggle, & Citizen Martinel, Capitaine de Frigate, ordered the colours to be struck; the Action in the Rear of the Fleet was very [illegible] till ¾ past 11, when it became very warm; 3 of the enemies Ships were engaging them, & two of them were very near, as may be seen in Plan the 3rd. The Tonnant, already Badly Treated, was nearest the Ship Engaged, and returned a very brisk Fire. About 3 O’clock in the morning She was dismasted & oblig’d to Cut her Cables a second time, & not having any more Anchors left she drove on shore.

  Le Guillame Tell, Le Genereux and Le Timoleon shifted their Births and Anchored farther down out of Gun Shot These Ships were not much damaged. At ½ past 3 O’clock the Action ceased throughout the Line. Early in the morning, the Frigate La Justice got under weigh and made Small Tacks to keep near the Guillaume Tel And At 9 Anchor’d an English Ship having got under weigh & was making Small Tacks to prevent her getting off. At 6 O’clock two English Ships join’d those which had been engaging the Rear, & began firing on the Hereux and Mercure, which ships were aground. The former soon Struck & the latter followed her Example, as they could not bring their Broadsides to bear on the Enemy (See the 4th Plan) At ½ past 7 the Ships Crew of Le Artemise Frigate Quitted her and set her on fire. At 8 she blew up. The Enemy without doubt had received great damage in their Masts and Yards, as they did not get under weigh to attack the remainder of the French Fleet. the French Flag was flying on board 4 French Ships of the Line, and 2 Frigates. At ¾ past 11 Le Guillaume Tel, Le Genereux, La Dianne, and La Justice, were under weigh and form’d in Line of Battle. The
English Ship that was under Sail; stood towards the Fleet, Fearing that she might be cut off. the two other Enemy’s ships got Immediately under weigh to Assist her, At Noon the Timoleon, who probable was not in a state to put to Sea, stood right for the shore under her fore sail, and As soon as she Struck the Shore her Fore Mast fell. The French Division joined the Enemy’s Ship which ranged along their Line on Opposite Tacks, within Pistol-Shot, and received their Broadsides, which she returned They then each continued their Route – The Division was in sight at Sun Set – – Nothing Remarkable happened during the night of the 2nd – The 3rd of August in the morning the French colours were flying in the Tonnant and the Timoleon – The English Adml sent a cartel to the former to know if she had struck, & upon being answered in the Negative, he directed 2 ships to against her, when they got within Gun-shot of her she struck, it being impossible to defend any longer The Timoleon was aground too near in for any Ships to approach her, in the night of the 2nd Inst. they sent greatest part of their Ships Company’s on Shore, and at Noon the next day they Quitted her & Set her on fire.

  Here ends the Journal of the 1st 2nd and 3rd days of August which will be Ever Remembered with the Deepest Sorrow, by the Frenchmen who Possess good Hearts, and by all those true Republicans who have survived this Melancholy Disaster.

  Maps showing different stages of the Battle of the Nile

  Three maps, of a series of at least four, are included with the French account. They are labelled ‘1st position’, ‘2nd position’ and ‘4th position’. Only the first has any reference to the land while the latter two images are simply diagrams showing the ships’ positions in relation to each other. They do not reflect either participant’s knowledge of the area. In fact we know that Foley, in the leading British ship, the Goliath, had a copy of Bellin’s Petit Atlas Maritime of 1764, complete with measured depths; that Hood had a less accurate map of English origin; and that Benjamin Hallowell of the Swiftsure had recently captured a rough French sketch of the bay, together with rudimentary sailing directions.

  The first (p. 191) makes clear both the potential strength of the French position and its fatal weakness. Shoals are clearly marked both to the north and the south of the French position, but there is a significant gap between the southernmost French ship of the main line, Guerrier, at the top of the picture, and the island. It was through this gap that Captain Foley took the Goliath, thus leading the British fleet inshore of the French line. Foley had noticed that each of the French ships was only secured by a single anchor, around which the ships would swing in a full circle. He knew, therefore, that there was sufficient water for the British to sail between the French ships and the shore, and found them entirely unprepared. The inshore guns had not been run out and the decks were littered with boxes. Foley opened up a devastating fire.

  Notice also how the Culloden is marked just inside the shoal, where she ran aground and missed the battle. She was eventually refloated but had grounded with such force that her rudder broke off and the rocks tore so many holes in her hull that she made seven feet of water every hour. The leak was only stopped by the sailmakers ‘thrumming’, or weaving yarn and oakum into, a topgallant sail that was then tarred, greased and used to ‘patch’ the hole, the pressure of water trapping the thrummed sail against the ship’s hull. A new rudder was ingeniously made out of a spare topmast and other spare timber. Missing the battle was particularly painful for her captain, Thomas Troubridge, because he had also witnessed The Glorious First of June as nothing more than a bystander, in that case as a prisoner on board a French warship after his own ship had been captured a matter of days before the battle.

  The French fleet is in a different order from the list that Nelson supplied with his dispatch. Brueys had stationed his flagship L’Orient in the centre of the fleet, protected by powerful ‘seconds’ either side of her, both 80-gunners. This is where Brueys expected the brunt of any attack to fall but, as soon as Foley sailed inshore of their line, the British could concentrate their force on one end of the French line by ‘doubling’ it, that is to say by engaging it on both sides at once. Brueys was simply not prepared for the type of attack that he received. There are several small, fast ships inshore of the main French line which could have been used as lookouts to warn Brueys of Nelson’s imminent arrival but were not.

  The structure of the British fleet, so well-formed, was one of the reasons that Brueys actually chose to fight at anchor. He had too few sailors to fight under sail but he also believed that, when Nelson waited for his fleet to gather and form up at the entrance to the bay, he was pausing to consider his options before attacking in the morning. Brueys therefore believed that he had time to recover his crews from shore and might even have the opportunity to escape during the night, as he had personally witnessed Hood do at St Kitts in 1782. He did not know that one of the reasons Nelson slowed down was to pass orders throughout his fleet detailing his intended attack and instructing his ships to anchor by the stern, a manoeuvre that required significant preparation, and to rig springs on their anchor cables to allow the British captains to manoeuvre their ships once anchored. The British forming up into a cohesive group, therefore, was not indicative of them declining battle, but of preparing for it. Brueys perceived hope in something that actually spelt doom. As a result, the subsequent attack was all the more surprising and is a reminder that Nelson was not heedlessly impulsive but carefully so, a crucial distinction if we are to understand his success.

  The second map (p. 193) shows the position of the fleets after the French have been doubled by the British. Note that the Vanguard, Nelson’s flagship, has stayed to seaward of the French line. His was the first ship of the British fleet to do so, perhaps because he did not want to run the risk of grounding his flagship and becoming helpless.

  The Goliath finds herself where she does because her captain initially tried to anchor her by the stern alongside the first ship of the French line, the Guerrier (a). Anchoring by the stern, however, was a tricky business. The usual method of anchoring, and by far the safest and most reliable, was for a ship to come into the wind, drop her bower anchor and then safely drift astern until the anchor dug in and held. To anchor by the stern required a ship to come to an abrupt stop with the wind astern. If a ship attempting this manoeuvre was travelling too quickly, the anchor might not hold or, if it did, the anchor cable might part. The task that faced each ship in Nelson’s fleet, therefore, was to approach as quickly as she could, before suddenly taking in all sail to reduce her speed sufficiently for her anchor to hold without endangering the cable.

  To succeed in doing this at all, let alone exactly alongside another ship, was very difficult, and to do so under fire was even more of a challenge. It is remarkable that so many British ships succeeded, but three did not. The Goliath ran much further down the French line than she ever intended; the Majestic suffered the same fate and was targeted by several Frenchmen all at once; and, most unlucky of all, the Bellerophon failed to assume her intended position and came to rest exactly parallel to the devastating broadside of L’Orient, a monster ship that dwarfed her. Her captain was soon wounded and the ship entirely dismasted. The Goliath was lucky that her failure to anchor in her intended position had few severe repercussions. The Majestic and Bellerophon were less fortunate. Indeed, their failure to anchor as intended was directly responsible for their exceptionally high casualty figures (p. 178).

  Ship ‘e’ in the French line is the Peuple Souverain and this clearly shows how she drifted downwind after her anchor cable was shot or cut. The resulting gap in the French line then allowed the tiny 50-gun Leander to position herself directly across the bows of the mighty 80-gun Franklin. It was a bold move but she had inadvertently placed herself directly between Saumarez’s more powerful Orion and the Franklin; only quick thinking saved the Orion from opening fire on her.

  The position and orientation of the British Alexander is also worthy of note. She and the Swiftsure were the last British ships to arrive and they
joined the battle directly at the northern end of the French line, rather than sailing up the line from the south. The Alexander’s captain, Alexander Ball, then anchored her carefully at an angle to the stern of L’Orient (g). She was thus ideally located to target the vulnerable stern of the Frenchman and her fire was devastating. Brueys, already wounded in the head and arm, was nearly cut in two by a shot but chose to stay on deck. There is also some suggestion, but no convincing evidence, that sailors from the Alexander used combustible grenades to start the fire which led to the destruction of L’Orient. It is a significant accusation because the use of such combustibles was generally frowned upon; at The First of June, the crew of the British Brunswick had been incensed when the French crew of the Vengeur had used chemical and combustible ammunition. Whatever the truth, the British ships Swiftsure, Bellerophon and Alexander are perilously close to L’Orient.