GIBRALTAR CHRONICLE EXTRAORDINARY
THURSDAY; OCTOBER 24, 1805 – Price Twelve Quarts.
(Copy)
Euryalus, at Sea, October 22, 1805.
Sir,
Yesterday a Battle was fought by His Majesty’s Fleet, with the Combined Fleets of Spain and France, and a Victory gained, which will stand recorded as one of the most brilliant and decisive, that ever distinguished the BRITISH NAVY.
The Enemy’s Fleet sailed from Cadiz, on the 19th, in the Morning, Thirty Three sail of the Line in number, for the purpose of giving Battle to the British Squadron of Twenty Seven, and yesterday at Eleven A. M. the contest began, close in with the Shoals of Trafalgar.
At Five P. M. Seventeen of the Enemy had Surrendered, and one (L’Achille) burnt, amongst which is the Sta. Ana, the Spanish Admiral Don d’Aleva mortally wounded, and the Santisima Trinidad. The French Admiral Villeneuve is now a Prisoner on board the Mars; I believe three Admirals are captured.
Our loss has been great in Men; but, what is irreparable, and the cause of Universal Lamentation, is the Death of the Noble Commander in Chief, who died in the Arms of Victory; I have not yet any reports from the Ships, but have heard that Captains Duff and Cook fell in the Action.
I have to congratulate you upon the Great event, and have the Honor to be, &c. &c.
(Signed) C. COLLINGWOOD.
His Excellency, the Right Hon.
The Hon. Gen. H. E. Fox, &c. &c.
In addition to the above particulars of the late Glorious Victory, we are assured that 18 Sail of the Line were counted in our possession, before the Vessel, which brought the above dispatches, left the Fleet; and that three more of the Enemy’s Vessels were seen driving about, perfect wrecks, at the mercy of the waves, on the Barbary Shore, and which will probably also fall into our hands.
Admiral Collingwood in the Dreadnought, lead the Van of the British Fleet most gallantly into action, without firing a shot, till his yardarms were locked with those of the Santisima Trinidad; when he opened so tremendous a fire, that, in fifteen minutes, she was completely dismasted, and obliged to surrender.
Lord Nelson, in the Victory, engaged the French Admiral most closely; during the heat of the action, his Lordship was severely wounded with a grape shot, in the side, and was obliged to be, carried below. Immediately on his wound being dressed, he insisted upon being again brought upon deck, when, shortly afterwards, he received a shot through his body; he survived however, till the Evening; long enough to be informed of the capture of the French Admiral of the Glorious Victory he had gained. – His last words were, “Thank God I have outlived this day, and now I die content!!!”