Part 26

=Camperdown.=--When the battle of Camperdown was fought on October 11th, 1797, Great Britain was in the unfortunate position of standing isolated among the nations of Europe, and still concerned with the series of mutinies which had broken out in her fleet owing to the poor pay and bad food meted out to the seamen who had served their country so well. As a consequence Britain was, had her enemies but realised it, in a very precarious position. Fortunately Admiral Duncan had "a way with him," which enabled him, by a combination of firmness and reasoning power, to get his men into such a frame of mind as to state in writing that there was not a man on board the "Venerable" "but would lose the last drop of blood in his body before they (the enemy) should obtain any victory over us, therefore, honoured sir, we once more implore your gracious pardon." Fortunately Duncan's ability to deal with the mutineers enabled him, at least, to have a fleet of some pretensions wherewith to meet the enemy. Meanwhile the mutiny at the Nore had been suppressed, "Admiral" Richard Parker, the leader, hanged, and some effort made to remedy the grievances of the seamen while Duncan had been hoodwinking the Dutch.

On October 9th, 1817, Duncan set sail from Yarmouth Roads with 20 ships, 4 cutters, and a lugger, to meet the Dutch fleet which had at last left the Texel. Just before noon on the 11th, Duncan signalled to his ships "clear for action and close," and by half-past 12 Vice-Admiral Onslow, in the "Monarch," had got through the enemy's line and engaged Vice-Admiral Reyntier. Admiral Duncan engaged the "Vyrheid," the Dutch Admiral's flagship, and after a hard fight lasting until 2 o'clock, De Winter only struck his ship to the "Venerable" when he was the only unwounded man on the quarter-deck of his mastless ship. It is significant of Duncan's character and manliness that when his opponent offered his sword he refused to take it, saying "rather a brave man's hand than his sword." On October 16th the victorious Admiral anchored off the Nore with the eleven ships he had taken, and next day King George raised him to the Peerage with the titles of Baron Duncan of Lundie and Viscount Duncan of Camperdown.

The vessels engaged were: H.M. ships "Venerable," "Ardent," "Adamant," "Agincourt," "Bedford," "Belliqueux," "Brackel," "Lancaster," "Monarch," "Montague," "Monmouth," "Powerful," "Russell," "Director," "Isis," "Veteran," "Triumph," the frigates "Beaulieu," "Circe," and "Martin," the cutters "Active," "Diligent," "King George," "Rose," and the lugger "Speculator."

=The Nile.=--For over a year hardly a British man-of-war had passed into the Mediterranean until Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, with Captain Trowbridge, entered with his fleet to frustrate the pretensions of Napoleon. There were 13 74-gun ships and 1 of 50 guns; but before the action commenced on August 1st, 1798, the former had been reduced to 12 by the grounding of the "Culloden." The French fleet was of equal proportions; but included several heavier ships: "L'Orient," the flagship, a magnificent three-decker carrying 120 guns, and three others with 80 guns apiece. The French fleet was moored on the edge of a shoal in a compact line running north-west by south-east. Captain Foley, with the "Goliath," led the way between the front ships and Aboukir Island, thus executing a manœuvre which the French Admiral had thought impracticable. Five ships thus engaged the enemy on the port or land side, while the "Vanguard," followed up by other ships, made for the centre of the line. At half-past 6 in the evening the battle commenced, and by 8 o'clock 8 British ships and an equal number of French were engaged in one of the most deadly struggles in naval history.

[Illustration: NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL AND KNIGHT COMMANDER'S HANOVER BADGE AND STAR.

Awarded to Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Ussher, C.B., K.C.H.]

Early in the contest the French Admiral, de Brueys, had been badly wounded, but, gallant sailor that he was, refused to go below, and met his death about this time by a shot that almost cut him in two: even then his resolute spirit refused to yield, and death only gave his comrades the power to remove his maimed body. At 9 o'clock his ship, "L'Orient," was seen to blaze out; but her determined crew stuck to their guns and fired them until they were literally scorched out of their places--and then the great ship blew up. So awful was the scene that the gunners of both fleets were apparently too dazed to fire again for about a quarter of an hour. Meantime a French lad won undying fame by his devotion to his father, the Commodore of "L'Orient," and his name has been immortalised by a British poetess, Mrs. Hemans, who has so well portrayed the story of the little ten-year-old lad who refused to leave his mortally wounded father, and despite the fact that, as a French writer states, "the English seamen made the most strenuous efforts to save the young Casabianca," he went down to his death with the father he loved so well.

Just before "L'Orient" blew up, Nelson received a severe wound on the forehead which was for a time thought likely to prove mortal; but on hearing that the great vessel had blown up, he gave orders for the launching of the only boat so that the unfortunate survivors of the explosion might be rescued. The night with its horrors had exhausted the fleets, and firing gradually ceased until the day broke at 4 o'clock: by then 6 French ships had hauled down their colours and two were aground, while the "Tonnant," commanded by the bravest of brave seamen, Captain Dupetit-Thouars, showed fight to the last, for her seamen were filled with the spirit of their dead captain, who had his colours nailed to the mast, and when wounded unto death refused to yield. Such courage as his must be infectious. With both arms and a leg shot away, seated in a tub of bran, this defiant and gallant Frenchman commanded his ship until the conqueror of all--Death--claimed the victory.

Only 2 French ships-of-war and 2 frigates escaped. The flagship and the "Arteruise" had blown up, 2 were aground, a frigate had been sunk when Rear-Admiral Villeneuve endeavoured to get away with the badly damaged "Tonnant" and 3 others. Of these the "Timeleon" grounded, and after her crew had got ashore, her captain burnt her; the "Tonnant" was captured; and only the "Guillaume Tell" and the "Genereux," which had hardly taken any part in the conflict, escaped with the frigates "Justice" and "Diane." Not a British vessel went down, but all showed severe evidence of the fight that had been waged on that August day in 1798. The victory was due not only to the excellent seamanship of Nelson, who was raised to the peerage as Baron Nelson of the Nile, and of Burnham Thorpe, for what Lord St. Vincent described as "the greatest achievement the history of the world can produce," but to the superb gunnery of his men, who served their guns with such rapidity and precision that their opponents were absolutely outclassed.

The ships engaged in the battle were the "Vanguard," "Bellerophon," "Orion," "Audacious," "Culloden," "Defiance," "Zealous," "Minotaur," "Goliath," "Alexander," "Majestic," "Leander," "Theseus," "Swiftsure," and the sloop "Mutine."

=Davison's Medal for the Nile.=--As a souvenir of this historic sea-fight Mr. Alexander Davison, Lord Nelson's prize agent, presented to every officer and seaman of Nelson's fleet a medal; gold to captains and lieutenants, silver to warrant officers, bronze gilt to petty officers, bronze to seamen and marines. The medal, which is 1¹⁷⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, is illustrated facing page 288. Upon the edge is impressed FROM ALEXANDER DAVISON ESQ., ST. JAMES SQUARE, A TRIBUTE OF REGARD. The medals were issued unnamed, but many had their names and the name of their ship also engraved above the sky-line on the reverse. The medals, modelled by C. H. Kuchler, were highly prized by all who received them, from Nelson--who wrote very gratefully to Davison--to the seamen, many of whom had the medals mounted in gold or silver frames and wore them suspended from a broad blue ribbon. This is the first instance of a medal given by a private individual being accepted and worn in the Service.

=Copenhagen.=--This battle, fought on April 2nd, 1801, will long be remembered for the gallant conduct of Nelson, who, when Admiral Sir Hyde Parker signalled "leave off action," placed his glass to his blind eye and saying, "I really do not see the signal!" ordered his own signal for close action to be kept flying. Had it not have been for this daring disregard of orders, Copenhagen would have been among the failures of our navy, instead of one of its most glorious victories, for it was one of the most stubborn fights on record. For five hours Britons and Danes fought with equal courage and determination. For five hours they fought with equal success, and it was only through the pertinacity of Nelson that the fortune of war fell to Britain. This battle has a double significance, for not only did Nelson prove his great capacity as a seaman, but also gave further evidence of his humane character; for when the stubborn spirit of the Danes was likely to lead to useless bloodshed he appealed "to the brothers of Englishmen--the Danes," to recognise the fact that they were beaten, and so prevent unnecessary carnage.

It was an action which he knew would be misunderstood and misrepresented, but he did not falter. Fortunately his message was received by the Crown Prince in the spirit in which it was sent, and the battle of Copenhagen, "the most terrible of all" his engagements, was added to the laurels of the immortal and gentle Nelson, although because Nelson requested the cessation of hostilities, the Danes regarded it as a drawn battle.

The following ships were engaged: "Elephant," (Vice-Admiral Nelson's flagship), "Defiance," "Edgar," "Monarch," "Bellona," "Ganges," "Russell," "Agamemnon," "Ardent," "Polyphemus," "Glatton," "Isis," "Amazon," "Alcméne," "Blanche," "Désirée," "Jamaica," sloops "Arrow," "Dart," "Cruiser," and "Harpy," bomb vessels "Discovery," "Explosion," "Hecla," "Sulphur," "Terror," "Volcano," and "Zebra," and the brigs "Otter" and "Zephyr."

=Trafalgar.=--Napoleon having placed the crown of Italy upon his head (May 6th, 1805), within a fortnight declared Genoa and the Ligurian Republic part of the French Empire. He then had hopes that Admiral De Villeneuve would successfully escort the "Army of England," then encamped at Boulogne, across the Channel. His plans were, however, frustrated by the engagement forced upon Villeneuve by Admiral Sir Robert Calder off Ferrol, while Napoleon, charging his Admiral with cowardice, caused him to leave the harbour of Cadiz on October 19th, 1805, and the epoch-making battle off Cape Trafalgar was the result. Owing to light winds, Villeneuve did not make the Atlantic until the next day, and then his combined fleet of 33 French and Spanish ships of the line, 5 French frigates, and 2 brigs, were sighted off Cape Trafalgar by Nelson's look-out ships. It was not until next day, however, that the fleets formed in battle array. At 6.30 a.m. the British ships cleared for action. The English fleet comprised 27 sail of the line, 4 frigates, a cutter and a schooner. Lord Nelson led the Weather or Northern Division in his flagship the "Victory," while Vice-Admiral Collingwood led the Lee or Southern Division. Just before noon the famous signal "England expects every man to do his duty" was run up, and the battle began. "Engage the enemy more closely" was the only other signal given by the British Admiral, and that was when the enemy's ship "Fougueux" had opened fire upon the "Royal Sovereign"; then followed a series of contests between the French and British ships, which reflect the greatest credit upon the seamen of both nations.

[Illustration: DAVISON'S MEDAL FOR THE VICTORY OF THE NILE, 1798.]

Nelson, being desirous of engaging the French Admiral's flagship, came upon the "Bucentaure" at 12.30 p.m., when she fired upon the British flagship, but, unheedful of the shot from this and seven other ships, the "Victory" ploughed her way ahead in order to break the enemy's line. For three-quarters of an hour her guns refused to bark, though her men were falling fast from the shots which broke through her sides, and tore her sails to shreds; but at 1 o'clock the "Victory" closely engaged the "Bucentaure," and so well were the British shots placed that 20 of the enemy's guns were soon dismounted and, according to a French estimate, 400 seamen were killed. Leaving the "Bucentaure" the "Victory" engaged the "Redoubtable" at ten minutes past 1, and the rigging of the two ships fouling, they were locked in a deadly embrace. Then the crews of the two vessels fought with exceeding gallantry, for both were led by brave men, and the "Redoubtable's" captain cheered his men on to board the "Victory"; indeed, he lowered his main-yard on to the "Victory's" deck, and his men made a brave effort to capture her, but those daring Frenchmen who gained her decks paid for their effort with their lives; not, however, before they had placed 30 of the "Victory's" crew _hors de combat_.

=Death of Nelson.=--Meanwhile, one of the sharpshooters in the mizzen-top of the "Redoubtable" had given Viscount Nelson his death wound. At half-past one the fatal bullet passed through his shoulder and spine, but Britain's greatest admiral lived long enough to learn that the victory was his, and he died at 4.30 p.m. satisfied that he had done his duty. By 5.30 p.m. 18 of the enemy's ships had struck their colours, and the survivors of the fight were making the best of their way to Cadiz, but a gale coming on, the British fleet with its prizes stood out to sea, where some of the prizes foundered with their crews; others were driven ashore and wrecked, while four were retaken by the enemy, so that by the time the triumphant fleet sailed into Gibraltar Bay it only retained 4 prizes. The victory of Trafalgar had, however, made Britain indisputable mistress of the seas, destroyed the sea power of France and Spain, and, while it added to the laurels of British seamen, gave to Nelson a glorious death and secured for him a resting-place in Westminster Abbey.

The following ships were engaged in the battle: "Victory," "Royal Sovereign," "Temeraire," "Britannia," "Conqueror," "Neptune," "Agamemnon," "Leviathan," "Ajax," "Africa," "Minotaur," "Orion," "Belleisle," "Mars," "Thunderer," "Spartiate," "Bellerophon," "Achille," "Colossus," "Polyphemus," "Revenge," "Dreadnought," "Swiftsure," "Defence," "Defiance," "Prince" and "Tonnant." "Naiad," "Sirius," "Euryalus" and "Phœbe" frigates. The cutter "Entreprenaute" and the schooner "Pickle."

=Gold Medal for Trafalgar.=--As already stated, the gold medal instituted by George III to reward the officers of Lord Howe's fleet who took part in the action on "The Glorious" June 1st, 1794, was afterwards awarded for all great naval victories, and among those who received them were Nelson's officers--from post-captains upwards--who took part in the battle of Trafalgar. The gold medal was awarded for 18 different actions, the last award being for the fight between the "Endymion" frigate of 48 guns and the American 50-gun frigate "President" on January 15th, 1815. See facing page 280 for smaller type of medal as awarded to James (afterwards Right Hon. Admiral Lord James) Gambier of the "Defence" for June 1st, 1794.

[Illustration: HORATIUS COUNT NELSON, K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE]

=Boulton's Trafalgar Medal.=--To commemorate the last and greatest of Nelson's victories, Matthew Boulton, the partner of James Watt of the famous Soho Works near Birmingham, decided to strike medals and present one to each participant in the fight. The medal, 1⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter, bears on the obverse a fine bust of Nelson, with the inscription surrounding it HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON. K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. On the reverse the battle is represented _en cameo_, with the famous signal on a ribbon running with the line of the medal, and in the exergue TRAFALGAR OCT. 21 1805. On the edge of the medal is the inscription TO THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M. BOULTON. The medal was struck in silver for the senior officers, and in pewter for distribution among the junior officers and seamen. The intrinsic value of the medal did not, however, appeal to many of the recipients of the pewter variety, and they either refused them or threw them overboard. Those who retained them wore them suspended from a blue ribbon. A few were struck in bronze as proofs.

=Davison's Trafalgar Medal.=--This medal, generally supposed to have been struck at the instance of Mr. Alexander Davison for distribution among the surviving members of the crew of the "Victory," has on the obverse a shield bearing the arms of Nelson, encircled by a garter inscribed TRIA · JUNCTO · IN · UNO · ensigned by a bust of Viscount Nelson, with a laurel branch to the left, and a palm branch to the right, and on a scroll beneath the shield PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT and the double inscription ADMIRAL LORD NELSON D. OF BRONTE NATUS SEP. 29TH 1758. HOSTE DEVICTO REQUIEVIT OCT. 21ST 1805 and ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY. On the reverse is a man-of-war with sails furled, and above THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR. EXODUS C 15 V 3, whilst below is VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE & SPAIN OCT 21 1805. Beneath the man-of-war is ~HALLIDAY FECIT~. The medals, 2 in. in diameter, were struck in pewter or white metal, and were sometimes framed by the recipients in gold, silver, or gilt metal rims, with a loop for suspension from a blue ribbon.

=The Official Medal.=--It was not until June 1st, 1847, that it was made known by a General Order that Her Majesty Queen Victoria had commanded that a medal should be struck, not only to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar, but to recognise the services rendered by her fleets and armies from 1793 to 1815. The medal was ready for distribution in January 1849, and later the naval services for which it might be awarded were extended to 1840. The admitted claims totalled 20,900.

[Illustration: (Reverse.)

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]

[Illustration: SULTAN'S MEDAL FOR ACRE.]

[Illustration: (Obverse.)

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]

=The Naval General Service Medal.=--Two hundred and thirty bars were issued with the medal, which bore upon the obverse the bust of Queen Victoria, as on the Military General Service medal, and the legend VICTORIA REGINA, with the date +1848+ below, and on the reverse a figure of Britannia seated upon a sea-horse holding in her right hand a trident, and in the left an olive branch. The medal, by Wyon, is suspended by a straight clasp from a white ribbon with blue edges, and the recipient's name is impressed upon the edge of the medal in Roman capitals of the same character as those used for the M.G.S. medal. Officers and warrant officers only had their rank described, and in the arrangement of the bars the first action was placed nearest the medal. Although so many bars were issued with the medal, six is the most awarded to any one man. Dr. Payne has in his collection two with five bars; one awarded to Thos. Hewitt, midshipman, for 1 JUNE 1794--12 OCTR 1798--4 FEB BOAT SERVICE 1804--CENTAUR 26 AUGT 180'--ALGIERS, and another awarded to Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas) Ussher, Kt., C.B., K.C.H., illustrated facing page 284, which also includes 1 JUNE 1794--REDWING 7 MAY 1808--REDWING 31ST MAY 1808--MAGALA 29TH APRIL 1812--2 MAY BOAT SERVICE 1813. This is a particularly rare set of bars, for only seven of the second were issued, five of the third, seven of the fourth, and forty-nine of the fifth.

BARS GRANTED WITH THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH THE NAMES OF THE ACTIONS THEREON

NYMPH, 18 June 1793. 4 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Cleopatre." Captain E. Pellew, who commanded the "Nymph," was knighted.

CRESCENT, 20 Oct. 1793. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Reunion," which was added to the British Navy under the same name.

ZEBRA, 7 March 1794. 2 issued. Running the "Zebra" sloop alongside the bastion of Fort Royal at Martinique, and storming and capturing the fort.

CARYSFORT, 29 May 1794. None issued. Recapture of the "Caster."

1 June 1794 ("The Glorious First of June"). 576 issued. Defeat of the French fleet by Lord Howe, capture of 6 sail of the line and 1 sunk. 58 vessels (for list of principal vessels engaged see page 279).

ROMENY, 17 June 1794. 2 issued. Capture of French frigate "Sybille."

BLANCHE, 4 Jan. 1795. 5 issued. At the end of the conflict she had a crew of 190. Capture of the French frigate "Pique."

LIVELY, 13 March 1795. 3 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Tourterelle."

14 March 1795. 111 issued. Action with French fleet, and capture of 2 sail of the line. 22 vessels under Vice-Admiral Hotham were engaged.

ASTRÆA, 10 April 1795. 2 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Gloire."

{ Action with four THETIS, 17 May 1795. 3 issued. { French ships, and { capture of "La HUSSAR, 17 May 1795. 1 issued. { Raison" and { "Prevoyante."

MOSQUITO, 9 June 1795. None issued. This was not due to delay in issuing medals, but to the loss of the captain and crew of the "Mosquito" soon after. Action with, and capture of, privateer.

17 June 1795. 38 issued. Brilliant repulse by Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, of a fleet four times superior in force. 7 vessels engaged.

23 June 1795. 201 issued. Action under Admiral Lord Bridport with French fleet, and capture of 3 sail of the line; the "Formidable" became the British ship "Belleisle" and the "Tigre" was also added under its own name. The "Alexander" was a recapture. 29 vessels engaged.

DIDO, 23 June 1795. 1 only } Action with the French issued. } frigates "Minerve" LOWESTOFFE, 24 June 1795. } and "Artemise," and 6 issued. } capture of the former.

SPIDER, 25 Aug. 1795. 1 only issued. Action with 2 French brigs, and capture of 1. This medal realised £33 at the Gaskill sale.

PORT SPERGUI, 17 March 1796. 4 issued to survivors of the "Diamond," "Liberty," and "Aristocrat." Destroying the batteries at Port Spergui, and destroying the corvette "Etourdie," 4 brigs, 2 sloops, and 1 lugger.

INDEFATIGABLE, 20 April 1796. 6 issued. Capture of French frigate "Virginia," in the English Channel.

{ Action with the three { French frigates "La UNICORN, 8 June 1796. 4 { Tribune," "La Tamise," issued. { (formerly the British ship SANTA MARGARITA, 8 June { "Thames") and "La 1796. 3 issued. { Legere," and capture of { the two former. Captain { William of the "Unicorn" { was knighted.

SOUTHAMPTON, 9 June 1796. 4 issued. Capture of French corvette "Utile."

DRYAD, 13 June 1796. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Proserpine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."

TERPSICHORE, 13 Oct. 1796. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish frigate "Mahonesa."

LAPWING, 8 Dec. 1796. 2 issued. Action with French ship "Décieux" and brig "Vaillante," and capture of the former. 1 medal sold for £21 on July 24th, 1914.

MINERVA, 19 Dec. 1796. 5 { Capture of Spanish frigate issued. { "Santa Sabina" by the BLANCHE, 19 Dec. 1796. 2 { "Minerve," and action issued. { between "Blanche" { and "Ceres."

{ Destruction of French INDEFATIGABLE, 13 Jan. 1797. { "74," "Droits de 8 issued. { L'Homme," off the AMAZON, 13 Jan. 1797. 6 { coast of France. The issued. { "Amazon" went { ashore and her crew { were made prisoners.

ST. VINCENT, 14 Feb. 1797. 363 issued. Action with the Spanish fleet, and capture of 4 sail of the line. 23 ships engaged (for list see page 283).

SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1797. 7 issued. Capture of "Resistance" and "Constance." The first named became the "Fisgard."

NYMPHE, 8 March 1797. 6 issued.