10 of 12 August 2023 The 1805 Dispatches #23.04 example, was Nelson in the Vanguard, when Foley led past the bows of the Guerrier? Elliot - afterwards Sir George Elliot - who was the Goliath's signal midshipman, declares " there was a gap between the Goliath and the Zealous and the rest of the fleet of about seven miles, and the battle began by only two ships against the whole of the enemy's van." Yet the logs of the various ships prove that the Vanguard dropped anchor beside her particular antagonist within twenty-five minutes after the first French gun was fired. Hood, in the Zealous, who followed close on the stern of the Goliath, says, "We had not increased our distance much from the other ships coming up from the rear." It is admitted that Nelson gave to his leading ships no order by signal to round the head of the French line; but it is contended that this particular plan had been discussed between Nelson and his captains, and Foley was the only one carrying out what he knew was Nelson's plan when he lead so boldly across the bows of the Guerrier. Berry says expressly, and even with a touch of indignation in his voice, that "Nelson's projected mode of attack was minutely and precisely his in the action." It is certain that Nelson was familiar with great historic precedents in favour of exactly Foley's manoeuvre. At Palermo in 1676 Tourville destroyed the combined Dutch and Spanish fleet by exactly that method of attack. The Battle of Sluys, three hundred years earlier, was won by Edward III in precisely the same fashion. It cannot be doubted that Nelson had discussed with his captains this particular method of attack if the French ships were found lying at anchor. There is one bit of direct evidence on the subject which should be final - if it were not contradicted. Williams, who was present as chaplain on board one of the British ships, says that, as the fleet was forming in line ahead the Zealous moved past the flagship, and "Nelson hailed Hood and asked him if he thought there was sufficient depth of water for our ships between the enemy and the shore?" "I don't know, sir", replied Hood, "but with your permission, I will stand in and try." Williams, however, was chaplain of the Swiftsure; and that ship was some seven miles off in the offing, when the conversation took place. He could only have a second-hand knowledge of it. And his version of the story is contradicted by Hood himself. "Sir Horatio asked," says Hood, "if I thought we were far enough to the eastward to bear up round the shoal ? I told him I was in eleven fathoms, but I had no chart of the place. Top: The Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798: Beginning of the Action Thomas Whitcombe (c.1752–1824) National Maritime Museum Upper centre: The Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798 Also Thomas Whitcombe https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections Lower centre: The Cockpit, Battle of the Nile. Depicting Nelson and others, wounded, being attended. Artist unknown https://www.historic-uk.com Bottom: THE BATTLE OF THE NILE 1899 W. L. Wyllie 1899 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks
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