The Battle of Trafalgar

Launch Slideshow

The Battle of Trafalgar

  • Lantern Signals
    Order signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), headed “'Most Secret”, with a diagram showing how lanterns are to be hoisted to distinguish ships in the British Fleet in hours of darkness, 1 page, HMS Victory, 26 September 1805
    Share
  • Rendezvous
    Order signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), with a numbered list of additional possible points of rendezvous in the Mediterranean (numbers 53 to 160), 3 pages, HMS Victory, 26 September 1805
    Share
  • Order of Battle
    Order of Battle and Sailing for the fleet off Cadiz, signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), 1 page, 29 September 1805
    Share
  • Preparing for Battle
    “…I have 23 sail with me and should they come out I shall immediately bring them to battle…”

    Horatio Nelson, autograph letter signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), to Lord Barham, on the condition of the fleet off Cadiz and his hope to annihilate the enemy, 4 pages, HMS Victory, 5 October 1805
    Share
  • Emma's Last Letter
    “…may god send you victory & Home soon to your Emma, Horatia, & paradise Merton for when you are there it will be paradise my own nelson may god prosper you & preserve you for the sake of your affectionate Emma…”

    Emma Hamilton, autograph letter signed, her last known letter to Horatio Nelson, with news of their daughter Horatia and her anxiety for his safety, 6 pages, Canterbury, 8 October 1805
    Share
  • Battle Plans
    "Thinking it almost impossible to bring a Fleet of Forty Sail of the Line into a line of Battle in variable Winds, thick Weather and other Circumstances which must occur without such a loss of time that the Opportunity would probably be lost of bringing the Enemy to Battle in such a Manner as to make the business decisive—I have therefore made up my Mind to keep the Fleet in that position of sailing (with the exception of the first and second in Command) that the Order of sailing is to be the Order of Battle, placing the Fleet in two Lines of Sixteen Ships each..."

    Horatio Nelson, secret memorandum signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), outlining his plan of battle, addressed to Captain James Nicoll Morris of HMS Colossus, 5 pages, HMS Victory off Cadiz, 9 October 1805
    Share
  • Instructions for Battle
    "Agamemnon, Bellisle & Superb & very probably London are at this moment on their passage, therefore if Mr. Decrees [i.e. Decrès, French Minister of Marine who was believed to be taking command of the Combined Fleets] means to come forth (if he would take my advice which I dare say he will not) he had better come out directly. Those who know more of Cadiz than you or I do say that after these Levanters, come several days of fine Weather, Westerly Winds for Sea Breeze & a Land Wind at night, and that if the Enemy are bound into the Mediterranean they would come out in the Night...in Short watch all points and all Winds & Weathers…”

    Horatio Nelson, autograph letter signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), to Captain Blackwood, with detailed instructions warning him of the likelihood of imminent battle, 1 page, HMS Victory, 9 October 1805
    Share
  • Ready for Battle
    "...very soon I shall have an opportunity of getting at the Gentry from Cadiz they cannot stay there much longer and I hope it will be such a show as will go far towards humbling the pride of Buonaparte..."

    Horatio Nelson, autograph letter signed (“Nelson & Bronte”), to Dr Sewell of the Vice-Admiralty Court in Malta, on his anger at confused instructions over prize money and the likelihood of battle, 4 pages. HMS Victory, 11 October 1805
    Share
  • The Nelson Touch
    “My Dearest Friend I thought now you might write to me & I was hurt very much hurt that you did not come to see me most particularly for the reason you gave […] that you did not come as you did not wish to meet company not proper…”

    Emma Hamilton, autograph letter signed, to Sarah, Lady Nelson, 6 pages, Merton, 17 November 1806
    Share
  • Trafalgar, Recorded
    "...the ship on the starboard side engaging the Victory [i.e. the French Redoubtable] fell alongside of us ... the yard arms locked and immediately after struck and was boarded by some of the Officers and Part of the Crew of the Temeraire at the same time being Closely engaged with one of the Enemie on the Starboard side a Spanish three deck ship [Santa Ana]..."

    James Eaton, Midshipman, log book on HMS Temeraire, 6 September 1805 to 9 January 1806, including his first-hand account of the Battle of Trafalgar
    Share
  • The Fall of Admiral Nelson
    “The ever to be lamented death of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, Duke of Bronte, the Commander in Chief who fell in the Action of the 21st in the Arms of Victory, covered with Glory and whose memory will ever be dear to the British Navy; whose zeal for the honour of his King, and for the interests of his Country, will be ever held up as a shining example for a British Seaman…”

    Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, order signed, to Captain Bayntun of HMS Leviathan, 2 pages, HMS Euryalus, 22 October 1805
    Share
/
Close