Trafalgar First-Hand Accounts (4)
“EFFECTS THAT WERE MURDEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE”: UNDER FIRE FROM HMS VICTORY, 12.30 p.m.
Admiral Villeneuve, Bucentaure
The port column, led by the Victory, with the flag of Admiral Nelson, came on in much the same way. She appeared as if she was aiming to break the line between the Santissima Trinidad and the bows of the Bucentaure. Whether, however, they found our line too well closed up at this point, or from some other reason, when they were almost within half pistol-shot – while we, for our part, prepared to board and had our grappling-irons ready for throwing – they swung off to starboard and passed astern of the Bucentaure. The Redoutable had the station of the Neptune, which had fallen to leeward, and she heroically fulfilled the duties of the second astern of the flagship. She ran on board the Victory, but the lightness of the wind had not prevented the Victory passing close under the stern of the Bucentaure and firing into us as she passed several treble-shotted broadsides, with effects that were murderous and destructive. At that moment I made the signal, “All ships not engaged owing to their stations, are to get into action as soon as possible!” It was impossible for me to see how things were going in the centre and rear of the fleet because of the dense smoke which enveloped us.
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