Tuesday, July 4th, 2006

Time	Event
5:59p	Trafalgar First-Hand Accounts (2) NELSON SENDS THE SIGNAL “ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY”, 11.56 a.m. Lieutenant George Brown, HMS Victory I was on the poop and quarter-deck whilst preparations for the fight were going on, and saw Lord Nelson, Captain Blackwood, and some other Captains of the frigates, in earnest conversation together, and a slip of paper in the hand of the former (which Captain Blackwood had looked at), yet I have no recollection that I ever saw it pass through other hands till it was given to Pasco, who, after referring to the telegraph signal book, took it back to his Lordship, and it was then that, I believe, the substitution of the words took place. I think (though not sure), the substitution was “expects” for the word “confides”, the latter word not being in the telegraph book, and I think the word “England” had been previously substituted for “Nelson” for the same reason, at the suggestion of Captain Blackwood. …………. I was walking with him [Lord Nelson] on the poop when he said, “I’ll now amuse the fleet with a signal”, and he asked me if I did not think there was one yet wanting. I answered that I thought the whole of the Fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about, and to vie with each other who should first get nearest to the Victory or Royal Sovereign. These words were scarcely uttered when his last well known signal was made: “England expects every man will do his duty”. The shout with which it was received throughout the fleet was truly sublime. “Now,” said Lord Nelson, “I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all Events, and the justice of our case. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty.” [Just minutes later, the battle commenced when the Fougueux opened fire on the approaching Royal Sovereign of Collingwood’s Lee column] (Comment on this)
6:57p	Don Miguel-Ricardo de Alava, Teniente General Небольшое лополнение к http://ancient-skipper.livejournal.com/27412.html Таки Реверте не ошибся, Алава в Трафальгарском сражениии был генерал-лейтенантом морской пехоты. ----------------------------------------------------------- Don Miguel-Ricardo de Alava holds a unique, but little-known, place in the history of the Napoleonic Wars. This naval officer, army officer, politician and ambassador is reputed to be the only man present at both of this period's two crucial military events: the Battle of Trafalgar (21.10.1805) and the Battle of Waterloo (18.06.1815). Born in Vittoria in 1770, Alava began his military career in the Spanish Navy. In spite of having risen to the rank of captain (in command of a frigate) Alava subsequently decided to exchange services and continue his career - starting at the rank of captain - in the Spanish Army. So it was as an officer of marines that Alava participated in the first of the two great Napoleonic defeats - that of Trafalgar in 1805. ----------------------------------------------------------- Но на "Санта Ане" был еще один Алава - его дядя - Игнасио-Мария де Алава и Саенц де Наваррете, вице-адмирал, заместитель Гравины (именно его и упоминают бритиши). ----------------------------------------------------------- "It is with great pleasure that I have heard the wound you received in the action [the Battle of Trafalgar] is in a hopeful way of recovery, and that your country may still have the benefit of your future service. But, Sir, you surrendered yourself to me; and it was in consideration only of the state of your wound, that you were not removed into my ship. I could not disturb the repose of a man supposed to be in his last moments; but your sword, the emblem of your service, was delivered to me by your Captain; and I expect that you consider yourself a prisoner of war, until you shall be regularly exchanged by cartel." -- Vice-Admiral Collingwood's letter to Vice-Admiral Ignacio Maria de Alava y Saenz de Navarrete in Cadiz, 30 October 1805 ----------------------------------------------------------- "In short, this talisman [Napoleon's military reputation], whose charm had so long operated on the French military, has been completely dashed to pieces. Buonaparte has for ever lost the reputation of being invincible; and, henceforward, this character will belong to an honourable man [the Duke of Wellington], who, far from employing this glorious title in disturbing and enslaving Europe, will convert it into an instrument of her felicity, and in procuring for her that peace which she so much requires." -- Lieutenant-General Miguel Ricardo de Alava's report on the Battle of Waterloo to the Spanish Secretary of State, 13 July 1815 ----------------------------------------------------------- http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/c_alava.html http://www.mauspfeil.net/Ignacio_Maria_de_Alava_y_Saenz_de_Navarrete.html http://www.losvargas.org/personaj/pers0026.html (Comment on this)

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