Horatio Nelson an Admiral Earl St. Vincent nach der Schlacht von Abukir 1798

Horatio Nelson an Admiral Earl St. Vincent nach der Seeschlacht von Abukir 1798

Horatio Nelson to Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent, K.B., Commander-in-Chief

Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 3^rd August, 1798.

My Lord,

Almighty God has blessed his Majesty’s Arms in the late Battle, by a great Victory over the Fleet of the Enemy, who I attacked at sunset on the 1^st of August, off the Mouth of the Nile.

The Enemy were moored in a strong Line of Battle for defending the entrance of the Bay, (of Shoals,) flanked by numerous Gun-boats, four Frigates, and a Battery of Guns and Mortars on an Island in their Van; but nothing could withstand the Squadron your Lordship did me the honour to place under my command. Their high stat of discipline is well known to you and with the judgement of the Captains, together with their valour, and that the Officers and Men of every description, it was absolutely irresistible. Could anything from my pen add to the character of the Captains, I would write it with pleasure, but that is impossible.

I have to regret the loss of Captain Westcott of the Majestic, who was killed early in the Action; but the Ship was continued to be so well fought by her First Lieutenant, Mr. Cuthbert, that I have given him an order to command her till your Lordship’s pleasure is known.

The Ships of the Enemy, all but their two rear Ships, are nearly dismasted: and those two, with two Frigates, I am sorry to say, made their escape; nor was it, I assure you, in my power to prevent them. Captain Hood most handsomely endeavoured to do it, but I had no Ship in a condition to support the Zealous, and I was obliged to call her in.

The support and assistance I have received from Captain Berry cannot be sufficiently expressed. I was wounded in the head, and obliged to be carried off the deck; but the service suffered no loss by that event: Captain Berry was fully equal to the important service then going on, and to him I must beg leave to refer you for every information relative to this Victory. He will present you with the Flag of the Second in Command, that of the Commander-in-Chief being burnt in L’Orient.

Herewith I transmit you List of the Killed and Wounded, and the Lines of Battle of ourselves and the French. I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship’s most obedient Servant,

Horatio Nelson.

Quelle: Colburn, Henry (Hrsg.)/Harris Nicholas, Nicholas: The Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, Vol. III, London 1845, S. 56f.

The Destruction of „L’Orient“ at the Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798

Mehr zu der Seeschlacht bei Abukir auch bei Wikipedia.