Wind S.W. p.m. moderate and hazy; half-past 2 tacked,—Cape Trafalgar S. E. three or four leagues,—got springs on the anchors; at 8h. standing up the Gut of Gibraltar,—Admiral S. by W. three-quarters of a mile; at 12h. taken aback, came to the wind on the land-tack; at 6h. Gibraltar Rock N. by E. four or five leagues,—shortened sail to let the Pompée go ahead to her station; at half-past 7, saw the enemy's ships at anchor in Algeziras Roads, consisting of three line-of-battle ships, a frigate, gun-boats, &c.; three-quarters past 7, the batteries commenced firing on our ships as they passed; twenty minutes past 8, the enemy's ships began to fire on our ships; at half-past 8, the action became hot on both sides,—the Venerable, Pompée, and Audacious as yet only in action; at half-past 9, the Cæsar, Spencer, and Hannibal joined the action against the ships and batteries; at 11h. cut the cables, and tried to tow the ship's head round to the eastward, to bring the ship's broadside to bear on her opponent, but without effect; by this time the sails and rigging being much cut up, and the ship unmanageable, got the kedge anchor with a five-inch hawser out on the starboard bow, and succeeded in bringing the broadside to bear; at noon, light airs inclining to calm,—Cæsar, Spencer, under way, still in action.
p.m. dark weather; at forty-five minutes past 12, the Venerable and Pompée hauled to the wind on the starboard tack; at 1h. cut the sheet-cable, and slipped the end of the kedge hawser, and spring on the sheet-anchor,—got the boats ahead to tow,—found the ship drifting under the island fort, which did us considerable injury,—the rocks close under the lee-bow,—cut away the best bower-anchor to check her head, and bring her broadside to bear, it being calm; at twenty minutes past 1, a light breeze sprung up off-shore,—cut away the best bower-cable, and made sail on the starboard tack,—observed the Hannibal on shore, and the enemy take possession of her; at 4h. anchored in Rosia Bay, Gibraltar.
The next is the journal of Captain Hood of the Venerable.
6th July 1801.
Monday, 6th July, wind variable off Algeziras,—Gibraltar Bay, light breezes, and variable,—the captain went on board the Cæsar,—all sail set,—squadron in company,—the captain returned,—got the sheet-cable through the stern-port, and bent it to the anchor,—got springs on the sheet and bower-anchors; at 2h. Captain Hood went on board the Admiral; at 3h. returned,—received a midshipman and seven men per the Plymouth lugger, and from the Boladore, Spanish lugger; at 4h. Cape Trafalgar, N.E. seven or eight miles,—all sail set,—made and shortened sail occasionally for the squadron, and tacked occasionally,—a.m. do. weather; at 4h. made more sail; at 7h. discovered the enemy, consisting of three two-decked ships and a frigate, with an Admiral's flag flying, at anchor under the town and batteries of Algeziras, protected by many gun-boats, &c.—all sail set, standing in for the enemy, followed by the Pompée, Audacious, Cæsar, Spencer, and Hannibal; at 7h.50m. the batteries opened their fire on us,—Pompée and Audacious one mile and a half distant from us astern.
At 8h. it fell calm; at 8h.20m. the Pompée and Audacious, bringing up the breeze, passed us to windward, when the enemy's ships opened their fire on us; at 8h.14m. a light air sprung up,—passed the Audacious to leeward, at which time the Pompée and Audacious opened their fire; at 8h. 20m. the breeze dying away, came to with the sheet-anchor, as did the Pompée and Audacious,—hove in the spring; and at 8h.30m. opened our fire on the French Admiral's ship: at 10h. the Cæsar anchored on our bow, and sent a spring on board of us; at the same time the action became general, and the Hannibal got on shore, after attempting to cut off the French Admiral's ship.
At 10h.20m. the Pompée drifted between us and the French Admiral's,—hove in our spring, and brought our guns to bear on the other enemy's ship on our bow, and the other's stern: at 12h. the Pompée drifted between our fire and the enemy's,—slipt the sheet-cable, and eight-inch hawser, the spring, with the intention of getting alongside the enemy's southernmost ship,—light air springing up at the time from the N.E.; in awaiting this opportunity, the mizen-top-mast, fore-braces, and jibb halyards, with various other standing and running rigging, shot away, and main-mast badly wounded: at 11h.15m. breeze dying away prevented our intention,—opened our fire on the southernmost ship; at 12h. calm and hazy,—Cæsar, Hannibal, Audacious, Spencer, and us still firing on the enemy's ships, batteries, and gun-boats,—boats of the squadron towing off the Pompée to Gibraltar; p.m. calm,—still firing on the enemy's ships, which were warping farther in-shore.
At 12h.40m. sent Lieutenant Collis in the pinnace to assist the Hannibal; at 1h.40m. finding it impossible to near the enemy's ships with safety, it being calm, and a strong current setting in-shore, their batteries firing red-hot shot and throwing shells, ceased the action as per signal, as did the other ships, and steered for Gibraltar,—observed the Hannibal ceased firing, and hoist the colours reversed, having her fore and mainmasts shot away, and being in ten foot water, rendered all assistance useless.
24 Nov. 1801.[36]
S. Hood.