THE BATTLE OF THE NILE (OR ABOUKIR BAY) (1798).
Source.—Annual Register. Vol. xl., pp. 142 et seq. of History of Europe.
It was the first of August before the Pharos of Alexandria was got sight of by the squadron, who were then steering direct for it towards the S.S.E. and as they approached discovered a wood of masts in the harbour. The advanced ships (the Alexander and Leander about two leagues a head) made signal for having discovered ships of war to eastward. The admiral, who, with the bulk of the squadron, was in close order of sailing, being thus directed to a view of the long sought-for fight, immediately altered his course accordingly, and made signal to recal those on the look-out. The Culloden was then about two leagues to the eastward of the admiral, and, after some time and signals exchanged, obtained leave to cast off the vessel towed from off Coron. The Alexander and Leander, who had run in nearer Alexandria, were thereby obliged to hawl more to the wind than between N.N.W. and N.W. in order to round the point off Aboukir; which threw them considerably later than the main body; who sailing with a free wind reached about, or soon after five o’clock, the point; which having rounded and got the bay fairly open, the admiral hawled up on the lar-board tack, under an easy sail, probably for the purpose of viewing the situation of the enemy, or more likely for giving time for those of his own squadron to close; the Culloden being still about two leagues distant in the N.W. quarter. While the Alexander and Leander were still farther distant in the W.S.W. the squadron of the enemy, which shewed 13 sail of the line of battle, were but a few miles off, bearing from S.W. to south, and anchored in a line extending nearly N.W. and S.E. with their admiral’s flag on board a three deck ship in the centre, and four frigates, with several gun-vessels, dispersed inside towards the van and rear.
The squadron did not remain long with their heads from the enemy. The admiral speedily determined on what plan of attack was to be adopted. He gave orders, by signal, to prepare to anchor by the stern, and wore with the whole squadron together by signal. That manœuvre at once changed the situation of the squadron, by giving the lead to those, who were, while their heads were to the offing, dropping a-stern to join their situation in the rear, in the order of sailing: or, as some have alleged, loitered a-stern from an unwillingness to be drawn off even a few hundred yards from the enemy. If such were the sentiments of any, they were now indulged by the admiral bearing up toward the van of the enemy, and making the signal to form the line of battle a-head, or most convenient: that is, for each ship to fall in as their situation at the time best suited, without regard to the established order of battle.
On that occasion, there were such displays of emulation by each ship to gain an advanced post in the attack, as must have tended to inspire each other with an invincible confidence. But so alert were the whole, that no one ship could gain the point of getting a-head of another, who had the advantage of laying their heads towards the enemy. The admiral, as they were drawing into a form of battle, made the signal to attack the enemy’s van and centre: and soon after, added the signal for a close engagement, which was kept flying.
The wind, which was between N.W. and N.N.W., had been a fresh top gallant sail breeze, and, though moderated as the day drew towards a close, still swelled out the lighter sails. Before the Goliah (the leading ship) had approached within a mile of the enemy’s van ships, they commenced a brisk cannonade with their starboard guns, as did the batteries at the castle of Becquires and the gun-vessels, which galled the British squadron much as they closed. But the situation of the enemy’s anchorage, and the shallowness of the water around, rendered it impossible to evade that annoyance. It was therefore borne with a firmness worthy of their character. The period was but short when it became theirs to return the annoyance. The gallant leader[10] in the Goliah, on that occasion displayed a conduct which shewed him worthy of the post he had taken. Keeping his ship under all convenient working sail, he kept as near to the edge of the bank as the depth of water would permit, and passing a-head of the enemy’s van ship, Le Guerrier, poured into her a most destructive fire; and bearing round up shortened sail,[11] and anchored by the stern inside of the second of the enemy’s line, Le Conquerant.
The Zealous followed in the track of the Goliah, but not so far, having dropped her stern anchor, so as to preserve a situation on the inside bow of Le Guerrier, whom she handled in the severest manner without being exposed to annoyance in return. The Orion next followed, and passing to windward of the Zealous, and round her, plying her larboard guns on Le Guerrier, while they bore, continued on a S.E. course, and passed the inside of the Goliah: when, being annoyed by a frigate’s fire, she yawed as much as was necessary to bring her starboard guns to bear, and gave her so complete a dose as to silence her for ever. Then hawling round towards the enemy’s line, she dropped the starboard bower anchor inside between the third and fourth ships from their van, and with some exertions, by spreading all her after-sail, (probably to force her keel over the ground, which it most likely touched) got her swung round abreast of L’Aquilon, who had, without annoyance, suffered the Orion to place herself in this situation. The Theseus, who followed the Orion, passed between the Zealous and Le Guerrier, so close to the latter, (whose foremast was by this time over the side) only preserving sufficient distance to avoid entangling her rigging with the jib-boom of the enemy’s ship, and when abreast of her bow, poured in a broadside, until then reserved, the effect of which on the enemy was instantaneous. The main and mizen-masts were also brought down. Thus, in less than fifteen minutes was the van ship of this line reduced to a mere hulk, incumbered with the wreck of her own masts and yards, and doubtless the crew much mutilated. That destructive broadside was given just as the sun dipped in the horizon; after which the Theseus passed on the outside of the Goliah, and dropped her stern-anchor a-head of her; and thus was placed inside of the third ship of the enemy, La Spartiate, and had commenced the cannonade about the time or before her leader, the Orion, was got completely placed, from the little interruptions before-mentioned.
The Audacious followed next, and passing between Le Guerrier and Conquerant, increased the misfortunes of those ill-fated ships, by a destructive fire, and afterwards dropped her stern-anchor, so as to preserve her station inside bow of the latter, over whom the Goliah had already got a decided superiority, by the comparative fire maintained. The breeze by this time (as above observed) had lessened as the day closed: most probably too it had been lulled the more by the effect of the cannonade, which had for some time been maintained: hence the ships which were in the rear of the British squadron were not enabled to close with the celerity suitable to their ardour on that occasion.
The Vanguard was the follower of the Audacious; but did not, like the five who had preceded her, pass the enemy’s line: the rank of the admiral (whose flag this ship bore) gave him a privilege of deviating from the example of his leaders, whose manœuvres were to be guided by his direction: she was anchored by the stern on the outside, and close to the third ship from the van, Le Spartiate. Her followers respectively passed on a-head of their leader, anchoring by the stern as they came up on the outside as the admiral had done. Thus the Minotaur, Defence, and Swiftsure, took position a-breast of the fourth, fifth, and sixth ships from the van; by which arrangement it was left for the Bellerophon to attack the French admiral’s ship, L’Orient, of three decks:[12] nor was the undertaking shrunk from, because of the apparent inequality of the contest: the Bellerophon’s stern-anchor was dropped on the outside bow of L’Orient, whose collection of heavy batteries was reserved for the closing. The effect of these will be best judged of by the reference to the list of killed and wounded of the hardy assailants, in which stands enrolled the names of almost every officer of that ship. By that time the day was so much closed, as to obscure from general view the conduct of each ship; particularly towards the centre, which was covered with the clouds of smoke blown thither from the van, by the light breeze which yet continued. Under these circumstances, the Majestic, who followed the Bellerophon, had to grope for an antagonist; in doing which, it is said, she found her jib-boom had entered the main rigging of one of the enemy’s ships a-stern of their admiral; by whom, she was most severely treated while thus entangled: but, after some time, she swung clear, and avenged herself completely on another of the enemy farther astern.
Having thus got all the ships into action, that had formed the body of the squadron, the Culloden, who had been detained by the towing of the wine-vessel, may now be looked after; also the Alexander and Leander, who had been thrown out a-stern, by their having been on the look-out towards Alexandria.
It was with extreme mortification observed, before the day had closed, that the former had run a-ground on a shoal, which was found to extend N.E. from the point on which the castle stood. It may be better imagined than described what were the feelings of the gallant commander and crew of that ship, to be so arrested in their passage to the participation of the fatigues and glory of the combat then depending. The loss of the assistance of such a ship, on so important occasion too, must have excited emotions of deep regret among those engaged, many of whom had witnessed, on an important and splendid occasion in the preceding year, how eminently that ship, under the command of the same officer, and with the same crew, had been distinguished.—Great as the loss of this ship’s assistance was, it yielded some consolation to conclude, that her running a-ground served as a beacon to induce the two ships (Alexander and Leander, then to the westward of her) to hawl more out to the offing than they might otherwise have done, from an anxiety to be as soon as possible up to the assistance of their companions; in which case the assistance of two ships would have been lost instead of the Culloden. The Mutine brig made towards her, and remained to render her assistance in getting off the ground; and the Leander, in passing, had communication to know if she could render her effectual aid: that being judged impracticable, she followed her companion, the Alexander, who, having rounded the end of the shoal, was then steering for the centre of the enemy, under all sail: nor did she shorten any, until closed with the French admiral’s ship, whom she passed and anchored in a most judicious position inside of that tremendous ship, whom she attacked with a briskness, and maintained with such vivacity, as indicated the impatience of the crew in having been thrown out so long from entering into the action.