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Joseph de Vargas
December 1805
INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE
FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES.
Admiralty-office, Nov.
27. Letter (received by Hon. Capt. Blackwood), from Lord Collingwood
to W. Marsden, Esq.
Queen, off Cape Trafalgar,
Nov. 4.
Sir, On the 28th ult.
I informed you of the proceedings of the squadron to that time.
The weather continuing very bad, the wind blowing from S. W.
the squadron not in a situation of safety, and seeing little
prospect of getting the captured ships off the land, and great
risk of some of them getting into port; I determined no longer
to delay the destroying them, and to get the squadron out of
the deep bay. The extraordinary exertion of Capt. Capel, however,
saved the French Swiftsure; and his ship the Phoebe, together
with the Donegal, Capt. Malcolm, afterwards brought out the Bahama.
Indeed, nothing can exceed the perseverance of all the officers
employed in the service. Capt. Hope rigged and succeeded in bringing
out the Ildefonso; all of which will, I hope, have arrived safe
at Gibraltar. For the rest, Sir, I inclose you a list of all
the enemy's fleet which were in the action, and how they are
disposed of, which, I believe, is perfectly correct. I informed
you in my letter of the 28th, that the remnant of the enemy's
fleet came out a second time, to endeavour in the bad weather
to cut off some of the hulks, when the Rayo was dismasted, and
fell into our hands: she afterwards parted her cable, went ashore,
and was wrecked. The Indomptable, one of the same squadron, was
also driven ashore, wrecked, and her crew perished. The Santa
Anna and Algeziras being driven near the shore of Cadiz, got
such assistance as has enabled them to get in; but the ruin of
their fleet is as complete as could be expected, under the circumstances
of fighting them close to their own shore. Had the battle been
in the Ocean, still fewer would have escaped. Twenty sail of
the line are taken See Capt. Blackwood's letter, p.1161.or destroyed;
and of those which got in, not more than three are in a repairable
state for a length of time. Rear-Adm. Louis, in the Canopus,
who had been detached with the Queen, Spencer, and Tigre, to
complete the water, &c. of these ships, and to see the convoy
in safety a certain distance up the Mediterranean, joined me
on the 30th. In clearing the captured ships of prisoners, I found
so many wounded men, that to alleviate human misery as much as
was in my power, I sent to the Marquis de Solana, Gov.-Gen. of
Andalusia, to offer him the wounded to the care of their country,
on receipts being given; a proposal which was received with the
greatest thankfulness, not only by the Governor, but the whole
country resounds with expressions of gratitude. Two French frigates
were sent out to receive them, with a proper officer to give
receipts, bringing with them all the English who had been wrecked
in several of the ships, and an offer from the Marquis de Solana
of the use of their hospitals for our wounded, pledging the honour
of Spain for their being carefully attended. I have ordered most
of the Spanish prisoners to be released; the officers on parole;
the men for receipts given, and a condition that they do not
serve in war, by sea or land, until exchanged. By my correspondence
with the Marquis, I found that Vice-Admiral D'Alava was not dead,
but dangerously wounded; and I wrote to him a letter, claiming
him as a prisoner of war: a copy of which I inclose, together
with a state of the Flag Officers of the Combined Fleet.
I am, &c.
C. COLLINGWOOD.
List of the Combined
Fleets of France and Spain, in the Action of Oct. 21, off Cape
Trafalgar, shewing how they were disposed of.
1. Spanish ship San
Ildefonso, 74 guns, Brig. Don Joseph de Vargas; sent to Gibraltar.
2. Spanish, San Juan Nepomuceno, 74 guns, Brig. Don Cosme Churruca;
sent to Gibraltar.
3. Spanish, Bahama, 74 guns; Brig. Don A. D. Galiano; sent to
Gibraltar.
4. French, Swiftsure, 74 guns, M. Villemadrin; sent to Gibraltar.
5. Spanish, Monarca, 74 guns, Don Jeodoro Argumosa; wrecked off
San Lucar.
6. French, Fougeux, 74 guns, M. Beaudouin; wrecked off Trafalgar,
all perished, and 30 of the Temeraire's men.
7. French, Indomptablem 84 guns, M. Hubert; wrecked off Rota,
all perished.
8. French, Bucentaur, 80 guns, Adm. Villeneuve, Commander in
Chief; Capts. Prigny and Majendie; wrecked on the Porques; some
of the crew saved.
9. Spanish, San Francisco de Asis, 74 guns, Don Luis De Flores;
wrecked near Rota.
10. Spanish, El Rayo, 100 guns, Brig. Don Henrique Macdonel;
wrecked near San Lucar.
11. Spanish, Neptuno, 84 guns, Brig. Don Cayetano Valdes; wrecked
between Rota and Catalina.
12. French, Argonaute, 74 guns, M. Epron; on shore in the port
of Cadiz,
13. French, Berwick, 74 guns, M. Camas; wrecked to the Northward
of San Lucar.
14. French, L'Aigle, 74 guns, M. Courrege; wrecked near Rota.
15. French, Achille, 74 guns, Mons. D'Nieuport; burnt during
the Action.
16. French, Intrepide, 74 guns, Mons. Infornet; burnt by the
Britannia.
17. Spanish, San Augustin, 74 guns, Brig. Don Felipe X. Cagigal;
burnt by the Leviathan.
18. Spanish, Santissima Trinidad, 140 guns, Rear-Adm. Don Baltazar
H. Cisneros; Brig. Don F. Uriarte; sunk by the Prince, Neptune,
&c.
19. French, Redoubtable, 74 guns, M. Lucas; sunk astern of the
Swiftsure; Temeraire lost 13, and Swiftsure five men.
20. Spanish, Argonauta, 80 guns, Don Ant. Parejo; sunk by the
Ajax.
21. Spanish, Santa Anna, 112 guns, Vice-Adm. Don Ignacio D'Alava;
Capt. Don Joseph de Gardoqui; taken, but got into Cadiz in the
gale, dismasted.
22. French, Algeziras, 74 guns, Rear-Adm. Magon (killed); Capt.
M. Bruaro; taken, but got into Cadiz in the gale, dismasted.
23. French, Pluton, 74 guns, Mons. Cosmao; returned to Cadiz
in a sinking state.
24. Spanish, San Juste, 74 guns, Don Miguel Gaston; returned
to Cadiz, has a foremast only.
25. Spanish, San Leandro, 64 guns, Don Joseph de Quevedo; returned
to Cadiz, dismasted.
26. French, Neptune, 84 guns, M. Maistral; returned to Cadiz,
and perfect.
27. French, Heros, 74 guns, M. Poulain; returned to Cadiz, lower
masts in, and Adm. Rossillie's flag on-board.
28. Spanish, Principe de Asturias, 112 guns, Adm. Don F. Gravina;
Don Ant. Escano, &c.; returned to Cadiz, dismasted.
29. Spanish, Montanez, 74 guns, Don Fran. Alcedo; returned to
Cadiz.
30. French, Formidable, 80 guns, Rear-Adm. Dumanoir; hauled to
the Southward, and escaped.
31. French, Mont Blanc, 74 guns, M. Le Villegries; hauled to
the Southward; and escaped.
32. French, Scipion, 74 guns, M Berenger; hauled to the Southward,
and escaped.
33. French, Duguay Trouin, 74 guns, M. Touffet; hauled to the
Southward, and escaped.
N. B. These four ships were captured by Sir R. Strachan on the
4th inst. (See p.1057.)
ABSTRACT.
At Gibraltar 4
Destroyed 16
In Cadiz, wrecks 6 } 9
In Cadiz, serviceable 3 }
Escaped to the Southward 4
Total - 33
Names and Rank of the
Flag Officers of the Combined Fleet.
Adm. Villeneuve, Commander
in Chief; Bucentaure - Taken.
Adm. Don. Fred. Gravina; Principe de Asturias - Escaped, in Cadiz,
wounded in the arm.
Vice-Adm. Don. Ignatio Maria D'Alava; Santa Anna - Wounded severely
in the head, taken, but was driven into Cadiz in the Santa Anna.
Rear-Adm. Don Baltazar Hidalgo Cisneros; Santissima Triniodad
- Taken.
Rear-Adm. Magon; Algeziras - Killed.
Rear-Adm. Dumanoir; Formidable - Escaped.
Euryalus, off Cadiz,
Oct. 27.
MY LORD MARQUIS, A
great number of Spanish subjects having been wounded in the late
action between the British and the Combined Fleets of Spain and
France, on the 21st inst.; Humanity, and my desire to alleviate
the sufferings of these wounded men, dictate to me to offer to
your Excellency their enlargement, that they may be taken proper
care of in the hospitals on shore, provided your Excellency will
send boats to convey them, with a proper officer to give receipts
for the number, and acknowledge them, in your Excellency's answer
to this letter, to be prisoners of war, to be exchanged before
they serve again. I beg to assure your Excellency of my high
consideration, and that I am, &c.
C. COLLINGWOOD.
To Marquis de Solana, Capt.-Gen. of Andalusia, Governor, &c.
Cadiz.
Conditions on which
the Spanish Wounded Prisoners were released, and sent on Shore
to the Hospital.
I, Guilleme Valverde,
having been authorised, and empowered, by the Marquis de Solana,
Governor-General of Andalusia and of Cadiz, to receive from the
English squadron the wounded prisoners, and such persons as may
be necessary to their care, which release and enlargement of
the wounded, &c. is agreed to, on the part of the Commander
in Chief of the British squadron, on the positive condition,
that none of the said prisoners shall be employed again, in any
public service of the Crown of Spain, either by sea or land,
until they are regularly exchanged.
Signed on-board his Britannic Majesty's ship the Euryalus, at
sea, Oct. 30.
GUILL. DE VALVERDE, Edecan de S. E.
To Vice-Adm. Don Ignatio
Maria D'Alava.
Sent under cover to Adm. Gravina.
Euryalus, off Cadiz, Oct. 30.
SIR, It is with great
pleasure that I have heard the wound you received in the action
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.
I am, &c.
C. COLLINGWOOD.
Killed and Wounded
on-board the British Squadron.
Victory, 4 officers,
3 petty officers, 32 seamen and 18 marines killed;
4 officers, 2 petty officers, 59 seamen, and 9 marines, wounded.
Total 132. - Royal Sovereign, 3 officers, 2 petty officers, 29
seamen, and 13 marines, killed;
3 officers, 5 petty officers, 70 seamen, and 10 marines, wounded.
Total 141.
Britannia, 1 officer, 8 seamen, and 1 marine, killed;
1 officer, 1 petty officer, 33 seamen, and 7 marines, wounded.
Total 52.
Temeraire, 3 officers, 1 petty officer, 35 seamen, and 8 marines,
killed;
3 officers, 2 petty officers, 58 seamen, and 12 marines, wounded.
Total 123.
Prince, None.
Neptune, 10 seamen killed;
1 petty officer, 30 seamen, and 3 marines, wounded. Total 44.
Dreadnought, 6 seamen and 1 marine, killed;
1 officer, 2 petty officers, 19 seamen, and 4 marines, wounded.
Total 33.
Tonnant (see p.1611).
Mars, 1 officer, 3 petty officers, 17 seamen, and 8 marines,
killed;
4 officers, 5 petty officers, 44 seamen, and 16 marines, wounded.
Total 98.
Bellerophon, 2 officers, 1 petty officer, 20 seamen, and 4 marines,
killed;
2 officers, 4 petty officers, 97 seamen, and 20 marines, wounded.
Total 150.
Minotaur, 3 seamen, killed;
1 officer, 1 petty officer, 17 seamen, and 3 marines, wounded.
Total 25.
Revenge, 2 petty officers, 18 seamen, and 8 marines, killed;
4 officers, 38 seamen, and 9 marines, wounded. Total 79.
Conqueror, 2 officers, 1 seaman, killed;
2 officers, 7 seamen, wounded. Total 12.
Leviathan, 2 seamen and 2 marines, killed;
1 petty officer, 17 seamen and 4 marines, wounded. Total 26.
Ajax, 2 seamen, killed;
9 seamen, wounded. Total 11.
Orion, 1 seaman, killed;
2 petty officers, 16 seamen, and 1 marine, wounded. Total 24.
Agamemnon, 2 seamen, killed;
1 seamen, wounded. Total 9.
sic, for 7Spartiate, 3 seamen, killed;
1 officer, 2 petty officers, 16 seamen, and 1 marine, wounded.
Total 23.
Africa, 12 seamen, and 6 marines, killed;
2 officers, 5 petty officers, 30 seamen, and 7 marines, wounded.
Total 62.
Bellisle, 2 officers, 1 petty officer, 22 seamen, and 8 marines,
killed;
3 officers, 3 petty officers, 68 seamen, and 19 marines, wounded.
Total 126.
Colossus, 1 officer, 31 seamen, and 8 marines, killed;
5 officers, 9 petty officers, 115 seamen, and 31 marines, wounded.
Total 200.
Achille, 1 petty officer, 6 seamen, and 6 marines, killed;
4 officers, 4 petty officers, 37 seamen, and 14 marines, wounded.
Total 72.
Polyphemus, 2 seamen, killed;
4 seamen, wounded. Total 6.
Swiftsure, 7 seamen and 2 marines, killed;
1 petty officer, 6 seamen, and 1 marine, wounded. Total 17.
Defence, 4 seamen and 3 marines, killed;
23 seamen, and 6 marines, wounded. Total 36.
Thunderer, 2 seamen, and 2 marines, killed;
2 petty officers, 9 seamen, and 1 marine, wounded. Total 16.
Defiance, 2 officers, 1 petty officer, 8 seamen, and 6 marines,
killed;
1 officer, 4 petty officers, 39 seamen, and 9 marines, wounded.
- Total 70.
TOTAL. 21 officers, 15 petty officers, 288 seamen, and 104 marines,
killed; 41 officers, 57 petty officers, 870 seamen, and 196 marines,
wounded. - Total 1587.
(Signed) C. COLLINGWOOD.
Names of the Officers
and Petty Officers Killed and Wounded, in addition to those in
p.1058.
KILLED.
Victory. - Lord Viscount
Nelson, K. B. Commander in Chief, &c. John Scott, esq. secretary;
Charles W. Adair, Capt. Royal Marines; W. Ram, lieut.; Rob. Smith
and Alex. Palmer, midshipmen; T. Whipple, captain's clerk.
Britannia, Fr. Roskruge, lieut.
Temeraire, Simeon Busigny, Capt. Royal Marines; John Kingston,
lieut. Royal Marines; Lewis Oades, carpenter; W. Pitts, midshipman.
Tonnant, no return.
Bellerophon, John Cooke, first capt.; Edw. Overton, master; John
Simmons, midshipman.
Conqueror, Rob. Lloyd and W. M. St. George, lieut.
Belisle, Ebenezer Geall and John Woodin, lieuts.; Geo. Nind,
midshipman.
Colossus, T. Scriven, master.
Achille, Fra. J. Mugg, midshipman.
Prince, Neptune, Orion, Agamemnon, Spartiate, Africa, Polyphemus,
Swiftsure, Thunderer, None.
WOUNDED.
Victory, John Pasco
and G. Miller Bligh, lieuts.; Lewis Reeves and J. G. Peake, lieuts.
Royal Marines; W. Rivers (slightly), G. A. Westphall, and R.
Bulkeley, midshipmen; J. Geoghehan, agent victualler's clerk.
Britannia, Stephen Trounce, master; W. Grint, midshipman.
Temeraire, James Mould, lieut.; Sam. J. Payne, lieut. Royal Marines;
J. Brookes, boatswain; T. S. Price, master's mate; John Eastman,
midshipman.
Neptune, --- Hurrell, captain's clerk.
Tonnant, no return.
Bellerophon, J. Wemys, capt. Royal Marines; T. Robinson, boatswain;
Edw. Hartley, master's mate; W. N. Jewell, James Stone, T. Bant,
and G. Pearson, midshipmen.
Conqueror, T. Wearing, lieut, Royal Marines; Philip Mendel, lieut.
of his Imperial Majesty's Navy, (both slightly.)
Orion, --- Sause, C. P. Cable, midshipmen, (both slightly.)
Spartiate, John Clark, boatswain; --- Bellairs, and --- Knapman,
midshipmen.
Africa, Matt. Hay, acting lieut.; James Tynmore, capt. Royal
Marines; Hen. West and Abr. Turner, master's mates; Fred. White
(slightly), Phil. J. Elmhurst, and J. P. Bailey, midshipmen.
Belleisle, W. Terrie, lieut.; Jn. Owen, 1st lieut. Royal Marines;
Andrew Gibson, boatswain; W. H. Pearson, and W. Culfield, master's
mates; Sam. Jago, midshipman; J. T. Hodge, volunteer, first class.
Colossus, J. N. Morris, capt.; G. Bully, lieut.; W. Forster,
acting lieut.; John Benson, lieut. Royal Marines; H. Milbanke,
master's mate; W. Herringham, Fred. Thistlewayte (slightly),
T. G. Reece, H. Snellgrove, Rawden M'Lean, G. Wharrie, Tim. Renou,
and G. Denton, midshipmen; W. Adamson, boats.
Achille, Parkins Prynn (slightly), and Josias Bray, lieuts.;
Pralms Westroppe, capt. Royal Marines; W. Leddon, lieut. Royal
Marines; G. Pegge, master's mate; W. H. Staines, and W. J. Snow,
midshipmen; W. Smith Warren, volunteer, first class.
Prince, Agamemnon, and Polyphemus, None.
Swiftsure, Alex. Bell Handcock, midshipman.
Thunderer, John Snell, master's mate; Alex. Galloway, midshipman.
C. COLLINGWOOD.
Fuente: FONS.
Family Origin Name Survey. 67 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1AF.
Source: Printed
Title: The Gentleman's Magazine lxxv 1805 ii 1158-1161. Texto:
D.R.
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