Close Quarters - HMS Captain engages San Josef
Commodore Nelson receives the Spanish Admiral's sword on the deck of the San Josef - 14th February 1797 19th century print - St Vincent College collection By about 3.00pm, Excellent was in close action with San Nicolas which, with foretop mast shot away, had been in action against Captain. Excellent fired broadsides into San Nicolas and then made sail to clear ahead. San Nicolas ran foul of San Josef which had suffered the loss of mizen mast and other damage. Captain was by now almost uncontrollable with her wheel shot away. At this point her foretop mast fell over the side leaving her in a completely unmanageable state and with little option but to board the Spanish vessels. Captain opened fire on the Spanish vessels with her larboard (port) side broadside and then put the helm over and hooked her larboard cat-head with the starboard quarter of the San Nicolas Commodore Nelson now ordered the crew to board the San Nicolas, with the San Josef still held fast on her port side. Nelson himself led the boarders with a cry of, "Westminster Abbey or Glorious Victory!". Nelson later wrote: 'The soldiers of the 69th, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pearson of the same regiment, were almost the foremost on this service - the first man who jumped into the enemy's mizen chains was Commander Berry, late my First Lieutenant (Captain Miller was in the very act of going also, but I directed him to remain); he was supported from our sprit sail yard, which hooked in the mizen rigging. A soldier of the 69th Regiment having broken the upper quarter-gallery window, I jumped in myself, and was followed by others as fast as possible. I found the cabin doors fastened, and some Spanish officers fired their pistols: but having broke open the doors the soldiers fired, and the Spanish Brigadier fell, as retreating to the quarter-deck. I pushed immediately onwards for the quarter-deck, where I found Commander Berry in possession of the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with my people, and Lieutenant Pearson, on the larboard gangway, to the forecastle, where I met two or three Spanish officers, prisoners to my seamen: they delivered me their swords. A fire of pistols, or muskets, opening from the stern gallery of the San Josef, I directed the soldiers to fire into her stern; and calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send more men into the San Nicolas; and directed my people to board the first-rate, which was done in an instant, Commander Berry assisting me into the main chains. At this moment a Spanish officers looked over the quarter deck rail, and said they surrendered. From this most welcome intelligence, it was not long before I was on the quarter deck, where the captain, with a bow, presented me his sword, and said the admiral was dying of his wounds. I asked him on his honour if the ship was surrendered. He declared she was: on which i gave him my hand, and desired him to call on his officers and ship's company and tell them of it: which he did - and on the quarter deck of a Spanish first-rate, extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the swords of vanquished Spaniards: which as I received, I gave to William Fearney, one of my bargemen, who put them, with the greatest sang-froid, under his arm.' Nelson's actions at St. Vincent, capturing two Spanish vessels, was to become known as 'Nelson's patent bridge for boarding enemy vessels'.
The surrender and capture of these two Spanish vessels marks the end of the main battle. By 4.00pm the Spanish ship Santissima Trinidad was relieved by two of her escorts and made away from the scene. Jervis signalled his fleet to cover the prizes and disabled vessels and at 4.15pm the frigates were directed to take the prizes in tow. At 4.39pm the fleet was ordered to take station in line astern of Victory. The battle was by now almost over with only some remaining skirmishing between Britannia, Orion and the departing Spanish covering the Santissima Trinidad (which was to later serve as the Spanish flagship at Trafalgar [1805]).
The battle endsNelson remained on board the captured Spanish ships whilst they were made secure - and was cheered by the British ships as they passed. He returned to the Captain to thank Captain Miller and presented him with the sword of the captain of the San Nicolas At 5.00pm, Nelson shifted his pennant from the disabled Captain to Irresistible. The Battle of Cape St. Vincent had cost the lives of 73 men of the Royal Navy and wounded a further 227 (this figure only includes serious injury). Casualties amongst the Spanish ships were far higher - aboard San Nicolas alone 144 were killed. Then, still black with smoke and with his uniform in shreds, Nelson went on board Victory where he was received on the quarter-deck by Admiral Jervis - "the Admiral embraced me, said he could not sufficiently thank me, and used every kind expression which could not fail to make me happy". It was a great and welcome victory for the Royal Navy - 15 British ships had defeated a Spanish fleet of 27, and the Spanish ships had a greater number of guns and men. But, Admiral Jervis had trained a highly disciplined force and this was pitted against a Spanish navy under Don José Cordoba that was little more than a panic stricken mob. Of 600-900 men on board his ships, only some 60 to 80 were trained seamen, the others being soldiers or inexperienced landsmen. The Spanish men fought courageously but without direction. After the San Josef was captured it was found that some her of guns still had their tompions in the muzzles. The confusion amongst the Spanish fleet was so great that they were unable to use their guns without causing more damage to their own ships than to the British. Admiral Sir John Jervis' long period of discipline and training had paid off in battle and set the pattern for the future.
Related pages Ships taking part in the Battle of St. Vincent List of officer casualties in the Royal Navy at St. Vincent Commodore Nelson's letter to Fanny Nelson giving details of his boarding action Admiral Sir John Jervis' dispatch to the Admiralty Dramatis personnae: Captain, Officers and crews at St. Vincent The aftermath - honours and disgrace Page creation: Peter Milford - St Vincent College, February 1997
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Ships bell of the San Josef, captured at St. Vincent
