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I was going to start this later, but we'll go with some semi accurate timings...
The Battle of Cape St Vincent - 14th February 1797
Thread.
The Battle of Cape St Vincent - 14th February 1797
Thread.
We left off on Feb 11th 1797. Commodore Horatio Nelson, on board HMS Minerve, passed through the Spanish fleet to join Sir John Jervis off Cape St Vincent, unseen thanks to thick fog...
He reached the British fleet on Feb 13th. Nelson informed Jervis that the Spanish were approaching. Jervis made his preparations and Nelson moved his Commodore’s pendant from Minerve to the 74 gun HMS Captain.
Jervis knew Britain needed a victory...
If the Spanish reached Brest and joined up with the French, it would mean a threat to England's defences
He also knew, despite the state of his ships (damaged in storms off Gibraltar that winter) the British were still superior
If the Spanish reached Brest and joined up with the French, it would mean a threat to England's defences
He also knew, despite the state of his ships (damaged in storms off Gibraltar that winter) the British were still superior
An engagement at close range would prove that. He wanted a decisive battle and that's what he would get!
On the evening of Feb 13th, Jervis kept his ships in close order.
As the night drew in, the fog grew thicker...
In the distance?
Spanish signal gun fire
Way to give your positions away, lads.
As the night drew in, the fog grew thicker...
In the distance?
Spanish signal gun fire
Way to give your positions away, lads.
Disclaimer: As with my Trafalgar Day thread, this isn't an in-depth super thread or it would go on forever, so if you want to read more on Cape St Vincent, I'm happy to recommend some of my favourite books to cover it
At dinner on the Victory that evening Jervis famously toasted "Victory over the Dons in the battle which they cannot escape tomorrow!"
Right, bed. See you all at dawn eh 
Feb 14th 1797 - a gloomy, foggy start saw the British fleet WSW of Cape St Vincent. Jervis had not slept and as dawn broke, he walked the deck of the Victory...
At around 0530, Spanish sails were spotted on the horizon and the two fleets caught sight of each other.
Thanks to the fog and mist, the Spanish were, at this point, still unaware of how many British ships they were to meet…
Thanks to the fog and mist, the Spanish were, at this point, still unaware of how many British ships they were to meet…
Jervis was aware that he was outnumbered almost two ships to one.
As well as this, a British Signal Lt had shouted, "by my soul, they are thumpers" upon seeing the Spanish flagship, the Santissima Trinidad, supported by 6 three deckers.
Way to make everyone feel better Dave
As well as this, a British Signal Lt had shouted, "by my soul, they are thumpers" upon seeing the Spanish flagship, the Santissima Trinidad, supported by 6 three deckers.
Way to make everyone feel better Dave
I have no proof he was called Dave. It just seemed a useful name. The equivalent of Karen.
Anyway, I digress...
Anyway, I digress...
If anyone knows the name of the Barfleur's Signal Lt, you can point it out to me ofc...
One of my favourite anecdotal naval stories is from this battle, and it's one that has inspired this brilliant drawing by @kelseashanty
Twitter character limit triumphs once more, so have it as a shiny quote 
I shall return with more news from the battle when it starts in a few hours
The Spanish ships, as they crossed ahead of the British line, were in two divisions & with no real sense of order. Their fleet, at this time, was struggling for skilled manpower which didn't help them... More on that later.
Our 3 chaps covered so far...
1. Jervis
2. Cordoba.
3. Nelson
1. Jervis
2. Cordoba.
3. Nelson
That painting of Nelson is a spoiler alert...
Jervis saw an opportunity and at 1057 signalled for the fleet to "form line of battle ahead and astern of Victory as convenient".
The plan he had in mind was not dissimilar to that used by Nelson at Trafalgar 8 years later (no, HN didn't come up with it)
#GoStraightAtEm
The plan he had in mind was not dissimilar to that used by Nelson at Trafalgar 8 years later (no, HN didn't come up with it)
#GoStraightAtEm
Yes, I'm early... the thread will now charge forth like a double shotted broadside as I need to go out in a minute
Troubridge’s Culloden was at the front of the line, Nelson in Captain was third from the rear. Jervis signalled his intention to ‘engage the enemy more closely’ around 15 mins later.
At 1126 the signal was made that ‘the admiral means to pass through the enemy's line'.
At 1126 the signal was made that ‘the admiral means to pass through the enemy's line'.
Troubridge on Culloden made for the space between the Spanish divisions, cutting off the leading 9 ships.
As the British ships joined him, Troubridge opened fire along with the ships behind him, all of which had double shotted their guns for the first broadside.
As the British ships joined him, Troubridge opened fire along with the ships behind him, all of which had double shotted their guns for the first broadside.
“Look at Troubridge there! He tacks his ship in battle as if the eyes o’ England were upon him; and would to God they were, for they would see him to be, what I know him to be, and, by Heaven, sir, as the Dons will soon feel him to be!” – Sir John Jervis
The Spanish were struggling, not least because they were short of skilled seamen.
There was a story that the Santissima Trinidad had 80 men who knew what they were doing, of a crew of around 900, the rest being landsmen and soldiers...
There was a story that the Santissima Trinidad had 80 men who knew what they were doing, of a crew of around 900, the rest being landsmen and soldiers...
At the same time, the Spanish ship at the rear, including Principe de Asturias came up to attack the British line, firing on Colossus, Irresistible, Victory & Goliath.
By this point they had engaged around half of the British fleet, but one of Spanish, Moreno, broke away...
By this point they had engaged around half of the British fleet, but one of Spanish, Moreno, broke away...
The Spanish veered to the North, hoping to then come along the British fleet on their starboard side.
The Spanish had the wind at this point, but their men didn't know how to react to this changing manoeuvre and it all got a bit messy...
The Spanish had the wind at this point, but their men didn't know how to react to this changing manoeuvre and it all got a bit messy...
At around 1245, whilst this was going on, Jervis improvised and signalled his ships to
"take up suitable stations for mutual support and engage the enemy as arriving up in succession"
His new plan? Abandon a single line and find a better way to get to the Spanish...
"take up suitable stations for mutual support and engage the enemy as arriving up in succession"
His new plan? Abandon a single line and find a better way to get to the Spanish...
At around 1pm it was time for some classic Nelson…
At the rear of the line, he realised that the British would soon begin to chase the Spanish and, by the time the British fleet had tacked, the Spanish would be about to break the British line...
At the rear of the line, he realised that the British would soon begin to chase the Spanish and, by the time the British fleet had tacked, the Spanish would be about to break the British line...
He turned the Captain hard to port, cutting through the British line, crossing right in front of Collingwood on the Excellent and sailed straight for the van of the Spanish division, taking on the 130 gun Spanish flagship, the Santissima Trinidad.
Nobody followed him.
Nobody followed him.
At around 1:30 Jervis signalled for the rear division to "engage the enemy more closely"
Victory was taking on a Spanish three-decker. The Spanish took heavy fire from the Victory & HMS Goliath's Gunner later wrote that ‘we gave them their Valentine in style’
Victory was taking on a Spanish three-decker. The Spanish took heavy fire from the Victory & HMS Goliath's Gunner later wrote that ‘we gave them their Valentine in style’
Yep. There's always a Gunner story...
Collingwood in Excellent, engaged the Salvador del Mundo after being ordered to 'pass through the enemy line'.
Next was the San Isidoro, which surrendered in 10 minutes
They both took down their colours and Collingwood sailed to assist Nelson
Next was the San Isidoro, which surrendered in 10 minutes
They both took down their colours and Collingwood sailed to assist Nelson
Captain was in pieces, her sails in tatters, masts damaged & Nelson had been knocked off his feet by a lump of wood hitting him in the stomach
Collingwood engaged the San Nicolas from around 10 feet away, causing the Spanish ship to swing and hit the three decker, San Josef, before Collingwood took Excellent on to engage the Santissima Trinidad...
Nelson, on the now dismasted Captain, put the ship alongside the San Nicolas and led a boarding party, after a peak Nelson moment where he told the Captain, who offered to lead the boarding party, that he "must have that honour" of boarding first...
Nelson, sword in hand famously shouted, “Westminster Abbey or glorious victory” as he jumped on board...
The San Josef, of 112 guns, quickly came to the aid of the San Nicolas, and Nelson called for another boarding party, before cross decking to the other ship, in a move that came to be known as ‘Nelson’s patent bridge for boarding first rates’.
By around 3:30 he had forced the surrender of both ships.
The Santissima Trinidad, despite the best efforts of the Spanish fleet, was also heavily damaged after having been attacked the entire afternoon, most recently by Excellent, Blenheim and Orion.
The Santissima Trinidad, despite the best efforts of the Spanish fleet, was also heavily damaged after having been attacked the entire afternoon, most recently by Excellent, Blenheim and Orion.
Nelson transferred to Minerve once more & called for a launch to take him to the nearest ship of the line, Irresistible.
By the time he reached her (around 4:20) Jervis signalled his fleet to wear, meaning the battle was basically over.
The Spanish Fleet was bound for Cadiz...
By the time he reached her (around 4:20) Jervis signalled his fleet to wear, meaning the battle was basically over.
The Spanish Fleet was bound for Cadiz...
By the evening of the 14th the order was given to secure the prizes and tow the heavily damaged HMS Captain.
The British fleet lay to during the evening and the Spanish remained in close proximity, huddled together. Nelson embarked the Victory, and met Jervis.
The British fleet lay to during the evening and the Spanish remained in close proximity, huddled together. Nelson embarked the Victory, and met Jervis.
Nelson, in his usual humble manner, stated that
“the Admiral embraced me, said he could not sufficiently thank me, and used every kind expression which could not fail to make me happy.”
“the Admiral embraced me, said he could not sufficiently thank me, and used every kind expression which could not fail to make me happy.”
Whilst it was a decisive victory, the plan Jervis had in mind basically failed
I think, and feel free to challenge, that if Nelson hadn't gone a bit rogue, the chances were high that there would not have been a victory at all.
I think, and feel free to challenge, that if Nelson hadn't gone a bit rogue, the chances were high that there would not have been a victory at all.
A recipe went round for "Commodore Nelson's Olla Podrida - Take a Spanish first rate & an 80 gun ship & after well battering and basting them for an hour keep throwing in your force balls & be sure to let these be well seasoned"
Nelson sent a copy home, because obviously...
Nelson sent a copy home, because obviously...
Nelson's account of the battle is worth a read if you ever manage to. It's in one of the Gazettes.
The self promotion is in point, much to the dismay of most of the Captains, who felt HN had left them out or played down their role...
Nelson wrote his account with a purpose
The self promotion is in point, much to the dismay of most of the Captains, who felt HN had left them out or played down their role...
Nelson wrote his account with a purpose
Anyway, post battle.
The Spanish failed to join the French in Brest, remaining bottled up in Cadiz by Jervis’s resumed blockade.
15 British ships took on 27 ships of the Spanish fleet & won. This was not the first time the RN had a victory in this way, nor would it be the last
The Spanish failed to join the French in Brest, remaining bottled up in Cadiz by Jervis’s resumed blockade.
15 British ships took on 27 ships of the Spanish fleet & won. This was not the first time the RN had a victory in this way, nor would it be the last
After the battle, Sir John Jervis became Earl St Vincent.
Other admirals received baronetcies and Nelson was made a Companion of the Bath, having specifically asked not to be made a baronet due to his lack of means.
Other admirals received baronetcies and Nelson was made a Companion of the Bath, having specifically asked not to be made a baronet due to his lack of means.
Notification of his promotion to Rear Admiral of the Blue arrived immediately after the battle...
Cordoba? He was arrested and dismissed from the Spanish navy, with many of his captains facing Court Martial.
Cordoba? He was arrested and dismissed from the Spanish navy, with many of his captains facing Court Martial.
Ok, think that's me done for the day! If you made it this far you get a medal.
I hope you enjoyed it.
It's by no means exhaustive, and as I said I have SO many books to recommend if you want to read up on it properly
All I have to say now is Happy Cape St Vincent Day
I hope you enjoyed it.
It's by no means exhaustive, and as I said I have SO many books to recommend if you want to read up on it properly
All I have to say now is Happy Cape St Vincent Day
And yes that's a gif from That Hamilton Woman. The most swoon worthy, yet totally awful, film ever made.
AND HE DIDN'T WEAR A BLOODY EYEPATCH.
AND HE DIDN'T WEAR A BLOODY EYEPATCH.
If you don't like reading, I did a little mini Instagram live about Cape St Vincent over on my Instagram page.
It's slightly less detailed and uses unofficial terms like "battered to shit"
http://Instagram.com/kateejamieson_
It's slightly less detailed and uses unofficial terms like "battered to shit"
http://Instagram.com/kateejamieson_
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