Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 27, 2025
The Zealous was laid alongside the Guerrier, and in twelve minutes that vessel was totally disabled.
All the masts of the "Guerrier," although no sail was on them, went overboard within ten minutes after she was first attacked, while the "Conquérant" was receiving the united broadsides of the "Goliath" and the "Audacious," the latter raking.
An attempt was made by a French brig to decoy the English ships towards a shoal before they entered Aboukir Bay, but it failed because Nelson either knew the danger or saw through the device. Instead of attacking the leading ship the Guerrier outside, he sailed round her bows, passed between her and the shore, and cast anchor.
Later still, the resistance offered at the Nile was all, and more than all, that could be demanded from seamen, who, unless blind or without understanding, must have seen their doom sealed from the moment that the Goliath, bearing up under the bows of the Guerrier, took up an inshore berth.
At 6:20 p.m. the Conquirant, followed by the Guerrier, opened her fire upon the Goliath and Zealous, which was quickly answered by those ships; but the sun had already sunk into the ocean before any other British ship had fired a shot.
On receiving directions from his government, Commodore Rogers, who took the command, put to sea in search of the Guerrier on the 12th of May, 1811. Soon after noon of the 16th, from the mast-head of the President, a ship was descried standing towards her under a press of sail, which Commodore Rogers at once concluded was the frigate Guerrier.
Hood, in the ZEALOUS, perceiving this, took the station which the GOLIATH intended to have occupied, and totally disabled the GUERRIER in twelve minutes.
The fire was then directed on Le Peuple Souverain, until she cut and dropped out of the line, totally dismasted and silenced. A Audacious. 1 Guerrier. B Bellerophon. 2 Conquérant. D Defence. 4 Aquilon. E Majestic. 5 Peuple Souverain. F Alexander. 6 Franklin. G Goliath. 7 L'Orient. L Leander. 8 Tonnant. M Minotaur. 9 Heureux. O Orion. 10 Mercure. S Swiftsure. 11 Guillaume Tell.
Nelson had given the one signal that "his intention was to attack the van and center as they lay at anchor, according to the plan before developed." This plan called for doubling, two ships to the enemy's one. With a fair wind from the north-northwest Captain Foley in the Goliath at 6 p.m. reached the Guerrier, the headmost of the thirteen ships in the enemy line.
The incident of passing round the "Guerrier," and inside of the line, is a detail only, although one which cannot be too highly praised. "The van ship of the enemy being in five fathom," wrote Captain Hood, "I expected the Goliath and Zealous to stick fast on the shoal every moment, and did not imagine we should attempt to pass within her."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking