Family Research – English, Scottish and Irish Genealogy

The Battle of Trafalgar

The Franco-Spanish fleet continued to wait in Cadiz. On 16 September Napoleon had ordered it to sail to Naples, but this the French and Spanish officers initially refused to do because they believed that the British fleet was by far the stronger. On hearing that six of Nelson’s ships had sailed to Gibraltar, however, Admiral Villeneuve finally gave the order to leave Cadiz on 18 October. They were spotted by Captain Blackwood on HMS Euryalus and the British fleet was alerted.

For the next day the British fleet shadowed the French and Spanish ships at a distance of 20 miles to avoid being sighted. Then, at 4 am on 21 October 1805, Nelson ordered a change in direction, towards the enemy. At 6 am he gave the signal to ‘prepare for battle’. for more click here

With photographs and HMS Victory’s casualty lists – with transcript