the life of horatio lord nelson-第34章

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At　the　first　council　of　war；　opinions　inclined　to　an　attack　from　the　eastward；　but　the　next　day；　the　wind　being　southerly；　after　a　second　examination　of　the　Danish　position；　it　was　determined　to　attack　from　the　south；　approaching　in　the　manner　which　Nelson　had　suggested　in　his　first　thoughts。　On　the　morning　of　the　1st　of　April　the　whole　fleet　removed　to　an　anchorage　within　two　leagues　of　the　town；　and　off　the　N。W。　end　of　the　Middle　Ground；　a　shoal　lying　exactly　before　the　town；　at　about　three　quarters　of　a　mile　distance；　and　extending　along　its　whole　sea…front。　The　King's　Channel；　where　there　is　deep　water；　is　between　this　shoal　and　the　town；　and　here　the　Danes　had　arranged　their　line　of　defence；　as　near　the　shore　as　possible：　nineteen　ships　and　floating　batteries；　flanked；　at　the　end　nearest　the　town；　by　the　Crown　Batteries；　which　were　two　artificial　islands；　at　the　mouth　of　the　harbourmost　formidable　works；　the　larger　one　having；　by　the　Danish　account；　66　guns；　but；　as　Nelson　believed；　88。　The　fleet　having　anchored；　Nelson；　with　Riou；　in　the　AMAZON；　made　his　last　examination　of　the　ground；　and　about　one　o'clock；　returning　to　his　own　ship；　threw　out　the　signal　to　weigh。　It　was　received　with　a　shout　throughout　the　whole　division；　they　weighed　with　a　light　and　favourable　wind：　the　narrow　channel　between　the　island　of　Saltholm　and　the　Middle　Ground　had　been　accurately　buoyed；　the　small　craft　pointed　out　the　course　distinctly；　Riou　led　the　way：　the　whole　division　coasted　along　the　outer　edge　of　the　shoal；　doubled　its　further　extremity；　and　anchored　there　off　Draco　Point；　just　as　the　darkness　closedthe　headmost　of　the　enemy's　line　not　being　more　than　two　miles　distant。　The　signal　to　prepare　for　action　had　been　made　early　in　the　evening；　and　as　his　own　anchor　dropt；　Nelson　called　out；　〃I　will　fight　them　the　moment　I　have　a　fair　wind！〃　It　had　been　agreed　that　Sir　Hyde；　with　the　remaining　ships；　should　weigh　on　the　following　morning；　at　the　same　time　as　Nelson；　to　menace　the　Crown　Batteries　on　his　side；　and　the　four　ships　of　the　line　which　lay　at　the　entrance　of　the　arsenal；　and　to　cover　our　own　disabled　ships　as　they　came　out　of　action。

The　Danes；　meantime；　had　not　been　idle：　no　sooner　did　the　guns　of　Cronenburgh　make　it　known　to　the　whole　city　that　all　negotiation　was　at　an　end；　that　the　British　fleet　was　passing　the　Sound；　and　that　the　dispute　between　the　two　crowns　must　now　be　decided　by　arms；　than　a　spirit　displayed　itself　most　honourable　to　the　Danish　character。　All　ranks　offered　themselves　to　the　service　of　their　country；　the　university　furnished　a　corps　of　1200　youth；　the　flower　of　Denmarkit　was　one　of　those　emergencies　in　which　little　drilling　or　discipline　is　necessary　to　render　courage　available：　they　had　nothing　to　learn　but　how　to　manage　the　guns；　and　day　and　night　were　employed　in　practising　them。　When　the　movements　of　Nelson's　squadron　were　perceived；　it　was　known　when　and　where　the　attack　was　to　be　expected；　and　the　line　of　defence　was　manned　indiscriminately　by　soldiers；　sailors；　and　citizens。　Had　not　the　whole　attention　of　the　Danes　been　directed　to　strengthen　their　own　means　of　defence；　they　might　most　materially　have　annoyed　the　invading　squadron；　and　perhaps　frustrated　the　impending　attack；　for　the　British　ships　were　crowded　in　an　anchoring　ground　of　little　extent：it　was　calm；　so　that　mortar…boats　might　have　acted　against　them　to　the　utmost　advantage；　and　they　were　within　range　of　shells　from　Amak　Island。　A　few　fell　among　them；　but　the　enemy　soon　ceased　to　fire。　It　was　learned　afterwards；　that；　fortunately　for　the　fleet；　the　bed　of　the　mortar　had　given　way；　and　the　Danes　either　could　not　get　it　replaced；　or；　in　the　darkness；　lost　the　direction。

This　was　an　awful　night　for　Copenhagenfar　more　so　than　for　the　British　fleet；　where　the　men　were　accustomed　to　battle　and　victory；　and　had　none　of　those　objects　before　their　eyes　which　rendered　death　terrible。　Nelson　sat　down　to　table　with　a　large　party　of　his　officers：　he　was；　as　he　was　ever　wont　to　be　when　on　the　eve　of　action；　in　high　spirits；　and　drank　to　a　leading　wind；　and　to　the　success　of　the　morrow。　After　supper　they　returned　to　their　respective　ships；　except　Riou；　who　remained　to　arrange　the　order　of　battle　with　Nelson　and　Foley；　and　to　draw　up　instructions。　Hardy；　meantime；　went　in　a　small　boat　to　examine　the　channel　between　them　and　the　enemy；　approaching　so　near　that　he　sounded　round　their　leading　ship　with　a　pole；　lest　the　noise　of　throwing　the　lead　should　discover　him。　The　incessant　fatigue　of　body；　as　well　as　mind；　which　Nelson　had　undergone　during　the　last　three　days；　had　so　exhausted　him　that　he　was　earnestly　urged　to　go　to　his　cot；　and　his　old　servant；　Allen；　using　that　kind　of　authority　which　long　and　affectionate　services　entitled　and　enabled　him　to　assume　on　such　occasions；　insisted　upon　his　complying。　The　cot　was　placed　on　the　floor；　and　he　continued　to　dictate　from　it。　About　eleven　Hardy　returned；　and　reported　the　practicability　of　the　channel；　and　the　depth　of　water　up　to　the　enemy's　line。　About　one　the　orders　were　completed；　and　half…a…dozen　clerks；　in　the　foremost　cabin；　proceeded　to　transcribe　them；　Nelson　frequently　calling　out　to　them　from　his　cot　to　hasten　their　work；　for　the　wind　was　becoming　fair。　Instead　of　attempting　to　get　a　few　hours'　sleep；　he　was　constantly　receiving　reports　on　this　important　point。　At　daybreak　it　was　announced　as　becoming　perfectly　fair。　The　clerks　finished　their　work　about　six。　Nelson；　who　was　already　up；　breakfasted；　and　made　signal　for　all　captains。　The　land　forces　and　five　hundred　seamen；　under　Captain　Freemantle　and　the　Hon。　Colonel　Stewart；　were　to　storm　the　Crown　Battery　as　soon　as　its　fire　should　be　silenced：　and　Riouwhom　Nelson　had　never　seen　till　this　expedition；　but　whose　worth　he　had　instantly　perceived；　and　appreciated　as　it　deservedhad　the　BLANCHE　and　ALCMENE　frigates；　the　DART　and　ARROW　sloops。　and　the　ZEPHYR　and　OTTER　fire…ships；　given　him；　with　a　special　command　to　act　as　circumstances　might　requireevery　other　ship　had　its　station　appointed。

Between　eight　and　nine；　the　pilots　and　masters　were　ordered　on　board　the　admirals'　ships。　The　pilots　were　mostly　men　who　had　been　mates　in　Baltic　traders；　and　their　hesitation　about　the　bearing　of　the　east　end　of　the　shoal；　and　the　exact　line　of　deep　water；　gave　ominous　warning　of　how　little　their　knowledge　was　to　be　trusted。　The　signal　for　action　had　been　made；　the　wind　was　fairnot　a　moment　to　be　lost。　Nelson　urged　them　to　be　steady；　to　be　resolute；　and　to　decide；　but　they　wanted　the　only　ground　for　steadiness　and　decision　in　such　cases；　and　Nelson　had　reason　to　regret　that　he　had　not　trusted　to　Hardy's　single　report。　This　was　one　of　the　most　painful　moments　of　his　life；　and　he　always　spoke　of　it　with　bitterness。　〃I　experienced　in　the　Sound；〃　said　he；　〃the　misery　of　having　the　honour　of　our　country　entrusted　to　a　set　of　pilots；　who　have　no　other　thought　than　to　keep　the　ships　clear　of　danger；　and　their　own　silly　heads　clear　of　shot。　Everybody　knows　what　I　must　have　suffered；　and　if　any　merit　attaches　itself　to　me；　it　was　for　combating　the　dangers　of　the　shallows　in　defiance　of　them。〃　At　length　Mr。　Bryerly；　the　master　of　the　BELLONA；　declared　that　he　was　prepared　to　lead　the　fleet；　his　judgment　was　acceded　to　by　the　rest；　they　returned　to　their　ships；　and　at　half…past　nine　the　signal　was　made　to　weigh　in　succession。

Captain　Murray；　in　the　EDGAR；　led　the　way；　the　AGAMEMNON　was　next　in　order；　but　on　the　first　attempt　to　leave　her　anchorage；　she　could　not　weather　the　edge　of　the　shoal；　and　Nelson　had　the　grief　to　see　his　old　ship；　in　which　he　had　performed　so　many　years'　gallant　services；　immovably　aground　at　a　moment　when　her　help　was　so　greatly　required。　Signal　was　then　made　for　the　POLYPHEMUS；　and　this　change　in　the　order　of　sailing　was　executed　with　the　utmost　promptitude：　yet　so　much　delay　had　thus　been　unavoidably　occasioned；　that　the　EDGAR　was　for　some　time　unsupported；　and　the　POLYPHEMUS；　whose　place　should　have　been　at　the　end　of　the　enemy's　line；　where　their　strength　was　the　greatest；　could　get　no　further　than　the　beginning；　owing　to　the　difficulty　of　the　channel：　there　she　occupied；　indeed；　an　efficient　station；　but　one　where　her　presence　was　less　required。　The　ISIS　followed　with　better　fortune；　and　took　her　own　berth。　The　BELLONA；　Sir　Thomas　Boulden　Thompson；　kept　too　close　on　the　starboard　shoal；　and　grounded　abreast　of　the　outer　ship　of　the　enemy：　this　was　the　more　vexatious；　inasmuch　as　the　wind　was　fair；　the　room　ample；　and　three　ships　had　led　the　way。　The　RUSSELL；　following　the　BELLONA；　grounded　in　like　manner：　both　were　within　reach　of　shot；　but　their　absence　from　their　intended　stations　was　severely　felt。　Each　ship　had　been　ordered　to　pass　her　leader　on　the　starboard　side；　because　the　water　was　supposed　to　shoal　on　the　larboard　shore。　Nelson；　who　came　next　after　these　two　ships；　thought　they　had　kept　too　far　on　the　starboard　direction；　and　made　signal　for　them　to　close　with　the　enemy；　not　knowing　that　they　were　aground；　but　when　he　perceived　that　they　did　not　obey　the　signal；　he　ordered　the　ELEPHANT's　helm　to　starboard；　and　went　within　these　ships：　thus　quitting　the　appointed　order　of　sailing；　and　guiding　those　which　were　to　follow。　The　greater　part　of　the　fleet　were　probably；　by　this　act　of　promptitude　on　his　part；　saved　from　going　on　shore。　Each　ship；　as　she　arrived　nearly　opposite　to　her　appointed　station；　let　her　anchor　go　by　the　stern；　and　presented　her　broadside　to　the　Danes。　The　distance　between　each　was　about　half　a　cable。　The　action　was　fought　nearly　at　the　distance　of　a　cable's　length　from　the　enemy。　This；　which　rendered　its　continuance　so　long；　was　owing　to　the　ignorance　and　consequent　indecision　of　the　pilots。　In　pursuance　of　the　same　error　which　had　led　the　BELLONA　and　the　RUSSELL　aground；　they；　when　the　lead　was　at　a　quarter　less　five；　refused　to　approach　nearer；　in　dread　of　shoaling　their　water　on　the　larboard　shore：　a　fear　altogether　erroneous；　for　the　water　deepened　up　to　the　very　side　of　the　enemy's　line　of　battle。

At　five　minutes　after　ten　the　action　began。　The　first　half　of　our　fleet　was　engaged　in　about　half　an　hour；　and　by　half…past　eleven　the　battle　became　general。　The　plan　of　the　attack　had　been　　complete：　but　seldom　has　any　plan　been　more　disconcerted　by　untoward　accidents。　Of　twelve　ships　of　the　line；　one　was　entirely　useless；　and　two　others　in　a　situation　where　they　could　not　render　half　the　service　which　was　required　of　them。　Of　the　squadron　of　gun…brigs；　only　one　could　get　into　action；　the　rest　were　prevented；　by　baffling　currents；　from　weathering　the　eastern　end　of　the　shoal；　and　only　two　of　the　bomb…vessels　could　reach　their　station　on　the　Middle　Ground；　and　open　their　mortars　on　the　arsenal；　firing　over　both　fleets。　Riou　took　the　vacant　station　against　the　Crown　Battery；　with　his　frigates：　attempting；　with　that　unequal　force；　a　service　in　which　three　sail　of　the　line　had　been　directed　to　assist。

Nelson's　agitation　had　been　extreme　when　he　saw　himself；　before　the　action　began；　deprived　of　a　fourth　part　of　his　ships　of　the　line；　but　no　sooner　was　he　in　battle；　where　his　squadron　was　received　with　the　fire　of　more　than　a　thousand　guns；　than；　as　if　that　artillery；　like　music；　had　driven　away　all　care　and　painful　thought