Nelson's Battles in 3D: Cape St. Vincent

**Sanitized Transcript: An Epic History / Drachinifel Collaboration**

In 1792, the French Revolution ignited a European conflict that would endure for a generation—a struggle for dominance in Europe and beyond, fought on both land and sea. The most enduring rivalry during this time was between France and Britain. While Britain struggled to challenge France on land, it excelled at sea, with the Royal Navy proving to be as formidable on the waves as Napoleon was on land. Among the skilled naval commanders of the era, one stood out: Horatio Nelson. Bold, inspiring, and brilliant, he became a national hero for the British.

These are the stories of his greatest battles.

In 1797, the Revolutionary War was in its fifth year, with the French Republic dominating on land, having conquered the Low Countries and northern Italy, and advancing on Austria. At sea, the British navy ruled supreme, having achieved a series of victories over the French. However, a new alliance between France and Spain posed a significant threat to British naval power.

Ship for ship, the British navy was superior to any enemy, with experienced and well-led crews. In contrast, the French had lost many naval officers during the Revolution, and the Spanish lacked resources and training. Britain boasted around 144 ships-of-the-line, the largest vessels of the age, while France had just 69. The new alliance with Spain added 84 Spanish ships to that number. If these allies could unite at sea, they would outnumber the British and potentially change the course of the war.

Britain’s largest naval force was the Channel Fleet, comprising 16 ships-of-the-line guarding the homeland. Detachments monitored France’s Atlantic ports, where the French had several powerful squadrons, the largest being at Brest. The British Mediterranean Fleet, consisting of 10 ships-of-the-line, had been operating from bases in Corsica, Elba, and Naples. However, with Spain entering the war, the British decided to strategically withdraw to Portugal, where the fleet was reinforced to 15 ships-of-the-line, and Admiral Sir John Jervis was ordered to keep a close watch on the Spanish.

In February 1797, five Spanish merchant ships set sail from Malaga, bound for Cadiz, carrying mercury vital for refining silver and gold from Spain’s New World empire. The convoy was so important that it received a powerful escort—the entire Spanish battle fleet, consisting of 27 ships-of-the-line and several frigates. After escorting the merchant ships to Cadiz, the Spanish commander, Admiral Córdoba, planned to continue to Brest to join forces with the French. If successful, the British would face a formidable combined fleet.

With the help of a strong Levanter wind, the Spanish swiftly passed through the Straits of Gibraltar but were blown too far out into the Atlantic. As they struggled back towards Cadiz, a thick fog descended. Meanwhile, British frigate HMS Minerve was returning from a diplomatic mission to Italy, carrying Commodore Horatio Nelson, who planned to rejoin Admiral Jervis’s fleet off Cape St. Vincent.

HMS Minerve survived a dramatic chase off Gibraltar and, on the foggy night of February 11, found herself amidst the main Spanish fleet, remaining undetected and able to slip away. Two days later, Nelson reached the British fleet, confirming reports that the enemy was near, though he was unaware of their strength. Jervis ordered his fleet to prepare for battle and set sail to intercept.

Admiral Sir John Jervis, commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, had a prosperous middle-class background but ran away to join the navy at age 13. Now 62, he had 40 years of experience at sea, much of it fighting the French and Spanish. This would be his first time leading a major fleet into action. He was fortunate to have several outstanding captains under him, including Collingwood, Troubridge, Saumarez, and Nelson.

Jervis’s flagship was HMS Victory, an aging but powerful 100-gun ship-of-the-line. The commander of the Spanish fleet, Admiral José de Córdoba y Ramos, was a Spanish aristocrat, also 65 years old, who had gone to sea at 13. He had a long service record, including scientific voyages to the New World. Córdoba had just been appointed commander of the Spanish fleet based on seniority, rather than merit, and had six other admirals serving under him. His flagship was the mighty Santísima Trinidad, carrying 130 guns, the most heavily armed warship in the world.

Córdoba led a powerful fleet of 27 Spanish ships-of-the-line, although four would miss the battle. Seven were classified as ‘first-rate’ ships of the line, meaning they carried 100 guns or more. Jervis had just 15 ships-of-the-line, with only two being first-rates. On paper, the Spanish had a massive advantage in firepower, but the speed and efficiency with which the guns were handled could be decisive. Moreover, Córdoba’s crews were not at full strength, and many sailors were inexperienced.

Both fleets were accompanied by several frigates and other small ships, which typically did not engage in fleet actions but were used for scouting and communication. At dawn, the British sailed south in two columns, hearing Spanish signal guns in the fog, indicating the enemy was close. While the British fleet sailed with purpose, the Spanish had become dispersed in their efforts to reach Cadiz, now in two groups: a smaller group of five ships to the east, led by Admiral Moreno, and the main group to the west, commanded by Admiral Córdoba.

As the fog lifted, the Spanish fleet came into view, and Jervis learned for the first time that he was massively outnumbered. Lookouts at the mast-tops relayed updates down to the deck—eight Spanish ships sighted; twenty ships sighted; twenty-seven ships sighted. Finally, Jervis snapped, “Enough, sir! The die is cast, and if there are fifty sail, I will go through them!”

The Spanish spotted the British, with the larger formation turning north to pass the British in the opposite direction, while the smaller force turned northwest to close up with the rest of the fleet. The British may have been outnumbered, but if Jervis could position himself between the two Spanish groups, he could fight half the enemy at a time, significantly improving his odds.

As the range closed, Jervis ordered his ships to form a single line of battle to cut between the two Spanish formations. The maneuver was executed rapidly and efficiently, with HMS Culloden taking the lead. However, Admiral Córdoba struggled to form his ships into a line of battle following their turn, resulting in a ragged group with ships blocking each other’s line of fire.

The battle commenced at 11:30 AM, as the British vanguard opened fire. At 12:08, Jervis ordered his ships to turn 180 degrees in succession to maintain contact with the main enemy force. The smaller Spanish force was approaching, threatening to break the British line near the point of its turn. If they succeeded, they would split the British fleet, making it vulnerable.

Experienced British captains maintained tight formation, denying the Spanish any gap to exploit. The Spanish launched a determined attack, with HMS Colossus sustaining heavy sail damage and veering out of control. Her neighbors, Orion and Irresistible, provided covering fire. The Spanish received a devastating series of broadsides, ultimately abandoning their attempt to breach the British line and turning away.

For the British, every moment counted. Admiral Córdoba’s force was attempting to escape and rejoin the rest of his fleet. If the British were to prevent this, someone would need to take drastic action. Commodore Nelson commanded HMS Captain, a 74-gun ship towards the rear of the British line. In this era, maintaining the line of battle was crucial for safe and effective maneuvering. However, Nelson recognized that the Spanish would soon slip out of reach in their current formation.

Just after 1 PM, he decided to take action. Disregarding Admiral Jervis’s clear instructions, Nelson ordered his ship to wear and headed straight towards the main Spanish formation. HMS Captain was about to engage half a dozen Spanish ships single-handedly, including Córdoba’s massive flagship, Trinidad. It would take Nelson 45 minutes to close with the enemy, all while under heavy fire from the Spanish.

Although the Spanish fire was neither fast nor accurate, much of Captain’s rigging and yards were shot away. It appeared that Nelson’s gamble might fail, but help was on the way. When Jervis, aboard Victory, saw Nelson break formation, he signaled other ships to turn in support. HMS Excellent, commanded by Captain Collingwood, was quickest to respond, while HMS Culloden was also close enough to engage the rear Spanish ships.

Several of these Spanish ships had suffered heavy damage: Salvador del Mundo was effectively disabled, and San Isidro had been battered. As HMS Excellent moved up the line to support Nelson, she fired broadsides into the Spanish ships at close range. Both Salvador del Mundo and San Isidro surrendered, hauling down their colors.

HMS Excellent’s bold advance caused San Nicolas to take evasive action, leading to a collision with San José. Nelson seized the opportunity; despite his ship being crippled, he had just enough momentum to ram San Nicolas and attempt to board her. Leading the boarding party himself, Nelson climbed aboard through a smashed window in the captain’s cabin. After a brief but intense fight, the crew of San Nicolas surrendered, suffering over 200 casualties, about a third of their strength.

Nelson was not finished. His men came under fire from San José, which was alongside San Nicolas. Gathering more men, Nelson launched a second boarding action from the deck of San Nicolas onto San José. The bewildered Spanish crew surrendered as well. This extraordinary feat of using one captured ship as a springboard to take another became known as ‘Nelson’s patent bridge for boarding first-rates.’ He was presented with so many swords by surrendering Spanish officers that he had to pass them to his coxswain to hold.

Córdoba’s flagship, the giant Santísima Trinidad, was now being bombarded by three British ships, with her crew suffering over 300 casualties. Around 4 PM, rumors circulated that she had struck her colors, but it was difficult to confirm amid the smoke and chaos. Before the British could secure her, two undamaged Spanish ships arrived to tow her to safety. The British ships, too battered to pursue, began to regroup.

Jervis signaled to his fleet to form up and secure the four Spanish ships they had already captured. As Córdoba and his remaining fleet sailed for Cadiz, the British celebrated a remarkable victory. Against the odds, the Battle of Cape St. Vincent ended in a significant British triumph. Four Spanish ships-of-the-line were captured, including two first-rates. Approximately 800 Spanish sailors were killed or wounded, and 3,000 were taken prisoner. British losses were just 73 dead and 227 wounded.

Nelson’s brilliant success meant his disregard for orders was overlooked, and he was knighted, becoming a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. Admiral Sir John Jervis was made the Earl of St. Vincent and received a generous pension and other honors. In 1801, he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, the political head of the Royal Navy. He lived to the age of 88 and is remembered as one of Britain’s greatest admirals.

In contrast, Admiral Córdoba was disgraced. Historians and his officers agreed that he displayed courage during the battle, but his ineffective maneuvers were blamed for the defeat. He was dismissed from the navy and forbidden to appear at the Spanish court, passing away in 1815.

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was not a battle of annihilation, but it had major strategic consequences. Following their defeat, the demoralized Spanish fleet returned to Cadiz, where it was blockaded by the British, neutralizing the threat of a combined Spanish and French navy.

The following year, in 1798, a British squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Nelson returned to the Mediterranean, soon pursuing a French fleet carrying General Bonaparte’s army to Egypt.

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A big thank you to Drachinifel for expert research and advice throughout our series on Nelson’s battles. For anyone interested in naval history, his YouTube channel is essential viewing, filled with profiles of historic warships and expert discussions on naval technology and operations.

Thank you to Royal Museums Greenwich for kindly allowing us to use a selection of their images in this video. Royal Museums Greenwich includes London’s most famous maritime attractions, such as the clipper ship Cutty Sark and Britain’s National Maritime Museum, where you can find many fascinating objects, including uniforms and personal items that belonged to Nelson himself. We highly recommend a visit if you’re ever in London.

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