History Vault

Agamemnon Ca Ira — Hundred-Yard Stern

2 min read

Agamemnon Ca Ira — Hundred-Yard Stern

Generated illustration. Not a historical photograph. A British 64. Not a named portrait of Agamemnon.

Overview

Agamemnon Appointment — 30 January 1793 already records the appointment. HMS Agamemnon — Overview already records the later Copenhagen grounding. This note covers the Ca Ira stern pass only.1

The Stern Pass

Southey says that one of the French ships, the Ca Ira, carried away her main and fore top-masts. The Agamemnon stood towards her, having no ship of the line to support her within several miles. As she drew near, the Ca Ira fired her stern guns so truly that not a shot missed some part of the ship, and, latterly, the masts were struck by every shot. It had been Nelson’s intention not to fire before he touched her stern; but seeing how impossible it was that he should be supported, he altered his plan. As soon, therefore, as he was within a hundred yards of her stern, he ordered the helm to be put a-starboard, and the driver and after-sails to be brailed up and shivered, and, as the ship fell off, gave the enemy her whole broadside.2

The 30 January 1793 appointment stays on Agamemnon Appointment — 30 January 1793. Copenhagen stays on HMS Agamemnon — Overview. This page does not invent a day-date beyond Southey’s 1795 running-head, or isolate a rate class.

Sources

Same Subject

Cross-Domain

Footnotes

  1. Appointment only: Agamemnon Appointment — 30 January 1793. Copenhagen grounding only: HMS Agamemnon — Overview. ↩

  2. “As soon, therefore, as he was within a hundred yards of her stern, he ordered the helm to be put a-starboard, and the driver and after-sails to be brailed up and shivered, and, as the ship fell off, gave the enemy her whole broadside.” @southey1813nelson vol. 1, pp. 124–125 (1813). Do not invent a day-date or isolate a rate class. ↩

Graph View

Backlinks