the life of horatio lord nelson-第17节
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sio。 Twelve vessels he had formerly destroyed in that port； though 2000 French troops occupied the town。 This former attack had made them take new measures of defence； and there were now above 100 sail of victuallers； gun…boats； and ships of war。 Nelson represented to the Admiral how important it was to destroy these vessels； and offered； with his squadron of frigates； and the CULLODEN and COURAGEUX； to lead himself in the AGAMEMNON； and take or destroy the whole。 The attempt was not permitted； but it was Nelson's belief that； if it had been made； it would have prevented the attack upon the Austrian army； which took place almost immediately afterwards。
General de Vins demanded satisfaction of the Genoese government for the seizure of his commissary； and then； without waiting for their reply； took possession of some empty magazines of the French； and pushed his sentinels to the very gates of Genoa。 Had he done so at first； he would have found the magazines full； but； timed as the measure was； and useless as it was to the cause of the allies； it was in character with the whole of the Austrian general's conduct； and it is no small proof of the dexterity with which he served the enemy； that in such circumstances he could so act with Genoa as to contrive to put himself in the wrong。 Nelson was at this time； according to his own expression； placed in a cleft stick。 Mr。 Drake； the Austrian minister； and the Austrian general； all joined in requiring him not to leave Genoa； if he left that port unguarded； they said； not only the imperial troops at St。 Pier d'Arena and Voltri would be lost； but the French plan for taking post between Voltri and Savona would certainly succeed； if the Austrians should be worsted in the advanced posts； the retreat of the Bocchetta would be cut off； and if this happened； the loss of the army would be imputed to him； for having left Genoa。 On the other hand； he knew that if he were not at Pietra； the enemy's gun…boats would harass the left flank of the Austrians； who； if they were defeated； as was to be expected； from the spirit of all their operations； would； very probably； lay their defeat to the want of assistance from the AGAMEMNON。 Had the force for which Nelson applied been given him； he could have attended to both objects； and had he been permitted to attack the convoy in Alassio； he would have disconcerted the plans of the French； in spite of the Austrian general。 He had foreseen the danger； and pointed out how it might be prevented； but the means of preventing it were withheld。 The attack was made as he foresaw； and the gun…boats brought their fire to bear upon the Austrians。 It so happened； however； that the left flank； which was exposed to them； was the only part of the army that behaved well： this division stood its ground till the centre and the right wing fled； and then retreated in a soldierlike manner。 General de Vins gave up the command in the middle of the battle； pleading ill health。 〃From that moment；〃 says Nelson； 〃not a soldier stayed at his post： it was the devil take the hindmost。 Many thousands ran away who had never seen the enemy； some of them thirty miles from the advanced posts。 Had I not； though I own； against my inclination； been kept at Genoa； from 8000 to 10；000 men would have been taken prisoners； and； amongst the number； General de Vins himself； but by this means the pass of the Bocchetta was kept open。 The purser of the ship； who was at Vado； ran with the Austrians eighteen miles without stopping； the men without arms； officers without soldiers； women without assistance。 The oldest officers say they never heard of so complete a defeat； and certainly without any reason。 Thus has ended my campaign。 We have established the French republic： which but for us； I verily believe； would never have been settled by such a volatile； changeable people。 I hate a Frenchman： they are equally objects of my detestation whether royalists or republicans： in some points； I believe； the latter are the best。〃 Nelson had a lieutenant and two midshipmen taken at Vado： they told him； in their letter； that few of the French soldiers were more than three or four and twenty years old； a great many not more than fourteen； and all were nearly naked； they were sure； they said； his barge's crew could have beat a hundred of them； and that； had he himself seen them； he would not have thought； if the world had been covered with such people； that they could have beaten the Austrian army。
The defeat of General de Vins gave the enemy possession of the Genoese coast from Savona to Voltri； and it deprived the Austrians of their direct communication with the English fleet。 The AGAMEMNON； therefore； could no longer be useful on this station； and Nelson sailed for Leghorn to refit。 When his ship went into dock； there was not a mast； yard； sail； or any part of the rigging； but what stood in need of repair； having been cut to pieces with shot。 The hull was so damaged that it had for some time been secured by cables； which were served or thrapped round it。
CHAPTER IV
1796 … 1797
Sir J。 Jervis takes the CommandGenoa joins the FrenchBounaparte begins his CareerEvacuation of CorsicaNelson hoists his broad Pennant in the MINERVEAction with the SABINABattle off Cape St。 VincentNelson commands the inner Squadron at the Blockade of Cadiz Boat Action in the Bay of CadizExpedition against TeneriffeNelson loses an ArmHis Sufferings in England； and Recovery。
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SIR JOHN JERVIS had now arrived to take the command of the Mediterranean fleet。 The AGAMEMNON having； as her captain said； been made as fit for sea as a rotten ship could be； Nelson sailed from Leghorn； and joined the admiral in Fiorenzo Bay。 〃I found him；〃 said he； 〃anxious to know many things which I was a good deal surprised to find had not been communicated to him by others in the fleet； and it would appear that he was so well satisfied with my opinion of what is likely to happen； and the means of prevention to be taken； that he had no reserve with me respecting his information and ideas of what is likely to be done。〃 The manner in which Nelson was received is said to have excited some envy。 One captain observed to him： 〃You did just as you pleased in Lord Hood's time； the same in Admiral Hotham's； and now again with Sir John Jervis： it makes no difference to you who is commander…in…chief。〃 A higher compliment could not have been paid to any commander…in…chief than to say of him that he understood the merits of Nelson； and left him； as far as possible； to act upon his own judgment。
Sir John Jervis offered him the ST。GEORGE； ninety； or the ZEALOUS； seventy…four； and asked if he should have any objection to serve under him with his flag。 He replied； that if the AGAMEMNON were ordered home； and his flag were not arrived； he should； on many accounts； wish to return to England； still； if the war continued； he should be very proud of hoisting his flag under Sir John's command； 〃We cannot spare you；〃 said Sir John； 〃either as captain or admiral。〃 Accordingly； he resumed his station in the Gulf of Genoa。 The French had not followed up their successes in that quarter with their usual celerity。 Scherer； who commanded there； owed his advancement to any other cause than his merit： he was a favourite of the directory； but for the present； through the influence of Barras； he was removed from a command for which his incapacity was afterwards clearly proved； and Buonaparte was appointed to succeed him。 Buonaparte had given indications of his military talents at Toulon； and of his remorseless nature at Paris； but the extent either of his ability or his wickedness was at this time known to none； and perhaps not even suspected by himself。
Nelson supposed； from the information which he had obtained； that one column of the French army would take possession of Port Especia； either penetrating through the Genoese territory； or proceeding coast…ways in light vessels； our ships of war not being able to approach the coast； because of the shallowness of the water。 To prevent this； he said； two things were necessary： the possession of Vado Bay； and the taking of Port Especia； if either of these points were secured； Italy would be safe from any attack of the French by sea。 General Beaulieu； who had now superseded De Vins in the command of the allied Austrian and Sardinian army； sent his nephew and aide…de…camp to communicate with Nelson； and inquire whether he could anchor in any other place than Vado Bay。 Nelson replied； that Vado was the only place where the British fleet could lie in safety； but all places would suit his squadron； and wherever the general came to the sea…coast； there he should find it。 The Austrian repeatedly asked； if there was not a risk of losing the squadron？ and was constantly answered； that if these ships should be lost； the admiral would find others。 But all plans of co…operation with the Austrians were soon frustrated by the battle of Montenotte。 Beaulieu ordered an attack to be made upon the post of Voltri。 It was made twelve hours before the time which he had fixed； and before he arrived to direct it。 In consequence； the French were enabled to effect their retreat； and fall back to Montenotte； thus giving the troops there a decisive superi
