the life of horatio lord nelson-第21节
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son's experience at Corsica justified him in this harsh opinion： he did not live to see the glorious days of the British army under Wellington。 The army from Elba； consisting of 3700 men； would do the business； he said； in three days； probably in much less time； and he would undertake； with a very small squadron； to perform the naval part； for though the shore was not easy of access； the transports might run in and land the troops in one day。
The report concerning the viceroy was unfounded： but a homeward… bound Manilla ship put into Santa Cruz at this time； and the expedition was determined upon。 It was not fitted out upon the scale which Nelson had proposed。 Four ships of the line； three frigates； and the FOX cutter； formed the squadron； and he was allowed to choose such ships and officers as he thought proper。 No troops were embarked； the seamen and marines of the squadron being thought sufficient。 His orders were； to make a vigorous attack； but on no account to land in person； unless his presence should be absolutely necessary。 The plan was； that the boats should land in the night； between the fort on the N。E。 side of Santa Cruz bay and the town； make themselves masters of that fort； and then send a summons to the governor。 By midnight； the three frigates； having the force on board which was intended for this debarkation； approached within three miles of the place； but owing to a strong gale of wind in the offing； and a strong current against them in…shore； they were not able to get within a mile of the landing…place before daybreak； and then they were seen； and their intention discovered。 Troubridge and Bowen； with Captain Oldfield； of the marines； went upon this to consult with the admiral what was to be done； and it was resolved that they should attempt to get possession of the heights above the fort。 The frigates accordingly landed their men； and Nelson stood in with the line…of…battle ships； meaning to batter the fort for the purpose of distracting the attention of the garrison。 A calm and contrary current hindered him from getting within a league of the shore； and the heights were by this time so secured； and manned with such a force； as to be judged impracticable。 Thus foiled in his plans by circumstances of wind and tide； he still considered it a point of honour that some attempt should be made。 This was on the 22nd of July： he re…embarked his men that night； got the ships on the 24th to anchor about two miles north of the town； and made show as if he intended to attack the heights。 At six in the evening signal was made for the boats to prepare to proceed on the service as previously ordered。
When this was done； Nelson addressed a letter to the commander…in… chiefthe last which was ever written with his right hand。 〃I shall not；〃 said he；〃enter on the subject； why we are not in possession of Santa Cruz。 Your partiality will give credit； that all has hitherto been done which was possible； but without effect。 This night I； humble as I am； command the whole destined to land under the batteries of the town； and to…morrow my head will probably be crowned either with laurel or cypress。 I have only to recommend Josiah Nisbet to you and my country。 The Duke of Clarence； should I fall； will； I am confident； take a lively interest for my son…in…law； on his name being mentioned。〃 Perfectly aware how desperate a service this was likely to prove； before he left the THESEUS he called Lieutenant Nisbet； who had the watch on deck； into the cabin； that he might assist in arranging and burning his mother's letters。 Perceiving that the young man was armed； he earnestly begged him to remain behind。 〃Should we both fall； Josiah；〃 said he； 〃what will become of your poor mother！ The care of the THESEUS falls to you： stay； therefore； and take charge of her。〃 Nisbet replied： 〃Sir； the ship must take care of herself： I will go with you to…night； if I never go again。〃
He met his captains at supper on board the SEAHORSE； Captain Freemantle； whose wife； whom he had lately married in the Mediterranean； presided at table。 At eleven o'clock the boats； containing between 600 and 700 men； with 180 on board the FOX cutter； and from 70 to 80 in a boat which had been taken the day before； proceeded in six divisions toward the town； conducted by all the captains of the squadron； except Freemantle and Bowen； who attended with Nelson to regulate and lead the way to the attack。 They were to land on the mole； and thence hasten as fast as possible into the great square； then form and proceed as should be found expedient。 They were not discovered till about half…past one o'clock； when； being within half gun…shot of the landing…place； Nelson directed the boats to cast off from each other； give a huzza； and push for the shore。 But the Spaniards were exceedingly well prepared； the alarm…bells answered the huzza； and a fire of thirty or forty pieces of cannon； with musketry from one end of the town to the other； opened upon the invaders。 Nothing； however； could check the intrepidity with which they advanced。 The night was exceedingly dark： most of the boats missed the mole and went on shore through a raging surf； which stove all to the left of it。 The Admiral； Freemantle； Thompson； Bowen； and four or five other boats； found the mole： they stormed it instantly； and carried it； though it was defended； as they imagined； by 400 or 500 men。 Its guns； which were six…and…twenty pounders； were spiked； but such a heavy fire of musketry and grape was kept up from the citadel and the houses at the head of the mole； that the assailants could not advance； and nearly all of them were killed or wounded。
In the act of stepping out of the boat； Nelson received a shot through the right elbow； and fell； but as he fell he caught the sword； which he had just drawn； in his left hand； determined never to part with it while he lived； for it had belonged to his uncle； Captain Suckling； and he valued it like a relic。 Nisbet； who was close to him； placed him at the bottom of the boat； and laid his hat over the shattered arm； lest the sight of the blood； which gushed out in great abundance； should increase his faintness。 He then examined the wound； and taking some silk handkerchiefs from his neck； bound them round tight above the lacerated vessels。 Had it not been for this presence of mind in his son…in…law； Nelson must have perished。 One of his bargemen； by name Level； tore his shirt into shreds； and made a sling with them for the broken limb。 They then collected five other seamen； by whose assistance they succeeded at length in getting the boat afloat； for it had grounded with the falling tide。 Nisbet took one of the oars and ordered the steersman to go close under the guns of the battery； that they might be safe from its tremendous fire。 Hearing his voice； Nelson roused himself； and desired to be lifted up in the boat that he might look about him。 Nisbet raised him up； but nothing could be seen except the firing of the guns on shore； and what could be discerned by their flashes upon a stormy sea。 In a few minutes a general shriek was heard from the crew of the FOX； which had received a shot under water； and went down。 Ninety…seven men were lost in her： 83 were saved； many by Nelson himself； whose exertions on this occasion greatly increased the pain and danger of his wound。 The first ship which the boat could reach happened to be the SEAHORSE； but nothing could induce him to go on board； though he was assured that if they attempted to row to another ship it might be at the risk of his life。 〃I had rather suffer death；〃 he replied； 〃than alarm Mrs。 Freemantle； by letting her see me in this state； when I can give her no tidings whatever of her husband。〃 They pushed on for the THESEUS。 When they came alongside he peremptorily refused all assistance in getting on board； so impatient was he that the boat should return； in hopes that it might save a few more from the FOX。 He desired to have only a single rope thrown over the side； which he twisted round his left hand； saying 〃Let me alone； I have yet my legs left and one arm。 Tell the surgeon to make haste and get his instruments。 I know I must lose my right arm； so the sooner it is off the better。〃 The spirit which he displayed in jumping up the ship's side astonished everybody。
Freemantle had been severely wounded in the right arm soon after the admiral。 He was fortunate enough to find a boat on the beach； and got instantly to his ship。 Thompson was wounded： Bowen killed； to the great regret of Nelson： as was also one of his own officers； Lieutenant Weatherhead； who had followed him from the AGAMEMNON； and whom he greatly and deservedly esteemed。 Troubridge； meantime； fortunately for his party； missed the mole in the darkness； but pushed on shore under the batteries； close to the south end of the citadel。 Captain Waller； of the EMERALD； and two or three other boats； landed at the same time。 The surf was so high that many others put back。 The boats were instantly filled with water and stove against the rocks； and most of the ammunition in the men's pouches was wetted。 Having collected a few men they pushed on to the great square； hoping there to find the admiral and the rest of the force。 The ladders were all lost； so that they could
