Author Topic: October 1, 1805 (Read 260 times)

slimm50 · « **on:** October 06, 2005, 02:28:16 PM »

The anniversary of Admiral Lord Nelson's victory at Trafalgar. A pretty good write up on it in this month's National Geographic. Man, I have to hand it to you Brits: you've always been able to produce some really gutsy leaders. Even down to a 16 y.o. junior lieutenant who stood his ground aboard the H.M.S. Victory during the battle.

Simaril · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2005, 03:50:54 PM »

for the greatest "pell-mell battle" in naval history!

The Brit navy saved the world from dictatorship with routine elan, and heroism that defied description.

The battle reports from that era sound like creations of an over fertile imagination -- but the actions really happened. Can you imagine the equivalent of a corvette defeating a cruiser? Thats what Cochrane did against the El Gamo. Another time, Nelson personally lead the charge onto a first rate's (battleship) deck, captured it, and then charged from IT'S deck to capture another first rate.

His disregarding orders at Copenhagen (he put the telescope to his sightless side so he could honestly tell the admiral that he failed to see the order) both won the battle and gave the world the phrase "turning a blind eye."

Few would disagree that he was the greatest battle admiral in history.

midnight Target · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2005, 04:23:38 PM »

Half a mo.....

If you win, aren't you supposed to live?

storch · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2005, 04:34:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
Half a mo.....

If you win, aren't you supposed to live?

He has. He did. He is still. Nelson, King Leonaeides of Sparta with his 300 Spartans holding back tens of thousands of greasy persians at Thermopolae. There are many others that don't immediately come to mind, continue to live in the minds of all warriors who have been and shall forever be inspired by such stories of selfless devotion to God, Country, Duty and Honor. But a liberal just wouldn't understand that, so carry on.

ChickenHawk · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2005, 04:49:34 PM »

If only we had leaders that devoted to their country today.

Thank you Lord Nelson for saving the world two hundres years ago.

Had the British Navy failed, we would be living in a completely different world today.

indy007 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2005, 05:10:05 PM »

I'm more impressed by his actions at the Nile. Night assault against a much larger fleet in shoal waters. Mauled Napoleon's navy and denied him an eastern empire.

Hangtime · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2005, 05:39:15 PM »

"Never mind tactics.. run straight at 'em!!"

This guy has amazed and confounded me for 45 years.. ever since I read for the first time the account of the Battle of Trafalgar at the age of 10.

In one amazing engagement against the Danes several years before Trafalgar, he was outnumbered, out gunned and engaged against both shore and fleet batteries. With the British taking a drubbing as they closed the enemy, Nelson's superior Sir Hyde Parker; got cold feet and hoisted from the flagship 'Disengage'.

Nelson, when his attention was called to the flagships signal, hauled his telescope to his blind eye[/i] and blandly said "I cannot see the signal". He dipped and re-rehoisted his own signal to the squadron: 'Engage Closely'. Every single ship in the squadron ignored Sir Parker and follwed Nelson to a resounding victory.

Quite the Leader. The guy was so much loved by the captains under his command that when the Battle of Trafalgar played out one captain remarked "The French and Spansih could have had a hundered more ships... mattered not. We would have still won, Nelson was with us."

Heluva leader. The world is very different because of him.

Author Topic: October 1, 1805 (Read 260 times)

storch