The Battle of Trafalgar
Midshipman R.F. Roberts to his parents

Victory, at sea off Trafalgar, 22 October 1805

I have just time to tell you that we had a desperate engagement with the enemy, and, thank God, I have so far escaped unhurt. The Combined Fleet came out of Cadiz with a determination to engage and blow us up (as the prisoners say) out of the water, but they are much - very much - mistaken.

It was as hard an action, as allowed by all on board ship, as ever was fought. There were but three left alive on the Quarterdeck, the enemy fired so much grape and small shot from the rigging, there was one ship so close to us that we could not run out our guns their proper length. Only conceive how much we must have smashed her, every gun was trebly shotted for her. We have a great many killed and dangerously wounded - 21 amputations.

This morning the enemy are out of sight and we have the prizes in tow, going for Gibraltar. The rascals have shot away our mizen mast, and we are much afraid of our main and fore-masts. The Royal Sovereign has not a stick standing - a total wreck. It was she that began the action in a noble manner, engaging four of them at the same time. Two of the enemy blew up and one sank. You can have no conception whatsoever what an action between two fleets is; it was a grand but an awful sight indeed; thank God we are all so well over it.

Admiral Nelson was shot early in the action by a musket ball from the enemy's top, which struck him a little below the shoulder, touched the rib and lodged near his heart. He lived about two and a half hours after; then died without a groan. Every ship that struck, our fellows ceased firing and gave three cheers like Noble Britons.

E. Moorhouse. Letters of English Seamen. (1910), p. 293.