The Hercules, on the latter day, ranged the whole of the enemy’s line from van to rear, and was the fifth vessel a-head of Sir George Rodney’s flag ship, the Formidable, when engaging the French Admiral. Lieutenant Nowell, whose station was on the quarter-deck, received his gallant Captain’s[1] orders to reserve a full broadside for the Ville de Paris, and not to fire until fairly alongside of her. These orders were so punctually obeyed, that half a minute did not elapse between the firing of the first and last gun; the two ships were at this time not more than 50 yards apart; fortunately the Hercules received but a few shot in return from her mighty adversary. When alongside the French Admiral’s second a-stern, Captain Savage received a severe wound, which obliged him to quit the deck; but before he was carried below, he requested his first Lieutenant to keep the ship close to the enemy, and on no account to strike the colours; to which Mr. Nowell replied, that two ensigns were flying, one at the staff, another at the mizen-peak; the former nailed, and the halliards of the latter so belayed that it could not be hauled down.
From this period the Hercules was most ably manoeuvred by Lieutenant Nowell, whose gallant conduct excited general admiration. Her loss amounted to 7 men killed, and 19 wounded; and the damage she sustained in her masts, sails, and rigging, was greater than that of any other ship in the British fleet, the Duke alone excepted. It was on this occasion that our officer introduced the mode of loading with two round shot next to the cartridge, and only one wad outside, the advantages of which are very apparent. The outer shot by this means will go to a greater distance than the inner shot when two wads are made use of; and the gun can be loaded with a single motion after spunging. To prevent accident, the shot were besmeared with the blacking supplied for the rigging; and although the officers of the next ship a-stern of the Hercules, affirmed that her sides were in a constant blaze during the action, not a single instance occurred of the powder hcing ignited when in the act of loading[2].
- ↑ The present Admiral Savage.
- ↑ The celerity with which the Hercules’ guns were loaded, was also
