Today is the 200th anniversary of the “Battle of Trafalgar”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar#Naval_tactical_background, when the British Royal Navy put an end to Napoleon’s plans to invade England. The Royal Navy’s fleet of 27 ships sunk 22 of 33 French and Spanish ships while suffering no losses, paving the way for 100 years of British naval dominance. “Check out this little animation of the battle”:http://www.nmm.ac.uk/searchbin/searchs.pl?flashy=et1740z&flash=true&dev, and pay attention to the line of attack. “Lord Nelson”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson%2C_1st_Viscount_Nelson was injured and killed this day aboard the famous “HMS _Victory_”:http://www.hms-victory.com/. “[A] bullet entered his shoulder, pierced his lung, and came to rest at the base of his spine. Nelson retained consciousness for four hours, but died soon after the battle was concluded with a British victory.”
“Trafalgar 200″:http://www.trafalgar200.com/ celebrations were “held in Portsmouth yesterday”:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1597848,00.html (“video here”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4627453.stm) and tonight the Canadian Navy will will be having celebratory mess dinners all over the country. Sounds like a good bash, but “no making fun of the French”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4570301.stm allowed!
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Wait wait wait… The sign says “our to be lamented Hero.” to be?!? “Umm… sorry I can’t say I give a darn at the present… I’m sure I’ll hit me eventually.”
” _ever_ to be LAMENTED HERO” there, boyo.
From what I have read, Nelson was a remarkable leader who truly inspired his men… “England expects that every man will do his duty”
If you go to the south of England, a visit to see H.M.S. Victory in Portsmouth is well worthwhile….
The French and British had both noted the American’s use of Kentucky long rifles in the American Revolution. With this weapon a competent marksman could put a bullet consistently into a 7 inch bull at 250 yards. Timothy Murphy killed Sir Francis Clerke and General Simon Fraser at the Second Battle of Saratoga, disrupting British command and leading directly to defeat. The shot that killed Gen. Fraser was reported to have been 500 yards, which would have been exceptional.
Both the French and British navies were using snipers by Napoleon’s time. But further improvement in technique would not come until the Southern War for Independence.
Thanks for the remainder. I read again the chapter of “To Rule The Waves” that describes this monumental battle. A glorious day for the free world!
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Maskull, You need to review the development of “light infantry” in the British Army prior to the War to Annihilate Slavery. Some would place the origins of light infantry with the 60th American and Rodgers’ Rangers, but others finger one Major Patrick Ferguson as the true parent of both the military rifle, and light infantry and raiding tactics. And he fell to a long rifle round fired at King’s Mountain. Ah, I remember seeing a Napoleonic era Air Rifle for allegedly “silent” sniping somewhere in an old book of firearms. Pity that the general staffs are never as imaginative as the lower level field commanders. (Napoleon’s field marshals excepted)
The Atlantic Monthly from a few weeks ago had a picture of a re-enactment of the battle of Traflagar. However, in order to keep European feathers from being ruffled the fleets were refered to as ‘red’ and ‘blue.’
Somehow “Sir, blue expects that every many will do his duty” doesn’t have the right ring to it.
Every MAN will do his duty. Oops.
And the magazine was from a few months ago, not a few weeks.
I blame dial-up.
Lirelou; they were called Roger’s Rangers..
http://www.acidus.com/rogers.html
A famous retreat down the length of a frozen Lake George was re-enacted for several years as a cross-country ski race…..
Ah, yes. Always check spelling. I once lived a few miles from the Rogers farm, which is marked with a State Historical Marker, so you’d think I’d remember. Obviously not. (Note to self – always chek spelling) By the way, one of the “stump the dummy” questions of my Armor Officer OCS class was: Who was the ambidextrous sowrdsman killed at King’s Mountain? (Yes, I answered correctly, but still had to do push-ups for being a “smart-ass”.)