the life of horatio lord nelson-第41节
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d that not a shot was fired from Helsinburg； and that no batteries were to be seen on the Swedish shore； they inclined to that side； so as completely to get out of reach of the Danish guns。 The uninterrupted blaze which was kept up from them till the fleet had passed； served only to exhilarate our sailors； and afford them matter for jest； as the shot fell in showers a full cable's length short of its destined aim。 A few rounds were re… turned from some of our leading ships； till they perceived its in… utility： this； however； occasioned the only bloodshed of the day； some of our men being killed and wounded by the bursting of a gun。 As soon as the main body had passed； the gun vessels followed； desisting from their bombardment； which had been as innocent as that of the enemy； and； about mid…day； the whole fleet anchored between the island of Huen and Copen… hagen。 Sir Hyde； with Nelson； Admiral Graves； some of the senior captains； and the commanding officers of the artillery and the troops； then proceeded in a lugger to reconnoitre the enemy's means of defence； a formidable line of ships； radeaus； pontoons； galleys； fire…ships and gun…boats； flanked and supported by extensive batteries； and occupying； from one extreme point to the other； an extent of nearly four miles。
A council of war was held In the afternoon。 It was apparent that the Danes could not be attacked without great difficulty and risk； and some of the members of the council spoke of the number of the Swedes and the Russians whom they should afterwards have to engage； as a consideration which ought to be borne in mind。 Nelson； who kept pacing the cabin； impatient as he ever was of anything which savoured of irresolution； repeatedly said； 〃The more numerous the better： I wish they were twice as many；the easier the victory； depend on it。〃 The plan upon which he had determined； if ever it should be his fortune to bring a Baltic fleet to action； was； to attack the head of their line and confuse their movements。 〃Close with a Frenchman；〃 he used to say； 〃but out manoeuvre a Russian。〃 He offered his services for the attack； requiring ten sail of the line and the whole of the smaller craft。 Sir Hyde gave him two more line…of…battle ships than he asked； and left everything to his judgment。
The enemy's force was not the only； nor the greatest； obstacle with which the British fleet had to contend： there was another to be overcome before they could come in contact with it。 The channel was little known and extremely intricate： all the buoys had been removed； and the Danes considered this difficulty as almost insuperable； thinking the channel impracticable for so large a fleet。 Nelson himself saw the soundings made and the buoys laid down； boating it upon this exhausting service； day and night； till it was effected。 When this was done he thanked God for having enabled him to get through this difficult part of his duty。 〃It had worn him down；〃 he said； 〃and was infinitely more grievous to him than any resistance which he could experience from the enemy。〃
At the first council of war； opinions inclined to an attack from the eastward； but the next day； the wind being southerly； after a second examination of the Danish position； it was determined to attack from the south； approaching in the manner which Nelson had suggested in his first thoughts。 On the morning of the 1st of April the whole fleet removed to an anchorage within two leagues of the town； and off the N。W。 end of the Middle Ground； a shoal lying exactly before the town； at about three quarters of a mile distance； and extending along its whole sea…front。 The King's Channel； where there is deep water； is between this shoal and the town； and here the Danes had arranged their line of defence； as near the shore as possible： nineteen ships and floating batteries； flanked； at the end nearest the town； by the Crown Batteries； which were two artificial islands； at the mouth of the harbourmost formidable works； the larger one having； by the Danish account； 66 guns； but； as Nelson believed； 88。 The fleet having anchored； Nelson； with Riou； in the AMAZON； made his last examination of the ground； and about one o'clock； returning to his own ship； threw out the signal to weigh。 It was received with a shout throughout the whole division； they weighed with a light and favourable wind： the narrow channel between the island of Saltholm and the Middle Ground had been accurately buoyed； the small craft pointed out the course distinctly； Riou led the way： the whole division coasted along the outer edge of the shoal； doubled its further extremity； and anchored there off Draco Point； just as the darkness closedthe headmost of the enemy's line not being more than two miles distant。 The signal to prepare for action had been made early in the evening； and as his own anchor dropt； Nelson called out； 〃I will fight them the moment I have a fair wind！〃 It had been agreed that Sir Hyde； with the remaining ships； should weigh on the following morning； at the same time as Nelson； to menace the Crown Batteries on his side； and the four ships of the line which lay at the entrance of the arsenal； and to cover our own disabled ships as they came out of action。
The Danes； meantime； had not been idle： no sooner did the guns of Cronenburgh make it known to the whole city that all negotiation was at an end； that the British fleet was passing the Sound； and that the dispute between the two crowns must now be decided by arms； than a spirit displayed itself most honourable to the Danish character。 All ranks offered themselves to the service of their country； the university furnished a corps of 1200 youth； the flower of Denmarkit was one of those emergencies in which little drilling or discipline is necessary to render courage available： they had nothing to learn but how to manage the guns； and day and night were employed in practising them。 When the movements of Nelson's squadron were perceived； it was known when and where the attack was to be expected； and the line of defence was manned indiscriminately by soldiers； sailors； and citizens。 Had not the whole attention of the Danes been directed to strengthen their own means of defence； they might most materially have annoyed the invading squadron； and perhaps frustrated the impending attack； for the British ships were crowded in an anchoring ground of little extent：it was calm； so that mortar…boats might have acted against them to the utmost advantage； and they were within range of shells from Amak Island。 A few fell among them； but the enemy soon ceased to fire。 It was learned afterwards； that； fortunately for the fleet； the bed of the mortar had given way； and the Danes either could not get it replaced； or； in the darkness； lost the direction。
This was an awful night for Copenhagenfar more so than for the British fleet； where the men were accustomed to battle and victory； and had none of those objects before their eyes which rendered death terrible。 Nelson sat down to table with a large party of his officers： he was； as he was ever wont to be when on the eve of action； in high spirits； and drank to a leading wind； and to the success of the morrow。 After supper they returned to their respective ships； except Riou； who remained to arrange the order of battle with Nelson and Foley； and to draw up instructions。 Hardy； meantime； went in a small boat to examine the channel between them and the enemy； approaching so near that he sounded round their leading ship with a pole； lest the noise of throwing the lead should discover him。 The incessant fatigue of body； as well as mind； which Nelson had undergone during the last three days； had so exhausted him that he was earnestly urged to go to his cot； and his old servant； Allen； using that kind of authority which long and affectionate services entitled and enabled him to assume on such occasions； insisted upon his complying。 The cot was placed on the floor； and he continued to dictate from it。 About eleven Hardy returned； and reported the practicability of the channel； and the depth of water up to the enemy's line。 About one the orders were completed； and half…a…dozen clerks； in the foremost cabin； proceeded to transcribe them； Nelson frequently calling out to them from his cot to hasten their work； for the wind was becoming fair。 Instead of attempting to get a few hours' sleep； he was constantly receiving reports on this important point。 At daybreak it was announced as becoming perfectly fair。 The clerks finished their work about six。 Nelson； who was already up； breakfasted； and made signal for all captains。 The land forces and five hundred seamen； under Captain Freemantle and the Hon。 Colonel Stewart； were to storm the Crown Battery as soon as its fire should be silenced： and Riouwhom Nelson had never seen till this expedition； but whose worth he had instantly perceived； and appreciated as it deservedhad the BLANCHE and ALCMENE frigates； the DART and ARROW sloops。 and the ZEPHYR and OTTER fire…ships； given him； with a special command to act as circumstances might requireevery other ship had its station appointed。
Between eight and nine； the pilots and masters were ordered on board the admirals' ships。 The pilots were mostly men who had been mates in Baltic traders； and
