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Midshipman Christopher West saw action with the British Fleet in the famous Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. At the time he was a very young Flag Midshipman in the crew of HMS Minotaur. It was he who sent up the victory pennant after the battle was won. About a month later, he managed to dispatch a letter by ship from Gibraltar to his brother in England describing the fight and Nelson’s death, and ask
ing that his parents be informed that he was unharmed.
Subsequently, Christopher’s brother made a handwritten copy of this letter from Trafalgar.
Christopher’s letter of 1805 has been handed down through the generations and is now in possession of Harry H. Hastings of Hillsborough, California, a great-great-grandson of Christopher West.
Christopher’s letter reads:
H.M.S. "Minotaur” Gibraltar, 16th Novemr, 1805
My dear Brother,
I embrace this opportunity with pleasure, to acquaint you that thank God, I am well, and have sent you an account of the action fought by the British Fleet under the command of the late Lord Nelson, and the combined Fleets, commanded by Admiral Villen\e\uve off Cape Trafalgar. On the 19th of October the signal was made by the look out Ships Mars & Colossus, for the Enemy getting under weigh, & shortly after for their having put to sea. The signal was then made for a general chase S.E., and to prepare for Battle. On the 20th the above & many other signals relative to their position and force were made by the look out Frigates. Lord Nelson told Captain Blackwood of the Euryalus that he relied on his keeping sight of the Enemy per Telegraph: during the night many guns were heard on the weather quarter supposed to be from the Enemy’s Fleet, at daylight on the 21st, the Enemy was discovered to leeward under easy sail on the starboard tack in no regular order of sailing, at 6.30 the signal was made to prepare for Battle, and to bear up S.E. preserving the order for sailing, about this time discovered that the Agamemnon had joined which made our effective force 21 Sail of the line, 4 Frigates a Schooner and a Cutter. The Enemy’s Fleet consisting of 33 Sail of the Line, 2 Frigates and 2 Brigs, observed the Enemy invert their line the Van forming the Rear & the Rear the Van, the Centre retaining their position, immediately after which they wore together and formed their Line of Battle. The British Fleet still preserving the order of sailing in 2 Columns with all possible Sail set. About this time Lord Nelson communicated to the Fleet per telegraph that England expects every man to do his duty\. ] Captain Mansfield’s speech to the Ship’s Company was as follows—Men, the Enemy are now to leeward and there is every reason to expect an engagement and I here pledge myself to my Officers and Men that the Ship I engage I will not quit until she strikes or I sink, and mind, pay attention to the orders that you receive from your Officers and don’t fire unless the shot will strike the Enemy. God save the King. At 12.20 the action commenced by the R[oya]’ Sovereign, Rear Admi
ral Collingwood, and the Ships . . . Tonnant and Belle- isle. Observed the R[oya]’ Sovereign break the Enemy’s Line by passing astern of a Spanish 3 decker, and ahead of a Spanish 84. The former shortly afterwards was totally dismasted, the R[oya]* Sovereign apparently suffered little comparatively with the Enemy. At 1, the Victory’j mizen topmast was shot away when she commenced action with the tenth Ship of the Enemy’s Van, after having received a raking fire from the Enemy’s Van & Centre. At this period several of our Ships had lost one or more of their topmasts & a number of the Enemy had struck. The French Commander in Chief struck his colors after being totally dismasted and, shortly after, a Spanish 4 decker, with a Rear Admls Flag on board. Observing nine Sail of the Enemys Van ware apparently with an intention to annoy our disabled Ships, haul’d our wind and stood towards them. Not seeing 4 of them bear up, the Spartiale haul’d up after us to support us,—at 3.10 commenced action with a French line oj Battle Ship which was supported by four others. After passing the Enemy’s line & receiving the fire of 5 Ships, wore Ship and engaged a Spanish 84 which, after her mizen mast was gone, struck her colors to the old Minotaur. She proved to be his most Catholick Majesty’s Ship El Neptuno.
I must now conclude, begging you to give my duty to my dear Parents & let them know I am well, do present my respectful compliments to Mr & MTS Gandy & family, and remember me to all friends &c believe me to be,
Your off* Brother,
C. West
P.S. I had no opportunity to write to you before. This is conveyed to England by one of our crippled Ships, we had only 5 killed & 20 wounded, which was very few considering the time we were engaged. I never saw such a glorious day since I was bom. I think they won’t face us again for some time. We are now repairing our damages at Gibraltar. Lord Nelson poor man was killed, but he died in defence of his Country. The loss of the other Ships I don’t know, but it must be immense.
Let my Parents know that I am not hurt immediately. Adieu.