Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/200

 enemies’ rear ships were now pressing forward to support the centre, her situation became extremely critical.

“At 1 P.M. the Fougueux ranged up in the smoke on the Belleisle’s starboard beam, and struck her at the gangway with her larboard bow, rolling at the same time with her fore-yard over the British ship’s quarter-deck. The Fougueux immediately began engaging the Belleisle, and in 10 minutes, shot away her mizen-mast about six feet above the deck, the wreck falling over the larboard quarter. In about 10 minutes more, on the Mars beginning to engage her, the Fougueux, having received a smart fire from the Belleisle’s aftermost guns, dropped astern and hauled to the northward. At 1-30 P.M. l’Achille, another French 74, came ranging past the stern of the Belleisle, and stationed herself on her larboard quarter. In this position, the Achille kept up a steady fire, with comparative impunity, on account of the wreck of the Belleisle’s mizen-mast masking her aftermost guns. Meanwhile l’Aigle 74, having replaced the San Juan Nepomuceno, was distantly cannonading the British ship on the starboard side; and the San Juste and San Leandro, two-deckers, as they stood athwart the bows of the Belleisle, opened a passing fire.

“Thus in a manner surrounded, the Belleisle soon had her rigging and sails cut to pieces, and at 2-10 P.M. she lost her main-mast about four feet above the deck; the wreck of which fell upon the break of the poop, while the top-mast, with the yards, sails, and shrouds, hung over upon the larboard side. Her larboard guns thus completely covered by wreck, the Belleisle was prevented from returning, by a single shot, the Achille’s animated and destructive fire. At 2-30 P.M., driven from her capital station upon the bows of the Victory and Temeraire, by the approach of the Leviathan, the Neptune French 80, placed herself across the starboard bow of the Belleisle; and at 2-45, the foremast and bowsprit of the latter, still engaged by two other ships, were shot away by the board.

“At 3-15 P.M. the Polyphemus interposed herself between the Belleisle and Neptune. In five mintes more the Defiance took off the fire of l’Aigle; and at 3-25, the Swiftsure, passing astern of the Belleisle, commenced engaging l’Achille. As the Swiftsure passed close under the Belleisle’s stern, the two British ships cheered each other; and to signify that, notwithstanding her dismasted and shattered state, the Belleisle still remained unconquered, a union jack was suspended at the cud of a pike, and held up to view, while an ensign was being made fast to the stump of her mizenmast. Thus, by the timely arrival of her friends, saved from being crushed by the overwhelming force around her, the Belleisle ceased firing.”

Her loss consisted of no less than 126 killed and wounded: among the former were Lieutenants Ebenezer Geale and John Woodin. Her hull was knocked almost to pieces: both sides of it were about equally damaged. Ports, port-timbers, channels, chain-plates, all exhibited unequivocal marks of