Page "Battle of the Nile" Paragraph 29

The transfer of Audacious < nowiki >'</ nowiki > s broadside to Spartiate meant that Captain Maurice-Julien Emeriau now faced three opponents.

Within minutes all three of his ship's masts had fallen, but the battle around Spartiate continued until 21: 00, when the badly wounded Emeriau ordered his colours struck.

Although Spartiate was outnumbered, it had been supported by the next in line Aquilon, which uniquely of the French van squadron was fighting only one opponent, Minotaur.

Captain Antoine René Thévenard used the spring on his anchor cable to angle his broadside into a raking position across the bow of Nelson's flagship, which consequently suffered over 100 casualties, including the admiral.

At approximately 20: 30, Nelson was struck over his blinded right eye by an iron splinter fired in a langrage shot from Spartiate.

The wound caused a flap of skin to fall across his face, rendering him temporarily completely blind.

Nelson collapsed into the arms of Captain Edward Berry and was carried below.

Certain that his wound was fatal, he cried out " I am killed, remember me to my wife ", and called for his chaplain Stephen Comyn.

The wound was immediately inspected by Vanguard < nowiki >'</ nowiki > s surgeon Michael Jefferson, who informed the admiral that it was a simple flesh wound and stitched the skin together.

Nelson subsequently ignored Jefferson's instructions to remain inactive, returning to the quarterdeck shortly before the explosion on Orient to oversee the closing stages of the battle.

Although Thévenard's manoeuvre was successful, it placed his own bow under Minotaurs guns and by 21: 25 the French ship was dismasted and battered, Captain Thévenard killed and his junior officers forced to surrender.

With his opponent defeated, Captain Thomas Louis then took Minotaur south to join the attack on Franklin.