Author: Nelson, Horatio & William Bligh
4 pp., single sheet folded. (folio) 12¾x8.
The original manuscript order of battle and plan of action given by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson to Captain William Bligh (of Bounty fame) on the eve of the Battle of Copenhagen, in which British navel forces defeated the Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen. The battle was of significance to the course of the Napoleonic Wars, and perhaps more particularly, to the career of Horatio Nelson. The engagement, which took place during the War of the Second Coalition (part of the ongoing attempts to corral the French under Napoleon), stemmed from the Armed Neutrality of Russia and its reluctant Scandinavian allies, proclaiming themselves free to trade with all comers regardless of British desires. Britain reacted by sending a fleet into the Baltic, commanded by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with Nelson his second in command. Nelson led the attack, with Parker holding back protecting his flank, and the British prevailed. Parker's lack of vigor in the battle led to his being recalled to London, ordered to turn over his command to Nelson, and Nelson was created Viscount Nelson of the Nile. The document in question describes the plan of the battle, listing the various ships on both sides that were to take place in the action (the British ships by name, the Danish by number of guns), with various other details. At the bottom of the third page is the secretarial signature Nelson & Bronte, with the name of Captain Bligh as the recipient of the orders. Bligh himself has made ink notations on page two, where the various British ships are listed alongside the Danish-Norwegian ships they were to oppose. Next to the Glatten, his own ship, Bligh has written "Danish Commodore & commander in chief wearing a Broad Pendant the Danbrock. My remark. WB"; next to the ship Elephant he has written "Lord Nelson"; and by the Defiance "Rear Ad. Graves." On the last page, otherwise blank, it is docketed, in what appears to be Bligh's hand, "Arrangement & plan of attacking the Enemy April 2nd 1801 received the same morning."
Date Published: April 2, 1801
4 pp., single sheet folded. (folio) 12¾x8.
The original manuscript order of battle and plan of action given by Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson to Captain William Bligh (of Bounty fame) on the eve of the Battle of Copenhagen, in which British navel forces defeated the Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen. The battle was of significance to the course of the Napoleonic Wars, and perhaps more particularly, to the career of Horatio Nelson. The engagement, which took place during the War of the Second Coalition (part of the ongoing attempts to corral the French under Napoleon), stemmed from the Armed Neutrality of Russia and its reluctant Scandinavian allies, proclaiming themselves free to trade with all comers regardless of British desires. Britain reacted by sending a fleet into the Baltic, commanded by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with Nelson his second in command. Nelson led the attack, with Parker holding back protecting his flank, and the British prevailed. Parker's lack of vigor in the battle led to his being recalled to London, ordered to turn over his command to Nelson, and Nelson was created Viscount Nelson of the Nile. The document in question describes the plan of the battle, listing the various ships on both sides that were to take place in the action (the British ships by name, the Danish by number of guns), with various other details. At the bottom of the third page is the secretarial signature Nelson & Bronte, with the name of Captain Bligh as the recipient of the orders. Bligh himself has made ink notations on page two, where the various British ships are listed alongside the Danish-Norwegian ships they were to oppose. Next to the Glatten, his own ship, Bligh has written "Danish Commodore & commander in chief wearing a Broad Pendant the Danbrock. My remark. WB"; next to the ship Elephant he has written "Lord Nelson"; and by the Defiance "Rear Ad. Graves." On the last page, otherwise blank, it is docketed, in what appears to be Bligh's hand, "Arrangement & plan of attacking the Enemy April 2nd 1801 received the same morning."
Date Published: April 2, 1801
Condition report
Lightly soiled with some marginal darkening, a 1" crease tear and a few smaller edge tears, a few slight splits at fold, else very good.
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Auction details
Travel and Exploration
1:00 PM PT - May 10th, 2007
offered by
PBA Galleries
133 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
San Francisco, CA 94108
