Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Battle is joined

Victory came under fire, initially passing wide, but then with greater accuracy as the distances decreased. A cannonball struck and killed Nelson's secretary, John Scott, nearly cutting him in two. Hardy 's clerk then took over, but he too, was almost immediately killed. Victory ' s wheel was shot away; another cannonball cut down eight marines. Standing next to Nelson on the quarterdeck, Hardy's shoe buckle was suddenly dented by a splinter. Nelson observed, "This is too warm work to last long."

Victory had, by now, reached the enemy line and Hardy asked Nelson which ship to engage first. Nelson told him to take his pick, whereupon Hardy moved Victory across the stern of the 80-gun French flagship, Bucentaure. Victory then came under fire from the 74-gun Redoutable, which was lying off Bucentaure ' s stern, as well as the 130-gun Santísima Trinidad. As sharpshooters from the enemy ships fired onto Victory ' s deck from their rigging, Nelson and Hardy continued directing and giving orders.
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