by John Marshall

“ Even had the breeze, now barely sufficient to fill the sails, permitted the Temeraire to manoeuvre to clear herself from the Redoubtable, the Neptune, who, to avoid getting foul of the Redoubtable and Victory, had wore and come to again, with her larboard broadside bearing upon the starboard bow of the Temeraire, opened so heavy a raking fire, that in a few minutes the latter’s fore-yard and main-top-mast were shot away, and her fore-mast and bowsprit, particularly the latter, greatly damaged. ”

“ The Victory’s crew, after having put out a fire that had spread itself among some ropes and canvas on the booms, also lent their assistance in extinguishing the flames on board the Redoubtable, by throwing buckets of water from their gangway upon her chains and fore-castle. ”

“ The effect of this raking fire was terrible upon the crew of the Redoubtable, the whole of whom were then assembled upon the forecastle, gangway, and quarter deck. Nearly 200 were placed hors de combat.
“Less considerate than either of her antagonists about fire, although in equal if not greater danger from its effects, the Redoubtable continued throwing hand-grenades from her tops and yard-arms, some of which set fire to her own larboard fore-chains and starboard fore-shrouds. ”