Damage report of "Victory" right after battle of Trafalgar

[Zulu]

A short interesting read.
Zulu
 Report from the Victory after the Battle of Trafalgar. 

M.R. Editor, Dover, December 16, 1805. [/t]

I am just come from on board the Victory: she is very much mauled, both in her hull and rigging; has upwards of 80 shot between wind and water: the foremast is very badly wounded indeed, and though strongly fished, has sunk about six inches: the mainmast also is badly wounded, and very full of musket shots; she has a jury mizen-mast, and fore and main-top-masts, and has a great many shot in her bowsprit and bows; one of the figures which support the arms has both the legs shot off. I clearly ascertained that Lord Nelson was killed by a shot from the maintop of the Redoutable: he was standing on the starboard side of the quarter-deck, with his face to the stern, when the shot struck him, and was carried down into one of the wings: he lived about one hour, and was perfectly sensible until within five minutes of his death. When carrying down below, although in great pain, he observed the tiller ropes were not sufficiently tight, and ordered tackles to be got in them, which now remain; the ship he engaged was so close, that they did not fire their great guns on board the enemy, but only musketry, and manned the rigging to board, but nearly the whole that left the deck were killed; the ship had 25 guns dismounted with the Victory's fire; a shot carried away four spokes from the wheel of the Victory, and never killed or wounded any of the men steering; temporary places have been fitted up between decks for the wounded men, which are warmed by stoves. R.J.
 

[Artilleryman]

Can't imagine being confined to such a relatively small area with that many incoming artillery and musket fire.

[Cannoneer]

The fore top sail that was in use on Nelson's Victory during the battle of Trafalgar still exists. The second link contains text that states: "It is battle-scarred and pock-marked by some 90 shot holes, although a few squares were cut out by 19th century souvenir hunters." I'd say that this is proof positive that the HMS Victory's crew endured one hell of a barrage.
I copied this from another source about the 'Battle of Trafalgar': "At least the surgeons had plenty of practice. At Trafalgar in 1805, William Beattie not only tended to the dying Nelson, but had 145 other wounded men to treat. He worked in horrific conditions deep in the bowels of the ship, far from the action, in a dimly lit, low-ceilinged space usually home to the midshipmen. The Reverend Alexander Scott, who stayed by Nelson’s side until he died, never forgot the experience, suffering recurrent nightmares for the rest of his life."

http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/ForeTopsailfromHMSVictory.html

http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/dockyard/trafalgarsail.php

This is an eyewitness account of the engagement between the HMS Macedonian and USS United States during the 'War of 1812'; and it gives a good description of what it was like on the gun deck of a warship during a battle.

http://www.nelsonsnavy.co.uk/engagement.html