Nelson advised that no time should be lost in attacking the enemy; and
Sir Hyde Parker, who was "nervous about dark nights and fields of
ice," having yielded to his persuasions, it was determined to force the
passage of the Sound. This was done without great loss: on the 31st of
March the fleet anchored between the isle of Huen and Copenhagen. Sir
Hyde Parker, Lord Nelson, and other officers proceeded in a lugger to
reconnoitre the enemy's preparations, which they found to be of a very
formidable nature. Undaunted, however, by any fear of danger, Nelson
offered to lead the attack, requiring for the service ten ships of the
line, with all the smaller craft. Sir Hyde acceeded to his proposal,
adding two other ships of the line to the number demanded, and leaving
the whole business to his management. It was on the 2nd of April that
Nelson made the signal to weigh and engage the Danish line of defence.
The difficulty of the navigation and the ignorance of the pilots were so
great, that three of the ships grounded, and others were unable to
take their proper station in the line. With those, however, that could
approach the enemy, Nelson ventured an action. It commenced soon after
ten o'clock; and at one, few, if any, of the enemy's ships had ceased to
fire, while some of the English ships had sustained much injury. Under
these circumstances, therefore, Sir Hyde Parker made a signal for
retreat. But Nelson had no idea of retreating. All the notice he took
of the signal was to give strict orders that his own signal for close
action should be kept flying, and, if necessary, nailed to the mast; and
turning to Captain Foley, he jocosely remarked: "You know I have only
one eye; I have a right sometimes to be blind:" and putting his glass
to the blind eye, he added, "Really, I don't see the signal for recall."
The action continued unabated for another hour; but at that time the
greater part of the enemy's ships ceased to fire; some of the lighter
vessels were adrift, and the carnage on board their ships was dreadful
the crews having been continually re-enforced. Soon after this, the
Danish commodore's ship took fire, and drifting in flames before the
wind, spread terror and dismay throughout their line. The ships a-head,
however, with the crown-batteries, as well as the prizes made by the
British, still continued to lire, and Nelson, humane as he was brave,
being shocked at the slaughter which their bold resistance caused him to
mak