Nelson & His World

Greetings to all.

I wonder if anyone has more information about Captain Ellison? He sounds a great character, and has many things in common with a certain Horatio Nelson, I think! I wonder what was the detail of the action between La Prudente and La Capricieuse?

I found this reference to Ellison in the excellent "Frigate Commander" by Tom Wareham (page 64).

Moore says in his journal in 1793:

"There are certainly some charming fellows in our service among whom I certainly reckon Ellison, with all the frankness which is ascribed to sailors he possesses in great degree the politeness of a man of the world, and that sort of courtesy which seems to flow from a humane and generous heart. His men seem to love him, and are cheerful and happy under him; it requires very little observation to see that, I was convinced of it the second day I was on board his ship. He has an infinite gaiety in his disposition, with some humour, and is a most excellent companion. This gallant officer lost his right arm, above the elbow, when first Lieutenant of La Prudente, frigate in an action with La Capricieuse during the late war. He had received two wounds before, which lost him a great deal of blood, but would not quit the deck until he fell with the loss of his arm and was carried down by the men."

There is a 30 page Biographical Memoir of Captain Joseph Ellison in the Naval Chronicle volume 19, at page 1. It is digitised here: http://www.archive.org/details/navalchr ... 19londiala

Here is an extract:

On the 4th of July, 1780, as we have stated in our memoir of
Lord Radstock, la Prudente, having been detached upon a cruise
off Cape Ortegal, in company with the Licorne, discovered a large
ship bearing down to them, which proved to be the French frigate
la Capricieuse, pierced for 44 guns. La Prudente engaged her for
four hours and a half, before the Licorne came near to afford her
any assistance. The action commenced at half-past eleven at
night, and continued till half-past four in the morning, when the
Capricieuse struck her colours. Lieutenant Ellison, who lost, his
arm upon this occasion, greatly distinguished himself. Captain
Waldegrave, in concluding his oflicial account of the engagement,
says :

" It is with infinite concern that I acquaint their lordships, that Lieute-
nant Ellison stunds foremost on the list of the wounded, having been very
severely bruised in the back, and his right arm carried off by a shot. I
must beg leave to recommend his misfortune, aitd the great intrepidity he
shewed during the action, to their lordships' most particular attention."

Lieutenant Ellison, we have been informed, received four wounds
in his back, before his arm was struck, but could not be induced
to go below, to have them dressed, although they occasioned a
great loss of blood. At length an eighteen-pound shot, striking
his elbow, shattered the bones, and left his aria hanging by the
skin only. He was then under the necessity of going down to
the surgeon, who ordered him to be laid on his mattress, in the
gun-room; where, having staunched the blood, and having many
wounded men to attend, he left him till the close of the action.

Whilst lying in this painful situation, a shot came in through the
side of la Prudcntc, and took off the cook of the gun-room's head ;
which actually fell close to Lieutenant Ellison, as he was handing
him a glass of water. Unmindful of pain, or danger, and anxious
only for the honourable termination of the action, he desired the
seaman who was employed at the relieving tackles, to give him
immediate information of the enemy's surrender, promising him a
glass of grog for his trouble. Scarcely more than a quarter of an
hour had elapsed, when the man came to him, waving his hat, with
the joyful news ; on which he ordered him the promised grog,
and also took a glass himself, which, fortunately, was not produc-
tive of any ill e fleet. At seven o'clock in the morning (two hours
and a half after the close of the engagement) his arm was amputated
by the French surgeon.

Hi Tony. My goodness, what can I say? Not only a lightning fast reply, but such detailed information! Your most helpful response is much appreciated, also the link.

This Ellison was a real hero, wasn't he. Those times seem to have produced a special breed of officer - or, perhaps, it continues to this day? I am not really qualified to pass comment. It was an eye-opener to read that even below, they were not safe from shot.

Thanks again.

This piece, apart from showing Ellison's presence of mind, also illustrates the rule that wounded men were usually treated and dressed in rotation.