26 - The Second Breakout and the Chase, April–August 1805

Summary

Returning to his cruising station after his long diversion to Egypt, Nelson ilearned from his scouts at Toulon that French appeared to be preparing to put to sea once more. He therefore decided to set a trap for them by allowing his fleet to be seen off Barcelona, which he hoped would induce Villeneuve to steer directly south when he emerged. Having made this feint, Nelson planned then to cross over to Pula Roads on the south coast of Sardinia, where he had arranged for transports to meet him to replenish his depleted stores. From there he would be able to move swiftly to intercept the French if they followed the route he expected.

Villeneuve was indeed preparing to sail once more, in response to new orders from Napoleon, who was still planning a concentration of his fleets in the West Indies. At the same time, the British Government dispatched from Britain an expedition consisting of six infantry battalions under Lieutenant- General Sir James Craig. Craig was instructed to operate in either Sicily or in northern Italy in support of the Russians and Austrians, who were preparing to re-enter the war. Nelson had heard only rumours of this expedition and, thinking it was destined for the colonies, voiced his disapproval to Lord Moira: ‘in Europe not abroad is the place for us to strike a blow that shall make the Corsican look aghast upon his Usurped Throne’. In fact, the expedition was to play a critical role in the campaign that was about to unfold. For, by the time the convoy carrying Craig and his men left Spithead on 19 April, escorted by a squadron under Rear Admiral John Knight, Villeneuve was already at sea again.

At the outset, it looked as if Nelson's trap was going to work. Learning of Nelson's appearance off Barcelona a few days earlier, Villeneuve steered directly south, as Nelson had planned. But then he encountered a neutral vessel from which he learned that Nelson was actually at Pula and so, at the last moment, he sheered away to the west and headed for Carthagena, to rendezvous with his Spanish allies.