"Ramage
and the Drum Beat" by Dudley Pope 
Lieutenant Ramage, aboard his Cutter Kathleen, has to make his way from Italy
to Gibraltar in the Winter of 1796 just after the Spanish have
shed their neutrality and thrown in with the French. After being
captured and pretending to be an American pressman, then escaping
with intelligence about the Spanish Fleet, he is sent out on his
recaptured Cutter to find the British Fleet under Admiral Jervis
(with Commodore Nelson) and warn them about the threat of the
Spanish fleet. The battle of Cape St. Vincent on Valentine's day
of 1797 then follows. Pope gives and excellent feel for the battle
and details of the maneuvers of both fleets during the action.
The Spanish have 27 ships of the line including the 130 gun four
decker Santisima Trinidad. The British face them with 15 ships
(sails) of the line. An exciting read and lots of fun.
Available from:
Used Book Stores
Fontana Paperbacks
U.K.
Reviewed by Ken Smith, 14 April, 1999
