The smallest ship in Nelson's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar was the curiously-named HMS Pickle. The ship was a topsail schooner and, though deemed too small to take part in the fighting, she distinguished herself as the ship that brought to Britain the news of Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and subsequent death. Capt. Peter Hore provides a complete history of HMS Pickle, from her beginnings as a civilian vessel called Sting, through her 10-gun conversion to a warship, and then on to her subsequent demise when she ran aground in 1808 as she entered Cadiz harbor. The Pickle's journey is commemorated each year during Pickle Night festivities by warrant officers of the Royal Navy on November 5th.
