At the Battle of Copenhagen 1801, Nelson was under the orders of the old admiral Sir Hyde Parker. Out of concern that the British fleet was getting the worst of it, Parker (who was anchored far from the action) ran up the signal flag for Nelson to disengage. Colonel William Stewart recounted Nelson's reaction (The Dispatches and Letters of Nelson, ed. N. Nicolas, 1845, vol. iv 308 n.). “Lord Nelson was at this time, as he had been during the whole action, walking on the starboard side of the quarter-deck; sometimes much animated, and at other heroically fine in his observations. A shot through the mainmast knocked a few splinters about us. He observed to me, with a smile, 'It is warm work, and this day may be the last to any of us at any moment;' and then stopping short at the gangway, he used an expression never to be erased from my memory, and said with emotion, 'but mark you, I would not be elsewhere for thousands'. When the signal; No. 39 (to discontinue the engagement), was made, the Signal Lieutenant reported it to him. He continued his walk and did not appear to take notice of it. The Lieutenant meeting his Lordship at the next turn asked, 'whether he should repeat it?' Lord Nelson answered, 'No, acknowledge it.' On the officer returning to the poop, his Lordship called after him, 'Is the No. 16 (for close action) still hoisted?' the Lieutenant answering in the affirmative, Lord Nelson said, 'Mind you keep it so.' He now walked the deck considerably agitated, which was always known by his moving the stump of his right arm. After a turn or two, he said to me, in a quick manner, 'Do you know what's shown on board the Commander-in-Chief, No. 39?' On asking him what that meant, he answered, 'Why, to leave off Action.' 'Leave off Action!' he repeated, and then added with a shrug, 'Now, damn me if I do.' He also observed, I believe, to Captain Foley, 'You know Foley, I have only one eye – I have a right to be blind sometimes; and then with an archness peculiar to his character, putting the glass to his blind eye, he exclaimed, 'I really do not see the signal'.”