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==Prelude to the battle==

==Prelude to the battle==

Nelson's fleet, consisting of 27 ships of the line, laid blockade at Cadiz, waiting for Villeneuve's force to attempt another break out. Following two years of blockading the French, the fleet was at its peak of fighting efficiency, and although the Franco-Spanish fleet had more technologically advanced vessels, including the largest warship in the world at that time, the 136-gun Spanish ''Santissima Trinidad'', his crews were better disciplined.  

Nelson's fleet, consisting of 27 ships of the line, laid blockade at Cadiz, waiting for Villeneuve's force to attempt another break out. Following two years of blockading the French, the fleet was at its peak of fighting efficiency, and although the Franco-Spanish fleet had more technologically advanced vessels, including the largest warship in the world at that time, the 136-gun Spanish ''Santissima Trinidad'', his crews were better disciplined and trained; also, British morale was high, as Nelson was already a much-renowned commander, and it was firmly believed by the British (and not without cause) that their navy and sailors was the best in the world.

Towards the end of September 1805, Nelson briefed his captains on the battle plan, which required his fleet to split into three columns to punch at right angles through the enemy line, then overwhelming the centre and rear sections of the enemy's fleet in what he called a "pell mell" battle (from the French ''pêle-mêle'', meaning confused or messy). Captain Richard Keats, commanding officer of the 74-gun battleship HMS ''Superb'', later related Nelson's plan: ''He said to me, "No day can be long enough to arrange a couple of Fleets and fight a decisive Battle according to the old system. I shall form the Fleet into three Divisions in three Lines. One Division shall be composed of twelve or fourteen of the fastest two-decked ships, which I shall keep always to windward, or in a situation of advantage and I shall put them under an officer who I am sure will employ them in the manner I wish if possible. I consider it will always be in my power to throw them into battle in any part I may choose. With the remaining part of the Fleet formed in two Lines I shall go at them at once, if I can about one third of their line from their leading ship." He then said, "What do you think of it?" Such a question I felt required consideration. I paused. Seeing it he said, "But I’ll tell you what I think of it. I think it will surprise and confound the enemy. They won’t know what I am about. It will bring forward a pell-mell battle and that is what I want."''<ref>'''Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas''', ''The Dispatches and Letters of Lord Nelson'' (1844) London.</ref>

Towards the end of September 1805, Nelson briefed his captains on the battle plan, which required his fleet to split into three columns to punch at right angles through the enemy line, then overwhelming the centre and rear sections of the enemy's fleet in what he called a "pell mell" battle (from the French ''pêle-mêle'', meaning confused or messy). Captain Richard Keats, commanding officer of the 74-gun battleship HMS ''Superb'', later related Nelson's plan: ''He said to me, "No day can be long enough to arrange a couple of Fleets and fight a decisive Battle according to the old system. I shall form the Fleet into three Divisions in three Lines. One Division shall be composed of twelve or fourteen of the fastest two-decked ships, which I shall keep always to windward, or in a situation of advantage and I shall put them under an officer who I am sure will employ them in the manner I wish if possible. I consider it will always be in my power to throw them into battle in any part I may choose. With the remaining part of the Fleet formed in two Lines I shall go at them at once, if I can about one third of their line from their leading ship." He then said, "What do you think of it?" Such a question I felt required consideration. I paused. Seeing it he said, "But I’ll tell you what I think of it. I think it will surprise and confound the enemy. They won’t know what I am about. It will bring forward a pell-mell battle and that is what I want."''<ref>'''Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas''', ''The Dispatches and Letters of Lord Nelson'' (1844) London.</ref>