The Signal of Admiral Collingwood

The signal was only up for a few minutes, just long enough to be repeated along both attack columns. As this signal was repeated up and down the four-mile Allied line, cheers rose up from the sailors of the combined fleet. Still, the men cheered vociferously, more I believe from love and admiration of their admiral and leader than from a full appreciation of this well-known signal. The two British columns moved northwest, roughly towards the vanguard of the Franco-Spanish line. Admiral Collingwood and the HMS Royal Sovereign would be first to the attack, not Nelson and the HMS Victory.