For fifteen minutes the _Royal Sovereign_ was the only British ship in close action. Then her next astern entered the battle, followed successively by the rest of the column. In rear of the _Santa Ana_ were fifteen ships. Among these, Collingwood’s vessels penetrated in various directions; chiefly, however, at first near the spot where his flag had led the way, enveloping and destroying in detail the enemy’s center and leading rear ships, and then passing on to subdue the rest. Much doubtless was determined by chance in such confusion and obscurity; but the original tactical plan ensured an ever-whelming concentration upon a limited portion of the enemy’s order. This being subdued with the less loss, because so outnumbered, the intelligence and skill of the various British captains readily compassed the destruction of the dwindling remnant. Of the sixteen ships, including the _Santa Ana_, which composed the allied rear, twelve were taken or destroyed. Not till one o’clock, or nearly half an hour after the vessels next following Collingwood came into action, did the _Victory_ reach the _Bucentaure_. The latter was raked with the same dire results that befell the _Santa Ana_; but a ship close to leeward blocked the way, and Nelson was not able to grapple with the enemy’s commander-in-chief. The _Victory_, prevented from going through the line, fell on board the _Redoutable_, a French seventy-four, between which and herself a furious action followed,—the two lying in close contact. At half-past one Nelson fell mortally wounded, the battle still raging fiercely. The ship immediately following Nelson’s came also into collision with the _Redoutable_, which thus found herself in combat with two antagonists. The next three of the British weather column each in succession raked the _Bucentaure_, complying thus with Nelson’s order that every effort must be made to capture the enemy’s commander-in-chief. Passing on, these three concentrated their efforts, first upon the _Bucentaure_, and next upon the _Santisima Trinidad_. Thus it happened that upon the allied commander-in-chief, upon his next ahead, and upon the ship which, though not his natural supporter astern, had sought and filled that honorable post,—upon the key, in short, of the allied order,—were combined under the most advantageous conditions the fires of five hostile vessels, three of them first-rates. Consequently, not only were the three added to the prizes, but also a great breach was made between the van and rear of the combined fleets. This breach became yet wider by the singular conduct of Villeneuve’s proper next astern. Soon after the _Victory_ came into action, that ship bore up out of the line, wore round, and stood toward the rear, followed by three others. This movement is attributed to a wish to succor the rear. If so, it was at best an indiscreet and ill-timed act, which finds little palliation in the fact that not one of these ships was taken.