hoisted at the fore-topmast and top-gallant-stays of each ship, to serve
as a distinction from the Enemy's, in conformity with orders previously
issued by the Commander in Chief. By HIS LORDSHIP'S directions also, the
different divisions of the Fleet hoisted the St. George's or white
ensign, being the colours of the Commander in Chief: this was done to
prevent confusion from occurring during the battle, through a variety of
national flags.

The Royal Sovereign now made the signal by telegraph, that "the Enemy's
Commander in Chief was in a frigate." This mistake arose from one of
their frigates making many signals. Lord NELSON ordered his line to be
steered about two points more to the northward than that of his Second
in Command, for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of the Enemy's
van to the port of Cadiz; which was the reason of the three leading
ships of Admiral COLLINGWOOD's line being engaged with the Enemy
previously to those of the Commander in Chief's line.

The Enemy began to fire on the Royal Sovereign at thirty minutes past
eleven o'clock; in ten minutes after which she got under the stern of
the St. Anna, and commenced a fire on her. Lieutenant PASCO, Signal
Officer of the Victory, was heard to say while looking through his
glass, "There is a top-gallant-yard gone." His LORDSHIP eagerly asked,
"Whose top-gallant-yard is that gone? Is it the Royal Sovereign's?" and
on being answered by Lieutenant PASCO in the negative, and that it was
the Enemy's, he smiled, and said: "COLLINGWOOD is doing well."[10]

At fifty minutes past eleven the Enemy opened their fire on the
Commander in Chief. They shewed great coolness in the commencement of
the battle; for as the Victory approached their line, their ships lying
immediately ahead of her and across her bows fired only one gun at a