"Trafalgar 210 Years On—Why WAS it decisive?" Topic

"October 21, 1805.The winds were light and variable, but at last the game was afoot, after two years before the mast sailing day after day, week after week, month after month, the British fleet had cornered its prey.

The Royal Navy's main fleet under the iconic Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, Baron of the Nile, etc. etc. finally caught the Franco-Spanish combined fleet out of port in a position in which it could not refuse battle. Throughout the fleet cheers were raised as Admiral, onboard his flagship Victory, raised a new signal, new not only as in the next thing in a series of things, but new in spirit, mode, and as a reflection of a new trend for European states. "England expects every man to do his duty." This signal was passed a quarter of an hour before the first gunfire and nearly five hours after Nelson had ordered the turn toward the enemy. He followed this with a signal for his captains: "Engage the enemy more closely."[1] France had created the first modern mass army ashore, a "people's army"—at sea it was Great Britain that put to sea the first "people's navy" and Nelson's famous signal reflects as much. At sea, as on land, a trajectory toward nationalism in military institutions ushered in a brave, new, violent era of nations at war in all dimensions except the skies.

Many hard, bloody, confused, and noisy hours later, as Nelson lay dying with his attendants in the bowels of the Victory, he learned that he had gained one of the most lopsided naval victories in history—one on a par with Salamis or Lepanto, one that eclipsed all of the many glorious British naval victories at sea to that moment. The victory was tactical perfection…"
Full text here
link

Amicalement
Armand

"Will", not "to". It was a show of faith, not an admonishment.