<P> As the British drew closer, they could see that the enemy was not sailing in a tight order, but rather in irregular groups . Nelson could not immediately make out the French flagship as the French and Spanish were not flying command pennants . </P> <P> Nelson was outnumbered and outgunned, the enemy totalling nearly 30,000 men and 2,568 guns to his 17,000 men and 2,148 guns . The Franco - Spanish fleet also had six more ships of the line, and so could more readily combine their fire . There was no way for some of Nelson's ships to avoid being "doubled on" or even "trebled on". </P> <P> As the two fleets drew closer, anxiety began to build among officers and sailors; one British sailor described the time before thus: "During this momentous preparation, the human mind had ample time for meditation, for it was evident that the fate of England rested on this battle". </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who was the british leader in this naval battle and what happened to him