Nelson's pursuit and Napoleon's invasion plan

Napoleon planned to unite French and Spanish fleets in the West Indies and bring an overwhelming force back to cover an invasion across the Channel. Nelson initially misjudged the Toulon fleet's destination, partly because he expected another attempt on Egypt. Mahan credits his recovery to keeping that fleet as his objective and pursuing it despite uncertainty and misleading information. The blockade of Brest and the concentration of British ships also prevented Napoleon's forces from combining as intended. Villeneuve's turn toward Cadiz in August led Napoleon to abandon the invasion scheme and redirect his army. Trafalgar followed two months later. In Mahan's interpretation, the battle confirmed the strategic success achieved by those earlier movements.