What would have happened if Nelson had obeyed the retreat order at Copenhagen?
Short answerHis ships would probably have suffered badly in their rigging, but the attack could have been renewed later; instead, he ignored a defensible order and won.
NotesThe withdrawing ships would probably have taken significant rigging damage without losing the possibility of another attack. The order itself was sensible enough that obedience would not have been condemned. Nelson's fame rests on rejecting that reasonable caution and securing victory immediately.