Collingwood allowed HMS Leviathan, one of the British ships still in good condition, to try to retrieve prizes while he remained with the fleet and dealt with casualties. He told the Admiralty that saving the captured ships had required such effort that he would rather fight another battle than repeat the week that followed it. Even during that crisis, he contacted the governor of Cádiz to put wounded Spanish prisoners ashore in return for British captives. The French joined the exchange as well. Post-battle command moved quickly among salvage decisions, casualty care, and diplomacy.
Notable Point · 43:17-45:04
Prize salvage and prisoner exchange after Trafalgar
With some ships still fit for recovery work, Collingwood delegates prize salvage while he handles casualties and negotiates an exchange of wounded prisoners.