 As darkness fell , both sides took stock and made tentative plans for continuing the action . Admiral Fletcher , obliged to abandon the derelict Yorktown and feeling he could not adequately command from a cruiser , ceded operational command to Spruance . Spruance knew the United States had won a great victory , but he was still unsure of what Japanese forces remained and was determined to safeguard both Midway and his carriers . To aid his aviators , who had launched at extreme range , he had continued to close with Nagumo during the day and persisted as night fell . 
