of boarding. The battle now raged with great fury, officers and men falling very fast. At 3-50, an officer of the Hebrus came from the commander-in-chief, with orders to cease firing, to allow the enemy’s frigate moored across the Mole to be set on fire, which was done in a gallant style by a boat from the Queen Charlotte. At 3-55, a vigorous firing was recommenced on both sides. Our flat boats throwing rockets with good effect, some magazines were observed to explode. At 4-10, the enemy’s frigate burning with great rapidity, and drifting near us, the commander-in-chief sent an officer to direct us to haul out clear of her. At 4-15, the commander-in-chief made the signal for barges and pinnaces. Sent our boats to Queen Charlotte, under the command of Lieutenant (George Mitford) Monke. At 4-30, Lieutenant Monke returned, with orders from the commander-in-chief to keep the boats in readiness to assist the Leander. Perceiving the ship on fire to be drifting past us, kept our station. At 6-30, observed the city on fire in several places, and the Mole-head and other batteries near us almost demolished; the enemy re-mounting guns, we continuing a smart cannonade. At seven, found the batteries abreast of us to slacken, but we were greatly cut up from batteries on the starboard bow. Run a hawser to Severn, and hove our broadside to bear on them. At 7-26, the whole of the enemy’s ships in the Mole were observed to be on fire; our masts, yards, sails, and rigging, at this period, so entirely cut to pieces, as to prevent us, if necessary, setting a sail on the ship; officers and men falling fast, and a great proportion already killed and wounded; but our fire continued with unabated fury; enemy’s fire considerably slackened; ships on fire drifting near us, hauled on our spring fast to Severn, but found it shot away; made it fast again, and cut the small bower, to haul out of the way of the ships on fire. At 9-45, the fleet hauling and towing out; but from the state of the masts, sails, and rigging, found our own exertions ineffectual to haul or tow out; our hawser, which was fast to Severn, being gone, and no other ship near us. Lowered the gig to send Lieutenant (Thomas) Sanders, to inform Lord Exmouth of our situation, but the boat was sunk, and the jolly boat, which that officer and crew then embarked in, was also sunk a short distance from the ship. The crew being picked up by the flat-boat, she proceeded to the commander-in-chief, who immediately ordered assistance to be sent to us. At 10-30, cut the stern cables, boats towing; made another hawser fast to the Severn, which, with a light air off the shore, enabled us to move out slowly, and clear the ships on fire. Enemy re-commenced a heavy fire of musketry upon us; fired grape and cannister occasionally to dislodge his small-arm men. At 1 1-25, ceased firing, the ship drawing fast out of the bay. Light breezes with thunder and lightning. At mid-night answered the signal for the fleet to anchor.”
On this glorious occasion, the Leander is said to have expended 22,800 pounds of gunpowder, 4116 round shot, and
