Lieutenant Edward Longcroft, of the radeau _Thunderer_, not being able to get his raft into action, went with a boat's crew on board the _Royal Savage_, and for a time turned her guns upon her former friends; but the fire of the latter forced him again to abandon her, and it seemed so likely that she might be re-taken that she was set on fire by Lieutenant Starke of the _Maria_, when already "two rebel boats were very near her.

She soon after blew up." The American guns converging on the _Carleton_ in her central position, she suffered severely.

Her commander, Lieutenant Dacres, was knocked senseless; another officer lost an arm; only Mr.Edward Pellew, afterwards Lord Exmouth, remained fit for duty.

The spring being shot away, she swung bows on to the enemy, and her fire was thus silenced.

Captain Pringle signalled to her to withdraw; but she was unable to obey.