ignominious flight, during which two first rates were burnt, and a 74-gun ship borne off in triumph, by their determined opponents[1].
As the exertions that were made on board the squadron in general, and the Caesar in particular, after the battle off Algeziras, have been considered the most extraordinary in the history of naval affairs, and a lasting standard for imitation, it may be proper to detail the damages she repaired between the evening of the 6th and forenoon of the 12th. In that short space of time, she shifted her main-mast, fished and secured her fore-mast, which had been shot through in several places, knotted and spliced the rigging, plugged the shot-holes between wind and water, completed with stores of all kinds, and provisions for four months. Such was the ardour manifested by her crew, that they volunteered their services to Captain Brenton, not only to continue their exertions from dawn till dark, but to work, watch and watch, during the night. By efforts such as these, the Caesar was enabled to commence warping out of Gibraltar Mole at noon onthe 12th, swaying up her top-gallant-masts, and bending sails at the same time; and by 3 P.M., she was actually under sail, and ready to pursue the enemy, who were then turning out of the bay. It is also worthy of remark, that several of her wounded men, on hearing the ship was moving out of the Mole, escaped from the hospital, determined, if possible, to share in the new danger that awaited them. They were accordingly received on board, and went to their quarters. Sir James Saumarez, in his official despatches, makes ample mention of Captain Brenton’s able and zealous exertions on this trying and memorable occasion[2].
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 344.
- ↑ In the action of the 6th July, the Caesar had 9 men killed, 25 wounded, and 8 missing. The latter are supposed to have been taken prisoners when assisting the Hannibal. “When, in the hottest part of the action, the Caesar broke her sheer, and could not get her guns to bear on the enemy, Captain Brenton ordered a cutter to be lowered down from the stern, to convey a warp to the Audacious; but the boat was found to be knocked to pieces by the enemy’s shot. Before other means could be resorted to, Michael Collins, a young sailor belonging to the Caesar’s mizen-top, seized the end of a lead-line, and exclaiming, ‘You shall soon have a warp,’ darted
