Josef; and many other ships were so shattered in their masts and rigging, as to be wholly ungovernable. The loss of the British in this engagement, in killed and wounded, according to the official returns, was exactly 300 men[1]; that of the Spaniards, in the captured ships alone, amounted to 603; and those which escaped must also have suffered considerably.
The day after the action, whilst the British ships were close under Cape St. Vincent, refitting and getting the prizes in a condition to carry sail, tweny-two sail of the Spanish fleet hove in sight and bore down in a regular line of battle, as if determined to engage the British, and endeavour to rescue their unfortunate companions; they however thought it most safe to haul off, and after encountering much bad weather, retired into Cadiz.
On the 16th, Sir John Jervis put into Lagos Bay, to secure the prizes, and repair the damages the squadron had sustained. A few days afterwards it experienced the tail of a gale of wind, that had it blown home, might have proved fatal to many; as from the badness of the ground, several of the ships, if not the whole squadron, would have been forced ashore[2]. On the 23rd, the squadron sailed from Lagos Bay, and arrived on the 28th at Lisbon, where 3,200 prisoners were landed from the four prizes, amidst the cheering shouts of the populace.
So important a victory, with so decisive a disparity of force, is perhaps unparalleled in our naval annals. The ability displayed by the Commander, was only to be equalled by the valour and adroitness of the seamen; indeed the fire of the British was superior to that of their opponents, in the pro-
- ↑ “In this case, contrary to what was customary, the slightly wounded, or those deemed so at the date of the despatches, were not allowed to be included in the returns. One consequence of this was, that amputations, arising from mortification and other unexpected changes, were actually undergone by several, who had not been returned as wounded. In comparing, therefore, the loss in this general action with that in any other, it will be fair to consider the total of killed and wounded to have amounted, not to 300, but, at the least, 400 men.” James’s Naval History, v. ii, note at p. 63.
- ↑ The Victory, and several other ships, parted their cables.
