about 11 a.m.
The two ships on this swung close to each other , and , paying off before the wind with their heads to the northward , with their yards squared , and with a considerable way on them , they speedily ran out of the line , commencing a furious engagement . The British crew , unable to open the eight lower-deck starboard ports from the third abaft , blew them off . The _ Vengeur 's _ musketry , meantime , and her poop carronades , soon played havoc on the _ Brunswick 's _ quarterdeck , killing several officers and men , and wounding others , among whom was Captain Harvey , three of his fingers being torn away by a musket-shot , though he refused to leave the deck . For an hour and a half the gallant _ Brunswick _ carried on the desperate strife , the courage of her opponent 's crew being equal to that of her own , when , at about 11 a.m. , a French ship was discovered through the smoke , with her foremast only standing , bearing down on her larboard quarter , with her gangways and rigging crowded with men , prepared , it was evident , to board her , for the purpose of releasing the _ Vengeur _ . Instead of trembling at finding the number of their enemies doubled , the British seamen cheered , and the men stationed at the five aftermost lower-deck guns on the starboard side were turned over to those on the larboard side , on which the fresh enemy appeared . A double-headed shot was added to each of these guns , already loaded with a 32-pounder . The main and upper deck guns were already manned .