ten o'clock
At sunset the Artillery in our batteries were relieved -- the Naval Brigade taking their place -- and the fire was continued , without relaxation . As soon as it became dark , rockets were fired by several of the battering ships . These were answered by the Spanish men-of-war , and many boats rowed across to the floating batteries . By ten o'clock the flames began to burst out from the admiral 's battering ship and , by midnight , she was completely in flames . The light assisted our gunners -- who were able to lay their cannon with as much accuracy as during the daytime -- and the whole Rock was illuminated by the flames . These presently burst out , vigorously , from the next ship and , between three and four o'clock , points of light appeared upon six of the other hulks . At three o'clock Brigadier Curtis -- who commanded the Naval Brigade encamped at Europa Point -- finding that the sea had gone down , manned the gunboats and , rowing out for some distance , opened a heavy flanking fire upon the battering ships ; compelling the boats that were lying in shelter behind them to retire .