two in
the afternoon
This action had lasted for nigh two hours , during which the Defiance and Windsor had come abreast of the rear French ship and though within point-blank range had never fired one gun at her . The admiral ground his teeth and swore he would court martial the captains when we came to port . Meanwhile a gale had sprung up , and the enemy again made all sail , and we set off in chase . At two in the afternoon we got abreast of two of the stern-most of the enemy 's ships off the mouth of the Rio Grande , and in hopes to disable them in their masts and rigging we began to fire on them , as did some of our vessels astern ; but the Frenchmen , seeing the Breda so ill supported , paid no heed to any other , but pointed wholly at us , doing much hurt to our rigging , and maiming some of our men . After the fight had continued upwards of two hours , the Frenchmen drew off out of gunshot , and we made what sail we could after them , but they used all possible shifts to evade fighting , our men shouting after them derisively as cowardly curs . Darkness put a stop to the pursuit , but again we hugged the enemy all night , hoping that next day would see the conclusion of this long-drawn battle . When the third morning dawned , we spied the enemy about a mile and a half ahead .