“At five minutes past six ranged up on the starboard side of the sternmost ship [the ‘Cyane’], about three hundred yards distant, and commenced the action by broadsides,--both ships returning our fire with great spirit for about fifteen minutes. Then the fire of the enemy beginning to slacken, and the great column of smoke collected under our lee, induced us to cease our fire to ascertain their positions and conditions. In about three minutes the smoke clearing away, we found ourselves abreast of the headmost ship [the ‘Levant’], the sternmost ship luffing up for our larboard quarter.” Three hundred yards was a long range for carronades, especially in British sloops whose marksmanship was indifferent at best. According to the British court-martial on the officers of the “Cyane” and “Levant,” their carronades had little effect.[101] If Stewart managed his ship as his duty required, the two sloops until that moment should have been allowed to make little effective return of the “Constitution’s” broadside of sixteen twenty-four-pounders except by two nine-pounders. They were in the position of the “Essex” at Valparaiso. The “Cyane” naturally luffed up, in order to bring her carronades to bear, but she was already cut to pieces, and made the matter worse by closing. “We poured a broadside into the headmost ship,” continued the American account, “and then braced aback our main and mizzen topsails and backed astern under cover of the smoke abreast the sternmost ship, when the action was continued with spirit and considerable effect until thirty-five minutes past six, when the enemy’s fire again slackened.” The “Levant,” after receiving two stern-raking fires, bore up at forty minutes past six and began to repair damages two miles to leeward. The “Cyane,” having become unmanageable, struck at ten minutes before seven. The most remarkable incident of the battle occurred after the “Cyane” struck, when the “Constitution” went after the “Levant” which was in sight to leeward. The little “Levant,” instead of running away, stood directly for the huge American frigate, more than three times her size, and ranging close alongside fired a broadside into her as the two ships passed on opposite tacks. Although the sloop received the “Constitution’s” broadside in return, she was only captured at last after an hour’s chase, at ten o’clock, much cut up in spars and rigging, but still sea-worthy, and with seven men killed and sixteen wounded, or only one casualty to six of her crew.