I
laid them on board, by which means they would have escaped, had I
not made them well fast to the Bonhomme Richard.

At last, at half-past nine o'clock, the Alliance appeared, (p. 106)
and I now thought the battle at an end; but to my utter
astonishment, he discharged a broadside full into the stern of
the Bonhomme Richard. We called to him for God's sake to forbear
firing into the Bonhomme Richard; yet he passed along the off
side of the ship, and continued firing. There was no possibility
of his mistaking the enemy's ship for the Bonhomme Richard, there
being the most essential difference in their appearance and
construction; besides it was then full moonlight, and the sides
of the Bonhomme Richard were all black, while the sides of the
prizes were yellow; yet, for their greater security, I showed the
signal of our reconnoissance by putting out three lanterns, one
at the head (bow), another at the stern (quarter), and the third
in the middle, in a horizontal line. Every tongue cried that he
was firing into the wrong ship, but nothing availed, he passed
round, firing into the Bonhomme Richard's head, stern, and
broadside, and by one of his volleys killed several of my best
men and mortally wounded a good officer on the forecastle. My
situation was really deplorable. The Bonhomme Richard received
various shots under water from the Alliance; the leak gained on
the pumps; and the fire increased much on board both ships. Some
officers persuaded me to strike, of whose courage and good sense
I entertain a high opinion. My treacherous master-at-arms let
loose all my prisoners, without my knowledge, and my prospect
became gloomy indeed. I would not, however, give up the point.
The enemy's main-mast began to shake, their firing decreased,
ours rather increased, and the British colours were struck at
half an hour past ten o'clock.

This prize proved to be the British ship-of-war the Serapis, a
new ship of 44 guns, built on their most approved construction,
with two complete batteries, one of them 18-pounders, and
commanded by the brave Commodore Richard Pearson. I had yet two
enemies to encounter far more formidable than the Britons--I mean
fire, and water. The Serapis was attacked only by the first, but
the Bonhomme Richard was assailed by