His Lordship proceeded in fourteen boats, containing 240 men, all volunteers from the different ships of the squadron, in two divisions, one under the immediate orders of Capt. Crosbie, the other under Capt. Guise, both officers commanding ships of the Chilian squadron. At midnight, the boats having forced their way across the boom, Lord. Cochrane, who was leading, rowed along-side the first gunboat, and taking the officer by surprise, proposed to him, with a pistol at his head, the alternative of silence or death. No reply was made, the boats pushed on unobserved, and Lord Cochrane, mounting the Esmaralda's side, was the first to give the alarm. The sentinel on the gangway, levelled his piece and fired, but was instantly cut down by the coxswain, and his Lordship, though wounded in the thigh, at the same moment stepped on deck.
The frigate being boarded with no less gallantry on the other side by Capt. Guise, who met Lord Cochrane midway on the quarter-deck, and also by Capt. Crosbie, the after part of the ship was soon carried, sword in hand. The Spaniards rallied on the forecastle, where they made a desperate resistance, until overpowered by a fresh party of seamen and mariners, headed by Lord Cochrane. A gallant stand was again made after a short time on the main deck, but before 1 o'clock, the ship was captured, her cables cut, and she was steered triumphantly out of the harbor, under the fire of the whole of the north force of the castle. " The Hyperion, an English, and the Macedonian, an American frigate, which were at anchor close to the scene of action, got under way, when the attack commenced, and in order to prevent their being mistaken by the batteries for the Esmaralda, showed distinguishing signals.
But Lord Cochrane, who had foreseen and provided even for this minute circumstance, hoisted the same lights as the English and American frigates, and thus rendered it impossible for the batteries to discriminate between the three ships. The Esmaralda was in consequence, very little injured by the shot. " The Spaniards had upwards of 120 men killed and wounded; the Chilians 1 1 killed and 30 wounded. This loss was a death blow to the Spanish naval force in that quarter of the world; for although there were still two Spanish frigates and some smaller vessels in the Pacific, they never afterwards ventured to show themselves, but left Lord Cochrane undisputed master of the coast. The skill and gallantry displayed by Lord Cochrane, both in planning and conducting this astonishing enterprise, so peculiarly his own, and so much in character with the great deeds of his early life, that a copy of his instructions for the action, and his subsequent dispatch, will be read with much interest." Copy of Lord Coch ran e's preparatory memorandum to the Chilian squadron, dated on board the Chilian States ship, 0'HioginSj ist November, 1820.
" The boats will proceed, towing the launches, in two lines parallel to each other, which are to be at the distance of three boat's length asunder. The second line will be under the charge of Capt. Guise. Each boat will be under the charge of a volunteer commissioned officer, so far as circumstances permit, and the whole under the immediate command of the admiral. The officers and men are all to be dressed in white jackets, frocks, or shirts, and armed with pistols, sabres, knives, tomahawks or pikes. Two boat-keepers are to be appointed to each boat, who, on no pretence whatever, shall quit their respective boats, but are to remain therein, and take care that the boats do not get adrift.
Each boat is to be provided with one or more axes, or sharp hatchets, which are to be kept swung to the girdle of the boat-keepers. " The frigate Esmaralda being the chief object of the expedition, the whole force is first to attack that ship, which, when carried, is not to be cut adrift, but is to remain in possession of the patriotic seamen, to ensure the capture of the rest. " In securing the frigate, the Chilian seamen and mariners are not to cheer as if they were Chilians; but in order to deceive the enemy, and give time for completing the work, are to cheer ' Vive el Roi! ' " The two brigs-of-war are to be fired on by the musketry from the Esmaralda, and are to be taken possession of by Lieutenants Esmond and Morgall, in the boats they command, which being done, they are to be cut adrift, run out, and anchor in the offing as quick as possible.