Bullen was placed in charge of the Delft, which he found to have been greatly damaged during the battle and leaking badly. 43 members of her crew had been killed, including the captain, and 76 injured. To add to Bullen's woes, on 14 November, a storm blew up. Unable to plug the leaks or pump the ship out, and with ten-foot of water in the hold, the decision was taken to abandon her. However, when the Delft's commanding officer, Lieutenant Heilburg, was invited into one of the longboats, he refused. Indicating the wounded, he asked, "How can I leave these unfortunate men?". Bullen agreed to stay behind and help evacuate the wounded but few could be got off. When the Delft suddenly sank, Heilburg went down with her but Bullen jumped into the sea, where he was later rescued. He was praised for marshalling the evacuation of the ship and controlling the survivors in the water until they could be rescued by the boats of HMS Veteran, HMS Russell and other neighbouring vessels. Bullen was promoted to commander for his actions and returned to his Dorset home on half pay, where he spent the next three and a half years with his wife and family. Return to sea In June 1801, Bullen was despatched in the sloop HMS Wasp to Sierra Leone, where a powerful allegiance of native tribal leaders were threatening British trade interests. He was rewarded with a promotion to post captain and returned to England in August 1802. When hostilities with France were renewed the following year, Bullen was given temporary command of HMS Minerve. The previous captain, Jahleel Brenton was injured when a block fell on his head, and Bullen, who was conveniently close by in Weymouth, commanded the vessel between 8 May and 3 June in 1803. Patrolling the waters off Cherbourg, Bullen captured 23 merchantmen and the frigate sent to protect them. Between 14 July 1803 and 15 May 1804, Bullen commanded the Plymouth division of Sea Fencibles, protecting the south-west of England from an invasion which, fortunately, never came. In November 1803, he was additionally given command of a flotilla which was being fitted out in the Thames for the defence of tidal estuaries and creeks. When Northesk was given the first rate flagship HMS Britannia in 1804 he asked for Bullen as his flag captain especially. Initially serving with the Channel Fleet