 The chase continued into the dark and squally night , leading it to later become known as the " Moonlight Battle " , since it was uncommon at the time for naval battles to continue after sunset . At 7 : 30 pm , HMS Defence came upon Lángara 's flagship Fenix , engaging her in a battle lasting over an hour . She was broadsided in passing by HMS Montagu and HMS Prince George , and Lángara was wounded in the battle . Fenix finally surrendered to HMS Bienfaisant , which arrived late in the battle and shot away her mainmast . Fenix 's takeover was complicated by an outbreak of smallpox aboard Bienfaisant . Captain John MacBride , rather than sending over a possibly infected prize crew , apprised Lángara of the situation and put him and his crew on parole . 
