The Spanish have learned of the British…
January 1780 CE
From the blockading squadron a fleet comprising eleven ships of the line under Admiral Juan de Lángara is dispatched to intercept Rodney's convoy, and the Atlantic fleet of Admiral Luis de Córdova at Cadiz is also alerted to try to catch him.
Córdova, learning of the strength of Rodney's fleet, returns to Cadiz rather than giving chase.
On January 16, the fleets of Lángara and Rodney spot each other around 1:00 pm south of Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern point of Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula.
The weather is hazy, with heavy swells and occasional squalls.
Rodney is ill, and spends the entire action in his bunk.
His flag captain, Walter Young, urges Rodney to give orders to engage when the Spanish fleet is first spotted, but Rodney only gives orders to form a line abreast.
Lángara starts to establish a line of battle, but when he realizes the size of Rodney's fleet, he gives orders to make all sail for Cadiz.
Around 2:00 pm, when Rodney feels certain that the ships seen are not the vanguard of a larger fleet, he issues commands for a general chase.
Rodney's instructions to his fleet are to chase at their best speed, and engage the Spanish ships from the rear as they come upon them.
They are also instructed to sail to the lee side to interfere with Spanish attempts to gain the safety of a harbor, a tactic that also prevents the Spanish ships from opening their lowest gun ports
Because of their copper-sheathed hulls (which reduce marine growths and drag), the ships of the Royal Navy are faster and soon gain on the Spanish.
The chase lasts for about two hours, and the battle finally begins around 4:00 pm.
Santo Domingo, trailing in the Spanish fleet, receives broadsides from HMS Edgar, HMS Marlborough, and HMS Ajax before blowing up around 4:40, with the loss of all but one of her crew.
Marlborough and Ajax then pass Princessa to engage other Spanish ships.
Princessa is eventually engaged in an hour-long battle with HMS Bedford before striking her colors at about 5:30.
By 6:00 pm it is getting dark, and there is a discussion aboard HMS Sandwich, Rodney's flagship, about whether to continue the pursuit.
Although Captain Young is credited in some accounts with pushing Rodney to do so, Dr. Gilbert Blane, the fleet physician, reports it as a decision of the council.
The chase continues into the dark, squally night, leading to it later being known as the "Moonlight Battle", since it is uncommon at the time for naval battles to continue after sunset.
At 7:30 pm, HMS Defence comes upon Lángara's flagship Fenix, engaging her in a battle lasting over an hour.
She is broadsided in passing by HMS Montagu and HMS Prince George, and Lángara is wounded in the battle.
Fenix finally surrenders to HMS Bienfaisant, which had arrived late in the battle and shot away her mainmast.
Fenix's takeover is complicated by an outbreak of smallpox aboard Bienfaisant.
Captain John MacBride, rather than sending over a possibly infected prize crew, apprises Lángara of the situation and puts him and his crew on parole.
At 9:15 Montagu engages Diligente, which strikes after her maintopmast is shot away.
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