The Russian flagship signals the attack at…
July 1790 CE
By 9:30 the first ships have reached firing distance in the western flank but soon after fighting spreads throughout the battle lines.
The Swedish right wing under Lieutenant Colonel Törning meets with increasing resistance as the Russian left wing opposing him gets reinforced.
However, the Swedes are able to move ships from their reserves to support their right wing with a counterattack that manages to lead the Russian left wing into disorder.
Meanwhile, the increasingly strong southwesterly wind forces the Russian center deeper between converging Swedish lines.
After no Russian ships are seen approaching from Frederikshamn, the Swedes are able to release more ships from the reserves to bolster the Swedish left wing led by Lieutenant Colonel Hjelmstierna.
Half of Hjelmstierna's ships are sent to the rear of the Russian fleet through a narrow passage between Legma and Kutsalö, which in turn forcea the Russian right wing to deploy accordingly.
However, movement to the back of the line is read as a signal to withdraw by the Russian left wing, which starts its retreat leaving the Russian center to face the Swedes alone.
By the evening it has become apparent that the Swedes are victorious even though the Russian center, consisting of their galleys and largest ships, continuea to fight despite unfavorable winds and battle damage.
At this time the Swedes are able to fire at the Russian ships from the front as well as from both sides and several Russian ships start drifting into the Swedish battle line.
Other Russian ships catch fire or are intentionally set on fire while a few are beached to avoid sinking.
At 20:00 Naussau-Siegen orders the Russian fleet to withdraw and to destroy drifting Russian ships in order to keep them from being captured.
Strong winds make the withdrawal difficult and several ships fail to make it.
A few of the Russian ships ignore the order to withdraw and instead keep fighting until they sink.
Fighting doesn't end until 22:00.
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