Porter and Hillyar write opposite battle reports

Porter's report accused the British of dishonorable conduct and treated the loss as a chain of misfortunes, with particular blame placed on the short-range armament approved before his cruise. He even argued that the United States might reclaim Essex, although the captured frigate entered Royal Navy service. Hillyar wrote more generously that Porter had fought until his options were exhausted. The British then transferred prisoners to a Spanish hulk, repaired Phoebe below the waterline, and began restoring the captured ships. The supposedly imminent reinforcement frigates arrived about two weeks after the battle, showing that their real approach had been used to create pressure before they physically reached Valparaíso.