Captain Roger Curtis recognized that the disabled floating batteries were about to become traps for their own crews. With Elliott's approval, roughly 250 British sailors advanced in boats, drove off Spanish gunboats, boarded the burning platforms, and pulled enemy sailors out as prisoners. Exploding magazines killed men in the water and forced Curtis to withdraw before every battery could be cleared. The rescue saved hundreds even while shore fire briefly endangered the boats, adding professional judgment and humanity to the technical victory.
Notable Point · 2:13:31-2:16:51
Roger Curtis turns victory into a rescue operation
After warning Elliott of the likely death toll, Curtis leads British boats through gunfire to remove allied crews before the burning batteries explode.