Action of August 1702 The Action of August 1702 took place from 19 – 25 August 1702 O . S . between an English squadron under Vice - Admiral John Benbow and a French under Admiral Jean du Casse , off Cape Santa Marta on the coast of present - day Colombia , South America , during the War of the Spanish Succession . Benbow vigorously attacked the French squadron , but the refusal of most of his captains to support the action allowed du Casse to escape . Benbow lost a leg during the engagement and died of illness about two months later . Two of the captains were convicted of cowardice and shot . Benbow ' s resolution to pursue the French , in what proved to be his last fight , proved irresistible to the public imagination . The events of the fight inspired a number of ballads , usually entitled " Admiral Benbow " or " Brave Benbow " , which were still favourites among British sailors more than a century later . Prelude . Upon the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession , Benbow was sent to the West Indies with a small squadron , with the intention of keeping the Spanish possessions there out of the hands of the French . Du Casse was dispatched to Cartagena with a squadron to compel its allegiance to Philip V . Benbow set out to intercept them . Course of battle . On 19 August 1702 , Benbow ' s squadron encountered the French along the coast of Colombia , off Santa Marta , a little to the east of the mouth of the Rio Magdalena . He ordered his squadron to engage , but " Defiance " and " Windsor " being astern and showing no great haste , they had to be ordered to make more sail . Benbow intended to wait for " Defiance " to come up ; but " Falmouth " opened the engagement by attacking the frigate , and " Windsor " a ship abreast of her , at four o ' clock . " Breda " joined in , but " Defiance " and " Windsor " broke off after a few broadsides and left the " Breda " under fire from the French , the battle continuing until nightfall . " Breda " and " Ruby " pursued the French all night , while the rest of the squadron straggled . Pursuit continued through the 20th , with the " Breda " and " Ruby " firing chase - guns as they could . Engaging again on the morning of the 21st , " Ruby " was badly damaged ; " Defiance " and " Windsor " refused action , though abreast of the last French ship . The " Greenwich " had now fallen five leagues astern . On the 22nd , " Breda " captured the galley " Anne " , originally an English ship captured by the French , and the damaged " Ruby " was ordered to return to Port Royal . During the night of the 24th , Benbow engaged one of the enemy ships alone and had his right leg wrecked by a chain shot , returning to the quarter - deck as soon as it could be dressed . Flag - Captain Fogg ordered the other captains of the squadron to keep the line of battle ; in response , Captain Kirkby of " Defiance " came aboard and told Benbow , " You had better desist , the French are very strong . " Finding the other captains largely of the same opinion , Benbow broke off and returned to Jamaica . Aftermath . Benbow received a letter from Jean du Casse after the engagement : Sir , I had little hopes on Monday last but to have supped in your cabin : but it pleased God to order it otherwise . I am thankful for it . As for those cowardly captains who deserted you , hang them up , for by God they deserve it . Yours , Du Casse Such was indeed his course : Benbow held courts - martial upon his captains upon their return . Captains Kirkby and Wade were found guilty of cowardice and sentenced to be shot ; Wade was said to have been drunk throughout the engagement . Captain Constable was cleared of the charge of cowardice , but was convicted on other charges and cashiered . Captain Hudson died before he could be tried . Captains Fogg and Vincent were charged with having signed a paper with the other captains of the squadron , stating they would not fight , but they represented this as a device to keep Captain Kirkby from deserting ; Benbow testifying in their favour , they were merely suspended . Benbow ' s leg was amputated ; but a fever developed , doubtless abetted by the low conduct of his captains , and he died on 4 November 1702 . Kirkby , Wade , and Constable were sent to Plymouth aboard HMS " Bristol " , where their sentences were confirmed by the Lord High Admiral . Kirkby and Wade were shot aboard " Bristol " on 16 April 1703 . Fogg and Vincent were permitted to return to the service . Order of battle . Benbow ' s squadron . Benbow ' s squadron consisted of seven ships :