The vessels approached each other so slowly that they scarcely seemed to move. The decks had all been cleared for action, and the captains were full of impatience.
Word had gone from town to town along the shore, that a great battle was soon to be fought. The people along the shore gathered on the high cliffs, eagerly hoping to see the dreaded Paul Jones crushed forever.
The sun had gone down behind the hills before the ships were within speaking distance of each other. The harvest moon came up, full and clear, and shed a soft light over the dreadful battle that followed.
Captain Landais, when he disobeyed Paul Jones' order to join in line of battle, spread the sails of the Alliance, and went quickly toward the enemy as though to make an attack. But when very near to where the Serapis lay, he changed his course, and sailed away to a place where the battle could be seen without harm.
About half-past seven in the evening, the Richard rounded to on the side of the Serapis within pistol-shot.
Captain Pearson of the Serapis hailed, saying: "What ship is that?" The answer came: "I can't hear what you say."
Captain Pearson repeated: "What ship is that? Answer at once or I shall fire."
Paul Jones' reply was a shot. This was followed by a broadside from each vessel.
At this first fire, two of the guns in the lower battery of the Richard burst. The explosion tore up the decks, and killed many men.
The two vessels now began pouring broadsides into each other. The Richard was old and rotten, and these shots caused her to leak badly. Captain Pearson saw this, and hailed, saying, "Has your ship struck?"