His force, quite unsuitable for the work, consisted of his own ship, HMS Africa, of 64 guns, and a few gun-brigs; in a calm, the small heavily armed row-boats of the Danes had an enormous advantage, and in an attack on the English squadron on 20 October they inflicted a very heavy loss on the Africa.

In such a contest the English gun-brigs were useless, and the Danish boats, taking a position on the Africa's bows or quarters, galled her exceedingly; twice her flag was shot away, her masts and yards badly wounded, her rigging cut to pieces, her hull shattered, and with several large shot between wind and water; nine men were killed and fifty-three wounded.

"Had the daylight and calm continued two hours longer, the Africa must either have sunk or surrendered; as it was, her disabled state sent the ship back to Carlscrona to refit".

[1] In 1810 Barrett had command of HMS Minotaur, 74 guns, and was again employed in convoying the Baltic trade.

On a wild stormy night of December the ship was driven on the sands of the Texel and lost, with nearly 500 of her crew, Barrett amongst them.