[6] The Port of Brunswick Town became the busiest in North Carolina and shipped goods to Europe and the British West Indies.

The townspeople fled into the neighbouring woods, and the Spanish began raiding the town for slaves and anything else they could find that was valuable.

[6] The following day Captain William Dry III rallied a group of around 67 men who were armed with muskets and pistols to take back the town.

The Spanish were surprised by the attack and in the ensuing fire fight they were slowly driven off and soon fled from the town.

[1] In the meantime, the Spanish privateers took advantage of the darkness to weigh anchor and make sail for the mouth of the Cape Fear and the safety of the open sea.

Dry hired sailors to searchLa Fortuna for anything valuable - they were able to bring ashore guns, anchors and items stolen from the town.

[4] The retaliatory action by the Brunswick men not only saved their town but also thwarted any intention by the Spanish to sail upriver to threaten Wilmington.

[9] Among the items confiscated from the ship was a painting titled, Ecce Homo salvaged from Spanish captain Lopez's cabin.