"Chesapeake", which had left port sometime after "Forest City" with Portland's Mayor Jacob McLellan in command, finally caught up and continued on toward "Cushing". The wind was beginning to blow against the Confederate sailors and the steamers soon caught sight of "Cushing". Read, the Confederate lieutenant, ordered "Cushing" torched; its munitions exploded after the ship was abandoned by her twenty-four crewmen, who escaped in lifeboats. They surrendered to Mayor McLellan and were held as prisoners of war at Fort Preble. "Archer" was also soon captured, and all the rebels were returned to Portland.