noon
The French convoy was made out under Dominique , but the ships of war appeared forming their line to windward and standing over to Guadaloupe . Unfortunately , however , the British fleet got becalmed for some time under the high lands of Dominique , and unable to get into their stations . The instant , however , that the welcome breeze at length reached the van division under Sir Samuel Hood , he stood in in gallant style and closed with the enemy 's centre . By noon the action had commenced in earnest , and was maintained by this division alone for upwards of an hour without any support from the rest of the squadron , the gallant _ Barfleur _ being for most of the time hotly engaged with three ships firing their broadsides at her . At length the leading ships of the centre got the breeze , and were able to come to the support of the van . Many of the French ships even fought well and gallantly , but , in spite of their superiority in numbers , were very roughly handled . In consequence of this , when the Count de Grasse saw the rear of the British fleet coming fast up , having the weather-gage , he hauled his wind and withdrew out of shot .