action action minor naval action fought british ship line french frigate early french revolutionary wars french_navy sought disrupt british trade capturing merchant ships frigates strategy countered protecting british convoys heavier warships particularly european waters british escorts convoy sighted french ships approaching gave chase ships frigate corvette opponents separated convoy escorts likewise following raiders separate course evening french ships successfully escaped pursuit captain attempting number tactics drive opponent success eventually chase lasting nearly days french ship came range larger british gun rate despite brave defence soon forced surrender suffering casualties surrendered ship widely praised actions defending ship heavy odds aftermath engagement french battle squadron formed developing atlantic campaign pursued ships rest day quarry eventually escaped dark later taken royal_navy background outbreak war britain france spring came time differing fortunes navies countries royal_navy state heightened readiness preparation conflict french_navy recovered french revolution resulted collapse naval hierarchy experienced officers seamen french naval strategy early war send squadrons light vessels operate british trade routes order disrupt british operations resulted britain forming merchant ships convoys mutual protection escorted warships european waters defend attacks french ships spring france turmoil following failure harvest threatened country starvation order secure food supplies france turned american colonies united_states assembled large grain convoy ensure security convoy french_navy dispatched sea operating series large squadrons independent cruisers major fleet french ships operating independently gun frigate captain corvette british convoy sailing south west days closed investigate pursuit convoy sighted protection ships line captain gun hms captain french frigates closing west aware defend convoy immediate direct action turned newcomers colours firing shots direction larger ship british ships hugely french vessels soon realised mistake gave orders ships turn sail escape pursuit raising french firing stern guns fitted rear ship french ships immediately separated followed concentrated rest evening chases continued darkness fell able escape remained touch french frigate approximately nautical miles ahead ship line northwest wind direction north northeast entire following day escape pursuit close open fire bow hour half pulled range evening french frigate able nautical miles midnight switched course south hoping darkness manoeuvre able escape clear ploy failed following importantly manoeuvre severely slowed frigate hauled closer wind able come range firing starboard guns smaller ship crew exhausted extended chase returned fire warships exchanging shot long range frigate suffering far damage brief engagement forced surrender ship rigging casualties mounting crew provided prize crew frigate took surviving french crew aboard ship prisoners war casualties french ship heavy killed wounded men aboard compared single man lost suffered damage rigging aftermath long able enjoy victory shortly removal french prisoners completed sails spotted horizon rapidly identified french ships line making intercept capture ships squadron admiral sailed day search american grain convoy shortly european waters issuing rapid orders instructed prize crew separate ship order force french split forces frigate ship line fleeing different courses soon pursuit escaped atlantic prize crew managing replace damaged main midst chase assistance french prisoners board slower able increase distance vessel french day finally losing sight ships arrived safely rear admiral informing admiralty action letter subsequently served royal_navy gun frigate ship named service lengthy brave resistance highly praised particularly historian wrote highly considered engagement british frigate conquered purchased shortly arrival britain exchanged returned france
Action of 7 May 1794