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Great Britain | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| British Squadron, Arthur ForrestBritish Naval Sailor Service 1740-1744 | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : Augusta (60)
1736-1765 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line | Arthur ForrestBritish Naval Sailor Service 1740-1744 | Fleet Flagship 9 dead, 29 Wounded | |
| Name : Dreadnought (60)
1742-1784 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line | Maurice SucklingBritish Naval Sailor Service 1740-1778 | 9 killed, 30 Wounded | |
| Name : Edinburgh (64)
1744-1771 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line | William LangdonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1743-1780 | 5 killed, 30 wounded | |
Royaume de France | |||
| French Squadron, Guy-François de Coëtnempren (Comte de Kersaint)French Naval Sailor Service 1718-1756 | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : L'Intrépide (74)
1747-1781 French 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line | Guy-François de Coëtnempren (Comte de Kersaint)French Naval Sailor Service 1718-1756 | Fleet Flagship | |
| Name : Le Sceptre (74)
1747-1781 French 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line | ClavelFrench Naval Sailor Service 1757 | ||
| Name : L'Opiniatre (64)
1750-1758 French 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line | MollieuFrench Naval Sailor Service 1757 | ||
| Name : Greenwich (50)
1757-1758 French 50 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line | FoucaultFrench Naval Sailor Service 1754-1757 | ||
| French Ships not in the Line | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : La Sauvage (32)
1756-1759 French 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate | Antoine de Marges de Saint-VictoretFrench Naval Sailor Service 1732-1769 | ||
| Name : La Licorne (32)
1755-1778 French 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate | |||
| Name : L'Outarde (18)
1752-1757 French 18 Gun Unrated Flute | |||
On October 21st, de Kersaint issued forth [from Cape Francois], hoping by his very appearance in such force to drive Forrest away. The latter, upon the French being signalled, summoned his brother captains on board the Augusta, and, when they met him on his quarterdeck, said, "Well, gentlemen, you see they are come out to engage us." Upon which Captain Suckling answered, " I think it would be a pity to disappoint them." Captain Langdon was of the same opinion. "Very well," replied Captain Forrest; "go on board your ships again"; and he at once made the signal to bear down and engage the enemy.
The French had seven vessels to the British three. Captain Suckling took the van, Captain Forrest the centre, and Captain Langdon the rear. The action began at about 3.20 P.M., and continued very briskly for two hours and a half, when the French commodore ordered one of his frigates to come and tow him out of the line. Others of his squadron soon followed his example; and eventually the French made off. The British ships were all much cut up aloft. The Augusta lost 9 killed and 29 wounded; the Dreadnought, 9 killed and 30 wounded; and the Edinburgh, 5 killed and 30 wounded.
The loss of the French is said to have exceeded 500 in killed and wounded. Few pluckier or more creditable actions have ever been fought; and it is worth noting that among the British captains, all of whom greatly distinguished themselves, one, Maurice Suckling, was a maternal uncle of Lord Nelson, and Nelson's earliest patron. Forrest had to bear up for Jamaica, in order to get his ships refitted. De Kersaint, in the meantime, picked up his convoy and sailed for France. But, at the very end of his voyage, he met with a severe storm, in which the Opinlcltre, Greenwich, and Outarde drove ashore and were wrecked.