Finding the French escort to be substantially larger than anticipated, and that it was manoeuvring to intercept them, Forrest called his captains together for a conference aboard his ship. The three captains met on the quarterdeck of "Augusta", whereupon Forrest stated 'Well, gentlemen, you see that they have come out to engage us.' Suckling replied 'I think it would be a pity to disappoint them', to which Langdon agreed. Forrest then closed the discussion by saying 'very well, go onboard your ships again', which Langdon and Suckling proceeded to do, the conference having lasted just half a minute. The British then formed up in line ahead, and notwithstanding the heavy French superiority, steered for them. Suckling in "Dreadnought" formed the van, with Forrest in "Augusta" in the centre, and Langdon in "Edinburgh" in the rear. The fighting began at 3.20 pm, and lasted for two and a half hours, until Kersaint signalled one of his frigates to tow his damaged flagship, "Intrépide", out of the line. In doing so the French line fell into confusion, with "Intrépide", "Superbe" and "Greenwich" falling aboard each other, and were heavily cannonaded by "Augusta" and "Edinburgh" until they were able to untangle themselves. The other French ships gradually broke away from the action and moved off. The British were in no condition to follow, having suffered casualties of 23 killed and 89 wounded, with the ships having had their masts and rigging cut to pieces. "Dreadnought" had lost her main and mizzen topmasts, and unable to chase the French, the British squadron retired to Jamaica to carry out repairs. Kersaint, who had been wounded in the battle, returned to Cap-Français to carry out repairs, and then sailed for France with the convoy in November. The French casualties in the action were estimated at between 500 and 600 killed and wounded, with "Opiniatre" having been dismasted, while "Greenwich" had been left in a very leaky condition. Killed and wounded on the British ships amounted to the first lieutenant and eight men killed, and twenty-nine wounded on "Augusta", nine killed and thirty wounded on "Dreadnought", and five killed and thirty wounded on "Edinburgh". The battle had been indecisive, with Kersaint able to conduct his convoy to France unmolested, once his ships had been repaired.