on 7 february campbell was cruising between altavella and the main, when he discovered three vessels, two french schooner privateers and an english ship, their prize. one schooner escaped after a running battle. "decouverte" succeeded in driving the other schooner and the ship on shore. next morning, when campbell sailed in to take possession of the two vessels, he found the enemy still in possession, covered by small arms fire from the shore. the british were able by cannon fire to drive the french from the ship. campbell sent a request to the schooner under a flag of truce that she surrender the ship, together with whatever prisoners might be on board the schooner. the schooner's captain refused. campbell then deployed a boarding party that set fire to the ship. the water was too shallow for the british to be able to get closer to the schooner, but campbell was confident that she was wrecked on the rocks. the ship was "matilda", of halifax, nova scotia, which had been sailing to jamaica.