attempting to escape under cover of darkness on 14 april, the french squadron was spotted by a number of small british ships stationed close inshore. these ships raised the alarm and the main british squadron followed in pursuit. the rearmost french ship of the line, "hautpoult", was closely followed by the small brig hms "recruit", which succeeded in delaying "hautpoult" long enough that the main british squadron was able to attack and overwhelm her in a running battle that lasted three days and ended off the coast of puerto rico. the british suffered 45 casualties, the french nearly 100. the remainder of the french squadron escaped, with the two surviving ships of the line sailing directly for france, eventually reaching cherbourg in may.