the earliest reference to sailing in anguillian history involves what is unofficially known as "the battle of anguilla". in 1796, during the height of the napoleonic wars, 400 men were dispatched from the neighboring french colony of st. martin aboard two frigates, le decius and le valiant. this force landed on what is now known as rendezvous bay. an anguillian defense force was led by lieutenant governor benjamin gumbs, and for the next four days they were beaten back through the capital of the valley and onto sandy hill, where they fortified themselves in a former dutch fort. desperate for ammunition, they were said to have used lead weights from fishing nets and musket shot, and an anguillian sailing ship was sent to st. kitts to request aid. this ship, whose name was not recorded, came into contact with the h.m.s. lapwing led by commander barton. barton acted swiftly to relieve anguilla, and the lapwing's presence drove the french to attempt to retreat. le decius and le valiant fled and attempted to escape the british frigate, leaving the soldiers stranded. they surrendered to the anguillian forces, were imprisoned and then massacred in retaliation for the massive amount of damage inflicted by the invaders. the lapwing sank le decius and drove the le valiant onto the rocks in st. martin, where it was set ablaze.