during the night of 14–15 april 1809, contact was maintained with the french squadron by "recruit", captain charles john napier firing on the rearmost ship "hautpoult" and coming under fire from the french stern-chasers, guns situated in the rear of a ship to fire on pursuers. shortly after 04:00, "pompee" came within range and began to fire her bow-chasers, the chase continuing westwards into the caribbean sea. frustrated by her inability to escape "recruit", "hautpoult" eventually turned and fired a broadside at 10:45, causing severe damage but failing to dissuade napier, who immediately counter-attacked. "hautpoult"'s manoeuvre caused her to lose ground to her pursuers and throughout the day the squadrons exchanged shots, neither causing significant damage but the french being driven deeper into british held waters and unable to drive off their opponents.