on 21 february 1809, a large french fleet under admiral jean-baptiste willaumez attempted to escape brest and was chased by the blockade squadron and driven to shelter under the ile d'aix. shortly afterwards, three french frigates attempted to break out of lorient, but were challenged and destroyed at the action of 24 february 1809. these operations were the preliminaries to the battle of basque roads in april, but also provided the cover required for troude's force to escape lorient while the british were engaged elsewhere. travelling rapidly across the atlantic, the french encountered no british warships but were able to seize a number of lone british merchant ships, from whom troude learned that the invasion of martinique was already underway. while troude's expedition had been preparing at lorient, cochrane had been preparing his own operation to martinique, following the interception of the same despatches warning of the island's low morale and preparedness in the summer of 1808. amassing an expeditionary force of 44 ships and 10,000 men at carlisle bay, barbados, cochrane began the invasion on 30 january 1809 and his troops rapidly overran the french defences, despite stiff resistance in the central highlands. by 10 february, the only remaining point in french hands was fort desaix, which held out until the magazine was breached on 24 february, at which point governor louis thomas villaret de joyeuse surrendered unconditionally.