during may 1809, the frigates "félicité" and "furieuse" remained at guadeloupe, taking on stores and preparing for their eventual return journey to france. although they were both large frigates, they had been largely disarmed in france to create space for cargo: "furieuse" was provided with only 20 cannon (including 12 carronades) and a crew of just 200, while "félicité" had even fewer defences, carrying just 14 cannon and 174 men. watching these ships was a small british blockade force led by hugh pigot in "latona" with a few brigs and sloops, cochrane's invasion fleet having been dispersed.