Cornwallis's Retreat

16–17 June 1795, Off Belle Île, Brittany

British success; the squadron escaped intact

Vice-Admiral William Cornwallis, cruising off Brittany with five ships of the line, ran into Villaret de Joyeuse's fleet of twelve. Cornwallis formed his ships in line and retreated, but Mars and Triumph were slow, and the French caught up with Mars, which was badly cut up aloft. Cornwallis took his flagship Royal Sovereign back to cover her, and the French held off. Meanwhile the frigate Phaeton, scouting ahead, made a string of signals to an imaginary British fleet just over the horizon, and when some distant sails appeared, Villaret believed them and gave up the chase. A week later the British Channel Fleet really did catch him, at Groix.