1 frigate A few killed and wounded The action of 28 June 1803 marked the opening shots[2] of the Blockade of Saint-Domingue after the collapse of the Treaty of Amiens and the outbreak of the War of the Third Coalition in May 1803.

A French heavy frigate and a corvette, both partially armed en flûte and unaware of the recently begun war,[3] met three British 74-gun ships of the line.

The corvette was overhauled and captured, but the frigate, sailing close to shore, managed to out-manoeuver her opponent and deliver a devastating raking broadside that put her out of action.

Meanwhile, the Treaty of Amiens proved to be an unsuitable settlement of Franco-British differences; its application by both parties became erratic and tensions grew.

On 27 June 1803, the 40-gun frigate Poursuivante, under Willaumez, departed Les Cayes, bound for Cap-Haïtien,[5] in the company of the 16-gun corvette Mignonne,[6] under Commander[7] Jean-Pierre Bargeau.

[13] On the other hand, because she had to ration her fire, Poursuivante aimed careful shots that soon caused significant damage to Hercule's rigging.

[15] Hills was forced to retire with his ship to Jamaica for repairs; HMS Vanguard replaced Hercule in Bayntun's squadron.

[17] A large painting by Louis-Philippe Crépin was commissioned in 1819 to commemorate the event;[18] it long decorated the office of the Minister of the Navy,[18] and is now in display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris.