The action of 2 January 1783 was a minor naval battle that took place in the Caribbean Sea during the last stages of the American War of Independence.

[3] Captain Thomas Graves was in command of HMS Magicienne and was part of the British blockade off Cap-François, Saint-Domingue by the Royal Naval Jamaica station.

[4] At 1230 the Magicienne closed up with the smaller ship, the French sloop Railleur of 14 guns, and a short action took place.

After having fired two broadsides into the sloop, the French frigate Sibylle dropped back to assist the struggling Railleur, and Magicienne moved away.

Just after Magicienne’s masts fell, a broadside from the British ship cleared Sybille’s forecastle and killed eleven men.

Lieutenant de vaisseau Charles Gabriel Morel d'Escures, the second in command, continued the action.

The Sybille had been severely damaged and was captured on 22 January 1783 by HMS Hussar under Thomas McNamara Russell.