The invasion failed, and on her journey back, the Droits de l'Homme fought the action of 13 January 1797 against two British frigates, the Indefatigable under Sir Edward Pellew and the Amazon.

Lacrosse set out for Dominica, where he joined the expedition led by General Antoine Richepanse, and returned with it to Guadeloupe.

When Richepanse died, Lacrosse took command and continued to fight against the remaining insurgents and gradually restrict the rights of free people of colour as the first step in restoring slavery.

Napoleon made him préfet maritime and gave him command of the flotilla intended to ferry troops for an invasion of England.

When Admiral Étienne Eustache Bruix died in 1805, Lacrosse succeeded him as commander-in-chief of the French Navy.