The British ships separated and attempted to escape, but the French commander Contre-Admiral Joseph-Marie Nielly simply split his forces in response, and although Canada was eventually able to outrun pursuit, Alexander was slower and was caught by several French ships in succession. The first two opponents were driven off, but the third succeeded in coming alongside and, in a fierce and close fought duel, compelled Captain Richard Rodney Bligh to surrender his ship in the face of overwhelming odds. The battle was a rare French victory lying between the significant British victories at the Glorious First of June and the Battle of Groix in the Royal Navy campaign against the French fleet at Brest.