Saumarez immediately moved Motion to engage Hostile_encounter the French ship and managed Control to isolate Removing the frigate and subject Using it to a fierce barrage Use_firearm of fire for more than two hours .

`` Réunion '' was later repaired Recovering and commissioned Request into the Royal Navy , while Saumarez was knighted Change_of_leadership for his success Earnings_and_losses .

The early months of the war , which had begun Process_start in February , had seen Perception_active a number of French frigates raiding Attack British merchant shipping in the Channel , and HMS `` Crescent '' under Captain James Saumarez was deployed Arranging to watch Perception_active the port of Cherbourg with the aim Aiming of disrupting Hindering the operations Military_operation of the French frigates `` Réunion '' and `` Sémillante '' that were based in the harbour .

Captain François A. Dénian on `` Réunion '' responded Response , but aside from inflicting Causation minor damage Damaging to Saumarez 's rigging achieved Achieve little while his own vessel was heavily battered Damaging , suffering Bodily_harm severe damage Damaging to rigging masts and hull and more than 80 and possibly as many as 120 casualties Death .

The British squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez , having effected Influence its own hasty repairs , set off Placing in pursuit .

Finding Know that his ships were falling Motion_directional behind , Saumarez instructed Request his captains to separate Forming_relationships and attack Attack the combined squadron as best they were able to .