Departing Departing from Brest on 13 December 1805 , it was 12 days before the Admiralty in London were aware of the French movements , by which time the French squadrons were deep in the Atlantic , one under Vice-Admiral Corentin-Urbain Leissègues intending to cruise Self_motion in the Caribbean and the other , under Contre-Admiral Jean-Baptiste Willaumez , sailing Self_motion for the South Atlantic .

These squadrons were joined Participation by a third under Rear-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth , who had deserted Escaping his station off Cadiz when he learned Education_teaching news of a French squadron to his south and subsequently crossed Motion_directional the Atlantic in pursuit of Willaumez .

Willaumez achieved Achieve minor success in his operations in the South Atlantic and Caribbean , but was caught Bodily_harm in a summer hurricane on his return Motion journey and his ships were scattered Dispersal along the Eastern Seaboard of North America .

The British squadron consisted of seven ships of the line accompanied by associated frigates , led Conquering by Rear-Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren , were tasked Request with hunting Military_operation down and destroying Destroying the French squadron of Contre-Admiral Jean-Baptiste Willaumez , which had departed Departing Brest for raiding Attack operations in the South Atlantic in December 1805 , at the start of the Atlantic campaign Military_operation of 1806 .

Willaumez eventually returned Arriving to France , although without many of his squadron who were destroyed Destroying by British operations or Atlantic gales .