 On 22 March 1748 a squadron of British ships under Admiral Charles Knowles entered the harbor of Port Saint Louis, which was guarded by an island castle with high stone walls, 78 guns, 310 troops and a company of black gunners.In the Battle of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, the British ships anchored under the ramparts and fired steadily for three hours, causing 160 casualties to the garrison.Chastenoye, who was commanding the fort, sued for terms.