"Blanche" quickly closed the distance, but "Guerrière", perhaps mistaking the British frigate for one of her squadron, did not initially take action. "Blanche" opened fire at about 15 minutes past midnight, firing two broadsides before "Guerrière" could respond. A fierce fight followed, with "Guerrière" eventually surrendering at half past one that morning, having lost her mizzenmast. "Blanche" had suffered light damage and four men wounded out of her complement of 265. "Guerrière" had suffered considerable damage to her lower masts, as well as to her hull, both above and below the waterline. Out of her complement of 350, 20 of her officers, seamen and marines had been killed, whilst another 30 were wounded, ten of them seriously. Many of the French crew had been ill below decks during the engagement. "Guerrière" had been aiming to cripple "Blanche" by firing to bring down her masts, so that "Guerrière" might escape. When this failed, "Guerrière" was eventually worn down and forced to strike.