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Battle of Anticosti

As British Field Marshal Jeffrey Amherst, commander of the North American forces, and Admiral Boscawan had suspected; a French Fleet had maintained operations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, providing aid and transport to Acadian refugees and continuing to supply them as well as supply Quebec City. A British patrol had been sent out to find and eliminate this fleet prior to the planned invasion of Quebec.

On June 13th, the British fleet found what they were looking for as they came across a French Fleet in open water just off Anticosti Island.

British Fleet: 8 Ships of the line, 4 Frigates
Royal William (84), Princess Amelia (80), Dublin (74), Buford (68), Bedford (64), Sunderland (58), Windsor (58), Sutherland (50), Thetis (44), Adventure (32), Shannon (28), Winchelsea (24)

French Fleet: 2 Ships of the line, 2 Frigates
Illustre (64), Apollon (58), Pomone (30), Fidele (24)

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the French managed to put up a good fight. Before being overwhelmed the Illustre did enough damage to the Buford that the British would be forced to abandon it to the waves after the battle, while the Illustre itself was run onto the beach of Anticosti island, and burned to avoid capture. The Apollon, also contributing crippling damage to the Buford and some of the other ships, was forced to strike her colors. The Pomone and Fidele attempted escape, with the Pomone falling behind and getting captured by the Thetis.

The Fidele was commanded by Captain Jean Vauquelin, which has escaped on the same ship from the Louisbourg siege last year. Vauquelin had made a name for himself with several successful runs of the British blockades since then. Despite being pursued by the Shannon and the Winchelsea, Vauquelin managed to make a tight turn and loose a heavy broadside against the Winchelsea that sent it to the bottom, and allowed the Fidele to escape to France. After again slipping past the British Atlantic blockade, Vauquelin reached port and was later promoted and placed in command of a new Ship of the Line.

British Losses: 3 surviving ships moderately damaged.
Sunk in Action: Buford (68), Winchelsea (24)

French Losses: Fidele moderately damaged
Lost in Action: Illustre (64) (run aground and burned)
Captured by the British: Apollon (58), Pomone (30)

Deemed unable to cross the Atlantic, the Apollon was later condemned by the British as unseaworthy, and sunk as a breakwater off Nova Scotia.