I do wish 1st Posters would expand the OP.


At least give the Wiki Link
Using a little known tool called Google, gives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Chesapeake. For Hawke, we can quote Newbolt's peom
Twas long past noon of a wild November day
When Hawke came swooping from the West;
He heard the breakers thundering in Quiberon Bay,
But he flew the flag for battle, line abreast.
Down upon the quicksands roaring out of sight
Fiercely beat the storm-wind, darkly fell the night,
But they took the foe for pilot and the cannon's glare for light
When Hawke came swooping from the West.
Graves did not embrace the violence quite so freely. I did not wish to predict the consequences because they are so unclear. De Grasse's fleet was in disorder and had perhaps as many as a quarter of their crews ashore. However, counting ships of the line, there were 24 French to 19 British. My guess is that a rapid attack would lead to the leading French ships (how many?) being taken before the others could come into action. Even if Graves won a victory, possibly de Barras' arrival (and the 3 detached ships) could reverse the result if the British had suffered enough damage.
Incidently, you do not need ASBs. Just assume Graves has always wanted to bury the criticism that he suffered by not engaging an Indiaman with a frigate or that he was in a rage with gout or both.