When they reached the sternmost ships they wore upon the same tack with them and stood north, after and to windward of them; and at about the same time Byron, who had not before known of the surrender, saw the French flag flying over the forts.

Signals followed to wear in succession, and for the advanced ships to form line for mutual support, ceasing the general chase under which the engagement had hitherto been fought.
While the main body was still standing south on the port tack, three ships,--"Cornwall," "Grafton," and "Lion" (c),--obeying literally the signal for close action, had passed much to leeward of the others, drawing upon themselves most of the fire of the enemy's line.

They thus suffered very severely in men and spars; and though finally relieved by the advanced ships, as these approached from the southward on the opposite tack, they were unable, after wearing (B, c', c''), to keep up with the fleet, and so dropped astern and toward the French.
The bulk of the injury sustained by the English fell upon these three, upon the three advanced ships under Barrington, and upon two others in the rear (A, a), which, seeing the van so heavily engaged, did not follow the successive movement, but bore down straight out of the order, and took their places at the head of the column (B, a, a'),--an act strongly resembling that which won Nelson such high renown at Cape St.Vincent, but involving less responsibility.[135] [Illustration: Pl.

X.D'ESTAING AND BYRON JULY 6, 1779] So far Byron had conducted his attack, using the initiative permitted him by the advantage of the wind and the disorder of the French rear.
It will be observed that, though it was desirable to lose no time in assailing the latter while in confusion, it is questionable whether Barrington's three ships should have been allowed to separate as far as they seem to have done from the rest of the fleet.

A general chase is permissible and proper when, from superiority of numbers, original or acquired, or from the general situation, the ships first in action will not be greatly outnumbered, or subjected to overpowering concentration before support comes up, or when there is probability that the enemy may escape unless promptly struck.