 In 1800 , the Quasi @-@ War between the United States and France was in full force . In order to prevent French attacks against American merchantmen in the Caribbean , the United States Navy maintained four squadrons of vessels in the region . One such squadron was commanded by Commodore Thomas Truxton , and tasked with patrolling the Lesser Antilles . Taking command on 19 January 1800 after arriving at Saint Kitts in his flagship USS Constellation , Truxton 's squadron consisted of four frigates , three schooners , and a ship @-@ rigged man of war . Besides the numerous privateers operating in the area , the only French naval forces in Truxton 's area of operations were the frigate La Vengeance under François Marie Pitot and the corvette La Berceau under Louis Senes . Both vessels had arrived at Guadeloupe on 10 December 1799 escorting the new administrators of the French colony . Once at Saint Kitts Truxton dispersed his squadron , giving each ship orders to cruise independently . He then set sail for Guadeloupe on 30 January 1800 with his flagship Constellation , intending to challenge the French frigate and corvette there . The same day , Pitot in La Vengeance left Guadaloupe 's capital of Basse @-@ Terre for France . 
