 La Vengeance prepared for a boarding action when the two frigates drew closer together at 22 : 45 , but this attempt was foiled when Constellation fired broadsides of grapeshot at Pitot 's ship while American marines fired their muskets and hurled grenades down from the rigging . With the French ship drawing off , the two vessels began a longer range round shot duel that lasted until 02 : 00 on 2 February 1800 , when La Vengeance struck her colors for the second time . At some point earlier in the action , Pitot had struck his flag but the Americans did not notice because of darkness . Truxton moved Constellation to within 25 yards ( 23 m ) of his vanquished opponent aiming to take her as a prize . The American commodore 's ambitions were spoiled when at 03 : 00 Constellation 's mainmast fell overboard , killing several topmen who went down with it . With the Americans unable to come alongside his vessel , Pitot took advantage of the situation and simply slipped away into the darkness . 
