Editing Glorious First of June (section)

==May 1794==
{{Further|Atlantic campaign of May 1794}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{Coord|47|24|00|N|6|00|00|W}}
| zoom = 3
| float = right
| width = 240
| height = 240
| title =
| mark-size = 9
| label =
| mark-coord = {{Coord|47|24|0|N|17|27|0|W}}
| label-pos = right
| label-size = 14
| label-color =
| mark-title =
| mark-image =
| mark-description =
|caption = Location of the battle in the Atlantic Ocean
}}
The French convoy, escorted by Vanstabel, departed America from [[Virginia]] on 2 April, and Howe sailed from [[Portsmouth]] on 2 May, taking his entire fleet to both escort British convoys to the [[Western Approaches]] and intercept the French.{{sfn|Mostert |2007|p=132}} Checking that Villaret was still in [[Brest, France|Brest]], Howe spent two weeks searching the Bay of Biscay for the grain convoy, returning to Brest on 18 May to discover that Villaret had sailed the previous day.{{efn|It has been suggested by historian Peter Padfield that allowing Villaret to escape Brest was part of a deliberate strategy on Howe's part. If Howe could draw Villaret into the open ocean, he could rely on superior training and tactics to destroy the French fleet in battle. If successful, this would eliminate the threat from the French Atlantic Fleet for years to come.}}{{sfn|Padfield |2000|p=17}} Returning to sea in search of his opponent, Howe pursued Villaret deep into the Atlantic. Also at sea during this period were the squadrons of Nielly (French) and Montagu (British), both of whom had met with some success; Nielly had captured a number of British merchant ships and Montagu had taken several back. Nielly was the first to encounter the grain convoy, deep in the Atlantic in the second week of May. He took it under escort as it moved closer to Europe, while Montagu was searching fruitlessly to the south.{{sfn|James |2002|p=128}}

Despite Howe's pursuit, the main French sortie found initial success, running into a Dutch convoy and taking 20&nbsp;ships from it on Villaret's first day at sea. For the next week Howe continued to follow the French, seizing and burning a trail of French-held Dutch ships and enemy corvettes.{{sfn|Gardiner|2001a|p=27}} On 25 May Howe spotted a straggler from Villaret's fleet and gave chase; [[French ship Audacieux (1784)|''Audacieux'']] led Howe straight to his opponent's location.{{sfn|James |2002|p=130}} Having finally found Villaret, on 28 May Howe attacked, using a flying squadron of his fastest ships to cut off its rearmost vessel [[French ship Bretagne (1766)|''Révolutionnaire'']]. This [[first rate]] was at various times engaged with six British ships and took heavy damage, possibly striking her colours late in the action.{{sfn|James |2002|p=132}} As darkness fell the British and French fleets separated, leaving ''Révolutionnaire'' and her final enemy, [[HMS Audacious (1785)|HMS ''Audacious'']], still locked in combat behind them. These two ships parted company during the night and eventually returned to their respective home ports.{{sfn|Gardiner|2001a|p=28}} By this stage Villaret knew through his patrolling frigates that the grain convoy was close, and deliberately took his fleet to the west, hoping to decoy Howe away from the vital convoy.{{sfn|Williams |1907|p=381}}

Taking the bait, the following day Howe attacked again, but his attempt to split the French fleet in half was unsuccessful when his lead ship, [[HMS Caesar (1793)|HMS ''Caesar'']], failed to follow orders.{{sfn|James |2002|p=138}} Much damage was done to both fleets but the action was inconclusive, and the two forces again separated without having settled the issue. Howe had however gained an important advantage during the engagement by seizing the [[weather gage]], enabling him to further attack Villaret at a time of his choosing.{{efn|The weather gage was a vital advantage in sailing warfare because the ships required wind of the correct volume and direction to conduct offensive operations. When the wind was in the wrong direction, a captain could [[tacking (sailing)|tack]] to compensate, but possessing the weather gage meant that a ship could use the wind to attack its opponent directly, without the need for complicated manoeuvre.}}{{sfn|Rodger |2004|p=430}} Three French ships were sent back to port with damage, but these losses were offset by reinforcements gained the following day with the arrival of Nielly's detached squadron.Battle was postponed during the next two days because of thick fog, but when the haze lifted on 1 June 1794, the battle lines were only 6&nbsp;miles (10&nbsp;km) apart and Howe was prepared to force a decisive action.{{sfn|Padfield |2000|p=16}}