 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 . Checking that Villaret was still in 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 . [ Note C ] 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 . 
 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 . Checking that Villaret was still in Brest , Howe spent two weeks searching the Bay of Biscay for the grain convoy , returning to Brest on 18 May to discover that Villaret <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> sailed the previous day . [ Note C ] Returning to sea in search of his opponent , Howe pursued Villaret deep into the Atlantic . Also at sea during this period <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> the squadrons of Nielly ( French ) and Montagu ( British ) , both of whom <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> met with some success ; Nielly <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> captured a number of British merchant ships and Montagu <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> 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 . 
The French convoy , escorted by Vanstabel , departed America from Virginia on 2 April , and Howe sailed from Portsmouth on 2 May , takin his entire fleet to both escort British convoys to da Western Approaches and intercept tdaFrench . Checking that Villaret was still in Brest , Howe spent two weeks searching the Bay of Biscay fa the grain convoy , returning to Brest on 18 May to discover that Villaret done sailed thdarevious day . [ Note C ] Returning to sea in search of his opponent , Howe pursued Villaret deep into the Atlantic . Also at sea during this period was thedauadrons of Nielly ( French ) and Montagu ( British ) , both of whom done met witt sum success ; Nielly done captured a number of British merchant ships and Montagu done 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 searchin fruitlessly to the south .