On 12 February 1783, a three-ship flotilla, headed by the 28-gun La Coquette under the command of the Marquis de Grasse-Briançon arrived at Grand Turk Island. Disembarking about 400 men drawn from four regiments under the command of M. de Coujolles, the French took control of the island without resistance.
British recovery attempt
On 2 March 1783, the 44-gun, under the command of Captain James King, while sailing in company with, discovered two of the French ships anchored in Turks Island passage. On being spotted the two ships cut their cables and stood to the southwest, upon which Resistance promptly gave chase. The rearmost ship, carrying 20 guns, sprang her main topmast, and surrendered after Resistance came up and fired a broadside. She then gave chase to the other, carrying 28 guns, and after enduring fire from their stern chasers, came alongside and the Frenchman promptly surrendered. A few days later Resistance fell in with a small squadron under Captain Horatio Nelson, consisting of,, and the armed ship Barrington. Primary accounts differ on what exactly happened next. ;Schomberg's account King decided, on the basis of the information he had gathered from the taking of La Coquette to recover Turk's Island. The British landed some 350 seamen and marines under the command of Drake Captain Charles Dixon, while the two brigs positioned themselves to cover the landing and fire on the town if necessary. However, two shore batteries that the British had not expected opened fire on the brigs. Their fire wounded seven men onDrake and two on Barrington. and forced the two brigs to withdraw. At the same time Dixon ran into a well-entrenched French force that outnumbered his landing party. He was able to extricate his force without casualties. King contemplated a second attack with the frigates, but the winds were not favorable and ultimately the British squadron withdrew. ;Nelson's account Nelson in his letter of 9 March 1783, reports that he was in command of the squadron and the operation. Shortly after the squadron arrived at Turk's Island, Tartar left without explanation. Nelson states that he sent Dixon under a flag of truce to ask the French commander to surrender; the demand was refused. The British then landed 167 troops, under Dixon. Unexpectedly, a shore battery of three guns opened fire on the brigs. Drake master was wounded, as were some seven men aboard the General Barrington. Dixon reported that seamen were manning the French guns and that the French troops had several field pieces. Nelson then decided to withdraw. The Turks and Caicos Islands were returned to British control under the terms of Treaty of Paris, which was formally ratified later in 1783.
