A squadron under Captain Thomas Truxtun cruised in the vicinity of Porto Rico.

The flagship was the frigate _Constellation_, which on February 9, 1799, encountered the French frigate, _L'Insurgente_, and made it strike its flag after an action lasting only an hour and seventeen minutes.

The French captain fought well, but he was put at a disadvantage by losing his topmast at the opening of the engagement, so that Captain Truxtun was able to take a raking position.

The American loss was only one killed and three wounded, while _L'Insurgente_ had twenty-nine killed and forty-one wounded.

On February 1, 1800, the _Constellation_ fought the heavy French frigate _Vengeance_ from about eight o'clock in the evening until after midnight, when the _Vengeance_ lay completely silenced and apparently helpless.