On August 7 the galleon San Joaquin, in company with a tender, sees a squadron that it thinks are the vessels of the French fleet. Actually it was the English squadron of Commodore Littleton, who had sailed from Port Royal, Jamaica, on 26 July.

When Villanueva realizes the error it is too late and he decides to confront the British. The San Joaquin eventually surrendered, but only after Villanueva was killed by a musket ball. The British had one dead and six wounded. The tender accompanying the ship would be captured by the Jersey.