About one year later, in January–February 1782, French captain Armand de Kersaint led a flotilla in Iphigénie that included two more frigates, four brigs, and a large cutter to recapture Demerara and Essequibo. Tarhoudin commanded a small squadron that also included two small sloops and two small brig-sloops. The French were sighted on 30 January and Tarhoudin moved his squadron downriver. However, the French landed troops and as these moved towards Demerara, the British forces facing them retreated, forcing Tarhoudin to pull back his vessels also. On 1 February the British asked for terms of capitulation, with the actual capitulation taking place on 3 February. In capturing the colonies de Kersaint also captured Tarhoudin's squadron, of which Oronoque was the largest, but most feeble vess