In September 1799 Sercey dispersed his remaining ships. "Brûle-Gueule" was sent back to France on 26 September carrying condemned political prisoners; the corvette was eventually wrecked on the Pointe du Raz with heavy loss of life. "Preneuse" was ordered to operate against British trade off the coast of Southeast Africa, sailing from Port Louis on 4 August. Lhermitte focused his efforts on the Mozambique Channel and the approaches to the British Cape Colony and on 20 September encountered a squadron anchored in Algoa Bay comprising the 24-gun naval storeship HMS "Camel", the 16-gun HMS Rattlesnake (1791) and the schooner "Surprise", the former ships lying with their masts and rigging removed. This force was supporting an expeditionary army under General Francis Dundas fighting the Third Xhosa War. "Camel" was laden with military supplies but neither ship was prepared for battle, with a 30 of "Camel"'s sailors and 15 from "Rattlesnake" trapped on shore by the surf.