In 1781, "César" left for the West Indies under the command of Charles Régis de Coriolis d'Espinouse in the fleet of the Comte de Grasse. On 28 April she was present at the Battle of Fort Royal, attempting to raise the blockade of Martinique. On 24 May "César" was part of the squadron which covered the French Invasion of Tobago. On 5 September 1781 "César" was present at the decisive battle of the Chesapeake, which completed the encirclement of the British forces at Yorktown.