Chabert captained the 80-gun "Saint-Esprit" in the squadron under De Grasse. He took part in the Battle of Fort Royal on 29 and 30 April 1781, and in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781, where he was wounded. He later fought in the Invasion of Tobago in May and June 1781, and in the Siege of Brimstone Hill and subsequent capture of Saint Kitts in January and February 1782. On 19 April 1782, "Saint-Esprit" departed Fort Royal to make her junction with Vaudreuil's squadron, which she met on 17 May. From there, she returned to Lorient in September as part of a 4-ship squadron under Saint-Hippolyte, escorting a 120-ship convoy.