On 15 December 1796, a fleet of 17 ships, 14 frigates, 6 corvettes or avisos, 6 barges and 20 transports and 21,000 soldiers, under the command of General Hoche, left Brest for the Irish expedition. Dumanoir commanded, under the orders of Rear Admiral Bouvet, the ship "Révolution". As soon as he left, the army found itself dislocated by the ruse of an English frigate which, in the darkness of the night of the 16th to the 17th, gave false signals to some of the French ships. Burning fires and cannon shots deceived 6 ships and 6 frigates, which continued on their way, instead of obeying the vice-admiral who ordered them to turn back.