Siege of Brimstone Hill The French invasion of Saint Kitts also known as the Siege of Brimstone Hill ( 11 January – 13 February 1782 ) was a siege of the American Revolutionary War . After landing on Saint Kitts , the French troops of the Marquis de Bouillé stormed and besieged Brimstone Hill , and after a month of siege the heavily outnumbered and cut - off British garrison surrendered . The Comte de Grasse , who delivered de Bouillé ' s troops and supported the siege , was outmanoeuvred and deprived of his anchorage by Admiral Hood . Even though Hood ' s force was inferior by one - third , de Grasse was beaten off when he attempted to dislodge Hood . Hood ' s attempts to relieve the ongoing siege were unsuccessful , and the garrison capitulated after one month . About a year later , the Treaty of Paris restored Saint Kitts and adjacent Nevis to British rule . French capture . De Grasse set sail from Martinique , reaching Saint Kitts by 11 January . The British had already retired into their stronghold under General Fraser , so the French landing forces disembarked without opposition and started to besiege them . Concerted with the Governor , an attack upon Barbados was mounted . Foiled in the attempt by the violence of the trade - wind , they turned to leeward against Saint Kitts . On 24 January , twenty - two British warships under Admiral Hood were sighted near Nevis intending to reinforce Saint Kitts . De Grasse went out to intercept then , but by dawn the next day Hood had veered towards Montserrat , and contrary east - southeast winds impeded the French from reaching the British before they had circled north around Nevis and dropped anchor off Basseterre . De Grasse attacked the anchored British fleet on both the morning and afternoon of 26 January but was beaten off , disembarkation proceeding apace . During these naval engagements the French suffered 107 killed and 207 wounded , compared to 72 dead and 244 injured among the British . On 28 January the 1 , 500 - man British vanguard advanced against the town of Basseterre under General Prescott while its French occupiers fought a delaying action under Colonel de Fléchin until the Marquis de Bouillé could hasten reinforcements across the island . Prescott ' s drive was eventually repelled , but otherwise French efforts continued to be hampered by the loss of their field artillery in a wreck while approaching Saint Kitts and the capture of an ammunition ship by one of Hood ’ s frigates . The governor sent artillery and ammunition to Fraser which were intercepted by the inhabitants , and by them deliberately made over to the French . Thus , provided with siege - guns , the French opened a heavy bombardment ; and by 12 February Fraser ' s little garrison , having lost over one hundred and fifty killed and wounded , besides many men out of action through sickness , was exhausted . Many of his militia deserted , the remainder petitioned urgently that he should capitulate ; and Fraser had no alternative but to comply . The next day , de Grasse ventured to Nevis to meet an arriving convoy of French victuallers , while Hood availed himself of the opportunity to escape in the opposite direction on the morning of 14 February .