On Friday 20 March 1805, Coghlan was in command of HMS Renard and her complement of 90 men, off the north coast of San Domingo. He gave chase to a French privateer. The quarry was General Ernouf, from Guadeloupe, commanded by Paul Gerard Pointe, with a complement of 160 men, 31 of whom were soldiers. After a chase of about three hours Renard managed to close in on the Frenchman who immediately opened fire. Legend has it that Monsieur Pointe, on seeing the inferior size of Renard, called for her to strike, and Captain Coghlan took up his trumpet and replied "Aye! I'll strike, and damned hard too, my lad, directly". Coghlan waited until the French were within pistol-shot and then commenced a disciplined and deadly accurate return of fire. After 35 minutes General Ernouf was seen to catch fire and ten minutes later she blew up with a dreadful explosion.
