On 6 April 1778, with the rank of
lieutenant, Du Chilleau de La Roche had command of the 32-gun frigate
Diligente. He was awarded a 600-livre pension on 20 November 1778. In late February 1779,
Diligente and
Boudeuse, under Du Chilleau de La Roche and Grenier respectively, captured the island of
Saint Barthélemy by landing 90 soldiers from the garrison of
Guadeloupe, and conducted the
French invasion of Saint Martin on 29. After the
Capture of Grenada,
D'Estaing chose Du Chilleau to bring the news of his victory to Versailles, and ferry the captured governor,
George Macartney, to be imprisoned at Limoges. In February 1780, Du Chilleau de La Roche was given command of a squadron comprising the 64-gun
Protée and
Ajax and the frigate
Charmante, as well as the fluyt
Éléphant, escorting a
convoy bound for India, with troops and ammunition. Du Chilleau had his flag on
Protée, with
Jean Baptiste Valmenier de Cacqueray as
flag captain. In the
action of 24 February 1780, the convoy encountered a British force under
George Rodney, and
Protée sacrificed herself to cover the retreat of her fellows. While the convoy sailed on to the Indian Ocean with
Ajax,
Charmante returned to Lorient to bring the news of the battle, arriving there on 3 March. Court-martialled for the loss of his ship, Du Chilleau was honourably acquitted. Returned to France, Du Chilleau was appointed to the 64-gun
Sphinx. He took part in the
Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, the
Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782, the
Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782, the
Battle of Trincomalee from 25 August to 3 September 1782, and the
Battle of Cuddalore on 20 June 1783. After the war, he was amongst the captains that Suffren recommended for promotion He received a 600-livre pension in recognition of his service. On 25 August 1783, he was made a Knight in the
Order of Saint Louis. In 1784 and 1785, he was employed in the harbour of Rochefort, and was promoted to
Chef de Division in 1786. In 1790, De Chilleau took command of
Apollon. Soon afterwards, he was appointed to head a whole division, with his flag on
Apollon and also comprising the 74-gun
Jupiter, under Belugat and the 32-gun frigate
Surveillante, under Sarcé. In 1793, he was dismissed from the Navy. ==Notes==