Cochrane and Beckwith's aggressive command team

Cochrane commanded the Leeward Islands station with extensive regional authority, while Beckwith refused to remain behind as a coordinating governor and instead accompanied the expedition. Accounts place Beckwith at the front, directing troops around a French mine, while Cochrane maneuvered and fired from his ships. Both commanders therefore remained close to the fighting while their subordinates carried out a plan agreed in advance. Their shared aggressiveness mattered because it was coupled to experience and a clear division of responsibilities rather than independent action.