An Account of the Campaign in the West Indies by Rev. Cooper Willyams -- The Project Gutenberg eBook

When an author lays his book before the public, unless it be a work of genius, some account of his motives for so doing is generally expected. As this is a work that pretends to nothing but authenticity, and to be a plain relation of facts, I shall only premise, that, placed in a situation which gave me an opportunity of being witness to most of the principal transactions of the expedition under Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis in the West Indies, and having leisure and inclination to minute down the occurrences as they presented themselves, I venture to appear before the public with such humble pretensions alone, as the result of that opportunity and leisure can give me.

[Pg ii] My original intention reached no further than to publish a few views of some interesting subjects, which abound in the Caraibean Islands; but I selected those only which were rendered most so by particular events. Though I pretend not to the powers of an artist (being self-taught), yet I beg leave to urge in excuse for that want of spirit and picturesque effect which, I fear, is but too apparent in my drawings, that they are scrupulously exact, and accurately delineate the subjects they profess to represent.

When I at first communicated my design of publishing a few drawings, taken during the West India Expedition, many of my friends, and some of the officers who served with me, knowing that I had kept a journal of the transactions, desired me to add a short account of them to accompany the engravings.

[Pg iii] To those, at all conversant with writing such accounts, it will not appear strange, that, as I proceeded to retrace those events which form the most prominent feature of my life, I found a pleasure in recognising many a transaction that had almost faded from my memory, and by degrees it increased under my hand, till it became of size sufficient to form a volume, and I was enabled to lay it before the public in a more respectable form than I at first intended. But, that I may not appropriate to myself merit belonging to another, I take a pleasure in avowing, that through the kindness of an officer, who, from his rank, is not more conspicuous than respected by the general tenor of his conduct, I have been favoured with the assistance of a journal by an ingenious and active officer of his division, which has greatly contributed to the embellishment of my work, by the communication of many local circumstances, impossible[Pg iv] for me otherwise to have been acquainted with. The like assistance I have also to acknowledge from a friend who served under General Prescott during his gallant defence of Fort Matilda.

By the favour and indulgence of the Commander in Chief, I have been permitted to make extracts from the public order-book of the army; these form a large appendix, which, I trust, will not only confirm the accuracy of my narration, but will prove both useful and entertaining to the army in general.

Such has been the origin and progress of this publication; to the candour, therefore, of the public I commit myself, trusting that, as my ambition has been humble, I shall not be exposed to the severity of literary criticism for not having obtained that which I have never attempted.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FRENCH WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

CHAPTER I.

EXPEDITION TO THE WEST INDIES DETERMINED ON … SIR CHARLES GREY AND SIR JOHN JERVIS APPOINTED COMMANDERS IN CHIEF … THE BOYNE SAILS FROM SPITHEAD … OCCURRENCES ON THE VOYAGE FROM THENCE TO CARLISLE BAY, BARBADOES.

In the latter end of the year 1793, his Majesty having determined to send a formidable armament to the West Indies, to reduce the French islands in that quarter, and to secure his own from any attack of the enemy, Lieutenant General Sir Charles Grey, Knight of the Bath, was promoted to the rank of General in America, and Commander in Chief in the West Indies. Several officers of distinguished abilities were also appointed to act under him; and Vice[Pg 2] Admiral Sir John Jervis, Knight of the Bath, was nominated Commander in Chief of the naval force on the same expedition.

After much delay, occasioned by nearly half the original force being withdrawn from the armament intended for the West Indies, and applied to another purpose, on the 24th of November, 1793, the Boyne of 98 guns, Captain Grey commander, having Vice Admiral Sir John Jervis's flag flying at the fore-topmast head, made the signal for sailing to the fleet destined with her for this expedition, and dropped down to St. Helen's, where she lay at single anchor, waiting for those ships that were not ready; the ordnance storeships were particularly tardy. This morning an unfortunate accident befel Mr. Scott, second lieutenant of the Boyne, whose arm was broken by a block giving way in the fore part of the ship, where he was stationed; but happily, by the care and skill of Mr. Weir the surgeon, he was nearly recovered by the time the ship reached Barbadoes.

On Tuesday the 26th of November the Boyne weighed anchor, and with the rest of the fleet sailed from St. Helen's with a fair wind down channel. On the 27th we lay to off Portland Road, waiting for the Quebec frigate, which remained at Spithead to hasten the storeships and transports (that were not at first ready to sail with the Boyne), and to convoy them through the Needles.

On the 28th of November, in the morning, we were off the Land's End, and were soon afterwards becalmed for a short time. In the evening, a fresh breeze springing up, we proceeded on our voyage. Before it was dark eight sail were seen from the mast head.

[Pg 3] On the 29th we passed Commodore Paisley in the Bellerophon, with several frigates in company. The Commodore saluted the Admiral's flag with thirteen guns, which was returned from the Boyne with eleven guns.

As it may be proper to inform the reader that, in consequence of a particular invitation from the Admiral, the Commander in Chief and his suite, with several of the officers on the staff under him, were passengers in the Boyne, I shall here subjoin their names.

[Pg 4] Thus, by the friendly intercourse subsisting between the two Commanders in Chief, the time on the passage was most usefully employed in forming plans of operation, which could not have been executed with that promptness that distinguished the ensuing campaign, had it been otherwise.

On Tuesday the 3d of December, the Rose frigate, Captain Riou, parted company; as did, on the 7th following, Commodore Thompson and part of the convoy, and we proceeded with the greater dispatch on our voyage.

On the 8th of December the wind proved foul, with rain and hazy weather. At night, in the middle watch, we were attacked by a squall of wind and rain, accompanied by a heavy sea, which struck the rudder with such violence, that the men at the wheel losing their hold, were thrown down; and the tiller breaking loose, stove in the gunner's cabin; at the same time the pinnace, a six-oared boat, that was suspended over the stern, was washed away, and totally lost.

On the 9th of December in the morning, the ship was taken aback by a sudden squall of wind, attended with thunder and lightning, with a most tremendous sea; we then wore ship, and stood to the south west. Those who have never sailed in a ship of war of the first or second rate, can form no idea of the grandeur and awfulness of the scene when so large a body is struggling with contending elements. As the ship rolls through the high swell her sides appear to twist and bend in a surprising manner. The guns hanging on one side, and pressing against the other, seem[Pg 5] as if, at every roll, they would, by their immense weight, force their way through; which, added to the cracking of the cordage, the roaring of the wind, and a variety of other noises, forms a scene of surprise and alarm to the inexperienced voyager.

This squally weather continued at intervals for four days. On the 12th we saw some sea gulls. On the 13th two strange sail hove in sight; the Ulysses chased one of them, and we made sail after the other, and fired several shot at her to bring her to; but in the evening were obliged to give up the pursuit, for fear of parting from our convoy, which however happened in the following night, during a heavy gale of wind.

On the 16th land was discovered at four P. M. supposed to be the island of Porto Santo. All this day we sailed at the rate of seven and eight knots an hour. Tuesday the 17th of December we found that during the night we had passed by the island of Madeira; but this morning tacked and stood towards it, and arrived off Funchial, the capital of that island, of which we had a delightful view. As we approached the land the surrounding country had a very beautiful appearance, especially after a long voyage, when the eye has been wearied by the uninteresting sameness of an extended ocean. The town of Funchial, so named from the Portuguese word funcho, fennel, which grows in great abundance on the neighbouring rocks, is situated at the bottom of a bay, and is a large ill-built town: it has many churches and convents; but[Pg 6] as we did not go on shore, I can give no particular description of them. Immediately behind the town the hills rise gradually one above the other, terminating in prodigious high mountains, which are plentifully covered almost half-way up with plantations of vines, interspersed with churches and elegant houses. High up in the mountains, in a valley is seen a convent, which we were informed is dedicated to our Lady of the Mountain. All the buildings being white, formed very conspicuous, and not unpleasing objects in the landscape. The mountains in this island are very high. Pico Ruevo is supposed to be from its base near a mile in perpendicular height, much higher than any land in England or Wales. The sides of all the hills are well covered to a certain height with vines, above which, to a vast extent, are woods of pine, chesnut, and a variety of other trees unknown to Europe. The principal refreshments to be procured here are wine, water, and onions; the latter are the finest in the world, and in great plenty.

It being the Admiral's determination to lose no time, we only lay-to off Funchial, till the wine intended for the use of the officers and ship's company was taken on board; and it being the birth day of the Queen of Portugal, we saluted the fort in honour of the day with twenty-one guns, which was returned with an equal number. In the evening we made sail for our destination; and fortunately from this time had a fair wind till we got into the trades. On the 24th we passed the tropic of Cancer, lat. at noon 23. 21. N. long. 32. W. The usual ceremony was observed by [Pg 7] the crew (having first obtained the Captain's permission): a grotesque Neptune and Amphitrité were drawn by their attendants on the quarter-deck, where, after a solemn ditty chaunted by his aquatic majesty, the usual collections were made, which, from the munificence of the General and his friends, together with the contributions of those officers of the ship who had never crossed the tropic before, amounted to a sum sufficient to supply the ship's company with plenty of vegetables on their arrival at Barbadoes.

The 25th of December, being Christmas day, divine service was performed on the quarter-deck by the Chaplain, the crew appearing as on a Sunday, in clean trowsers and jackets: and here I must beg leave to mention, that I never saw more regularity and decorum in any place of worship than is invariably observed on board of his Majesty's ships of war.

This day we passed an American brig; and the weather being fair, Lieutenant Bowen and Captain Mason went on board her. She was from Cadiz, and reported, that yesterday she passed a Spanish man of war bound for Europe.

On the 26th of December we saw several albicores, dolphins, and grampus, and shoals of flying fish; lat. at noon 22. 10. N. long. 34. 46. W.

On the 29th of December, being Sunday, and the weather fair, divine service was performed as usual.

The heat of the climate now began to be troublesome to those who had been unaccustomed to it.

[Pg 8] On Monday the 6th of January, 1794, land was discovered from the mast-head, which proved to be the island of Barbadoes; and by noon the Boyne anchored in Carlisle Bay [1].

CHAPTER II.

THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF PREPARE FOR THE EXPEDITION AGAINST MARTINIQUE … GUN-BOATS CONSTRUCTED, AND DESCRIBED … A SHORT ACCOUNT OF BARBADOES … SALE OF SLAVES … A LIST OF THE FLEET.

The first news we received on our arrival at Barbadoes was, that the yellow fever had, in the course of last year, carried off fifty-eight officers of the army in this and the neighbouring islands, and privates in proportion. It proved fatal to great numbers of the inhabitants also of Barbadoes; from fifteen to twenty whites died daily in the town of Bridgetown, and about half that number of blacks and people of colour. We were at the same time comforted with an assurance that the disease had entirely subsided; but the reader will soon see how fallacious were our hopes in this respect. Alas! too many families have to lament the fatal effects of this dreadful disorder; and the kingdom at large may attribute to it the losses we afterwards sustained, rather than to any other cause. But of this more hereafter.

His Excellency Sir Charles Grey landed at Bridgetown on the 7th of January, and resided at a house called the Government [Pg 10] House, on Constitution Hill, a healthy situation, about half a mile out of town, where he was busily employed during his residence on the island in concerting plans for future operations, in reviewing the troops, and providing against those exigencies which in an enemy's country an army must be exposed to. A report was here circulated that General Rochambeau the commanding officer at Martinique, and Bellegarde the popular leader of the people of colour, were at variance; but this news by no means caused the least relaxation on the part of our commanders, who continued their preparations with as much ardour as before; and it is well they did so, as we afterwards found the enemy on their guard, and prepared to resist us with their united force.

The Admiral in the mean time was equally employed in preparing every thing in his department, and for that purpose remained on board (a conduct he invariably followed), by which every thing was carried on under his own inspection, and delay (the consequence of neglect) was thus prevented.—On our voyage, whenever the weather permitted, a certain number of seamen were exercised, and formed into companies, to be commanded by lieutenants of the navy, with the rank of captains on shore. While in Carlisle Bay these seamen were again exercised, and instructed in the use of small arms and pikes. This plan of training the seamen for more duty was highly beneficial on this expedition, as will hereafter appear.

Every exertion was now made both by sea and land. The gun-boats, which were constructed in England, then taken to[Pg 11] pieces, and brought to the West Indies in storeships, were put together with as much speed as possible; yet, from the nature of their structure, could not be finished until a day or two before we sailed. There were six gun-boats, each carrying a twenty-four pounder in the bow, which moved backwards and forwards on a groove: round the whole on the gun-whale was a moveable barricade or breast-work, composed of several folds of bulls' hides, nailed to some boards of an inch thick in partitions, and capable of turning a musket ball. Each boat had two masts; the foremast inclined forward (to give more room for the gun to recoil), and had a latine sail and jib: the mizen was a lug-sail. Sweeps, or large oars, were also supplied, to be used when there was no wind, or when becalmed by the high lands near the shore. Each of these vessels was at first commanded by a midshipman, who, as his conduct merited, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant [2].

In the mean time the troops were landed from the transports, the sick comfortably lodged in the hospitals, and every attention paid, to render the service complete. As the major part of our army consisted of the flank companies, great pains were taken by the commanding officers to train them for the most active service: the light infantry were exercised daily by Major General Dundas, who had, in America and on the continent, distinguished himself at the head of that battalion. Particular attention was paid to instruct the army in the absolute necessity of strict obedience[Pg 12] to orders; for which purpose the Commander in Chief published in the general orders to the army such full and comprehensive instructions, as to preclude the necessity of multiplying them in future, and to take away the possibility of any one pleading ignorance of them [3].

Before we quit this island, it may be agreeable to the reader to have some account of it, and of the general appearance of the country. Barbadoes is situated in 13. 10. N. lat. and 59. W. long. from London. It is called one of the British Charaibé Islands, though at present none of those ancient inhabitants remain on it. The island has a flat appearance; but, from the variety of plantations, the beauty and freshness of the verdure, and the numerous houses, mills, and other buildings, scattered in great profusion, it presents a delightful prospect to strangers on their approach to it after a long voyage. I shall not pretend to give an history of the island, but must refer the reader to the elegant work of Bryan Edwards, Esq. whose account of the British West India Islands is written with every advantage to be derived from local residence and connections, as well as from the indefatigable attention and abilities of the author.

During our residence at this island curiosity led me to be present at a sale of slaves, just imported from the coast of Africa. As this horrid traffic in human flesh has been the topic of public investigation for some time past, and much learning and ingenuity has been displayed on both sides of the question, I shall not give[Pg 13] any opinion on it, but merely state facts that came within my own knowledge. The sale is proclaimed by beat of drum, and is held (at Barbadoes at least) not in the open air, as I had been taught to believe, but in a commodious house appointed for that purpose. At the time I am speaking of, there were about forty men, women, and children, sitting on benches round a large room, with no other covering than a cloth round their waists. Some of them were decorated with beads, given to them by their captors, and bracelets round their wrists and ancles, and were much tattooed on their faces and breasts, which I understood from a seaman who came with them, was a mark of distinction in their own country. I was also informed that they had buried one hundred and forty-nine on the passage, having had a very bad and protracted voyage: the crew had suffered equally, and had buried one third of their original complement. As soon as the planter has fixed on a slave he retires with him and the salesman to another room, there concludes the bargain, and departs with his purchase to his plantation, where the newcomer, being clothed in a coarse jacket, and provided with a hat, knife, and other trifles, is placed with one of the old negroes, by whom he is instructed in his business. In regard to the severity exercised by the slave owners on their slaves, whatever may have been the case, I am well assured that now there are seldom instances of those cruelties which have been so feelingly described, at least in the islands we visited on this expedition. At Barbadoes they appeared to be in as comfortable a situation as the lower ranks of society generally are; and as the[Pg 14] climate is peculiarly favourable to poverty (clothes and firing, the great articles of expence to the poor in other countries, being here hardly required), I may venture to affirm, that the slaves in the West Indies are in a better situation, as to the necessaries of life, than the labouring poor in England, or any other country in Europe. Far be it from me, however, to justify slavery in itself; it most certainly is an evil: but when a matter of great importance is in agitation, every information should be obtained, and both sides of the question ought to be strictly examined. Certainly the benevolent intentions of the friends to the abolition of slavery in the West Indies have, by their exertions in the cause of humanity, occasioned a more minute inquiry into the situation of the slaves than had ever been made before; and several excellent laws to regulate the treatment of that unfortunate class of human beings have in consequence been passed in the different islands. It is affirmed by many very humane people, that the entire abolition of the traffic itself would not help the cause of humanity so much as was at first contended (for I believe the former plan of immediately emancipating those already imported, is allowed by all to be dangerous in the extreme); and it is the opinion of many writers, that the greater part of those Africans sold to our plantations would remain slaves in their own country, or be put to death by their captors. If so, surely it is better for them to be carried to a country where they have a chance at least of better treatment, and where many of them are instructed in their duty to their God, of which before they had no idea.

[Pg 15] While we were lying in Carlisle Bay the fleet that sailed with us from Europe, and parted company on the voyage, came in, together with the transports, &c. from Ireland. The following is, I believe, a correct list of the men of war that composed our fleet at the commencement of the campaign. A few others that are hereafter mentioned joined us in the course of it.

These ships joined us in Fort Royal bay during the siege of Forts Bourbon and Louis.

The land force employed on this expedition was as follows. A detachment of white and a detachment of black light dragoons, three battalions of grenadiers, three battalions of light infantry, the sixth, ninth, fifteenth, thirty-ninth, forty-third, fifty-sixth, fifty-eighth, sixty-fourth, sixty-fifth, and seventieth regiments, with detachments from the second, twenty-first, and sixtieth regiments. The troops were divided into three brigades; the first commanded by Lieutenant General Prescott, the second by Major General Thomas Dundas, and the third by Major General his Royal Highness Prince Edward (till whose arrival from Canada the command of this brigade was given to Lieutenant Colonel Sir[Pg 17] Charles Gordon.) The total force that embarked for the attack of Martinique was six thousand and eighty-five, two hundred and twenty-four sick, and nine hundred and seventy-seven left sick at Barbadoes [4].

CHAPTER III.

THE FLEET SAILS FROM BARBADOES … ANCHORS ON THE SOUTH COAST OF MARTINIQUE … CAPTURE OF A BATTERY … GENERAL GREY LANDS WITH HIS ARMY … FLAG OF TRUCE FIRED ON BY THE ENEMY … THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF ATTACK THE ISLAND AT THREE DIFFERENT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME.

On Monday, Feb. 3, 1794, the fleet of men of war, transports, storeships, &c. sailed from Carlisle Bay, and the next morning land was seen, which proved to be the island of St. Lucia, bearing west several leagues. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, we approached the island of Martinique on the south east coast, off the bay of Maran; two forts, one at Pointe du Jardin, the other at Pointe de la Borgnesse, which defended the entrance to that bay, began to fire on our ships as they approached; notwithstanding which, the Boyne and the rest of the fleet anchored by four P.M. not far from the battery on Pointe de la Borgnesse, Lieutenant Bowen having previously run along shore in a small schooner to sound the depth of water. Our troops were now preparing to land, and had filled several flat-boats which lay along-side the men of war, [Pg 20] when the battery opened a heavy fire on them, which was quickly answered by the ships; the troops at the same time pushed in and landed, covered by the gun-boats: seeing which, and alarmed by some well-directed shot from the Boyne and Veteran, the enemy fled in disorder from the fort, which our troops immediately entered, and having hoisted the British colours, were saluted with three cheers from the fleet. A trench was found in the battery, communicating with the magazine, in which a train was laid, and a brand or match laid across it. Happily (by the exertions of the officers and men) this dastardly plot was prevented taking effect. The guns were immediately turned upon the enemy in their retreat, and against the town of St. Anne; but as this was a post of no great consequence, after they had spiked the guns and broke the carriages, the troops reimbarked [5].

In the evening the enemy in the battery on Pointe du Jardin burnt the sugar plantations near them, as we suppose, out of revenge for our success at Pointe de la Borgnesse; from the dryness of the canes the fire spread with great rapidity, and did much damage. Near us was the village of St. Luce, where a two-gun battery, directed by the curé of St. Luce, seeming disposed to trouble us, the Veteran opened her lower deckers on it, and soon[Pg 21] drove the enemy from thence [6].—On Thursday morning, Feb. 6, our troops landed at Trois Rivieres, in the bay of St. Luce, without opposition, to the number of two thousand four hundred and eighty-four men, under the direction of Lieutenant General Prescott. Sir Charles Grey and his suite then landed, and the whole army moved off from the landing-place in two divisions; the first division began to march about twelve at noon, the second division at five in the afternoon. Lieutenant Rogers of the Boyne soon after landed at the curé's battery at St. Luce, and found the two cannon there to be twenty-four pounders, that had belonged to the Raisonable man of war, wrecked some time since on this island. They destroyed these guns, and returned on board without any loss. This evening a gun-boat and flat-boat with seamen, under the command of Lieutenants Rutherford and Ogle of the Boyne, and Mr. Johnson, midshipman, attempted to cut out some vessels in the harbour near Maran, where they were much exposed both to the great guns and musquetry of the enemy; but they succeeded so far as to bring off two American schooners; two others saved themselves by running ashore close under the guns of Fort St. Etienne.

On Feb. 7th the Admiral sent (with a flag of truce) Lieutenant Miln of the Boyne, accompanied by Lieutenant James of the fifteenth regiment, and the Chaplain of the Boyne, with a letter[Pg 22] for the municipality or governor of Maran. As they approached the town they perceived hostile preparations making in the fort of St. Etienne; but, in hopes of preventing a flag of truce being insulted, Mr. Miln boarded one of the American ships that had been run aground the day before, intending, in case the captain of it was on board, to take him in his company. Being now within half gun-shot of the fort, the enemy began to fire on the boat, notwithstanding the flag of truce, and continued to do so, although Mr. Miln endeavoured to proceed towards the shore: but the enemy seeming determined to oppose his landing, and several of their shot falling close by the boat, he at length judged it most prudent to return. As he passed Pointe du Bourgnesse he perceived some negroes near the fort, and sent the two gentlemen who accompanied him armed, to endeavour to cut off their retreat, and to give them the papers which were to have been delivered to the commander at Maran; but the negroes, on perceiving them land, immediately made off towards the town: they however found a wounded man, whose leg had been broken by a cannon ball, with whom they left the papers, adding a note to express their surprise and indignation at a flag of truce being fired on [7].

In the afternoon Mr. Miln went with the gun-boats against Maran, to form a diversion in favour of Lieutenants Rutherford[Pg 23] and Rogers, who had landed with two companies of seamen to carry fresh provisions to Sir Charles Grey's army. This had the desired effect, as soon after a large body of troops came down from the hills to the town and fort, which might otherwise have fallen in with the seamen on their march.

The next day, Feb. 8, the Admiral sent another flag of truce by the same officer to the town of St. Anne. He took with him an American captain of a ship, in addition to his former complement; and having been so roughly handled the day before, he also ordered a gun-boat to attend. St. Anne's was entirely deserted. The American then proceeded a mile up the country to the house of a planter, who had left it; but finding his mulatto mistress there, he left the papers with her, to forward to the commanding officer at Maran. On this estate the American told us he saw three hundred slaves, and every thing in perfect order; from whence we judged the owner of it had been a friend to the revolution, the houses and plantations of the royalists being universally destroyed. The enemy now entirely evacuated this part of the country, to throw themselves into Fort Bourbon; and in their retreat burnt several fine plantations, and murdered many slaves of the royalists with circumstances of the most horrid cruelty.

I should have mentioned that, on our approach to this island, the Commanders in Chief dispatched General Dundas with Commodore Thompson to the attack of Trinité, and another division under the command of Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, assisted by Captain Rogers of the Quebec, to Case de Navirre; while Sir[Pg 24] Charles Grey, assisted by Lieutenant General Prescott, and under cover of the Boyne, &c. made good his landing at Trois Rivieres: thus, by making three attacks upon distant parts of the island at the same time, the force and attention of the enemy was divided; and by that spirited conduct, which animated all parties, more particularly by the unanimity which prevailed between the army and navy, they all happily succeeded. And here I must beg leave to observe, that where the commanders are united in friendship, and equally inspired with an earnest desire to serve their king and country, their example will always have such influence on the conduct of those under their command, that the same friendly intercourse will be sure to subsist between the subordinate ranks of the two services; and, from the Commanders in Chief to the private soldier and sailor, they will join hand and heart, and form a phalanx that nothing can withstand.

CHAPTER IV.

MARCH OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF FROM TROIS RIVIERES TO SALLEE … OCCURRENCES ON THE MARCH … GENERAL WHYTE DETACHED … TAKES PIGEON ISLAND … THE ADMIRAL ANCHORS OFF PIGEON ISLAND … DESCRIPTION OF THE BAY OF FORT ROYAL … THE THIRD BRIGADE LANDS AT CAS DE NAVIRES.

I have already said that his Excellency Sir Charles Grey, with Lieutenant General Prescott, and that part of the army which landed at Trois Rivieres, marched from thence on Feb. 6th across the country to La Riviere Sallée, a distance of two leagues, over very mountainous roads, and that evening they reached the town of the same name, situated on its banks, where the troops were lodged. They met with no opposition on their march, and lost only one man (a sergeant), who died of fatigue and heat. On the march the Commander in Chief detached Brigadier General Whyte, with the second battalion of light infantry commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Close, with two amuzettes, to force the batteries of Cape Solomon and Point a Burgos, in order to get possession of Pigeon Island, as our shipping could not go into the[Pg 26] bay of Fort Royal till that was accomplished; nor indeed could our boats with provisions and ammunition go with safety round to the army at Riviere Sallée. On Feb. 7th General Whyte took two small pieces of cannon loaded, at a village in the bay of d'Arlet (one hundred and fifty mulattoes having fled at his approach); and immediately marching to the attack of the two posts above mentioned of Point Solomon and Burgos, the enemy surrendered at discretion, their retreat being cut off. In the interim the Commander in Chief received intelligence of a body of the enemy having crossed the bay from Fort Royal, and landed near Morne Charlotte Pied, where they took post to intercept the communication between General Whyte and head quarters at Sallée: on which he instantly dispatched Adjutant-General Colonel Dundas, with the seventieth regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, with two howitzers, to dislodge them. This was executed that night with great spirit, and the post taken possession of early the next morning, the enemy being completely defeated at the first charge. In this action Captain Nares of the seventieth regiment distinguished himself so as to gain the notice of the Commander in Chief in public orders [8].

Brigadier General Whyte (being now reinforced with a detachment of the royal artillery, some ordnance, mortars, &c.) Colonel Symes, with a detachment of the fifteenth regiment and two hundred seamen from the Admiral, armed with pikes and pistols, under the command of Lieutenants Rogers and Rutherford,[Pg 27] ascended the heights on the 9th instant, and got possession of Mount Matharine, which commanded Pigeon Island, at the distance of not more than four hundred yards, where they erected their batteries. On this day his Excellency the Admiral sailed from Maran Bay, and anchored in Petite Ance d'Arlet, from whence he could send succours of men and ammunition to General Whyte; who accordingly instantly landed two companies of seamen, with several cannon, which they in vain attempted to drag over the hills to General Whyte's post, a distance of four or five miles; for the steepness and ruggedness of the roads, rendered every effort ineffectual. However he sent him a plentiful supply of shot and other ammunition, with one howitzer; and in the evening Lieutenant Miln was dispatched with a party, carrying provisions and spirits for the army. We found the country on the march from Ance d'Arlet to General Whyte's camp beautiful in a high degree, but the roads almost impassable: a succession of steep roads, through thick woods, at length brought us to the summit of a hill (on which our seamen were posted), commanding a fine view of the bay of Fort Royal, with Islet aux Ramieres, or Pigeon Island, in front; and on each side rose hills finely clothed with wood, on one of which our little army was posted. During the time we were there, the enemy on Pigeon Island annoyed us with their shells and shot, by which one of our seamen was killed, and another mortally wounded. The two five and a half inch howitzers, brought by the seventieth regiment from head quarters, being now placed in a battery under the [Pg 28] direction of Captain de Rivigne of the royal artillery, so as to take the island in reverse, and Colonel Dornford having also joined with a company of artificers, the batteries were completed during the night of the 10th instant, and opened on Tuesday morning, February 11th, under the conduct of Major Manley, who kept up so incessant and well-directed a fire upon Pigeon Island, that in two hours the garrison struck their colours, and surrendered at discretion, having fifteen killed and twenty-five wounded. When our batteries opened, it consisted of two hundred and three men.

After the strong orders the Commander in Chief issued during the time he was preparing for the commencement of the campaign at Barbadoes, in which, among other things, he declared his determination to punish with the utmost severity any one who should presume to maraud or plunder the inhabitants, it is surprising that on the first day's march any soldier should have had the temerity to offend against that order: but we had a melancholy instance of it in William Milton of the tenth light dragoons, and Samuel Price of the black dragoons, who were tried and convicted of a robbery in the house of Jacques, an inhabitant of Sallée; and the General, being determined to put an early stop to such enormities, had the sentence put in execution, and they were both hanged in view of the whole army on February 8th [9].

On the capture of Islet aux Ramieres, or Pigeon Island, the Admiral sailed with the rest of his fleet from Ance d'Arlet on [Pg 29] Wednesday, Feb. 12th, and anchored in Fort Royal Bay, off Pigeon Island, by which means he could co-operate with his colleague, and supply the army with ammunition and provisions at pleasure. As the ships worked into the bay, several shells were thrown at them from Fort Louis, but happily without doing any mischief.—It is impossible to conceive a more beautiful scene than presented itself on our entrance into this fine bay. On the north side we saw Fort Louis and the town of Fort Royal; and immediately behind it, on the top of a steep hill, was the strong fortification of Fort Bourbon, which, with the tri-coloured flag waving on its walls, formed a conspicuous object in the landscape; the parapet being built of white stone, strongly contrasted with the vivid glow of verdure on the surrounding hills. To the westward rose majestically prodigious mountains, called Les Pitons du Carbet, the hills on the side of which were cultivated, while the mountains themselves were covered with wood to their summits. Eastward the bay opens to several bays and harbours, into which some noble rivers discharge themselves, and pleasant islands of different dimensions and forms, embellish the whole. Pigeon Island, or Islet aux Ramieres, is situated on the south side of the bay of Fort Royal, about two hundred yards from the shore, and is a steep rock, inaccessible except on one side by a ladder fixed against a perpendicular wall. The summit is about thirty yards above the level of the sea, and is three hundred paces round. It contained the following ordnance, viz. Eleven forty-two pounders, six thirty-two pounders, four thirteen-inch mortars, and one[Pg 30] howitzer, with an immense quantity of stores and ammunition, and a large stove to heat shot; it also had good barracks. It is famous for having prevented Admiral Rodney with twelve sail of the line from entering the bay in 1782.

On the 12th of February the fifteenth regiment, led by Major Lyon, and commanded by Captain Paumier, surprised several hundreds of the enemy, very strongly posted on the heights of le Grande Bouclain, killed several of them, and took all their ammunition and arms, with their cattle.[10]

Sir Charles Gordon with the third brigade had landed on the 8th instant to leeward, on the side of Cas de Navires, under cover of a division of the fleet commanded by Captain Rogers in the Quebec [11]. The enemy being masters of the grand road and the heights above it, he made a movement towards the mountains, and turning them (unperceived) with part of his force, gained the most commanding post in that part of the country. By day-break on the 9th instant Colonel Myers, descending the heights, took possession of la Chapelle, and a post established by the enemy above it; and on his return to the column, Sir Charles Gordon proceeded through most difficult ground to the heights of Berne, above Ance La Haye. The enemy, after having abandoned the battery of Cayman, and set fire to the village, still keeping a constant[Pg 31] fire on him from the batteries of St. Catharine, he took a position which gave him an easy communication with the transports; when on the 12th he observed the battery and works at St. Catharine, and the posts which guarded the first ravine, abandoned by the enemy, on which he took possession of them, while Colonel Myers, with five companies of grenadiers and the forty-third regiment, crossed four ravines higher up, seizing all the batteries that defended them. This movement was completely successful, the enemy flying on every side, and our troops were soon in possession of the five batteries between Cas de Navires and Fort Royal. They then proceeded, and occupied the posts of Gentilly, La Coste, and La Archet, within a league of Fort Bourbon.

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL DUNDAS LANDS ON THE NORTH EAST SIDE OF THE ISLAND … TRINITE TAKEN … COLONEL CRADOCK ATTACKED, CAPTAIN M'EWEN killed … GENERAL DUNDAS FORMS A JUNCTION WITH SIR CHARLES GREY … MARCH TOWARDS ST. PIERRE … COLONEL CAMPBELL KILLED … ST. PIERRE ATTACKED BY SEA, AND TAKEN … DESCRIPTION OF THAT TOWN.

When Commodore Thompson with his division (having on board Major General Dundas and the second brigade) parted from the fleet on their voyage from Barbadoes, he proceeded with the utmost expedition to the north east part of the island; and on Feb. 5th arrived off the bay of Gallion. Captain Faulknor in the Zebra led in, and placed himself along-side of the battery on Point a Chaux, from whence he soon drove the enemy. The Beaulieu, Captain Salisbury, and the Woolwich, Captain Parker, followed; and the troops were landed without further opposition about a league from the town of Trinité, which was situated on the further side of the isthmus that formed the bay of Gallion. Here[Pg 34] General Dundas halted for that night. Early the next morning he began his march towards Trinité. As he moved off from the ground he had occupied during the night, the enemy annoyed him much by a brisk fire of musketry from the cane fields, where a large body of them were concealed; from thence however they were soon driven by the bayonet, which (as the Commander in Chief observed [12]) in the hands of a gallant British soldier is the first of weapons. In this business we had one artilleryman killed, and two officers and three privates wounded. The General then continued his march to La Bruen, a strong post situated on an eminence immediately over the town of Trinité. The light infantry drove the enemy from this post after an action of about fifteen minutes. We had two men killed and seven or eight wounded, among which were two officers. The enemy's loss was much greater. Early on the night of the 6th our troops took possession of Fort Louis (and changed its name to Fort Dundas), and Fort Bellgarde, a post that commanded the harbour of Trinité. Mons. Bellgarde, general of the army composed of people of colour, finding that we had taken possession of the forts, made a precipitate retreat towards the mountains, having previously set fire to the town of Trinité, the best part of which, together with a great quantity of stores of all kinds, was consumed; but Commodore Thompson took possession of the vessels in the harbour and road. In all these attacks the seamen (under command of Captain Salisbury) bore a part, and by their intrepidity [Pg 35] and good conduct gained the esteem as well as applause of the army.

On the evening of the 7th General Dundas proceeded with his brigade to the attack of Gros Morne, where he was informed General Bellgarde was strongly posted in considerable force; but on his arrival he found the forts evacuated. Gros Morne is a situation of great importance, being strongly fortified, and commanding the principal pass between the northern and southern parts of the island, and famous for being the rendezvous of the democrats during the revolution, previous to our arrival. Besides the principal fort, there is a redoubt on either side, about a mile distant, commanding the road leading to the fort. A detachment of the queen's regiment and a party of the marines being left to garrison Trinité, under command of Major Skerret, and the battalion of the 64th to garrison Le Gros Morne, the remainder of the brigade marched early in the morning of the 9th instant, and on the evening of the same day took possession of a strong situation called Bruno, where there had formerly been a fort, some of the guns of which were still remaining: it lies about two leagues north east of Fort Bourbon, and from it our army could see the enemy in their out-posts from that fort [13]. After the troops had halted for some time, Colonel Cradock with three companies of the second[Pg 36] battalion of grenadiers was ordered to advance and take possession of the post of Maltide, where a considerable number of the enemy were assembled with their colours flying; but on his approach they evacuated the place in haste. Of this post our troops had the quiet possession that night, and all the next day; but in the night between the 10th and 11th they were attacked by a party of the enemy, commanded by Mons. Bellgarde, amounting to about eight hundred men, who, having crept up under cover of the canes and underwood, commenced a heavy fire on our troops, who, though rather taken by surprise, charged the enemy in their turn with such vigour and determined bravery, as forced them sorely to repent their temerity, and retreat towards Fort Bourbon with considerable loss. In this action Captain M'Ewen of the thirty-eighth regiment and seven privates were killed, and nineteen wounded. Next day a great quantity of fire arms were picked up, which the enemy had left behind them in their precipitate retreat. In the evening of the 11th the post was reinforced by three companies of grenadiers and part of the second battalion of light infantry; but that night all was quiet. Early on the morning of the 12th the grenadiers were ordered back to Bruno, and the battalion of the sixth regiment, commanded by Major Scott, took their place at Maltide, and the wounded were sent on board the hospital ship.

As the bay and harbour of Fort Royal were now completely opened to our shipping by the capture of Pigeon Island, the Commander in Chief moved forward on the 14th from La Riviere[Pg 37] Sallée to Bruno with the remainder of the first brigade, a principal part of which had, under General Prescott, reached that place the day before; having previously concerted the attack of St. Pierré with General Dundas, that general marched on the evening of the 13th from Bruno with the second battalion of grenadiers, the thirty-third and fortieth light companies, and the sixty-fifth regiment, to Gros Morne, where he halted that night, and early on the 14th marched to Trinité; from whence he dispatched a sloop with the packs and blankets of his army round towards la Basse Pointe, in order to expedite his march toward St. Pierre, the capital of the island, the capture of which was now his object. From Gros Morne General Dundas had detached Colonel Campbell through the woods by Bois le Buc with the second battalion of light infantry and sixty-fifth regiment to Montigné. At five o'clock in the evening of the 14th General Dundas marched from Trinité (being joined by a company of the second or queen's regiment, commanded by the Honourable Captain Ramsay): after marching all night he halted for three hours; and soon after day-break on the morning of the 15th, having passed the river Capot, arrived at the heights of Calbass, after a march of thirty miles over a rough mountainous country. The fatigue of such a march in a tropical climate can only be conceived by those who have experienced it: harassed and worn down, it was necessary to give the troops some rest before they attempted to ascend the steep and craggy mountain, over the top of which was their road, commanded by a battery, where the enemy appeared in great force,[Pg 38] with their colours flying. The spirit of our soldiers however overcame all difficulties, and they ascended the heights with such alacrity, that the enemy, alarmed at their determined conduct, evacuated the fort (fortunately for our men), without making any resistance; as, by the time they reached the summit of the mountain, they were so exhausted, that a steady opposition might have proved fatal to them. From hence (the post having previously been destroyed by the enemy, who had broken the guns and scattered the ammunition) General Dundas proceeded about four miles further, to a place called Morne Rouge: here he halted, and shortly after saw Colonel Campbell at Post au Pin, half a mile short of Montigné, under a heavy fire from five or six hundred of the enemy, strongly posted. General Dundas instantly pushed forward his advanced guard, under command of the Hon. Captain Ramsay, who gained the summit by extraordinary exertions, fired on the enemy, at that time engaged with Colonel Campbell, and silenced their fire; and, when joined by the second battalion of grenadiers, took possession of Montigné, where he was reinforced by two companies of grenadiers. The major general took post himself on Morne Rouge, and visiting Colonel Campbell's column, found he had been attacked at half past nine o'clock in the morning, and the enemy being within twenty yards of the fortieth light company, at the head of which he was, had charged them with bayonets, when, to the great grief of the whole army, he fell by a ball through his head from the musket of a mulatto, who had concealed himself behind a bush till the Colonel came close[Pg 39] up to it. Colonel Campbell was a man high in estimation as a military character, and no less respected for his private worth, being sincere in his friendships and steady in his attachments. When General Dundas arrived at Morne Rouge, the enemy were on their march to re-attack our troops; but the appearance of our grenadiers so near them, caused them to relinquish their plan at that time: but in the evening of the same day the General observed bodies of the enemy moving towards his front at Morne Rouge, and forming under a small redoubt near that post. The thirty-third, thirty-fourth, and forty-fourth companies of grenadiers, with a field piece, and Captain Whitworth of the artillery (the whole under the command of Major Forbes), were ordered to advance, when a smart engagement commenced. The enemy were covered by a brisk fire from two field pieces on Morne Bellvieu, a strongly situated battery immediately in their rear. The action continued for about half an hour, when the enemy gave way, and during the night abandoned the fort, leaving two field pieces behind them. From the number of graves observed the following day (corroborated by the accounts of some prisoners), their loss must have been considerable; ours consisted of one officer (Lieutenant Keating of the thirty-third regiment) and two privates wounded, and one private killed.—At two o'clock the following morning the sixteenth, thirty-fifth, and fifty-fifth companies of grenadiers were ordered to advance and storm the battery upon Morne Bellvieu, and were to be supported (if necessary) by the ninth and sixty-fifth companies. All their flints were taken[Pg 40] out, the bayonet alone to be the soldier's defence. However, the enemy had been so roughly handled the day before, that they thought fit to decamp during the night, and our troops took possession of the fort without any opposition. Our army had now arrived within two leagues of St. Pierre, from whence by day-break the enemy sent a flag of truce, requiring three days to consider of a capitulation; to which General Dundas returned an answer, that instead of three days, he would allow them only three hours; and if they did not surrender within that time, he would advance against the town. The fifty-fifth company of grenadiers being left in possession of Bellvieu, the remainder of the battalion moved on towards St. Pierré. In the mean time the Admiral, Sir John Jervis, to co-operate with the land forces under General Dundas, had ordered the following ships to sail for the bay of St. Pierre, the Asia, Veteran, Santa Margarita, Blonde, Rattlesnake, Zebra, and Nautilus, with the Vesuvius bomb. On board of this fleet Colonel Symes had embarked with three light companies, and Major Maitland with a detachment of the fiftieth regiment; Colonel Myers with five companies of the first battalion of grenadiers, and five companies of the third battalion of light infantry, (for the same purpose of co-operating with General Dundas) had marched from Camp la Coste towards Trinité.

The fleet on their arrival in the bay prepared for instant operation. Colonel Symes, with the troops and seamen who were to land with him, had, previous to their entering the bay, embarked on board of the Zebra and Nautilus sloops, and some other vessels,[Pg 41] which, being small, could get nearer the shore, thereby rendering the debarkation of the troops much less difficult.

In the evening of Feb. 16th they began to work towards the north part of the bay, beyond the Jesuits' College, the other men of war standing towards the town to cover them. About eleven o'clock the vessels with troops and seamen on board were under a cross fire from two batteries of red hot shot, which happily did them no damage, though they fell round and near them. Captain Harvey in the Santa Margarita, perceiving the troops were likely to be much annoyed, went close under the guns of the most considerable of the two batteries, which he silenced; and about four in the morning of the 17th the troops and seamen made good their landing, and found that the enemy had left the other battery. During the night the Vesuvius bomb did much execution with her shells, many of them falling in the town, to which it set fire in some places: the fire however was soon extinguished. The batteries in the town and on the adjacent hills kept up a constant fire of shot and shells on the men of war, as they advanced towards the town, which was returned with great spirit. The Santa Margarita was struck with a shell, which fortunately neither fired her, nor did any considerable damage. Colonel Symes on landing advanced with the troops towards St. Pierre, which the enemy evacuated on his approach, leaving their guns primed and loaded, and their colours flying, which were hauled down by our people, and the British union hoisted. About ten the whole of the troops and seamen had marched into the town. No man was suffered[Pg 42] to quit his ranks, nor was the least injury done to any of the inhabitants, who, with the women and children, sat at their doors and windows to see our army march in, the same as when troops pass through a town in England. While our men were drawn up in the market place, a flag of truce came in from General Dundas, who with his army was on the hills near the town, and was on his march to attack it. This flag was in answer to one sent by the enemy to him, offering to capitulate. The officer who brought the flag was agreeably surprised to find on his entering the town that it was already in the possession of his countrymen. In the evening General Dundas with the army marched in; and having taken possession of the government-house, he instantly established quiet and good order in the town. As our troops marched into St. Pierre a drummer was discovered in the act of plundering one of the peaceable inhabitants, for which he was instantly hung up at the gate of the Jesuits' College, by order of the provost marshal. In the evening the seamen embarked on board their respective ships. The men of war having anchored in the bay, were busily employed in taking an account of and unbending the sails of the different ships in the harbour. Unfortunately at day-break of this morning, when the town surrendered, a schooner got out of the south side of the bay, in which it was reported there was a considerable quantity of money and some people of distinction. She passed within gun-shot of the Santa Margarita, who (for some reason or other) did not fire at her to bring her to. The next morning the Santa Margarita sailed to Fort Royal bay with Mons. [Pg 43] Au Cane [14], the mayor of St. Pierre, and Abbé Maunier, the vicar general of the island, and other prisoners.

St. Pierre is a long handsome town, situated on the shore of an open bay, and flanked by a strong battery at either end; also defended by two redoubts on the hills which overhang the town. The surrounding country rises in a succession of hills beautifully variegated with woods and sugar plantations; and near the town are some fine gardens, which before the revolution had been kept up in a superior stile of elegance and convenience. Each street of this beautiful town is watered by a clear stream from the mountains, running rapidly down the middle, which adds greatly to the health as well as convenience of the place. The streets in general are narrow and rough paved, but very regular; the houses are built of a fine stone like free-stone, the lower apartments of which were in general handsomely, and sometimes superbly, furnished.

There are two convents of nuns, one dedicated to St. Ursuline, the other called Les Blancs. The Ursuline convent has very beautiful gardens, situated at the declivity of a hill, which rises immediately behind the town: it was in a wretched state when we took it, the poor nuns having been deprived of their revenues by the revolutionists. Near this convent is a neat church,[Pg 44] whose high altar, as well as pavement, is of good marble. Not far from the church is the opera house, which, from its high roof, is a very conspicuous object. Towards the south end of the town is the church of Notre Dame de bon Porte du Mouillage (of which Pere Maunier, one of the chiefs of the revolution, was curé). It is a handsome building: round the grand altar (which is of polished and well sculptured marble) are several tolerable paintings of saints and the Virgin Mary, as large as life. Over the bridge, at the north end of the town, is another large church, and several others, small and mean in their outward appearance and inside decorations. I was informed that most of these churches were well endowed before the revolution, and the religious houses were amply provided for, as is the case in all parts of the new world where the Roman Catholic religion is professed.

At the northern extremity of St. Pierre is a spacious handsome house, with good offices, stables, and gardens, which formerly belonged to the Jesuits, in whose district the town and surrounding country is situated. The Capuchins and Dominicans had the two other parts of the island.—The government-house, which on our taking it was inhabited by Au Cane, the mayor, is conveniently situated near the centre of the town, and was formed for the residence of the chief magistrate or governor of the island. The rooms are large and lofty, and there is a good garden at the back of the house, in which, amongst a variety of fruit trees, was a fine bread-fruit tree: how it came there, I could[Pg 45] not learn, unless some French ships had paid a visit to the islands in the South Sea, for the same purpose that our ships of late have made that voyage; but then I think more of the trees would have been seen in this and the neighbouring French islands.—Towards the southern end of the town is a large and commodious hospital, which had good revenues attached to it, and was well regulated and attended. This we found of infinite use for our sick and wounded, who were far better provided for here than they could be in the hospital ships, or with the army.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ENEMY RETIRE INTO FORT BOURBON AND FORT LOUIS … THE ADMIRAL ATTACKS FORT LOUIS WITH THE BOMB-KETCH AND GUN-BOATS … CAMP OF SEAMEN FORMED AT POINT NEGRO … A WHARF BUILT IN THE CUL DE SAC DE COHEE, STORES AND AMMUNITION LANDED THERE … GENERAL BELLGARDE ATTEMPTS TO CUT OFF THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ARMY AND NAVY, BUT IS BEATEN, AND HIS CAMP ON SOURIER TAKEN … HEAD-QUARTERS ESTABLISHED ON SOURIER … GENERAL ROCHAMBEAU SENDS AN AID DE CAMP TO THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF … THE NAVY MAKE A ROAD, AND DRAG THE GUNS TO THE HEIGHTS OF SOURIER.

St. Pierre being now captured [15], the enemy's strength was concentrated in one point at Forts Louis and Bourbon: the latter is a work of late date, being built under the directions of the present Marquis de Bouillé, and is a well planned as well as strongly situated fortification; but in this mountainous country it is hardly[Pg 48] possible to find any spot that may not be commanded by some neighbouring height, unless on the tops of the mountains, where it would be difficult to procure water and provisions sufficient for the subsistence of an army during a siege of any length. The town of Fort Royal is situated on a flat and swampy ground, at the foot of the hill on which is Fort Bourbon; and Fort Louis, the ancient strong-hold of this island, is on a neck of land running into the sea, and forms one side of the Carénage, an excellent harbour for shipping of all kinds.—The Admiral, from the day he anchored in Fort Royal Bay, began a heavy cannonade on Fort Louis. The Vesuvius bomb, commanded by Captain Sawyer, and under the direction of Captain Suckling of the artillery, threw shells into the fort from an eighteen-inch and twelve-inch mortar with great effect; and as soon as the evening shut in, the gun-boats, attended by several row-boats from the ships in the fleet (to assist in case of their being sunk by the enemy's shot) moved towards the mouth of the Carénage, and commenced a brisk fire on the fort, which was generally returned with equal spirit; but, from the smallness of the object, and frequently shifting their situation, they were less often hit than could have been expected, considering that they constantly were within the range of grape-shot, which fell in showers round them. Towards day-break they returned to their respective ships.—In the night of February 15th, the second and third companies of seamen, under the command of Lieutenants Miln and Ogle, left the Boyne; and, with other seamen from the fleet, the whole under command of Captain Rogers of the Quebec,[Pg 49] landed at Cas Navire, and (occupying the posts that the troops under Colonel Myers had that day quitted, to assist in the attack on St. Pierre) formed a camp near Point Negro.—Our shipping having now, by the capture of Pigeon Island, free ingress to Fort Royal bay, most of the transports and store-ships, under convoy of his majesty's ships Santa Margarita, Solebay, Nautilus, &c. got up into the Cul de sac de Cohée, an harbour at the north-east end of the bay, from whence they had a communication with the army under Sir Charles Grey, and where they built a wharf to land provisions and stores; and a chain of posts was established from thence to the heights of Bruno, on which duty the fifteenth and twentieth regiments were employed.—On February 18th in the morning, General Bellgarde moved with nearly his whole force from his camp on the heights of Sourier, to attack the landing-place in the Cul de sac de Cohée, and by that means to cut off the communication between the army and the fleet. Sir Charles Grey, with that quickness of perception that has rendered him so often useful to his country, instantly perceived his design, and without loss of time ordered the grenadiers, under the command of Colonel Buckridge, and the light infantry, under that of Colonel Coote, to advance with the utmost expedition, and attack Mons. Bellgarde's camp at Sourier; and detached a strong corps from the heights of Bruno to support them. They began their attack on the enemy in the wood; and having driven them from thence, began to mount the rugged and almost inaccessible sides of the hill on which Sourier was situated. The troops gallantly[Pg 50] forced their way through every obstruction, and mounted the heights under a heavy fire from the retreating enemy, whom they fairly drove up the precipice, and gained the heights, where they found an excellent dinner (provided for Bellgarde and his people) to refresh them after their fatigue. Our loss in this affair [16] was by no means so great as might have been expected, considering the length of ground, and the many disadvantages under which our troops engaged. While this was doing, General Sir Charles Grey cannonaded Bellgarde from the camp at Bruno, whose troops soon retired in confusion to their late camp at Sourier, which they found occupied by the British grenadiers, who turned their own guns on them (consisting of three brass field pieces), and drove them in confusion under the walls of Fort Bourbon. Our soldiers could not now be restrained, but with an impetuosity that General Prescott could not for the moment prevent, advanced so near the fort, that the enemy opening a heavy fire of grape shot on them, obliged them at length to retire with some loss to their new acquisition on Sourier, a post which Sir Charles Grey had intended to have attacked the following day, as being absolutely necessary to enable him to carry on his plan of attack against Fort Bourbon, and which the temerity of Bellgarde had thus put into his hands a day sooner.—The whole business of this action was conducted in such a manner, that each individual concerned partook[Pg 51] of the glory of it; and when considered as to its utility, it was perhaps one of the most fortunate, as well as the best conducted, enterprises that happened throughout the campaign. The day after this event General Rochambeau, who commanded in Fort Bourbon, sent an aid de camp on board the Boyne, who went thence with Captain Grey to the Commander in Chief at head quarters. The terms of capitulation that he brought were, that the whole island should be delivered to the English on condition that, in case Louis the Seventeenth should ever come to the throne, it should be restored to him; if not, and the republic should be established, it should be given up to that government. The Commander in Chief returned for answer, 'that he came expressly to take this island for his Britannic Majesty; and that he hoped to take all the French islands in this quarter on the same account.'—The troops now pitched their tents, and formed their camp on Sourier. General Prescott's quarters were in this camp, where he commanded; and Sir Charles Grey established his head quarters at a small distance in the rear.—General Dundas having arranged every thing relative to the government of St. Pierre, left Colonel Myers of the fifteenth regiment with the battalions of the fifty-eighth and sixty-fifth regiments to garrison that town, and on February 20th embarked with the grenadiers on board the Veteran for Fort Royal Bay. The morning following they disembarked in the Cul de sac de Cohée, and marched directly to head quarters at Sourier, where they pitched their tents, and with regret parted from General Dundas, their commander hitherto,[Pg 52] who went to Camp la Coste to take the command of the light infantry.—The artillery, artificers, and engineers, were now busily employed in landing stores and ammunition preparatory to the formation of the batteries necessary for the siege; in which business they received great assistance from a body of seamen landed for that purpose: three hundred of these brave fellows were landed at the wharf in the Cul de sac Cohée from his majesty's ships Santa Margarita, Captain Harvey, with his Lieutenants Woolley and Harrison; the Solebay, Captain Kelly, with Lieutenants Carthew and Schomberg; and Nautilus sloop, Captain Carpenter; with Lieutenant Bennet, Lieutenant Collins, and a party of marines, from the Santa Margarita. They instantly began to proceed with a twenty-four pounder and two six pounders [17] towards Sourier. They halted with the twenty-four pounder that evening on the side of the road between Fort Royal and the town of Lamantin, as they were obliged to cut a road through a thick wood for nearly a mile. The next day they completed the road, and also made a sort of bridge, or rather passage, across a river, which at times was of considerable depth, though fortunately there was now only four feet water in it. This they effected by filling it up with large stones and branches of trees, and then they proceeded with the twenty-four pounder and two eight-inch howitzers, which they left that night in charge of a piquet from the post above mentioned. On the third day they, to the[Pg 53] astonishment of the whole army, got a twenty-four pounder to the heights of Sourier before the night shut in, and two howitzers within a mile of it; and to add to the difficulty, a considerable part of that day was employed in levelling the banks of the river that runs by Dillon's plantation, and making it fordable, by removing immense stones and fragments of rock. On the fourth day (notwithstanding they were obliged to employ a considerable party in making the road more complete) they got the two howitzers above mentioned, and two more twenty-four pounders, to the heights of Sourier. The distance from the wharf to those heights is near five miles; and when we consider that the road was to be formed for near four miles of the way, one of which was through a very thick wood, and that, as they approached the heights of Sourier, for near a mile the road was so steep, that a loaded mule could not walk directly up it, it seems scarce credible that so small a number as three hundred men should be able to have undergone such severe fatigue, considering the climate and the nature of the soil, which was a very stiff clay, intermixed with large rock stones.—A few days after, a reinforcement of seamen was landed from the Veteran, Captain Nugent, with Lieutenants Leaf and Whitlock, and the Winchelsea, Lord Viscount Garlies, with his Lieutenants Dixon and Watson; also Lieutenant Treminere of the marines, with a sergeant's party. They took post by the side of the road leading from Lamantin to Fort Royal, where the first twenty-four pounder was halted.—The first party of seamen took post on the banks of the river running past Dillon's[Pg 54] plantation, at the foot of the heights of Sourier. But the Veteran being wanted for other service, in the course of the week one hundred and fifty men were reimbarked on board her, and the Winchelsea's crew joined the former party. The compliments paid the seamen in general orders for their spirited conduct, is a convincing proof that they never once relaxed from their first exertions from the beginning of the siege to the surrender of Fort Bourbon, a period of five weeks. Indeed their astonishing exertions were almost beyond probability: after rain (which in this climate is frequent) the steep parts of the road were so slippery, that a man even with the greatest care would frequently slip back ten and sometimes twenty feet at a time: but so determined were the honest tars not to fail in what they undertook, that when once they set out with their gun after a heavy rain, and they found it impossible to keep their feet, they have crawled up as they dragged the twenty-four pounder, and kept themselves from sliding back by sticking their fingers in the ground. But among the many compliments paid the seamen, none pleased them so much as having a battery appointed solely for them [18], where they used to relieve one another by turns, without even an additional allowance of grog as an encouragement. Sir Charles Grey paid[Pg 55] the highest compliments to the zeal and ability with which the Admiral seconded all his plans. Indeed there never was an instance in which two commanders carried on a business of such importance so unalloyed by the least difference in opinion, or jealousy of command: each strove to prove his readiness to assist his friend and colleague; of course every thing succeeded, and was carried on with a promptness of execution that seldom has been equalled, never exceeded.

CHAPTER VII.

FORTS BOURBON AND LOUIS CLOSELY INVESTED … BATTERIES ON THE FIRST PARALLEL ERECTED … THE SEAMEN EMPLOYED IN GETTING GUNS TO THE BATTERIES ON THE WEST SIDE … A DANGEROUS PASS DESCRIBED … CAPTAIN MILN MORTALLY WOUNDED; HE DIES; HIS CHARACTER … BELLGARDE DELIVERS HIMSELF AND ARMY INTO THE HANDS OF SIR CHARLES GREY … HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE EDWARD ARRIVES, AND TAKES A COMMAND … BATTERIES OPENED AGAINST FORT BOURBON … LIEUTENANT BOWEN'S SPIRITED CONDUCT … FORT LOUIS TAKEN BY STORM … CAPTAIN FAULKNOR'S GALLANT CONDUCT … FORT BOURBON SURRENDERS.

From the 20th of February Forts Bourbon and Louis, with the town of Fort Royal, were completely invested, and the General was busily employed in erecting batteries on his first parallel. On the north-east side the army under General Prescott broke ground on the 25th of February, and on the west side towards La Coste (where Sir Charles Gordon commanded, Prince Edward not having as yet arrived from Canada) fascine batteries[Pg 58] for mortars and cannon were erecting with every possible expedition. In this business the seamen, who formed a camp at Point Negro under Captain Josias Rogers of the Quebec, eminently distinguished themselves; and though the roads were not quite so bad as on the Sourier side, yet they had many severe difficulties to encounter, that rendered dragging the mortars and heavy ordnance to the batteries fatiguing and hazardous in a great degree. Part of the way which they were obliged to go was in sight of Fort Bourbon; soon after which they descended into a hollow way or ravine, where a rivulet invited them to refresh themselves, and it was with difficulty their officers could prevent them from slaking their thirst at this stream, which crossed them at a time when the fatigue and heat they sustained rendered the temptation almost irresistible, especially to men fearless of danger, and thoughtless to a proverb. No sooner did they begin to descend into this ravine, than the enemy threw their shells with such judgment, that they frequently fell at the moment our people were passing the rivulet. It was in the afternoon of the 22d of February that Lieutenant James Miln of the Boyne was proceeding with his company of seamen to relieve those who had been the fore-part of the day at work on one of the advanced batteries, and having been observed on his march by the enemy in Fort Bourbon, they as usual began to fire their mortars into the ravine; Mr. Miln, who, added to the greatest courage, possessed much prudence, was hurrying his men through this dangerous pass, and was in the act of calling to two men who were [Pg 59] drinking at the rivulet (the rest of his company having passed on), when a shell burst near him, carried off one of his legs, and shattered the other in a dreadful manner. At the same time one of the men, who had loitered, lost a leg. In this dreadful situation he was carried two miles to Sir Charles Gordon's camp, before his wounds could be bound up, and from thence to his own quarters at Point Negro, where he suffered amputation of one leg. The next day the surgeon general of the navy went to him from the Boyne, and finding his situation dangerous in the extreme, having no better place than the ground, in an open sugar-house, part of which was the head quarters of the naval officers, and being within range of the enemy's guns, which frequently threw their shot and shells over him, he was conveyed to the royal hospital at St. Pierre; but from the loss of blood he had sustained, and the nature of the climate, he was seized with the lock jaw, of which he died on Sunday the 9th of March, and the next day was buried in the garden of the hospital with the honours of war, together with Lieutenants Spencer and Rosehill [19] of the Beaulieu, and Lieutenant Smith of the fifty-eighth regiment. The burial service was performed by the Chaplain [20] of the Boyne, and attended by Colonel Myers, commandant of St. Pierre, Captain Salisbury of the Beaulieu, and the other naval and military officers, and the principal English gentlemen who were in that [Pg 60] town. The Admiral, who always distinguished merit, and rewarded it when in his power, had promoted Mr. Miln [21] to the command of the Avenger sloop, late Marseillois, taken at St. Pierre.

Bellgarde found it in vain to attempt any thing further, after his last shameful defeat; and being with his black army shut out of Fort Bourbon by General Rochambeau (who, when he retreated after the loss of his camp on Sourier under cover of the fire of that fort, shut the gates against him), he now determined to make the best bargain he could for himself; and accordingly on the 25th of February sent a message to Sir Charles Grey, offering to give up his army, on condition that himself, and certain others that he named, should be permitted to go to America; which request the Commander in Chief complied with; and on the 4th of March, Bellgarde, with his secretary, a white man, by whose councils he had always been guided, and eight people of colour, [Pg 61] sailed in a schooner for America, whither he had taken the precaution at various times to forward a quantity of wealth against any change of circumstances should make such a retreat desirable [22].

On Tuesday the 4th of March his Royal Highness Prince Edward arrived at this island, and was received with a royal salute from the fleet. Immediately he took the command of that brigade of the army encamped on the Cas Navire side, and at La Coste, which had hitherto been under the direction of Sir Charles Gordon [23].—Intelligence having reached the Commander in Chief that a number of brigands, composed of some runaways from Bellgarde's army, and other wretches, had committed many depredations and murders, pillaging and burning houses and villages in several parts of the island; he dispatched a detachment of the fifteenth regiment, commanded by Lord Sinclair, with a party of the Prince of Wales's light dragoons, commanded by Lieut. Shadwell, and conducted by Captain Cunningham (one of his Excellency's aid de camps), who surprised one hundred and fifty of these people in the act of burning and plundering the village of Francois [24]. At the first charge the enemy were routed, thirty-six of them, with their chief (who was cut down by a dragoon), were killed, and four taken prisoners, who were instantly hung up, to[Pg 62] deter others from such infamous acts as had been committed by these miscreants.—Every preparation was now made for opening our batteries against Fort Bourbon, which were constructed only about eight hundred paces from the fort, and about six hundred in front of our own lines. These batteries would have been constructed much sooner, but, owing to the heavy rains that fell almost constantly, and which, at this season of the year, were unusual, the works had been greatly retarded, and the difficulties encreased. On the morning of the 6th of March, every thing being ready for a heavy cannonade, Sir Charles Grey sent a flag of truce with a summons to the garrison to surrender, which was refused by General Rochambeau. Accordingly, at day-break on the 7th (the gun-boats having as usual attacked Fort Louis during the night) mortars, howitzers, and great guns, opened from five batteries at the same instant, keeping up an incessant fire on the fort and advanced redoubt the whole of that day and the night, from each of which it was returned with equal fury. All the following day the same spirited attack and defence was continued. On the 9th the enemy made a sortie from the fort, and attacked the advanced picquet from the camp at La Coste, composed of part of the third battalion of light infantry, and some sailors under command of Captain Faulknor of the Zebra. After an engagement of some length the enemy gave way, and were imprudently followed by our troops under the guns of the fort; by this excess of ardour we lost some men, while the enemy suffered but little. The gun-boats and Vesuvius now kept up a[Pg 63] constant fire from Fort Royal Bay: in the former two seamen were killed by grape, and part of the head of the bomb ketch was shot away. On the 13th a melancholy accident occurred in one of our batteries, which was formed and manned entirely by seamen. Captain Faulknor of the Zebra, who commanded in it, being provoked by the interference of an officer of artillery in the works which one of the seamen of the Asia was employed in, and the sailor not obeying him with alacrity, was provoked to strike him with his sword, which unfortunately wounded him mortally, and he died in a few minutes. Captain Faulknor was acquitted by the court martial that was instantly summoned by the Admiral to investigate the matter; and the circumstance of its happening in the heat of action, when the least disobedience of orders involves the most fatal consequences, as well, as that it appeared there was no premeditated intention of killing the unfortunate man, but was a blow given from the impulse of momentary passion; the sentence was confirmed and approved.—From this time the siege was carried on with unremitted exertion by night and day; shot and shells were constantly flying, and new batteries daily constructed; so that our advanced batteries were at length brought within five hundred yards of the fort, and not more than two hundred from the redoubt: the latter indeed was so battered, that it might with ease have been stormed; but the General knew that a mine which communicated from the fort would involve in certain destruction all who attempted so desperate an action; and therefore preferred the more sure means of success, by regular[Pg 64] and methodical approaches. On Monday the 17th of March two new batteries opened on Fort Louis from Point Carriere, a neck of land that forms the south-west side of the Carénage, and not more than two hundred yards across the mouth of that harbour to the walls of the fort; one of these was commanded by Captain Riou [25] of the Rose.—The French had a fine frigate called the Bienvenu, which was anchored in the centre of the Carénage, on board of which it was reported a number of English prisoners were confined, and were consequently exposed to the fire of our batteries. Lieut. Bowen of the Boyne formed a resolution to extricate his countrymen from their perilous situation; and having obtained the Admiral's permission, and approbation of his plan, at noon he boldly pushed into the harbour from Point Carriere, where he had collected his boats destined for the enterprise, well manned by tried and determined seamen. The instant he appeared round the point, the enemy prepared to give him a warm reception. The walls of Fort Louis were covered in an instant with troops, which kept up an incessant fire of musquetry on him; at the same time the frigate endeavoured to keep him off, by plying both her great guns and small arms; but at length, intimidated by the boldness of the attempt, they fled from their quarters, and Mr. Bowen at the head of his men boarded the frigate, and took the captain, officers, and crew of her prisoners without resistance. All this time the enemy in the fort continued to pour vollies of[Pg 65] grape and musketry on the frigate, which was returned with great spirit by the British seamen, who now turned their own guns upon them, and would have brought her out of the harbour, but the sails being all unbent, it was impossible in such a situation to bend them: the tri-coloured flag, which was fastened to the gaff of the mizen, they were not able to strike, though a sailor had the audacity to go aloft for that purpose, scorning the musketry of the enemy. Mr. Bowen, seeing no chance of getting the ship out of the harbour, and finding that the English prisoners were in another vessel further up, from whence it was rendered impossible to release them, contented himself with securing the officers and crew of the frigate, whom he brought off, in spite of every effort made by the republicans to prevent him. As the bullets were flying thick around him, he suffered the Frenchmen to lie down in the bottom of the boats, that they might not be killed by their own countrymen; a very different conduct from what they had observed to our people who were in the same situation [26]. In this business he lost only three men killed, and four or five wounded. The success of this enterprise gave the Commanders in Chief confidence, that a spirited attack by land and sea on Fort Louis would succeed. Accordingly the Admiral ordered a number of bamboos of thirty feet long to be cut and made into scaling ladders, connected with strong line. The gun-boats and row-boats were collected in the bay round the Point Carriere, and the sailors' camp at Point Negro, with Prince Edward's camp at La[Pg 66] Coste and Cas Navire, held themselves in readiness to co-operate in the grand attack. The navy to be employed in this business was under the immediate direction of Commodore Thompson. On Thursday the 20th of March, before day-break, the third battalion of grenadiers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Buckridge, and the first battalion of light infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Coote, marched by the hill on which Fort Bourbon is situated from the camp on Sourier, unperceived by the enemy, and took a position that gave them the command of the bridge that connected the town of Fort Royal to the road leading up to that fort, the batteries on the second parallel being ready, those on Morne Tortenson and Point Carriere kept up a well-directed and heavy fire on Fort Louis, and all the other batteries cannonaded Fort Bourbon during the whole of the day and night of the 19th instant, and on the morning also, till about ten o'clock, when the Asia of 64 guns, Captain Browne, and the Zebra sloop of 16 guns, Captain R. Faulknor, got under way. The Zebra led in towards the mouth of the harbour, receiving the fire of grape and round, without returning a shot: the Asia had got within the range of grape shot, when, to the surprise of every body, she wore and made sail from the fort [27]. The Admiral, Sir John Jervis, had previously made the signal for the rest of the fleet to be ready to second the attempt of these two ships, by loosing the topsails of the Boyne, and lying at single anchor ready[Pg 67] to slip and run in; on perceiving the Asia was foiled in her attempt, and supposing, as she was under a heavy fire from the fort, that either Captain Browne was killed, or that some other desperate accident had happened, he instantly dispatched Captain George Grey of the Boyne to take the command of the Asia, and if he could not get in, to run her aground under the walls of the fort. Captain Grey soon returned, and brought the pleasing intelligence that not a man was hurt on board of the Asia. She then stood in again, and again put about, when near the mouth of the harbour, and sailed from it. Captain Faulknor, seeing that he stood no chance of being seconded by the Asia, and being all this time under a dreadful fire from Fort Louis, boldly pushed in towards that fort, still reserving his fire till he came close to the walls of it; and then running his ship aground, plying his small arms and great guns, he drove the enemy from thence, and leaping into a boat, scaled the ramparts. Seeing the Zebra go in, all the boats with scaling ladders, attended by the gun-boats, seemed to fly towards the scene of action. Those from Point Carriere mounted the walls near where Captain Faulknor had so gallantly run his ship, and seconding him, drove the enemy out of the fort, hauled down the republican flag, and hoisted the British union in its stead [28]. The storming party of seamen from the camp at Point Negro, under Captain Rogers, landed at the town of Fort Royal, of which they soon took possession, being aided by[Pg 68] the first battalion of grenadiers, under Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, and third light infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Close, from Prince Edward's camp at La Coste.—While this was doing, Lieutenant Colonel Coote kept up a heavy fire of musketry on the bridge and road, over which the enemy were retreating to throw themselves into Fort Bourbon; and Captain de Revigne covering the attack of the infantry by a well-directed fire of some field pieces, the whole action was so eminently successful in every part, that it is hard to say where was the greatest glory, every one performing the service allotted to him in so excellent a manner. General Rochambeau, seeing that all resistance would now be useless, Fort Royal, his grand depôt of provisions and ammunition, being lost, sent a flag to General Grey, offering terms of capitulation; and commissioners being named, who met at the house of Madame Dillon to arrange the preliminary articles of it, the terms were finally adjusted and agreed to on the 22d instant; and the ratification thereof being signed by the Commanders in Chief on both sides, on the 23d following, at four o'clock in the afternoon, his Royal Highness Major General Prince Edward took possession of both gates of the fort with the first and third battalions of grenadiers, and first and third light infantry. On Tuesday the 25th of March, 1794, the garrison marched out of Fort Bourbon, to the number of nine hundred men; and being allowed the honours of war for their gallant [29] defence,[Pg 69] they marched down the hill with their colours flying; and laying down their arms on the parade of Fort Royal, were embarked on board of ships which took them immediately to France. Our troops, both army and that part of the navy that had served (during the siege) on shore, lined the road as the enemy passed; and entering the fort, they struck the French and hoisted the British colours, changing the name from Fort Bourbon to Fort George, in compliment to our gracious Sovereign, which it now bears, and Fort Louis bears the name of Fort Edward.—At the commencement of the siege the garrison of Fort Bourbon consisted of one thousand two hundred men, which were reduced to nine hundred at the conclusion of it. Five stands of colours laid down by the garrison, and two colours of Fort Bourbon, were brought to England by Major Grey, second son of his Excellency the Commander in Chief, and presented by him (with the dispatches) to his Majesty, who ordered them to be hung up in the Cathedral of St. Paul, as a lasting memorial of the gallant action atchieved by Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis, and their brave forces [30]; by[Pg 70] which one of the most valuable of the French islands in the West Indies was added to the British dominions, possessing (besides great revenues and prodigious sources of wealth) one of the finest harbours in the world, in which the whole British fleet might safely anchor.

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION OF FORT BOURBON.

On the 21st of March, 1794, by order of their Excellencies Sir Charles Grey, K. B. General and Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's forces in the West Indies, &c. &c. &c. and Vice Admiral Sir John Jervis, K. B. commanding his Majesty's fleet, &c. &c. Commodore C. Thompson, Colonel R. Symes, and Captain J. Conyngham, met at Dillon's house to receive proposals of capitulation for Fort Bourbon, from Colonel d'Aucourt, Captain Dupriret, and Gaschet Dumaine, jun. nominated Commissioners for that purpose by General Rochambeau.

The following Articles were proposed, discussed, and modified, at a second conference held at Fort Royal on the 22d of March, 1794.

Article I. The garrison, composed of the troops of the line, artillery, gunners of the marine, and national guard, shall march out with colours flying, thirty rounds a man, and two field pieces with twelve rounds.—Answer. The colony of Martinique, already reduced by the arms of his Britannic Majesty, and the forts and towns of St. Pierre and Fort Royal taken with sword in hand, General Rochambeau can only capitulate for Fort Bourbon, and what it contains.—Granted. But they are to lay down their arms at a place appointed,[Pg 71] and not to serve against his Britannic Majesty, or his allies, during the present war.

II. Three months pay to be allowed to the troops of the line.—Answer. No pay will be given. All their effects will be allowed them; and they will be provided with whatever may be necessary for their voyage to France.

III. The thirty-seventh regiment, formerly Marshal Turenne's, shall keep their colours and arms.—Answer. Refused, being contrary to all customs of war. The officers may keep their swords.

IV. They shall be furnished with ships to carry them to France.—Answer. Granted.

V. The emigrants, who have returned to Martinique, shall not be present where the garrison lay down their arms or embark.—Answer. Granted.

VI. Such persons of the national guard, who can give proofs of their property, shall be permitted to remain in the island, giving that property as security for their conduct.—Answer. Those of the national guard in Fort Bourbon who have affairs to settle, and whose sojourn may not be deemed dangerous to the colony, may remain according to the declaration of the General, dated January 1, 1794.

Such as wish to go to France shall be allowed, leaving their agents here.—Answer. Granted.

VII. Persons not included in the above article, who are compelled to return to France, shall be allowed a certain time to settle their affairs.—Answer. A proper time shall be allowed: fifteen days at least.

VIII. Persons belonging to the garrison of Fort Convention, possessing no landed property, but who exercised some profession or trade previous to the present capitulation, shall be allowed to continue their trade or calling; nor sent to France, provided their future conduct should not make such a measure necessary.—Answer. They are regarded in the same predicament with those in Article VI.

IX. The legal regulations of the constituted authorities shall be confirmed.—Answer. Refused.

[Pg 72] X. The code of civil judicature in force through the island shall be continued for the space of two years.—Answer. Granted, till his Britannic Majesty's pleasure be known.

XI. The property of owners and captains of ships shall be secured to them on board and on shore.—Answer. Granted, as to their property in Fort Bourbon.

XII. The inhabitants of St. Pierre, embarked on English ships, shall be set at liberty, and their property, under seal, secured to them.—Answer. This article cannot come within the present capitulation. The claimants may apply to the commanders of the fleet and army.

XIII. The ordonateur and officers of administration shall have permission and time to regulate their accounts, and to take with them the papers relative to that end.—Answer. Granted.

XIV. There shall be an entire and absolute oblivion of the past, and an end to all animosities.—Answer. Granted, according to the proclamations.

XV. The rights of free citizens inrolled in the national guard shall be preserved.—Answer. Refused.

XVI. The liberty of individuals composing the companies of l'Enclume, d'Octavius, de la Croire, and de Pontouur, shall be confirmed.—Answer. Refused. The slaves must be restored to their owners.

XVII. A period shall be fixed for the taking possession of the fort, and the necessary time allowed for the garrison to take out their effects.—Answer. The two gates of Fort Bourbon to be delivered up to the troops of his Britannic Majesty immediately after the exchange of the present articles. The garrison will march out at the great gate, and be conducted to the place appointed for each corps, by the commissioners who have managed the present capitulation, and will lay down their arms at the place of their embarkation. Three days will be allowed for the evacuation of the fort, and the commissaries of artillery and stores will remain in the forts to take inventories of all the magazines.

[Pg 73] XVIII. The greatest attention shall be paid to the sick and wounded; and they shall be furnished with ships to carry them to France as they recover.—Answer. Granted; but at the expence of the French government, and to be attended by their own surgeons; if not sufficient for the purpose, surgeons shall be furnished.

XIX. General Rochambeau, immediately upon the surrender of the fort, shall be at liberty to take his measures for his return to France. A frigate to be furnished him, his aides de camp, secretaries, and suite.—Answer. A commodious vessel shall be allowed to General Rochambeau, with the necessary passports for his safe return to France.

XX. The effects, trunks, chests, private papers, and all that General Rochambeau shall declare to belong to himself and suite, shall be put under the protection of an English guard, when the troops of that nation shall have taken possession of Fort Convention, and shall be embarked with him.—Answer. Granted.

XXI. The civil ordonateur, or intendant of the colony, shall have liberty also, with the officers of administration, comptroller and treasurer, with those employed in the public offices at St. Pierre and Fort Royal, to return to France.—Answer. Granted.

XXII. The same demands made by General Rochambeau in Art. XX. shall be granted to the intendant and those under him.—Answer. Granted.

XXIII. All papers of accounts in the forts or town shall be carefully collected by the principals of each department to which they belong, and embarked in the same ship with the ordonateur.—Answer. All papers, not essential to be left in the colony, shall be given, and free access to take authentic copies of such as it may be thought necessary to retain.

XXIV. Captains and officers of merchant ships, who have not settled their affairs, shall be allowed time to do so. The former the space of four months, the latter of two months, under the protection of the commander of his Britannic Majesty's forces, that they may recover their debts; after which they will [Pg 74] procure the readiest passage to whatever place may be expedient for their affairs, with passports from the English commanders.—Answer. Granted.

Additional Article. Fort Bourbon to be delivered up to his Britannic Majesty in its present state, with no deterioration of its batteries, mines, magazines of artillery or provisions, and every thing it contains which is not the private property of the garrison.

Fort Royal, March 22, 1794.

Signed.
D'Aucourt. Gaschet, Fils. Dupriret.		C. Thompson. Rich. Symes. John Conyngham.

Approved by me,		Approved by us,
Dte. Rochambeau Commander in Chief of the French West India Islands.		Charles Grey. John Jervis.

On the 21st of March Captain Faulknor was promoted from the Zebra sloop to the command of the Bienvenue French frigate of 40 guns, taken in the Carénage of Fort Royal, and which was now named the Undaunted by the Admiral, to express the greatness of that action, which finished the capture of the whole island. At the same time Lieutenant Bowen was promoted to the command of the Zebra sloop, for his gallant conduct on the 17th instant, as well as at various other times.

[Pg 75] The gun-boats, which by the French were called "Les Petit Diables," were of infinite service, and gained the officers commanding them immortal credit, by the steady and well-directed fire they kept up constantly, both night and day, on Fort Louis; and though continually exposed to an heavy fire both of grape and round shot, their loss was small, not more than four killed and wounded, during the siege. The several ships of the line contributed their aid, by sending row-boats armed to attend them in case of accident.

CHAPTER VIII.

GENERAL PRESCOTT IS LEFT GOVERNOR OF MARTINIQUE … THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF SAIL FOR ST. LUCIA … GENERAL DUNDAS LANDS NEAR PIGEON ISLAND … THE FLEET ANCHORS AT MARIGOT DE ROSSEAUX … PRINCE EDWARD LANDS WITH THE GRENADIERS, AND MARCHES TOWARDS MORNE FORTUNE … COLONEL COOTE LANDS WITH THE LIGHT INFANTRY … THE FLEET ANCHORS IN BARRINGTON'S BAY … COLONEL COOTE STORMS A REDOUBT ON THE MORNE … GENERAL RICARD SURRENDERS THE ISLAND … COLONEL SIR CHARLES GORDON LEFT GOVERNOR OF ST. LUCIA … THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF SAIL TO MARTINIQUE.

His Excellency the Commander in Chief, having left Lieutenant General Prescott to command at Martinique, with the fifteenth, thirty-ninth, fifty-eighth, sixty-fourth, and seventieth regiments to garrison that island, on the 30th of March he embarked the following troops on board his Majesty's ships in the bay of Fort Royal, viz. the brigade of grenadiers, commanded by his Royal Highness Prince Edward; the brigade of light infantry, under command of Major General Dundas; and the sixth, ninth, and[Pg 78] forty-third regiments, commanded by Colonel Sir Charles Gordon; with engineers under Colonel Dornford, and a detachment of Royal artillery, with some light ordnance, under Lieutenant Colonel Paterson.—On the 31st the Admiral made the signal for the fleet to sail by eleven A. M. and by half past nine the next morning was off the north part of the island of St. Lucia, where he lay to for the rest of the fleet that had fallen to leeward. Every thing having been previously arranged between the General and Admiral, they effected three different landings on the island with little resistance, and no loss. By half past one P. M. Major General Dundas's division, consisting of the third battalion of light infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Close, and conducted by Captains Kelly and Lord Garlies of the navy, made good their landing at Ance du Cap, not far from Le Gros Islet [31]; and the second light infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Blundell, conducted by Commodore Thompson, at Ance du Chocque, who were ordered to join the first column, taking the enemy's batteries in reverse, and to occupy a position for the purpose of investing the works of Morne Fortuné on the side of the Carénage; all which, notwithstanding a sharp fire kept up by the enemy from several small batteries, was executed by General Dundas with his usual spirit and abilities. As the Boyne and the rest of the fleet passed along the coast they received the fire of many small forts and batteries, without returning it; and though considerably within the range of their shot, which passed over and through their sails and[Pg 79] rigging, not a man was hurt in any of them. At four P. M. the fleet anchored in twenty fathom water, within a cable's length of the shore, at Marigot de Rofeaux; at which place his Royal Highness Prince Edward with the grenadiers landed about six o'clock in the evening, under the immediate direction of the Admiral, and began their march soon after. At night they halted on the heights opposite to Morne Fortuné, from which they were separated by the Grand Cul de Sac, or Barrington's Bay. Soon after sun-set, Lieutenant Colonel Coote, with the first battalion of light infantry, landed from the Boyne at Ance de la Tocque, proceeded to and took the four-gun battery of Ciceron, investing Morne Fortuné on that side; at the same time covering Cul de Sac, or Barrington's Bay, for the entrance of our fleet, which anchored there the next morning, being the 2d of April. This morning early the Prince dispatched two companies of grenadiers, with Lieutenant Smyth of the 7th regiment, his brigade major, to attack two batteries on the coast, which they found evacuated, with the tri-coloured flag still flying; this they brought off with them, and spiked the guns. Sir Charles Grey, visiting the Prince's quarters, found his men were halted in a very swampy and unhealthy place, and ordered them to change their ground, and move on to a house at the bottom of Morne Fortuné, which they performed that night without any loss, though part of their road (near a mile in length) was exposed to the fire of the fort on the Morne, as also of a little two-gun battery on a point of land under the fort, which, as they passed the ravine at the head of the Grand Cul de Sac, played[Pg 80] upon them with round shot and grape: however, the distance was too great for any mischief to happen from the latter. In their march they had to pass a swampy thicket of plantain trees, which concealed them from the view of the enemy, who nevertheless kept up a constant fire of random shot; and though the distance was now very trifling, and the cannonade extremely heavy for a long time, not a man was killed, and a few only slightly hurt by the splinters of stones and rock which flew in great plenty round them.—Early in the morning of the 3d of April, Lieutenant Colonel Coote, with four light companies, stormed a redoubt and two batteries close to the enemy's principal work on the Morne, and killed two officers and thirty men, made one prisoner (a surgeon), and liberated one British seaman from captivity: he then spiked six pieces of cannon, and fell back to Morne Ferré, where he established his quarters [32]. The Commander in Chief now determined to carry the works on Morne Fortuné by assault, and accordingly a plan was formed for a general attack to be made on it the next morning by the troops which now invested it, aided by a party of seamen under command of Lord Garlies: but General Ricard, perceiving the determined behaviour of our troops, prevented the plan being put in execution, by agreeing to terms of capitulation, which had been offered by Sir Charles Grey, who [Pg 81] had sent in Major Maitland with a flag of truce to summon the garrison to surrender. The gates of the fort were put into our possession the same evening by nine o'clock. On the 4th the enemy marched out of the fort, with the honours of war, to the glacis, where they piled their arms, and were embarked on board of transports, which conveyed them to France, under conditions that they should not serve against his Britannic Majesty during the war [33]. When his Royal Highness Prince Edward marched into the fort of Morne Fortuné, and hoisted the British colours, he changed its name to Fort Charlotte, in honour of his august parent.—Major Maitland had been dispatched to Pigeon Island with a summons, which, by order of General Ricard, was delivered up to his Majesty's troops on the same terms as the Morne. The Commander in Chief left the sixth and ninth regiments, with detachments of artillery and engineers, as a garrison for this island, under the command of Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, who was appointed governor till his Majesty's pleasure was known.

The island of St. Lucia had its name from the day, dedicated to the virgin martyr St. Lucia, on which it was discovered. It is about six leagues south of Martinique, and twenty-one north-west from Barbadoes: it is fifteen miles long, and eleven broad; is very hilly, and covered in a great many places with thick woods, of[Pg 82] whose timber the planters of Martinique and the neighbouring islands build their houses and mills. The fustic and cocoa tree is found here also in great abundance. This island has frequently changed its masters, being alternately possessed by the French and English: it has many good bays and harbours, and is well watered by several fine clear rivers. Two of the mountains are said to have been volcanos. Morne Fortuné is a high hill which overhangs Basse Terre, the principal town of the island. On the summit of the Morne is a fortification, as yet unfinished; by nature it is very strong, but art has done little for it; for, when the outworks fall, the fort is incapable of withstanding a siege. We found but little ammunition or military stores, and one small uncovered tank was the only reservoir for water. Here is also a Pigeon Island, which is called by the French Gros Islet, and is so strongly fortified both by nature and art, that if it was well supplied with provisions and stores, would be capable of braving a very formidable attack. The bay of the Grand Cul de Sac is a fine harbour for ships of any size to ride in, during the hurricane months.

Lieutenant D'Arcy Preston, being promoted from a lieutenancy in the Boyne to the command of the Rattlesnake sloop of war, sailed for England this day, carrying Captain Mason, one of the aid de camps of the Commander in Chief, and Captain Parker of the Blanche, with an account of the further success of his Majesty's arms in the reduction of the island of St. Lucia [34], happily effected without the loss of a single man, though there had been a[Pg 83] good deal of cannonading from the enemy's batteries and works. The flank battalions being reimbarked on board of their respective ships, and Sir Charles Grey with his suite being as usual with the Admiral on board the Boyne, the whole fleet weighed and made sail from this island by eight in the morning of the 5th of April, and by nine at night they anchored in Fort Royal harbour, Martinique. Thus, in the short period of something more than two months, by the efforts of this army and navy, inconsiderable indeed in numbers, but united in an ardent desire to prove themselves faithful to their country, and strenuous to defend and promote her welfare, and increase her consequence, was the British standard a second time hoisted on the walls of a republican fortress, and another island added to the British dominions.

To provide for the future order and good government of their conquests was now the task of Sir Charles Grey and his friend and colleague, Sir John Jervis; and as, in the attainment of them, their hearts and counsels were in unison, so in this most arduous business were their united exertions employed to establish a system of government for the conquered islands, which might be equally serviceable to their country, as conciliatory to the minds of the newly acquired subjects of it; but at a moment like this, when they were pushing on from one field of conflict and glory to another, it was impossible to render any system of government perfect; they therefore thought that the best mode would be to leave them a government which appeared to have been most desired by the majority of the people, and which agreed better with our own forms than the wild confusion of democratic and revolutionary[Pg 84] power. Accordingly, they for the present left them in the exercise of their accustomed laws, such as they had been at the happiest period of their own government, and which appeared best calculated to forward a system of confidence among their own order, and to prepare them for that form of government (we from experience know the blessings of, and) which unquestionably, on the same experience, would become earnestly desired by all ranks of people. To further also the desirable object of conciliating the minds of the conquered by an act of moderation and indulgence, the conduct of all civil affairs [35] was principally entrusted to those whose influence in the colony pointed them out as proper to be confided in; and whilst every tendency to licentiousness would be checked by the vigorous direction of General Prescott under his military government, the former courts, for the administration of justice agreeable to the laws and customs before the revolution, were allowed to go on, that the affections and gratitude of his majesty's new subjects might in the surest manner be attached and secured. However an arrangement of officers, guided by the constitution of the other British colonies, was not neglected, and accordingly several nominations were made and transmitted home for approval. St. Lucia was left in the same state, as to its government, as Martinique.

CHAPTER IX.

EXPEDITION AGAINST GUADALOUPE … THE ISLES DE SAINTS ATTACKED AND TAKEN … THE BOYNE AND VETERAN ANCHOR OFF GROZIER … THE TROOPS LAND UNDER COVER OF THE WINCHELSEA FRIGATE … CAPTAIN LORD GARLIES WOUNDED … FORT FLEUR D'EPEE TAKEN BY STORM … FORT LOUIS AND THE TOWN OF POINT A PITRE TAKEN … CASUALTIES … GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND.

On Tuesday the 8th of April, the fleet [36], having the Commander in Chief on board, with the remainder of the forces which were not left to garrison the two islands of Martinique and St. Lucia, weighed anchor by seven o'clock A. M. and sailed from the bay of Fort Royal on an expedition against Guadaloupe (the troops having been previously shifted from the men of war to the transports). The Admiral detached Captain Rogers in the Quebec frigate, Captain Faulknor in the Blanche, Captain Incledon in the Ceres, and Captain Scott in the Rose, to attack a cluster of small islands called the Saints, lying between Dominique and Guadaloupe,[Pg 86] which they executed with much spirit and gallantry: having landed a party of their seamen and marines, they carried them without any loss on their part, on the morning of the 10th instant; and when the fleet arrived the same morning off the islands, they had the satisfaction of perceiving the union flag hoisted on their two commanding batteries. These islands are valued principally on account of a small harbour, where a few ships of war may ride in safety during the hurricane months; and also that they overlook a good deal of the coast of Basse Terre.—About noon on the 10th of April the Boyne and Veteran anchored in the bay of Point à Pitre, off the village of Grozier, and some more of the fleet in the course of the afternoon; but a fresh wind and lee current prevented most of the transports from getting in till the day after. Without waiting however for the arrival of all the troops, the General determined to land those that were with him, immediately; and accordingly the first and second battalions of grenadiers, one company of the forty-third regiment, fifty marines, and four hundred seamen detached by the Admiral, under the command of Captain George Grey of the Boyne, made good their landing by one o'clock in the morning of the 11th, under a severe fire from Fort Fleur d'Epée, and a three-gun battery at Grozier. As it was impossible for them to land without the latter being silenced, Lord Garlies in the Winchelsea was ordered on that service, which he performed in a masterly manner, laying his ship within half-musket shot of the battery, as near indeed as the depth of water would allow him to approach; and after a [Pg 87] smart fire for some time on both sides, he drove them from their guns, and the troops then effected their landing without any loss. In this business, though every shot from the battery hit some part of the Winchelsea, cutting the masts and rigging, Lord Garlies was the only man wounded, receiving a bad contusion in his face. Some more of the troops having arrived on the 11th, the General, perceiving the enemy to be in considerable force at the strong post of Fort Fleur d'Epée, determined to attack them without loss of time, and accordingly arranged his plans in the following order: the first division, under command of his Royal Highness Prince Edward, consisting of the first and second battalions of grenadiers and one hundred of the naval battalion, was to attack the post on Morne Mascot, an height within musket-shot of the fort; the second division, commanded by Major General Dundas, consisting of the first and second battalions of light infantry, and one hundred of the naval battalion, to attack the fort of Fleur d'Epée in the rear, and to cut off its communication with Fort Louis and Point à Pitre; and the third division, commanded by Colonel Symes, consisting of the third battalion of grenadiers and the third battalion of light infantry, and the remainder of the naval battalions, to proceed by the road on the sea-side to co-operate with Major General Dundas. The soldiers were particularly directed not to fire, but trust solely to the bayonet; and the seamen, who were commanded by Captain Nugent and Captain Faulknor, to use their pikes and swords; all which was most scrupulously obeyed; the several divisions having marched earlier, according[Pg 88] to the distance they had to go, that they might commence the attack at the same instant. The signal for the attack, which was a gun from the Boyne, was given by the Admiral at five o'clock in the morning of the 12th. The troops moved forward with the most determined intrepidity. As they advanced to the first picquet the alarm was given; the out-posts were driven in, or put to death; and in an instant the sides of the hill on which the fort was situated were covered by our people, who scrambled up, under a most tremendous discharge of grape shot and musketry: some sailors jumped into the embrasures, driving the enemy before: the soldiers, who had reached the gates, at length succeeded in forcing them open, and a scene of dreadful conflict took place: the enemy still continuing to make a stout resistance, were put to the sword in great numbers; at length, as many as could escape through the gates and embrasures, or by leaping over the walls, fled with the utmost precipitation towards the town of Point à Pitre. Our victorious troops soon followed, driving them across the Carénage to Basse Terre, whither they and several of the inhabitants made their escape in boats, before the Ceres and two gun-boats could get into the Carénage to cut off their retreat, though this service was performed by Captain Incledon with the greatest alertness. With Fleur d'Epée fell Hog Island, and Fort Louis, an old fortification commanding the entrance into the harbour of Point à Pitre, which town also was taken possession of at the same time by Sir Charles Grey. Our loss in this action was considerable, in proportion to the smallness of our numbers, being[Pg 89] fifty-four killed and wounded; the enemy lost in all two hundred and fifty. Fort Fleur d'Epée is strongly situated on the summit of a hill, two sides of which are towards the sea, from whence it has a very formidable appearance; but being commanded by Morne Mascot, when that falls into the power of an enemy it is of little consequence. On the brow of the hill, a little below the fort, is an half-moon battery, which commands a great distance along the coast. Among the many accidents worth notice, I beg leave to mention the following, which I hope will be a striking instance (among many of the same kind which have happened this war) that it behoves all our people serving on shore, whether military or naval, to be distinguished by red dresses. The French, as well as several other continental troops, are dressed in blue; of course, in the confusion of an assault, especially if it happens before day-break, a seaman's blue jacket may, and I am convinced often has, been the cause of his death by the hands of his own countrymen. A seaman of the Boyne, belonging to the first company, expressing a wish that he might have an opportunity of lowering the French flag, and hoisting our own; and being a remarkably fine fellow, was pitched upon to carry the union flag on this attack for that purpose, in case the fort should be taken; and accordingly it was wrapped in many folds round him, and he was to defend it as well as he could. When he approached the fort, the first object that attracted his notice was the flag-staff, and, regardless of every danger, he rushed forward, pike in hand; and having once got into the fort, away he ran to the desired spot, and had[Pg 90] already struck the tri-coloured flag, and was endeavouring to disengage himself from his wrapper, in order to hoist that in its stead, when some soldiers coming suddenly round the corner of a building, and taking him for one of the enemy, in an instant attacked him, and he fell severely wounded before they discovered their mistake. I am happy however to add, that the poor fellow, by the care and skill of Mr. Weir, the surgeon-general [37] of the navy, recovered sufficiently to shew, before the end of the campaign, that his courage was undiminished by the accident.—Captain Faulknor, who had so eminently distinguished himself at the capture of Fort Louis in Martinique, had a narrow escape in this business: having led his men on to the assault with his usual gallantry, he was encountered by a French officer, whom he instantly struck at with his sword, which falling on the epaulette on his shoulder, did not penetrate: the Frenchman closed with him, and being the strongest man, threw him to the ground; and, wresting the sword from his hand, was in the act of plunging it into his body, when fortunately a seaman belonging to the Boyne, seeing the danger his gallant leader was in, with his pike pinned his adversary to the earth.—As at this time I was the only chaplain[Pg 91] on the expedition (Mr. Ruxton, chaplain of the fifty-sixth regiment, having died soon after his landing in Martinique), and several of our men having fallen in this gallant attack, I went on shore up to Fort Fleur d'Epée to pay the last honours to our unfortunate countrymen, eighteen of whom were killed on the spot. The scene I beheld surpassed my powers of description. It was early in the morning, soon after the action was over. At the foot of the hill lay several of our seamen badly wounded, waiting to be carried on board their respective ships: a little further, under the tall trees that grew within a few yards of the sea, several naval officers reposing after the fatigues of the morning, and their men not far from them. As we went up the hill we met some of the wounded prisoners brought in by our people; and at the gates of the fort was an heap of the slain, who had all died by the sword or bayonet. Within the fort the destruction appeared more dreadful, being more confined; a multitude of miserable wretches expiring of their wounds, and many of our own people in the same situation: in the midst of this was his Excellency writing his dispatches on a table, on which, fatigued with the action, an artilleryman was sleeping, whom the General would by no means have disturbed; one proof among thousands that the truest heroism may be, and often is, united to the greatest humanity.—It would be invidious to mention particularly, who distinguished themselves in this business, where all seemed emulous of glory; but as the greatest responsibility is attached to the higher ranks, it will be but justice to say, that Prince Edward, General Dundas,[Pg 92] Colonels Symes, Cradock, and Coote, with the other officers of rank, as also Captains Nugent and Faulknor, the officers commanding the naval battalions, received the thanks of the Commander in Chief in public orders, for their excellent conduct and resolution, displayed through the whole of the action.

Point à Pitre is the capital of that part of Guadaloupe called Grand Terre, which is separated from the other part, called Bass Terre, by a narrow arm of the sea, in form of a river; it is called the river Sallée. The town is neat and well built, but in an unhealthy situation, being on the borders of a large extent of swampy land; it has a good harbour called the Carénage, the entrance to which is guarded on one side by an half-moon battery lately erected on Islet a Couchon, or Hog Island, and on the other by the ancient castle of Fort Louis; it is also defended on the land side by a hill called Morne Government, on which is a strong battery. The country on this part of Guadaloupe is remarkably flat, forming a strong contrast to Basse Terre, which gradually rises from the sea-shore till it forms a chain of hills extending from one end of that part of the island to the other.

CHAPTER X.

THE GENERAL EMBARKS HIS ARMY, AND LANDS ON BASSE TERRE AT PETIT BOURG … OCCURRENCES ON THE MARCH TOWARDS PALMISTE … THE ADMIRAL ANCHORS IN ANCE DE BAILLIF … GENERAL DUNDAS LANDS, AND FORMS A COMMUNICATION WITH SIR CHARLES GREY … THE PALMISTE TAKEN BY ASSAULT … GENERAL COLLOT DELIVERS UP FORT SAINT CHARLES AND THE ISLAND OF GUADALOUPE AND ITS DEPENDENCIES TO THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF.

On the 13th, the forty-third regiment being landed to garrison Fort Prince of Wales (late Fleur d'Epée), the town of Point à Pitre, and the other ports on Grand Terre, the General and the rest of his army reimbarked on board of their respective ships; and in the evening the Sea Flower brig, Captain Pierrepoint, sailed for England with dispatches. At twelve o'clock the next day, the Quebec and the other frigates, with the transports, sailed over to the other side of the bay; and in the afternoon the troops, consisting of the grenadiers and light infantry, commanded by his Royal Highness Prince Edward, landed at a village called Petit Bourg, where many of the principal people of the island were assembled,[Pg 94] who received the Commander in Chief and the Prince with the greatest demonstrations of joy. A party of sailors also, under the command of Captain Rogers of the Quebec, landed at the same time. That night the General returned to the Boyne; the next morning he landed at St. Mary's, where he found Colonel Coote, with the first battalion of light infantry, who had marched in before day-break from Petit Bourg. The troops now marched forward, principally along shore, without any remarkable occurrence, and halted for the night at a small village between Cabes Terre and Petit Bourg. On the 16th the troops, still advancing along shore, reached Trou Chien, a very strong post, which the enemy had abandoned; and before dark the army halted on the high ground over Les Trois Riverres, from whence they saw the enemy's two redoubts and their strong posts on the heights of Palmiste. The General intended to have attacked the enemy that night; but the troops were too much fatigued from the long and difficult march they had just finished. Here, at a beautiful plantation belonging to Monsieur Bellisle, the Prince and several of his officers were sumptuously entertained at supper by that gentleman, who repeated his hospitality the next day. All this time the Admiral stood off and on near the shore, to be ready to pour in assistance in case there should be any necessity for it: but on the army retiring up the country towards Palmiste on the 17th instant, he came round towards the town of Basse Terre. Fort St. Charles fired a few shot and shells at the Boyne without effect. At half past one P. M. we were becalmed off the town, and had[Pg 95] a beautiful view of the country round it, which, rising gradually inland, presents a varied amphitheatre of plantations, woods, hills, and vallies, interspersed with elegant and well-built houses, ornamented by many fine plantations of palms, cocoa-nut, and other tall and majestic trees. By five P. M. we anchored in Ance de Baillif, about a mile from the town of Basse Terre, which was hid from our view by an high point of land forming the bay. On the 17th Major General Dundas, with the third battalion of grenadiers, and second and third battalions of light infantry, landed at Vieux Habitant, some miles north-west of Basse Terre, meeting with little opposition and no loss, taking possession of Morne Magdalene, and destroying two batteries, then detaching Lieutenant Colonel Blundell with the second battalion of light infantry, he in the night forced several difficult posts of the enemy. On the 17th General Sir Charles Grey made a disposition for the attack of a redoubt called d'Arbaud, and a battery named d'Anet, both near Grand Ance; the troops pushed forward, and halted within a league of the village of Trois Riviere. By day-break on the 18th Lieutenant Colonel Coote, with the first battalion of light infantry, attacked and stormed the battery; every man in it was either killed, wounded, or made prisoner, and not one of our own was hurt. At the same time the grenadiers were ordered to advance against the redoubt, which was commanded by this battery, and which they found had been deserted by the enemy early in the night, who burnt and destroyed every thing in and near it. On the night of the 17th instant, the enemy in the town of Basse[Pg 96] Terre (being divided in their opinions, and party running very high among them) set fire to the town, the whole of the west end of which was consumed, containing much valuable property, and many fine houses. The motives for this mischief we never could learn, as they were at that time in full possession of the town; and as it was entirely commanded by Fort St. Charles, there could be no danger of its falling into our hands until the fort was taken. At one o'clock in the morning of the 20th, the Commander in Chief, at the head of his troops, advanced to the attack of the principal dependance of the enemy, which was a chain of batteries on the heights of Palmiste, extending above a league. The grenadiers were commanded by Prince Edward, and the light infantry by Lieutenant Colonel Coote. At five in the morning the attack commenced by the light infantry advancing to the assault of the highest and most formidable battery, which, though well defended by nature and art, was soon obliged to yield to the superior activity and bravery of our troops, who with their bayonets forced the works, putting thirty of them to death. It is remarkable, that in this affair the three first sentries at the advanced batteries, on firing their muskets on the alarm, shot two advanced men of the light infantry and their guide. The instant our men had made themselves masters of this post, perceiving that it commanded all the others, they with infinite spirit and address turned the guns against them, under cover of which our troops marched up and took them all in succession, without much further opposition, although, by every appearance, they had determined[Pg 97] to make a vigorous resistance, having felled trees and laid them across the road, and at the entrance of their batteries, and the guns being mostly loaded with grape-shot, or bags of musket balls, it seemed as if they expected to have come to close quarters. General Dundas had now formed a communication with Sir Charles Grey by Morne Howell, and the Palmiste (the key of the town and Fort St. Charles) being thus in our possession, the governor, Monsieur Collot, sent a flag of truce to Sir Charles Grey, offering to deliver up Guadaloupe and its dependencies on the same terms as had been granted to General Rochambeau at Martinique, and Ricard at St. Lucia: the garrison to march out with the honours of war, and lay down their arms, and to be sent to France, on condition that they should not serve against the British forces and their allies during the war; General Collot and his suite to be allowed a certain time to settle their affairs, and to be conveyed to North America in a frigate. Accordingly, the light infantry being left in the batteries on the Palmiste, the remainder of the troops marched down and took possession of the gates of both town and fort that night. The next day the Boyne weighed anchor, and was towed by boats round from the bay of Baillif to the road of Basse Terre, where she anchored within a cable's length of the shore. At night a design of the garrison, to rise upon our people and murder them, was happily made known to General Dundas, who instantly rode down to the fort, and took the necessary precautions to prevent the completion of this infamous plot. At eight o'clock in the morning of Tuesday the 22d of[Pg 98] April the French garrison of Fort St. Charles marched out, consisting of fifty-five regulars of the regiment of Guadaloupe, and the fourteenth regiment of France, and eight hundred and eighteen national guards and others; Prince Edward, with the grenadiers and light infantry, taking possession immediately, struck the republican and hoisted the British colours, changing the name of it to Fort Matilda. From the returns found among General Collot's papers it appeared that the number of men capable of bearing arms in the island of Guadaloupe was at that time five thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven; and the number of fire-arms actually delivered out to them was four thousand and forty-four [38]. On the 26th Prince Edward with his suite embarked on board the Blanche frigate, commanded by Captain Faulknor, and sailed for North America; his regiment, the seventh or royal fuzileers, being stationed at Quebec. The spirit and enterprise of his Royal Highness on this expedition, with his strict attention to discipline, merits the highest applause, and deservedly gained him the respect and esteem of all who served with him. Before the troubles (occasioned by the revolution) commenced in these islands, the town of Basse Terre was a place of very considerable traffic, and much resorted to by merchants and others: it is regularly built, well watered,[Pg 99] and beautifully situated on the sea-shore, and well defended by several batteries and forts, particularly to the eastward by Fort St. Charles (now called Fort Matilda), which is a regular fortification of great strength and extent; but being commanded by surrounding high lands, particularly Houelmont, a steep hill, on which is a battery that overlooks, not only the fort and town, but the bay, and much of the country near it, it is incapable of maintaining a long defence against a powerful attack by land, but is impregnable by any that can be made against it from the sea only. In the centre of the main street is a spacious walk shaded by handsome well grown trees, which forms an agreeable relief from the heat which in this climate is so very oppressive. Above the town is a large and commodious hospital, which at this period we found of infinite use. The island of Guadaloupe was discovered by Columbus, who named it after some mountains in Spain to which it bore resemblance, but by the native Caraibs it is called Karukera: it is situated thirty leagues N. W. from Martinique, and is reckoned the largest and most valuable island the French held in these parts; and, from its vicinity to Antigua and Dominica, as well as to several of our smaller islands, is of great consequence to us. The island is divided into two parts by a narrow channel called La Riviere Sallée, or the Salt River: the eastern part is called Grand Terre, and is comparatively flat; it is nineteen leagues long and nine broad: the western part is properly called Guadaloupe, but is now known by the name of Basse Terre, and is again subdivided (by a ridge of mountains extending from[Pg 100] one end to the other) into Capes Terre and Basse Terre: this part of the island is thirteen leagues and a half in length, and about seven at the broadest part. The islands immediately dependent on Guadaloupe are Marigalante, Deseada, and the Saints. Marigalante is of a round form, about forty miles to the S. E. of Guadaloupe; it is about five leagues long and four broad, and was discovered by Columbus in 1493, who gave it the name of his own ship. Deseada, or Desirada (that is, the Desirable Island), was the first of these islands discovered by Columbus in his second voyage in 1493; it is about fifteen miles N. E. of Guadaloupe, and is not very fertile. The Saints are a cluster of islands on the S. E. side of Guadaloupe, of which the westernmost is called Terre de Bas, or the Low Island; the easternmost the High Island: there is a good harbour here for a few ships. These islands received the name of Sanctos from the Spaniards, who first discovered them on All Saints day. There is some good land in the valleys, but the hills are covered with rocks.—Thus, in the short period of three months, concluded a campaign, in which three valuable islands and their dependencies were added to his majesty's dominions. To the unanimity which subsisted between the Commanders in Chief, together with their allowed high professional knowledge, and seconded by the spirited conduct of all the inferior ranks, must this unlooked-for success be attributed, as the force employed to effect it was certainly far short of what it ought to have been for so great an enterprise. The originally small army was now obliged to be divided, to garrison and secure our newly-acquired[Pg 101] possessions; the fatigue became the more burthensome, and the troops that had gone through the campaign with unexampled bravery and patience, at length began to feel the effects of a climate, that even in peaceable times is often found too trying for European constitutions; and which was at this period rendered tenfold more severe by that dreadful malady the yellow fever, which, though it had subsided when we first came to the West Indies, was now, as it were, awakened by the arrival of fresh victims, and acquired more strength from the small resistance that could be made against it by constitutions already broken by fatigue under hardships and difficulties unparalleled.—As there were no expectations of any reinforcements of consequence being sent till November, the General determined to return to England, after he had made a proper arrangement to render the conquests permanent, and secure them against any attempt that might be made by those perturbed spirits that, notwithstanding his utmost vigilance, might remain in the colonies; and which he in a short time effected to his satisfaction, so far as it related to any attempt that could be made by the enemy in these parts: but it is not to be imagined that, with the small number of men he originally brought out, now reduced by a variety of causes to half their number, and daily decreasing in an alarming degree, any resistance could be made against a strong reinforcement, if the French nation should be able to send out one, from Europe [39]. Previous to[Pg 102] his return, however, he was determined to leave the islands in the best possible state of defence; and for that purpose he, with the Admiral, visited all the islands in this quarter, inspecting the strong posts and fortifications, while the Admiral paid attention to the naval department in each; and in the beginning of June, after having taken formal leave of the army in general orders, he sailed for Europe.

CHAPTER XI.

THE CHARGES OF EXTORTED CONTRIBUTIONS AND OPPRESSIONS, ALLEDGED AGAINST THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF BY CERTAIN INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS, REFUTED … THE REAL CAUSES OF THE LOSS OF GUADALOUPE.

After having given an account of the glorious success which had crowned the exertions of our gallant commanders and their forces, I now enter upon a less pleasant task, the loss of Guadaloupe, since followed by the capture of some other islands: but I do it the more willingly, because in the simple facts it will be my duty to detail, the real cause of those misfortunes will appear, and a clear refutation ensue of those gross calumnies, originally propagated by avarice, fraud, and falsehood, and repeated by ignorance and malice, which have endeavoured to fix a stigma on two commanders, whose integrity of heart and openness of conduct are as demonstrable, as their bravery is acknowledged.

The accusation of plunder, confiscation, and extorted contribution, is founded on a tale, of which half only has been told, and that half with intentional inaccuracy.

It has always been understood that property found in any place taken by storm or assault became the legal prize or booty of [Pg 104] the captors; consequently the Commanders in Chief found no hesitation or difficulty in considering the produce, merchandise, &c. afloat and on shore at St. Pierre and Fort Royal (both which were literally so taken) as justly liable to forfeit and confiscation. The estates of the emigrant royalists had been sequestered, and the produce of them sold by the agents of the republic; consequently all manufactured or collected produce on them became in like manner, by his majesty's gracious bounty, the right of the captors.

If what is found in places or vessels taken by assault be not considered as legal prize, what is? Is no booty, no prize money, to be the reward of successful heroism, after the dreadful fatigues, diseases, and dangers of war? Where then will be the spur to noble actions? Where the spirit that impels the soldier and the sailor to brave the horrors of arms and elements, of raging sickness, of excruciating death?

All the produce and merchandise found in the town of Fort Royal and on board the vessels in the Carénage, and the same in the town and bay of St. Pierre and in Trinité in the island of Martinique, and at Basse Terre and Point à Pitre in Guadaloupe, were disposed of by public auction for the benefit of the captors: but those on the estates, manufactured and packed ready to be brought down to the ports for embarkation, were not sold at this time, because persons came forward on the part of the inhabitants themselves, and proposed a contribution, in lieu of that part of the property, as falling more easy on them, and consequently being preferable to confiscation; though they did not at that time[Pg 105] pretend to dispute the legality of the forfeiture. The Commanders in Chief acceded to this their own proposal, through a pure wish of accommodation. The exorbitant and unprecedented contribution, therefore, levied on an unwilling people, turns out to be an offered compromise for an undisputed prize, received by a merciful and tender conqueror out of kindness to the conquered.

How well bestowed this kindness was, how deserved the confidence placed in the honour of these people, will appear by the sequel! They received back the forfeitures, and then endeavoured to get rid of paying the compromise (themselves had offered) by infamous misrepresentations of the conduct of those Commanders, of whose generosity they made use, to defame, and then to rob them! For no sooner had they shipped off the property, and got it safe away from the power of the Commanders, than they began to demur at paying the stipulated sum, particularly at St. Lucia, which island had agreed to pay one hundred and fifty thousand pounds.

Situated as I was, and having an opportunity of drawing my conclusions on the spot, I venture, with a very strong confidence of its truth, to relate the following as the secret history of this business. An agent for the prizes at St. Lucia, joining one of the agents who had already been employed in the sale of the vendible property at Martinique (possibly piqued by some diminution of confidence which the Commanders in Chief from good reason had betrayed towards them), no sooner met the inhabitants of St. Lucia, whom he had convened on the subject of raising the stipulated[Pg 106] compromise for the plunder, than he offered, with an unparalleled duplicity, while confessing himself sent on the part of the captors, to suggest a mode by which the payment of this debt of honour might be evaded. "Send," said he, "an immediate deputation to the English government, anticipate the story of the Commanders, and a prohibition will instantly issue." The deputation was sent without loss of time: they relied on securing a large body of English merchants, particularly those in the West Indies, on their side; and their reliance was well placed, for they relied on that which they could easily prove to be their interest. The truth is, that many of these West India traders [40] had carried on an illicit traffic to the French islands before they were captured; and in consequence of it had at the time of the capture immense sums still due to them. Apprehending, therefore, that the payment of this contribution might retard, or even endanger, the discharge of their own debts, they joined heartily in every scheme for defeating this just and prior claim. They encouraged the French in their opposition; they misrepresented the facts to England; they attempted to blast the laurels of the Commanders; and became clamorous against the cruelty of plunder, and illegality and impolicy of confiscation, that they might enjoy the rewards of their own treason. While this plot was secretly carrying on, and a heavy storm brooding over their heads, the General and Admiral were proceeding in their expedition against Guadaloupe, little suspicious,[Pg 107] till the dispatches from England discovered the success with which the artful stories of this party had been attended.

Thus was the unparalleled good order and discipline with which the army and navy had abstained from plundering the towns of St. Pierre, Fort Royal, and Trinité, &c. rewarded! This was the recompence of the ruinous and expensive service in which the officers had engaged; of the unexampled sufferings and dangers which they and their brave men had undergone. Is not contribution in lieu of booty, the custom of war? Was it not the case with Prince Ferdinand in a former war, through every town and village of Germany [41]? Did not the Marquis de Bouillé levy a heavy contribution on the island of St. Christopher's, when taken by the French in 1782? Where then could contribution ever be proper if not here? Here was no capitulation; but, though the islands fell by storm, the Commanders, acting on the purest principles, to save the persons and property of the inhabitants from the plunder [42] of an enraged soldiery, agreed to accept as a recompence due to the forbearance and good conduct of that body, a[Pg 108] composition the most easy to the conquered; and yet their fame has been vilified, and the hard-earned pittance of booty snatched away! for none of the contributions were ever paid, except a part at St. Lucia, which was afterwards refunded. Surely this is small encouragement for such a desperate service! If such be the future prospects of our army and navy, their spirits will droop, and half that ardour that generates success subside!

I shall now mention the real cause of the loss of Guadaloupe, which, with that of some other islands that have since fallen, has been maliciously attributed to the oppression and peculations of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis; for this purpose I must refer back to the time when the expedition was first planned by our government, and the command given to those officers. As the capture of the French possessions in the West Indies was rightly judged to be of the greatest consequence both in a political and mercantile view, a very formidable armament was prepared, and Martinique was pitched on as the first object for attack; and, since the capture of that island had been attempted the year preceding, and failed, it was of course expected to be put on its guard, and rendered thereby more difficult. But at this period (unfortunately for this expedition) another object diverted the attention of government, and eight regiments [43], with a great part of the artillery, which were embarked and ready to sail, were taken from that force, which combined would in all probability have secured to us our conquests in the West Indies, and enabled us to extend[Pg 109] them to St. Domingo, and all the other French islands in that quarter. Government was well aware, and acknowledged, that this diminution of force must so cripple the expedition, that it would render the prospect of any success doubtful; and no idea was entertained that the conquest of Martinique would even have been attempted, Fort Bourbon alone seeming too formidable for an attack by such an inconsiderable body: however, when Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis arrived at Barbadoes, and had arranged every thing for an active campaign, they determined to begin with the strongest island, being confident that, when that was gained, the smaller places would soon fall; whereas, by attacking the lesser islands first, they must necessarily diminish their small armament, and render the capture of so well defended and strong a place as Martinique, with the formidable fortress of Fort Bourbon, totally impossible. The event justified their determination. But when this great object was gained, and St. Lucia and Guadaloupe taken, the army (originally too small) was divided into three parts to garrison the conquered places; and by that dreadful scourge, the yellow fever, which now began its ravages, together with the loss sustained in the several actions of the campaign, not one of the islands, nor indeed a single post on each, could be called properly defended, in case the French should send out an armament to the West Indies. If, as soon as the news of the capture of the first island had reached England, a strong reinforcement could have been sent out, and repeated on the conquest of each succeeding place, the small body of the enemy (who made their[Pg 110] attack on Guadaloupe, and stole in at a moment when the gallant governor, General Dundas, was breathing his last, and when every post was reduced to extremity by sickness) would with ease have been repelled, or perhaps their whole party taken.—In the succeeding part of this work it will be my business to detail the events that gradually led to the evacuation of this island, and gave the enemy such advantage as enabled them since to extend their conquests to some other inferior places.

CHAPTER XII.

GENERAL DUNDAS DIES OF THE YELLOW FEVER … HIS CHARACTER … A FRENCH SQUADRON ARRIVES IN THE WEST INDIES, AND TAKES POSSESSION OF GRAND TERRE … THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF, ON RECEIVING AN ACCOUNT THEREOF, RETURN TO GUADALOUPE … SIR CHARLES GREY LANDS ON GRAND TERRE, AND TAKES THE HEIGHTS OF MASCOT … SEVERAL ACTIONS TAKE PLACE … A TRUCE TO BURY THE DEAD … AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON POINT A PITRE.

On the evening of the 3d of June, Major General Thomas Dundas, the governor of Guadaloupe, became the victim of that dreadful fever, which once more began to desolate these islands. He was ill only three days. By his death the army in the West Indies suffered an irreparable loss, and the service in general one of its brightest ornaments. Amiable both in public and private life, brave and generous, possessed of that true courage which never exceeds the bounds of humanity, he justly gained the love of the army, and fell lamented by all that knew him [44]. At this inauspicious[Pg 112] moment an armament arrived from France, under the direction of two commissioners from the national assembly. It consisted of two frigates, one corvette, two forty-fours armed en flute, and two other ships, with about one thousand five hundred land forces on board of them [45]. They instantly made good their landing on Grand Terre; and, after two unsuccessful efforts, at last succeeded in their attack on Fort Fleur d'Epée, which they carried by storm [46].—As soon as this news reached Colonel Blundell, he instantly dispatched a schooner to St. Christopher's, with an account of it to the Commanders in Chief, which fortunately found them there, the Boyne being off Old Road taking in water for her voyage to England. Sir Charles Grey was busy in inspecting the works on Brimstone Hill. The Commanders in Chief instantly determined to return to Guadaloupe, and accordingly pushed, under a press of sail, for Basse Terre, where they arrived in the [Pg 113] afternoon of the 7th of June, and were joined by the Resource, Captain Ross, and the Winchelsea, Captain Lord Garlies; on board of which ships General Grey and his suite embarked to be landed at Basse Terre, in order to visit the ports in that quarter, and to give the necessary instructions for future operations. The Admiral ordered the Nautilus, Captain Bayntun, to proceed to Martinique, with orders from Sir Charles Grey for a reinforcement from thence, and himself proceeded in the Boyne to the Bay of Point à Pitre. On his passage he met Commodore Thompson with his squadron from Martinique, coming round the point of Vieux Port. On their joining, he ordered the Solebay and Avenger into Basse Terre Road, to carry the General's further orders into execution, touching reinforcements from the different islands.

At noon of the 8th of June, the Boyne and the rest of the fleet anchored off Grozier, and saw the union jack displayed on Fort Fleur d'Epée as a decoy to British vessels, which we found had been successful in several instances; from hence, too, we had a view of the French fleet lying in the harbour of Point à Pitre. The Admiral, without delay, arranged every thing in his department to prevent a surprise from any future reinforcements of the enemy which might arrive. At day-break of the 9th, the enemy in Fort Fleur d'Epée, on hoisting their colours, opened an heavy fire of round and grape-shot on the Boyne, as did the two-gun battery at Grozier on the rest of the fleet, but happily without any material damage to them. This morning the London transport, [Pg 114] having troops on board, got on shore on the Basse Terre side of the bay. Lieutenant Thompson of the Boyne, was sent with the launch to take the men out of her; in doing which he was exposed to a severe fire from a battery on Islet a Couchon, or Hog Island; but he succeeded in removing them without any loss. In the evening Sir Charles Grey and his suite came on board the Boyne,[47] from whence he could for the present with greater ease arrange his troops, and communicate with them at their different posts. This day also Lord Viscount Garlies in the Winchelsea frigate attacked the two-gun battery at Grozier, where he had distinguished himself in the last campaign, and once more drove the enemy from their guns: but very few troops having yet arrived, no attempt could be made to land there, as before. The Boyne having been much annoyed by the fire of Fort Fleur d'Epée and Grozier battery, was now warped a cable's length further from the shore. On the 11th, in the morning, several boats full of men, attended by a gun-boat, were discovered making towards our post at Petit Bourg, from the harbour of Point à Pitre: their intention seemed to be to attack a transport and sloop of ours. The Winchelsea frigate was ordered towards them, and receiving the fire of the battery on Hog island, and another near Fort Louis, she obliged them to return into the harbour.[Pg 115] The enemy had crossed the river Sallée to Basse Terre, and had taken post at Berville, a fine plantation belonging to a gentleman of that name. They instantly set fire to the house, and destroyed all the mills, sugar-works, and store-houses, belonging to it, to a very large amount; they then encamped at the post of St. Jean, or Gabbare, a point of land opposite to the harbour of Point à Pitre. General Grey thought this a favourable moment to attack them, which was accordingly done at eleven o'clock at night on the 13th, under the command of Brigadier General Dundas, who with the 1st light infantry led by Brevet Major Ross, with the 39th regiment under Major Magan, and a detachment of artillery and two field-pieces, attacked the enemy with such determined bravery, that after a severe conflict they fled in the utmost disorder, precipitating themselves into the sea in order to swim across the harbour to Point à Pitre; but few succeeded in the desperate attempt, many being drowned, and more shot by our light infantry, who followed close at their heels: they left one hundred and seventy-nine dead on the field; our loss was trifling, seven men killed and twelve wounded. The enemy's camp, colours, baggage, and ammunition, with one piece of cannon, fell into our hands.[48] The light infantry and the 39th regiment remained at Berville, having for their advanced post Savonge, and St. Jean on the banks of the river Sallée. On this point of land, which runs into the harbour of Point à Pitre, Captain Pratt, commanding a detachment of artillery, was ordered to erect a battery[Pg 116] of two twenty-four pounders and two howitzers, which he effected with such dispatch, that by the next morning it was completed, and opened with a most tremendous fire on the republican frigate La Pique, lying within gunshot of the shore, to the no small surprise and astonishment of the commodore, who was then on board. The frigate retaliated, and a brisk fire was kept up for some time, when she thought it advisable to weigh anchor, and take shelter under the guns of her own batteries, after having lost between forty and fifty of her crew in killed and wounded, and being much damaged in her hull and rigging. On the 14th the Roebuck, Captain Christie, arrived with troops (draughted from several regiments), and two gun-boats also came very seasonably; one of which, under command of Lieutenant Wolley of the Boyne, attacked the battery at Grozier, and again made the enemy retire from their guns.[49]

On Thursday the 19th of June, General Grey once more made good his landing on Grand Terre, about six miles to windward of Grozier, under cover of the Vanguard, Veteran, Vengeance, Solebay, and Winchelsea, and immediately moved on to Grozier, from whence he drove the enemy, who retreated towards Fort Fleur d'Epée, burning the houses and sugar-works that lay in their[Pg 117] road.[50] About this time Lieutenant Macnamara, of the marines, was sent to Deseada to secure that island against any attempt of the enemy. On his landing he was attacked by a party of the inhabitants, who had formerly surrendered the island to us, aided by some brigands and a mixed rabble. In a short time, however, he drove them to the mountains, having killed twelve, and hung up six, as an example to deter others from similar acts of rebellion. On the 20th the enemy sunk one of our gun-boats by the fire of their battery on Hog Island, but none were killed in her. On the 21st they set fire to, and burnt a fine house on the heights of Mascot, near Fleur d'Epée, leaving the foundation walls only standing. Our troops now encamped at Grozier were employed in erecting batteries against Fort Fleur d'Epée, as the enemy were in too great force for our reduced numbers to attempt an assault on their principal work. On the 22d the Honourable Captain Stewart, commanding the 9th grenadiers, and a party of seamen under Lieutenant Wolley,[51] marched from Grozier to attack St. Ann's Fort, a strong post about twelve or fourteen miles to windward. After a most fatiguing march, during which some heavy showers of rain rendered the roads hardly passable, they reached the foot of the hill on which the fort was situated; up which our people scrambled so leisurely, and such a profound silence reigned[Pg 118] among them, that they approached within fifteen or twenty paces of the centinel before he perceived them, though he was apparently alert on his post. Our French guide was now so terrified that he fired his pistol at the centinel, which gave the alarm; instantly our troops turned forward, and with three cheers began to storm the works. The enemy were completely surprised, and not more than two of them escaped. During this the French emigrants who had accompanied our people, had marched into the town, where they began the most brutal excesses; but the humane exertions of our officers soon put a stop to their mischievous proceedings. In this attack near four hundred of the enemy were killed, and one prisoner taken: on our part one only was wounded. Several sloops and schooners were found in the bay, all in ballast and their sails unbent, except one of them, in which Lieutenant Thomson was sent with an account of their success to the Commanders in Chief. It being impossible to keep possession of this post, from the small number of our troops, and intelligence being brought that a large detachment of the enemy were on their march to cut off the retreat of this party, it was determined to return to the camp without loss of time, all the ammunition having been previously destroyed, and the guns of the fort dismounted.—The day proving unusually hot, and the roads being deep and slippery from the incessant rains that had fallen during the preceding night, the troops were not able to reach the camp without halting; in consequence of which they took post at a planter's house on an eminence, where they were received[Pg 119] with great hospitality. By three in the afternoon the men who had dropped down by the way from fatigue, were brought in (except two who reached the camp next morning), and the party proceeded to their different stations without further accidents.[52]

On Tuesday the 24th of June, General Grey opened his batteries, which he had erected near Grozier, against Fleur d'Epée; at the same time Brigadier General Dundas kept up a smart fire on Point à Pitre, where the enemy seemed to be making preparations against the hurricane months, now approaching, by stripping the ships in the harbour of their sails and rigging. On the 26th, early in the morning, the enemy, to the number of three hundred, made a sortie from Fleur d'Epée, on our advanced post, consisting of one hundred men, but were soon obliged to retreat; we lost one man killed and eight wounded: at the same time our batteries and gun-boats cannonaded the fort;[Pg 120] in the latter two seamen were wounded. On the 27th, the batteries at Grozier having opened as usual on Fleur d'Epée, a detachment of our troops under Brigadier General Fisher marched forward to attack a piquet of the enemy posted on Morne Mascot, from whence they drove them after a sharp contest, and established themselves, as our advanced post, within musket shot of the fort.[53] During the preceding night the light infantry at camp Berville were sent by Brigadier General Dundas, under command of Major Ross of the 25th regiment, to Petit Bourg, where they embarked, and joined the army at Grozier. This movement, by which the main body was much strengthened, was effected unperceived by the enemy, and the 39th and 43d regiments only left at Berville.

Several skirmishes now daily took place, and many fell on both sides; though, from want of steadiness at the last, the enemy were always greater losers than ourselves. On the morning of the 29th of June, a large body of the enemy, to the number of one thousand, marched out of Fort Fleur d'Epée, and seemed to meditate an attack on a detachment of light infantry under Colonel Gomm, posted to the right of the grenadiers who were on Morne Mascot, under Brigadier General Fisher. By this false[Pg 121] movement, they hoped that a detachment of the grenadiers would be sent to reinforce the light infantry, and thereby weaken the force on Morne Mascot, which was their real object of attack. In a short time, however, they were perceived mounting the side of Mascot heights, with colours flying and singing the national songs, covered by a heavy fire of round and grape-shot from Fleur d'Epée, which prevented our grenadiers from shewing themselves till the enemy were close to them; on which General Fisher made them prostrate themselves on the ground, and wait the approach of the enemy in that posture. The instant the republicans came within a few yards of them they started up, and an obstinate engagement commenced, which terminated at length by the grenadiers advancing to the charge; on which the enemy fled, and were pursued down the hill with great slaughter. Our loss amounted to thirty killed and wounded: among the former was Lieutenant Toosey of the 65th regiment; of the latter, Captain De Rivigne of the artillery, received a ball in the side of his neck. Brigadier General Fisher was hit three times by grape-shot, which caused contusions only, and his horse was killed under him. In the evening the enemy sent in a flag of truce, requesting permission to bury their dead and carry off their wounded, which was granted them;[54] yet they left a number of both, on the side of the[Pg 122] hill, to the great annoyance of our piquet, which during the following night was disturbed by the groans of the dying and wounded. The day following the enemy again made an attempt, in equal force, against our post on Mascot, and was again repulsed with great loss. The rainy season being already set in, and the hurricane months now approaching, determined the Commander in Chief to make an effort to finish the campaign at once. From his success in the two last engagements, and the excellent manner in which he had planned the attack, it would no doubt have succeeded, had his orders been punctually obeyed. The plan he had laid down was, for a large body of troops under General Symes, to march during the night, and make themselves masters of Morne Government, and the other commanding heights round the town of Point à Pitre, whilst himself, at the head of the rest of his army, was in readiness on the heights of Mascot to storm Fort Fleur d'Epée, on receiving a signal from General Symes; but, from some unfortunate misapprehension, the whole of General Grey's well-concerted plan was rendered abortive, and the almost total destruction of our exhausted forces ensued: but it is my business to detail the events of this unfortunate affair as accurately as the confused accounts I have received will permit. Brigadier General Symes, having under his command the first battalion of grenadiers, [Pg 123] commanded by Brigadier General Fisher, and the first and second light infantry, led by Colonel Gomm, with a detachment of seamen from the Boyne [55] and Veteran, commanded by Captain Robertson of the Veteran, marched from the heights of Mascot at about nine o'clock at night, on the 1st of July. They first descended into a deep ravine thick planted with coffee bushes, through which there was no road, the seamen bringing up the rear. The night was uncommonly dark, which rendered their march both dangerous and fatiguing. After proceeding about a mile they halted on a road, and were joined by two small field-pieces, which were put under the charge of Lieutenants Thomson and Maitland, to be dragged by their seamen. During the halt some people, who were heard to speak French, were seen near the rear; Lieutenant Wolley endeavoured to secure them, but they escaped through the bushes, and no further notice was taken of this. The army moved forward about two miles further, on a road leading through deep ravines, and made a second halt for about an hour; the march was then re-commenced, but no orders ever passed during the time: they now proceeded for some miles without meeting with any obstruction, when an order came for the seamen in the rear to advance to the attack, which they did by running as fast as they could for upwards of a mile. The parties they passed were not in the best order, owing to the quickness of the march, until they came to the grenadiers, who were[Pg 124] drawn up as a corps de reserve. About this time the bugle horn sounded to advance, and soon after a heavy firing of round and grape-shot from Morne Government, and also from several other batteries of the enemy, commenced, as also from some twelve-pounders landed from the shipping in the harbour, which were placed in tiers, and entirely enfiladed the road along which the troops were advancing. After passing the grenadiers, the seamen were halted for a few minutes to form, they being perfectly out of order from running; but scarce thirty of them were got together, when Lieutenant Wolley was ordered to advance with them, and Captain Robertson remained to form and bring up the rest. The cannonading from the enemy's guns was the most severe the oldest soldier ever witnessed, especially from the guns which were on the road; two or three tiers of which were planted behind each other, from which the enemy were driven by the bayonets of our gallant fellows, who no sooner had taken one battery, but another opened on them from behind. The whole now became a scene of confusion impossible to describe. Instead of any of the heights being attempted, the greater part of the troops and the seamen were got into the town, where they were mowed down by the grape-shot, which played upon them in every direction,[56] as well as musketry from the windows of the houses. Where-ever our men perceived this, they broke open the doors, putting[Pg 125] all they found in them to death; and those who could not stand the bayonet were shot as they leaped from the windows. General Symes was by this time badly wounded,[57] and his horse killed under him. Colonel Gomm (who led the light infantry), with several other officers, was killed, and a great many more desperately wounded;[58] and Captain Robertson, who commanded the seamen, was blown up. At length General Fisher (the second in command, who, as well as every other officer on this service, was ignorant of General Symes's plans) sounded a retreat, and the miserable remains of this gallant party marched off, the enemy harassing them in their retreat, though kept at bay by the gallant exertions of the Honourable Captain Stewart with a party of grenadiers, assisted by Lieutenant Wolley and the seamen of the Boyne, who covered the retreat; till at length the latter fell by a musket-ball through his leg, and was brought off by his men. When the remains of this unfortunate detachment got back to Mascot,[59] General Grey found it in vain to attempt any thing[Pg 126] against Fleur d'Epée, being obliged to detach the second battalion of grenadiers to cover the retreat, and his troops being all so much reduced and exhausted, yet from the effect of the batteries he had erected to cover his attack of Fleur d'Epée, which opened on that fort in the evening, there could have been no doubt of success had not the above-related misfortune taken place.[60] It being totally impossible to attempt any thing further at this season, the General that night began to reimbark his cannon and mortars, and in two days had got off the whole of his troops without loss; he then strengthened the posts on Basse Terre, and having made the best arrangements possible to maintain them, and to enable him to renew his attacks on Point à Pitre and Fleur d'Epée after the hurricane months, in case any reinforcements should arrive (without which it would be totally impossible), he embarked on board the Boyne, leaving Brigadier General Colin Graham to command on Basse Terre, and then repaired to St. Pierre in the island of Martinique, where he established his head-quarters. The Boyne proceeded to Fort Royal Bay, where she was laid up for the hurricane months in a snug harbour, called Trois Islet Bay, and the sick and wounded were landed for the[Pg 127] benefit of fresh air, and every attention paid to them that could alleviate their sufferings.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF SAIL TO MARTINIQUE … PROCEEDINGS THERE, AND AT GUADALOUPE … CAMP BERVILLE TAKEN … OCCURRENCES THEREUPON … GENERAL PRESCOTT ENTERS FORT MATILDA, WHICH IS INVESTED BY THE FRENCH … SIR JOHN VAUGHAN AND ADMIRAL CALDWELL ARRIVE IN THE WEST INDIES … SIR CHARLES GREY AND SIR JOHN JERVIS RESIGN THEIR COMMAND, AND RETURN TO EUROPE.

Sir Charles Grey, after giving the necessary orders for erecting batteries to protect and secure the camp on Basse Terre, sailed with the Admiral to Martinique, and established his head-quarters at St. Pierre;[61] having previously distributed the troops (which[Pg 130] were not left under General Graham on Basse Terre) throughout the islands, where the Brigands began to be very troublesome; and even at Martinique, where the Commander in Chief resided, they had the audacity to shew themselves, encouraged by the sickness which raged in all quarters, and daily weakened our posts. At Grande Rivere and Calabass they appeared in some force; on which the Commander in Chief detached Captain Hare, at the head of a detachment of the Prince of Wales's light [62] dragoons, with Lieutenant Colonel De Soter and the island rangers, who attacked and routed them, taking three of their leaders prisoners, and dispersing the rest. At Guadaloupe no time was lost by Brigadier General Graham in preparing both for attack and defence; he erected gun and mortar batteries upon the banks of the river Sallée, in the different situations where it was most likely the enemy might attempt to cross it from Grande Terre; namely, at the gabarre or ferry, which heretofore was the point of communication between the two parts of the island; at Morne Savon and at St. Jean, both commanding the town of Point à Pitre and Morne Government.[Pg 131] By these precautions the Commander in Chief hoped to prevent the enemy from crossing into Basse Terre till he could get a reinforcement from England, which he had expected for some time, and had now dispatched Brigadier General Francis Dundas to explain to government the absolute necessity there was for a supply of troops in the conquered islands. The head-quarters of the army in Guadaloupe were at Camp Berville, a very commanding ground, flanked by the sea on one side, and on the other by an impassable swamp and wood; about a league in front was the river Sallée, on the opposite banks of which stood the town of Point à Pitre; and at the rear, about a mile from the camp, was a narrow pass, by which alone it could be approached. The batteries under the direction of Captain De Rivigne, destroyed a great part of the town, so that the inhabitants were obliged to evacuate it, and encamp on the adjacent hills. The baneful effects of the climate, together with the neighbouring swamps, began now to be severely felt by our army, the officers and men died daily in numbers, and by the middle of August the list of sick and convalescents composed by far the majority in the camp. Two frigates and two sloops of war were ordered by the Admiral to cruize off the harbour of Point à Pitre, to prevent supplies being carried to the enemy; notwithstanding which many American and other vessels from the neighbouring disaffected islands, contrived to elude their vigilance. Victor Hughes, the commissioner from the French convention, and now commander in chief of their troops in this island (the commanders of the army and navy that came out[Pg 132] with him being dead), was indefatigable in gaining over the blacks and mulattoes to his interest; and, in consequence of his late success, they flocked in great numbers to his standard. As they came in he formed them into different corps, and had them instructed in the use of arms. The remains of the second battalion of grenadiers [63] were ordered about the latter end of August to Guadaloupe, to relieve the flank companies of the 15th and 64th regiments: they embarked at Fort Royal on board the Dictator, and landed at Petit Bourg, from whence they marched directly to the camp. During the month of September the troops in the different camps were, from sickness, inadequate to furnish guards for the different batteries. Several companies could not produce a single man fit for duty; the 43d could not afford a corporal and three men at night, for the protection of their own camp, much less give their complement for the batteries. The greater part of the town of Petit Bourg was converted into hospitals for our sick, besides great numbers ill in the camps; the officers were equal sufferers with the men, so much so, that field officers were obliged to mount captain's guard. The different islands were drained of their troops, in order to keep up some appearance in front of the enemy; and the royalists had taken the duty of the Gabarre for some time past, where they conducted themselves with much spirit in several attacks made upon them by the enemy from the opposite side of the river. The grenadiers that arrived last, were [Pg 133] now reduced, in less than three weeks, to twenty men; and from the situation of the several camps on the verge of the swamps, a ground they were obliged to occupy, was truly deplorable. About this time General Prescott arrived at the town of Basse Terre, where he took the command, and no appearance of any reinforcement from England as yet cheered our drooping spirits. On Saturday, the 26th of September, the enemy from Point à Pitre and Fort Louis embarked a large body of troops in small vessels, and passing our ships of war unperceived, under cover of the dark night, effected two different landings on Basse Terre; the one at Goyave, to the eastward of Petit Bourg, and the other at Lamantin, near Bay Mahault. As soon as it was known that this landing was effected, most of our sick were carried from Petit Bourg on board the ships that lay near that place, and when the news was received at head-quarters, General Graham ordered all the troops from the different camps to join at Berville, as the strongest situation. Every exertion was made to fortify this post in the best manner possible: across the narrow pass by which alone it could be approached by land, a strong breast-work was thrown up, with embrasures for six field-pieces; on the flanks, and immediately in the rear of this, another was thrown up; and in front of both, on the brow of the hill, a strong abbatis was formed. The enemy that landed at Bay Mahault soon possessed themselves of that place; they then marched on to the Gabarre, where they had nearly surrounded the royalists before they were able to make their retreat to the camp. The possession of the Gabarre afforded them[Pg 134] an easy conveyance for guns, ammunition, cattle, &c. from Grande Terre, and they now made their appearance in sight of our camp. The enemy, who had landed on the opposite part of the island, as soon as day broke upon them, began their march to Petit Bourg. Lieutenant Colonel Drummond of the 43d regiment, with some convalescents from the hospital, and a party of royalists, advanced to meet them; but perceiving their great superiority of numbers, found it advisable to retreat through Petit Bourg, and took post at a battery upon the shore called Point Bacchus, between that village and Camp Berville. The enemy, on taking possession of Petit Bourg, exercised the most unheard of cruelties on the unfortunate sick in the hospitals, putting all they found to death; some of them were fortunate enough to be taken off by the boats belonging to the men of war lying there. Too much praise cannot be given to Captain Boyer [64] of the Assurance, for his humane exertions on this occasion. From the hospitals to the wharf was a continued scene of misery and horror, being strewed with the bodies of the sick, who were barbarously put to death as they were crawling to the shore, in hopes of being taken off by our boats. The next movement of the enemy was to Point Bacchus, where Colonel Drummond and his party, being surrounded, were made prisoners. The enemy keeping possession of this post, entirely cut off all communication between the camp and our shipping. They then proceeded to possess themselves of the surrounding[Pg 135] heights, and formed a junction with the other party which landed at Bay Mahault; by which Camp Berville was completely surrounded on the land side. The utmost strength of Berville camp was now about two hundred and fifty regular troops, and three hundred royalists; but none of these could be called effective, being reduced to extremity by sickness and fatigue. The enemy instantly began to form batteries, one of which, on an eminence, in some measure commanded our camp. On the 29th of September, in the morning, the enemy in a large body attacked our advanced work; our field-pieces and musketry opened a heavy fire upon them, and an engagement ensued, which continued with equal fury for three hours; when, after having been charged the third time by our troops, the enemy retreated, leaving on the field in killed and wounded seven hundred men, our loss amounting to about twenty. In the forenoon of this day, the enemy had sent a number of gun-boats from Point à Pitre, some of which anchored off the shore at Berville, and others under Point Bacchus, with a view to stop the communication between our camp and shipping, and force the latter out of the harbour of Petit Bourg. Each of their schemes succeeded, so that now the camp (ill supplied with provisions and stores, which were left chiefly at Petit Bourg) saw no possibility of getting a further supply. This morning Major Irvine was killed by a twenty-four pounder from the enemy's gun-boat, as he was sitting in the cabin of the Assurance; in which he and a number of others had embarked. As soon as the news of these disasters reached the Commanders[Pg 136] in Chief, the Boyne was got out of Trois Islet Bay, without loss of time; and, although the hurricane season was not entirely past, the Admiral embarked, and sailed on Tuesday, the 30th of September, from Martinique, and anchored off Grozier, in the bay of Point à Pitre, by 10 A.M. On Thursday, the 2d of October, the two-gun battery there, opened upon us with red-hot shot, and continued to fire for a considerable time, but without effect. This night the Admiral endeavoured to open a communication with Camp Berville, but was prevented by the vigilance of the enemy, who now occupied every avenue to it. On the morning of the 30th, the enemy renewed their attacks on General Graham's camp at Berville, and again on the 4th of October, still bringing (hydra like) greater numbers to the charge; their success, however, was the same as on the first attack, having lost during the three attacks, on a moderate computation, two thousand men. In the second attack General Graham was wounded by a musket-ball in the leg, and several of his officers fell.[65] After the third action the enemy sent in a flag of truce, offering terms of capitulation, which General Graham in a spirited[Pg 137] manner refused; the officers, however, waited on the General, and stated, that the troops, reduced by sickness and fatigue, were no longer able to undergo the duty, which now pressed heavy on them, and were so harassed as to be incapable of withstanding another attack, which the enemy promised to make on them the following morning. General Graham therefore, reconsidering the matter, consented to send a flag to the enemy, and, after some time, the terms of capitulation were agreed to; but, alas! the unfortunate royalists were not included, though the General endeavoured all he could to make terms for them: he succeeded however thus far, to have permission to send a covered boat to the Boyne, in which he embarked twenty-five officers of the royalists; their unfortunate brethren, to the number of three hundred, who had defended their posts to the last, with the most determined resolution, were doomed to suffer death by the hands of their republican countrymen in cold blood, in a manner hitherto, I believe, unheard of, at least unrecorded in the annals of the most savage and abandoned people.[66] Humanity must shudder at the idea; the republicans erected a guillotine, with which they struck off the heads of fifty of them. Thinking, however, this mode[Pg 138] of proceeding too tedious, they invented a more summary plan; they tied the remainder of these unhappy men fast together, and placed them on the brink of the trenches which they had so gallantly defended; they then drew up some of their undisciplined recruits in front, who firing an irregular volley at their miserable victims, killed some, wounded others, and some, in all probability, were untouched; the weight however of the former dragged the rest into the ditch, where the living, the wounded, and the dead, shared the same grave, the soil being instantly thrown upon them. The English troops were to be allowed to march out with the honours of war, and to be embarked on board French ships, which were to sail for England within twenty-one days after the surrender,[67] on condition that they would not serve against the French during the war. A great quantity of arms and ammunition fell into the hands of the enemy at this camp, and at Petit Bourg. Immediately after the surrender of Berville, Victor Hughes moved towards the town of Basse Terre, now our last stake on this island, laying waste the plantations, and burning the beautiful seats of the royalists as he passed along. Sir John Jervis, who had made every attempt to succour General Graham's camp at Berville, and had been an unwilling spectator from the fleet, of the surrender of that camp to the enemy, now made sail for Basse Terre, to render every assistance in his power to[Pg 139] General Prescott;[68] and on the 9th of October, anchored within half a cable's length of the town. General Prescott instantly came on board to consult with the Admiral on the best mode of procedure in this critical state of affairs; and it was determined that the whole force which the General could collect, should go into the fort, and the Admiral, in the Boyne, would render every assistance in his power to the garrison; a promise he performed in a manner that drew the warmest thanks and approbation of General Prescott and his officers. At this time the French royalists had entirely abandoned us, and the militia, who had demanded arms, positively refused to enter the fort, and soon after deserted to the enemy: a party in the town seemed also ready to rise upon our people; but by the vigilance and activity of General Prescott they were overawed, and he continued to ride into the town unattended as usual. The fort was in a miserable state, nothing having been done to it since the peace of 1783; and Clairfontaine,[69] a royalist, who had been appointed administrateur general, wanting either influence or ability to procure negroes for the purpose,[Pg 140] the fort was no way better than when it fell into our hands, except being cleaner, and supplied with provisions. On the 12th of October, a schooner bearing a flag of truce, arrived from Victor Hughes; in it came Captain Eiston, of the 35th regiment,[70] for a supply of money and baggage for our captured countrymen, with which he returned in two days to Point à Pitre. General Prescott had taken the precaution to order all the batteries along the coast, as well as those on the passes of the Palmiste, to be destroyed, their guns spiked, and magazines blown up; but, owing to the shortness of the time allowed for it, and the weakness of the force employed, the enemy soon got them repaired to use against us. Captain Bowen, in the Terpsichore, was dispatched to Trois Riviere, to destroy a battery there,[71] where he saw and fired on the enemy, who were marching in great force towards the heights of Palmiste. On which he returned, and informed the Admiral of this, by whom the intelligence was instantly forwarded to General Prescott, who had sent Captain Thomas of the 28th regiment (his aid-de-camp) to request some seamen to reinforce his garrison, which were most readily granted by the Admiral. While Captain Thomas was on board the Boyne, the enemy, to his great astonishment, were seen on the heights of Palmiste. As there were a few royalists about the General, some[Pg 141] of whose slaves were with the enemy, of course he ought to have received earlier information of their approach; but this shews how all intelligence was withheld from us. For ten days after the General had withdrawn the whole of his force into the fort, he occasionally sent parties into the town, as the Boyne still kept the enemy quiet there; but in a short time they got some guns up to an eminence, named by us the White-house Battery, that obliged the Admiral to weigh anchor: but he still continued to hover about the coast, occasionally sending reinforcements and provisions, and keeping up a constant intercourse with General Prescott in the fort. In the course of this business the Boyne was frequently engaged with the different batteries, and was exposed to great danger from the mortars, which the enemy began to play upon us with much judgment. On the 20th of October, the battery on Houelmont opened on the Terpsichore, but without effect. Our garrison in the fort threw some shells which drove them from thence; they, however, soon returned again to their guns. The next day they again attacked the frigate, and hit her; which obliged Captain Bowen to get near the land, out of the direction of their guns. On the 23d, the White-house Battery, having several heavy guns mounted, began a smart fire on the Boyne, which was returned from her lower deckers; afterwards we engaged a battery, into which the enemy had just come, at the N. W. end of the town, from whence we drove them; but being obliged to haul off shore occasionally, they at length completed their purpose, but not so as to be able to hinder us from approaching[Pg 142] the land to keep up an intercourse with the garrison. On this service (as on every other) Captain Bowen eminently distinguished himself, having anchored the Terpsichore, within a short distance of the fort, in a bay under Houelmont. On the 25th the Quebec, Captain Rogers, Beaulieu, Captain Riou, and Zebra, Captain Vaughan, arrived from a cruise. The enemy now increased their forces daily in this part of the island, pressing into their service all the negroes who were on the different estates; and if from timidity or any other cause they demurred, they were instantly shot: from the ship we saw them firing on some negroes of their own, who, from fear, were endeavouring to get off. On the night of the 26th, Lieutenant James, with a party of seamen, marched out of the fort to the military hospital, which he set on fire, being a place that the enemy would soon have made a considerable post against us. On the 29th, the Boyne, as usual sailing towards the fort, was becalmed by the high land of Houelmont, and being within a short distance, was cannonaded from that battery for several hours. From the height of its situation none of our guns could be brought to bear against it; however, after considerable danger, the ship got out of the bay without any damage. On the 5th of November, the enemy opened ten batteries against the fort at the same instant, and a party of them, with a field-piece, under cover of the night, had taken post on the brow of the hill under which the Terpsichore and Experiment were anchored. As soon as the seamen were arranged at day-break, to wash the decks as usual, they were surprised by a heavy shower of musketry from over their[Pg 143] heads. The Experiment endeavoured to get away, but being totally becalmed, it was some time before she could accomplish it. (Captain Miller had gone on board the Vanguard, and Captain Skynner was then in the Boyne, receiving his commission.[72]) Captain Bowen, with a presence of mind that never forsook him, ordered up all the muskets that could be procured, and, encouraging his men with great spirit and some effect, returned the fire of the enemy, who now brought their field-piece to bear on the ship; he was therefore obliged to weigh anchor, and get out of the bay as well as he could, his great guns being totally useless from the elevated situation of the enemy: two or three only of our people were wounded, though the deck was studded with musket-balls. The fort [73] was now closely invested by land; by the sea a communication was continued the whole siege, Captain Bowen, in the Terpsichore, never relaxing for a moment in his exertions to serve and assist the garrison. The water in the tank being bad (the enemy having cut off the aqueduct that supplied it), General Prescott ordered an armed party every morning and evening to the river Galion, to protect those sent thither for water. This was[Pg 144] continued during the whole siege; cohorns and grape-shot being fired into the ravines and woods beyond the river, and other precautions taken, these parties met with little molestation. All the buildings in the fort being destroyed by the fire of the enemy, the garrison was obliged to take shelter in the Bomb-proof, a close and unwholesome confinement in this climate. On the 6th of November, Victor Hughes sent an insolent summons to General Prescott, to surrender the fort in two hours, which if not complied with, no further terms would be offered, and the whole garrison would be put to the sword. To this the General made a short answer, "that he would defend it as a soldier to the last extremity." The instant the hour was expired that the General allowed the French officer to return to Victor Hughes, he opened a heavy fire from all his batteries against the republicans, and continued it through the day without any return from them. Some stores and provisions were about this period sent to the garrison from Dominica, and the merchants of St. Pierre also made a welcome present of refreshments; the enemy at the same time began to supply their advanced batteries with necessaries by sea in small boats, that, keeping close in shore, evaded our cruisers, and landed at the town of Basse Terre. On the 12th of November, the Boyne was exposed for some time to a heavy fire from several batteries; one shell burst immediately over her, but without doing any mischief. At nine A. M. on the 14th of November, the Beaulieu, being then off Vieu Fort, made a signal to the Admiral, of an enemy of superior force being in sight. Immediately[Pg 145] all hands were ordered to quarters, and every preparation made to give them a warm reception; at length three line-of-battle ships hove in sight, which, to our great joy, proved to be a reinforcement from England; the Majestic, Captain Westcott, with Vice Admiral Caldwell's flag on board; the Theseus, Captain Calder; and Bellona, Captain Wilson: by them we were informed that Sir John Vaughan had arrived at St. Pierre, and Sir Charles Grey had given up the command to him. Sir John Jervis, worn down by long and severe exertions, the fatigues of which were augmented by his anxiety for the welfare of the service, that not all his exertions could promote without the arrival of a strong reinforcement, together with the unhealthiness of the climate, found himself no longer able to continue on this station, and therefore, to the great grief of General Prescott, was obliged to give up his command to Admiral Caldwell, and embarking his seamen (under Lieutenant James) from Fort Matilda, sailed for St. Pierre; when, every thing being arranged and settled between the several commanders, Sir Charles Grey and his suite embarked once more with Sir John Jervis on board the Boyne; on the 27th of November they sailed for England, and after a tedious voyage (being for near a month tossed about in the Channel by contrary winds) arrived at Spithead the 21st of January 1795.

As we left General Prescott in a perilous situation, it may be proper to give an account of the conclusion of the siege, though[Pg 146] it comes not within the original plan of my work, which professed only to relate the events that took place under the immediate command of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis. This I am enabled to do from the communication of a brave and intelligent friend who was there during the whole siege. On the 29th of November, Captain Cockburne, aid-de-camp of General Sir John Vaughan, was sent by his Excellency to Fort Matilda, with the unwelcome news that no more men could be sent thither. On the 5th of December, General Prescott dispatched Captain Thomas, his aid-de-camp, to the Commander in Chief, with an account of the fort being almost in ruins; this officer returned thither on the 7th, and found that the bastion towards the river Galion was totally silenced, and so completely commanded by the enemy's musketry, that not a man could approach it; the adjoining curtain was much in the same state; the bastion towards the town was giving way, and expected to tumble into the ditch every moment. General Prescott no longer thought of defence, but to secure his small garrison, now highly necessary for the defence of the other islands, the unparalleled mortality having left them almost without troops. The pestilential fever had been, in proportion, more fatal to the officers than the men; in the garrison, for instance, there was no officer of intermediate rank between the General and his aid-de-camp Captain Thomas, who was second in command. On the 9th of December, this officer was dispatched to Admiral Thompson, and after the plan of embarkation was settled, he returned to the fort, and the evacuation commenced[Pg 147] at nine o'clock on the 10th of December, and was conducted with so much skill, that not a man was lost. In the morning two of the garrison deserted to the enemy; but the General had concealed his intentions so well, that not the least intelligence of it seems to have been given by them. There was no interruption to the retreat except a few musket-shots on the beach, from one of which that active officer Captain Bowen was badly wounded in the face. The enemy, unconscious of this movement, cannonaded and bombarded the fort as usual, until two o'clock the next morning, though the embarkation had been completed by eleven the preceding night. The whole force that marched out of Fort Matilda, was between four and five hundred: some of them were sent to the Isle de Saintes and Antigua, and the remainder to Martinique. Thus concluded a siege of eight weeks and two days, during the whole of which General Prescott evinced the most perfect coolness and true soldierly resolution, neither appalled by the tremendous and well-directed fire constantly, both night and day, kept up against the fort, nor by the insolent and threatening summonses of Victor Hughes.[74] In the handsomest manner he bore testimony to the zeal and activity of Sir John Jervis, who relaxed not in his attention to the wants of the garrison, till he was obliged to quit the station; leaving however, in Captain Bowen, a man whose existence seemed to be preserved, amidst the greatest dangers, for the service of his country. Admiral[Pg 148] Thompson had his share of praise too for the manner in which he had conducted the embarkation. During the siege seventeen were killed, and seventy-nine were wounded. General Prescott immediately repaired to Saint Pierre, at Martinique, where he received the well-earned thanks and congratulations of all ranks, for his spirited and gallant defence of Fort Matilda. Victor Hughes,[75] on taking possession of the fort, ordered the monument that had been erected over General Dundas, to be destroyed, and his remains thrown into the river Galion; a conduct as mean and brutal, as it was undeserved. I cannot conclude without mentioning the death of that gallant officer, Captain Faulknor, commanding the Blanche frigate of thirty-two guns, who, on the 5th of January, fell in with the republican frigate, La Pique of thirty-eight guns, off the harbour of Point à Pitre; the action was maintained with the[Pg 149] greatest fury and obstinacy for five hours, during which Captain Faulknor fell by a musket-ball as he was a second time lashing the bowsprit of La Pique to the capstern of his own ship. The loss of this brave man must be deplored by every friend to the service; his courage and determined bravery had been often tried, and always with success, as in the course of this work I have frequently had occasion to mention. On his death the command devolved on the first lieutenant, Mr. Watkins, who continued the action in a manner that did him immortal honour. The French ship having lost her main and mizen sails, the Blanche took her in tow, still continuing the engagement, when the stern ports not being large enough, they blew the upper transom beam away, and fired into her bows for three hours. The marines under Lieutenant Richardson, kept so well directed a fire, that not a man could appear on her forecastle until she struck; sixty-seven of her crew were dead on the decks; many had been thrown overboard; one hundred and ten wounded were landed at the Saintes; and one hundred and seventy-four were taken to Martinique. The Blanche had ten killed, including the Captain, and twenty-four wounded. Captain Faulknor's exertions in forwarding the service on every occasion, both during, and since the campaign, were unremitting. Indeed the English cause in the West Indies, at this instant, could hardly have received a deeper wound than it did by the death of this brave and zealous man.

APPENDIX.

LIST OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY

Who died or were killed during the Campaign in the West Indies, under Lieutenant General Sir Charles Grey, K. B. and Vice Admiral Sir John Jervis, K. B. in the year 1794.

Killed, or died of their Wounds.

Died of the Fever or other Disorders.

27 killed or died of their wounds.
170 died of the yellow fever, and other diseases incidental to the climate.
—–
Total 197

I was informed by Captain Shank of the royal navy, the agent for transports, that during the expedition 46 masters of transports, and 1100 of their men, died of the yellow fever. The returns of the masters were given in, of the men a rough calculation to the above amount was made. On board the Broderic transport the fever raged with such violence, that the mate, the only survivor, was obliged to scull his boat on shore to fetch off negroes to throw the dead overboard, and himself died soon after.

Of the royal navy the loss was considerable; but it has not been in my power to procure a list of the officers who died or were killed on this expedition.

List of the Officers Prisoners to Victor Hughes, who were living at Point à Pitre the first of January, 1795.

FOOTNOTES

[1] On our arrival we found several of the ships that had parted company on the voyage; and each day after brought more of them, till the whole were collected.

[2] I have given an exact representation of one of these boats in the view of the town and bay of St. Pierre.

[3] See in the Appendix, page 1.

[4] An idea was started of raising four hundred white men in the island of Barbadoes to augment the army; but there was not time to arm and discipline them; therefore it was dropped. However, a certain number of negroes were provided to attend the army, four hundred of whom were sent from Dominica for that service; some more were brought from St. Vincent's; and the council of Barbadoes made an offer of supplying a large number of them to serve on very liberal terms; but when the matter came to be investigated, the terms were found to be far from equitable, and therefore were rejected.—Mr. Baillie and Mr. Monro, two planters of Grenada, were here introduced to the Commanders in Chief, and were received on board the Boyne as guests, and treated with the greatest hospitality; they proceeded with us on the expedition. Mr. Gibbs, one of the council of Barbadoes, also accompanied us.

[5] During the landing of our troops, Lieutenant Bowen, who was in a gun-boat, perceived a number of the enemy collecting in the woods near the shore, and being scarce noticed by them, was suffered to approach without molestation, and having loaded his gun with langrege, he dealt such destruction among them, that they fled in all directions. A shot from the battery, which stuck in the larboard bow of the Boyne, when cut out, proved to be a thirty-four pounder, and to have been heated, but not sufficiently to do any mischief by fire.

[6] The Generous Friends transport, laden with officers' baggage, &c. dragged her anchor on the night of the 5th, struck against a rock at the entrance of the bay, and was wrecked. Fortunately, however, the hands on board and the baggage were saved.

[7] The French have since said that they fired on the boat because it had a white flag hoisted: this was a most ridiculous objection; for, though with them a mark of aristocracy, it has ever been acknowledged by all nations as a signal of peace and cessation from hostilities. However, we found it necessary afterwards to comply with their wishes; and whenever a boat was sent from either party on a truce, they carried the flag of the opposite party in the bow of the boat, and their own colours abaft.

[8] Vide Appendix, page 14.

[9] Vide Appendix, pages 10, 11, 12.

[10] Vide Appendix, page 16.

[11] They met with considerable opposition in this business; and the boats employed in landing the troops by some mistake got close under the enemy's batteries, before they discovered their situation. Our loss however was less than might have been expected. The Dromedary, venturing too near the battery of Point Negro, received a shot between wind and water, entering under the counter, and a second shot went through the quarter-deck barricade, killed one man, and wounded four, among whom was Captain Tatham.

[12] Vide Appendix, page 7.

[13] About this time the army had nearly experienced an irreparable loss. As General Dundas was writing in his tent, a notorious villain, of the name of Barbarose, presented himself at the door of the tent, demanding to speak with the General, who, to drive him away, called to the centinel to "bayonet the fellow;" on which, in his fright, he dropped a dagger well oiled; and on being seized, proved to have been the assassin of a French royalist.

[14] On our first arrival at the island of Martinique, the Commanders in Chief dispatched Captain Mason (aid de camp to the General) bearing a flag of truce, with a summons to the town of St. Pierre. Au Cane, the mayor, met him on the quay on horseback, attended by a numerous body of armed men, with a field piece; &c. and instead of reading the letter and summons, dismissed him rudely with threats.

[15] Information having arrived that some of the enemy had retired from St. Pierre to a five-gun battery on that part of the island, Major Manningham was dispatched with a strong detachment in flat-boats, under the protection of the Zebra sloop of war, and was completely successful in driving them from thence.

[16] According to the best account I could collect, ten killed and forty-four wounded.—I must here beg the reader will pardon the inaccuracy of my account of the killed and wounded in this and the other actions that took place. Though I have made every possible inquiry, I have not been able to meet with the regular returns, which must have been given in to the adjutant general's office at Martinique.

[17] The two six-pounders were to strengthen the post that commanded the road to Fort Royal by Dillon's house.

[18] One day, when the Commander in Chief met them on the road, they (being ignorant that a battery was appointed for them to serve in) surrounded the General, and offered him their services, swearing they thought it d——d hard to have all work and no fighting; and hoped his Honour would let them have some share in it. The General, with that kindness which won the hearts of all that had the happiness to serve under him, said, "Well, my lads, you shall have a battery to yourselves." On which, having saluted him with three hearty cheers, the honest fellows went readily to their work again.

[19] The Admiral had lately promoted Mr. Rosehill to the rank of Lieutenant for his spirited behaviour at Trinité.

[20] Who this day performed the funeral service over thirteen people belonging to the army and navy.

[21] As it was my lot to be much in the society of this excellent young man, having from the time we arrived in the West Indies enjoyed his friendship, and on several occasions accompanied him on service, afterwards attending him from the camp at Point Negro to the hospital at St. Pierre, and remaining with him at intervals till the time of his death: these circumstances will, I trust, plead my excuse for detaining the reader from more important events of the campaign while I pay the tribute of respect to the memory of my gallant but ill-fated friend. Mr. James Miln was a native of Arbroath in Scotland, and after serving for near thirteen years with credit in the navy, was promoted to a lieutenancy on board the Blanche frigate by Admiral Sir John Laforey, and was afterwards taken on board the Boyne as fifth lieutenant by Sir John Jervis on his arrival at Barbadoes. His general good conduct as a man and officer soon attracted the notice of the naval Commander in Chief (than whom no man is more quick sighted to discern merit, and happy to reward it). By him no doubt he would have been much employed on the most active service, had not that melancholy event taken place, which deprived the service of a good and brave officer, and left me only the sad task of deploring, while I commemorate the death of a friend, from the excellency of whose heart and understanding I was in hopes of reaping future entertainment and improvement.

[22] Since writing of this, news has arrived from the West Indies of the capture of a ship belonging to Victor Hughes (the present republican tyrant of Guadaloupe) loaded with wealth amassed by this plunderer to the amount of half a million sterling. Such has been the general conduct of the French Commanders, while ours have been vilified for claiming even the legal bounty for their suffering and exhausted followers.

[23] See Appendix, page 24.

[24] See Appendix, page 25.

[25] The same officer who distinguished himself by his gallantry in saving his Majesty's ship the Guardian at the Cape of Good Hope in the year 1789. See Gent. Mag. vol. lx. page 465.

[26] See Appendix, pages 26 and 27.

[27] Monsieur de Tourelles, the ancient lieutenant of the fort, either through fear, ignorance, or treachery, refused to run the ship in under pretence of shoals.

[28] The whole fleet, witnessing this gallant action, instantly saluted the British colours with three hearty cheers.

[29] The gallant defence made by General Rochambeau and his garrison was strongly manifested on our entering Fort Bourbon, as there was scarce an inch of ground untouched by our shot or shells; and it is but justice to say, it did them the highest honour.—Among the casualties that happened during the siege, the following deserves notice. A party of the besieged were in one of the chambers of the Bomb-proof in the Traverse, when a shell from one of our batteries fell into the arched way, and rebounding, burst the door of the chamber, and killed the whole party.

[30] It is much to the credit of the officers, who served on shore from the landing on the island till the reduction of Fort Bourbon, a period of forty-seven days, that they shared the same hardships as the privates without a murmur, sleeping in their clothes the whole time; and being so situated that they seldom could have the benefit of tents or any kind of hovel, they were exposed continually to the heavy rains and nocturnal damps which in a tropical climate so severely try the constitution; but, owing (as it was imagined) to the flannel shirts which were invariably worn by all ranks, they, as yet, suffered less from sickness than could have been expected.

[31] By us called Pigeon Island. On it is a very strong battery, which commands a great distance.

[32] The conduct and abilities of Colonel Coote in this enterprise gained him the particular thanks of the Commander in Chief, whose orders he had so ably executed; and he was well supported by the whole of his department, particularly by Major Evatt, Captains Buchanan, Crosbie, Welch, Thomas Grey (one of the General's aid de camps), and Stovin; also by Major of Brigade Vischer, with Lieutenant Drozier, and the detachment of royal artillery, who spiked the guns.

[33] The garrison that marched out with General Ricard, and laid down their arms as prisoners of war, were about three hundred men, troops of the line (among which one hundred and twenty-five were of the regiment d'Aunai), some artillery, and a few people of colour. General Ricard, at his own request, was sent to America, as had been General Rochambeau, who chose that place in preference to his own distracted country, where the system of blood that was then the order of the day under the tyranny of Robespierre, would have immolated even these men, who had with so much bravery defended the posts intrusted to them by their country.

[34] The General transmitted also a plan of the projected works on Morne Fortuné, earnestly recommending them to be finished, as it was a very strong post, not commanded, but commanding every other post around it.

[35] The revenue department was however an exception to this arrangement of the civil departments, as the purpose of trade could not of course be answered through the forms of a French custom-house, or the revenue laws adhered to but by the establishment of our own people to carry on that necessary branch. Those places therefore in the district of the island of Martinique, which were immediately necessary to be filled, were attended to, and a list of them sent home, that when his majesty's pleasure should be made known with regard to the future civil government, they might be put in motion without any delay.

[36] Consisting of the Boyne, Irresistible, Veteran, Winchelsea, Solebay, Quebec, Ceres, Blanche, Rose, Woolwich, Experiment, and Roebuck, together with the transports with troops, and the ordnance and hospital ships and victuallers.

[37] As this is an office, I believe, hitherto unknown in the navy, I shall explain the reason of its being now established. The Admiral had in a former war experienced the attention and zeal of Mr. Weir, and being well acquainted with the fatigue and danger that would unavoidably be the lot of his surgeon, if he did his duty, he pitched upon him for that office, and as an encouragement he procured permission to appoint a surgeon general to the navy, and his appointment did honour to his discernment. Mr. Weir was indefatigable in attending the wounded and sick in his own ship, and equally ready to visit others; and even where his duty had no demand on him, his humanity led him to give his advice and assistance. In his mode of treatment of that dreadful disease, the yellow fever, he was more successful than was generally the case, as the Boyne lost a less proportion of patients under that afflicting malady than any other ship on the expedition.

[38] Lieutenant George Vaughan of the Boyne was this day promoted to the command of the Zebra sloop, and the Chaplain of the Boyne was appointed to the chaplaincy of the garrison of Guadaloupe, there being no other chaplain on the expedition; but government at home did not think fit to confirm the appointment. Lieutenant Davers of the Boyne was promoted to be acting commander of the Inspector, from whence he was promoted to the command of the Bull Dog sloop. Lieutenant Ogle was also appointed acting commander of the Assurance.

[39] After the islands were captured, a small reinforcement arrived, which was to be retained by Sir Charles Grey, if he thought fit; but as he knew it was much wanted to carry on the war at St. Domingo, and as it was insufficient to enable him to undertake an expedition against Cayenne, which he at first intended, he sent it on to Jamaica, under the command of Brigadier General Whyte; and Lieutenant Colonel Lennox, who came out soon after, he dispatched thither also.

[40] Admiral Rodney used to say of these people, that "they were smugglers in peace, and traitors in war;" an opinion, I believe, confirmed by repeated experience.

[41] Of this General Sir Charles Grey himself shared.

[42] During the time that Fort Bourbon was besieging we sent a summons to the town of St. Pierre, which was rejected with an uncommon degree of insolence, and Captain Mason (the General's aid de camp, who went with the flag of truce) was insulted. About a fortnight afterwards the place was taken by storm, without any capitulation, consequently subject to plunder by the custom of war; but so far from any irregularity being suffered, a drummer was hanged by order of General Dundas for attempting it; and such exact discipline and quiet behaviour was maintained among the troops, that the shops were opened the day after the capture. From the time of the refusal of the summons to the final capture, the republicans continued to load all the property and produce on board vessels under American colours, which they did constantly, in order to deprive the captors of their just rights, in case the place should be taken.—Interested American merchants were continually endeavouring to wrest the hard-earned prize money from the army and navy, while they were supplying the enemy with provisions and other necessaries.

[43] Consisting of four thousand six hundred and forty-two men.

[44] He was interred on the 4th of June, with all military honours, on one of the highest batteries in Fort Matilda, which, from that circumstance, was called Dundas's battery, and a stone with a suitable inscription was placed over his remains. The command of the forces, and the government of Guadaloupe, now devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Blundell of the forty-fourth regiment.

[45] This armament appears to have sailed from Rochfort about the 25th of April, and to have been forty-one days on the passage.

[46] Their success appears to have been greatly accelerated by the treachery or cowardice of several French royalists then in the fort, who offered their services to sally on the besiegers. Accordingly they marched out; but, on approaching the enemy, they were panic struck and fled, and few of them returned to Fleur d'Epée. The British merchants and sailors from the town of Point à Pitre had thrown themselves into this fort to assist the garrison, which was greatly reduced by sickness and death. This little band, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Drummond of the forty-third regiment, did all that gallant men could do; twice they repulsed the assailants; but at length, overpowered by numbers, and the royalists having demanded that the gates should be thrown open, and the enemy now pouring in from all sides, the few remaining troops were obliged to make the best retreat they could to Point à Pitre, which, not being tenable after the loss of Fleur d'Epée, was abandoned by them, and they crossed over to Basse Terre. In this affair, besides the loss of many others, Captain Suckling of the artillery was wounded at his gun by a bayonet, and left behind at Point à Pitre.—There were in Guadaloupe when taken by the French a larger proportion of troops than in either of the other conquered islands.

[47] Accompanied also by the Honourable Captain Stewart, brother to Lord Garlies; who having received permission to return to England, handsomely came forward at this time to offer himself as a volunteer.

In this second campaign (see Appendix, page 37) Colonel Symes, Colonel Francis Dundas, and Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, were promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

[48] See the Appendix, page 32.

[49] On the 18th of June, Lieutenant Colonels Coote and Cradock arrived from St. Christopher's, where they had been detained by the yellow fever, which they had caught on board a transport in which they were proceeding to England on leave of absence, and though not recovered from the baneful effects of that disease, they now came forward to offer their services to the Commanders in Chief, which were accepted in a manner highly honourable to both parties.

[50] In the afternoon one hundred and eighty seamen from the Boyne, Commanded by Lieutenants Wolley, Thomson, and Maitland, landed under the Salines to windward of Grozier, and took post on the heights near that place; other parties of seamen also were landed at Grozier, forming altogether a strong reinforcement for the army.

[51] With whom on this occasion Lieutenant Thomson served as a volunteer.

[52] In this business Lieutenant Wolley had some narrow escapes. The commanding officer of the fort rushed out of the guard-room on the alarm, with a lighted match in his hand. He first fired an amuzet, luckily pointed in an opposite direction; he then three times attempted to fire a twenty-four pounder as Mr. Wolley and his men were advancing to the muzzle of it; but fortunately, either from the dampness of the powder, or trepidation of the man, it missed taking effect; on which he flung down his match, and retreated to the further end of the fort, whither Mr. Wolley followed; but, from the darkness of the night, he soon lost sight of him. As he returned he was met by his own men, who, taking him for an enemy, were about to put him to death, when his voice discovered their mistake. Had the cannon in the first instance gone off, it must have made considerable havock among our men, as it was loaded with a bag of musket balls.—This day Captain Armstrong of the 8th regiment, was killed by a cannon ball at the landing-place at Grozier, while giving directions to a serjeant about some ordnance which was to be landed there. He was on horseback, and had just remarked, that there could be no danger from the fire at Fleur d'Epée at that place; a shot, however, from the fort dipped over the point of land which seemed to shelter the landing-place, and cut him asunder. He has often been heard to say that he thought that a man must be truly unfortunate who fell by a single cannon ball.

[53] In this affair Captain Morrison of the 58th regiment was killed by a musket ball through his head as he was leading his men on to the attack; he fell regretted by all who knew him, being an accomplished, amiable, and brave man: I too felt severely on this occasion, having enjoyed much of his society and friendship. The Commander in Chief, who knew his worth, paid the tribute of applause to his memory; and the Admiral, when he heard of his fall, exclaimed, "He has left few equals behind him."

[54] A young officer, formerly of Walsh's regiment, took this opportunity of escaping to us. His name was Clarke, his family of Martinique, where his father was a counsellor at law. He had been imprisoned three months at Bourdeaux, on his endeavouring to avoid joining the armies on the frontiers, and was released to embark on this expedition, as the only chance of rejoining his friends. He reported, that one Fremont, a daring fellow, who, though not first in command, had great influence, was killed this morning on the walls of Fleur d'Epée, by a musket-ball from one of our people. The enemy lost in this action upwards of three hundred men. On the 29th, the Commander in Chief sustained a heavy loss in the death of Captain Newton Ogle, of the 70th regiment, one of his excellency's aid-de-camps; he was a young man of an excellent understanding, and had distinguished himself on all occasions where his exertions had been called forth.

[55] Lieutenant Wolley of the Boyne, was appointed acting major of brigade; and Lieutenants Thomson and Maitland, and Mr. Oswald, commanded the three companies of seamen.

[56] One of the frigates in the harbour did great execution; by a single discharge of grape-shot, killing three officers and thirty-six privates of the light infantry, who were unfortunately drawn up in a street effectually commanded by her guns.

[57] General Symes died soon after of his wound.

[58] Captain Burnet of the 43d regiment, who had led his company of grenadiers into the town, was blown up at the time Captain Robertson was killed. His clothes being on fire, were pulled off by his brother officers. His face and hands were rendered entirely black by the explosion. In this situation he first received a musket-ball which broke his arm, and was then met by his own grenadiers, who, taking him for one of the French blacks, attacked him with charged bayonets, and wounded him in three places before he could make himself known to them. The instant they discovered their mistake they expressed the utmost horror and contrition, and brought off this excellent officer in their arms; who, I am happy to be enabled to add, survived, notwithstanding the dreadful situation he was in. Lieutenant Conway of the 60th regiment, was also blown up, and in that condition continued to lead on his men and encourage them, till unfortunately he fell by a musket-ball through his body.

[59] General Grey was waiting on Morne Mascot for Brigadier General Symes's signal of his having succeeded in taking the heights near Point à Pitre; having the second battalion of grenadiers, the 65th regiment, and six companies of Grand Terre, and second battalion of seamen commanded by Captain Sawyer, ready to attack Fort Fleur d'Epée by storm.

[60] Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to thirty-eight officers, forty-three serjeants, and six hundred and eleven privates.

I must here beg leave to add an extract from Admiral Sir J. Jervis's public letters to the Lords of the Admiralty on this subject. "The fate of Captain Lewis Robertson, who had distinguished himself highly, fills my mind with the deepest regret; he had long been a child of misfortune, although he possessed talents to merit every success and prosperity; and, as I am informed, has left a widow and infant family unprovided for. I beg leave to recommend them to the protection and good offices of their lordships, to obtain a suitable provision, which will be a great encouragement to officers in similar circumstances, to emulate so great an example."

The celebrated Brigadier General Arnold, being on business of a mercantile nature at Point à Pitre, was captured at the time the place fell into the hands of the republicans, and, being apprehensive of ill treatment, changed his name to Anderson. He was put on board a prison-ship in the harbour, and had considerable property in cash with him, of which, it is supposed, Fremont and Victor Hughes were informed, as he received an intimation from one of the French sentries, that he was known, and would soon be guillotined. On this alarming intelligence he determined to attempt an escape, which he effected in the following masterly manner. At night he lowered into the sea a cask containing clothes and valuables, with a direction on it, that if it floated to the shore of our camp at Berville, it might be known, and restored to him; he then lowered down his cloak bag to a small raft which he had prepared, on which also he got himself, and proceeded to a small canoe, in which he pushed for the British fleet, directed by the Admiral's lights. On his making towards the mouth of the harbour he was challenged by the French row guard, but by the darkness of the night escaped from them, and arrived on board the Boyne by four o'clock on Monday morning, the 30th of June.

During the whole time of this latter campaign the fever, which had been so destructive the preceding year, continued to rage in our army and navy with unabated violence. General Grey lost all the servants he brought from England by it, including two who had lived with him for many years. It first broke out with violence when the former campaign ended.

[61] Among the many causes of uneasiness that now bore hard upon the Commanders in Chief (by the failure of their well-concerted plans, the dreadful mortality among their troops, and the despair of reinforcements arriving from Europe) the misconduct of one high in estimation as an officer, and hitherto looked upon as a man of strict integrity, was not the least galling. The case was this: At the taking of St. Lucia, Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, who had repeatedly distinguished himself by his gallant conduct, was appointed governor of that island, and in the last promotion was advanced to the rank of brigadier general; soon after which some very unpleasant reports prevailed, of extortions and peculations by him, and taking bribes of the inhabitants, who were supposed to be disaffected, in order to suffer them to remain on the island, and then breaking his word with them. At length a regular complaint was laid before the Commander in Chief, who instantly ordered a court martial to be summoned, and sent an officer to St. Lucia to arrest Sir Charles Gordon, and convey him to Martinique, in order for trial. At this time the fever raged so violently that the two first courts-martial that met on this business, were dissolved by the death of a majority of the members. At length, in order to prevent the like accident from again interrupting the course of justice, the General appointed a greater number of officers than usual to attend, and the trial proceeded; the event of which was, that the prisoner was found guilty of the crimes laid to his charge, and was sentenced to refund the money he had extorted, and to be rendered incapable of serving his majesty again: but, in consequence of some favourable circumstances that came out on the trial, he was allowed to sell his commission. See Appendix, pages 42, 43, 48.

[62] The horses that were sent from America for the purpose of mounting the light dragoons, were so bad, that only three out of forty were sound, or fit for service, insomuch that Captain Hare was obliged to present a memorial to the Commander in Chief on the subject.

[63] Consisting of seventy rank and file only.

[64] I am sorry to add, that this officer soon afterwards fell a victim to the yellow fever.

[65] In one of these attacks Monsieur Vermont was shot through the body, his lieutenant, Monsieur De Lisle, was shot through his breast, and another of his officers killed; in this situation he beat off the enemy. This gallant, but unfortunate officer, was, at the beginning of the revolution, possessed of a good estate near Trois Riviere on Basse Terre, which soon made him an object of republican vengeance; his house was attacked, but he escaped into the woods, supposing that his amiable wife would be safe from their fury, being far advanced in her pregnancy; but the monsters, not regarding her situation, put her to death with circumstances of barbarity too dreadful to relate, and such as would fill, I trust, every Briton's breast with the utmost horror; his aged mother too, and beautiful sister, shared the same fate. He was taken and thrown into prison at Fort Matilda, to reserve him for a public spectacle on the guillotine, when we arrived, and released him from thence by the capture of the island.

[66] Their conduct prior to, and since the enemy had attacked the camp, deserved a far better fate: finding themselves excluded from terms of capitulation, they wished permission to cut their way through the enemy's army, by which a few of them, at least, might escape, and the rest meet an honourable death; but this request, it is said, was refused; perhaps it was believed that on their capture the enemy would relent, and not put their sanguinary threats into execution. Two of these unfortunate men hastened to the shore, in hopes of getting on board the covered boat; but being disappointed, and aware of the fate that awaited them, they instantly shot themselves on the beach. On hearing of this melancholy business, General Grey published an order that did equal honour to his feelings and his mind. See Appendix, page 53.

[67] This part of the agreement, however, was not complied with, as they remained prisoners for more than a year afterwards, during which time many of them died.

[68] General Prescott had so small a force in that quarter, that he could not possibly afford any material assistance to General Graham; but he had made an effort by sending a detachment from the 35th regiment to support some royalists at St. Marié, which however proved ineffectual; and the numbers at Martinique being now too small for the defence of it, General Grey was unable to afford any assistance from thence; however he ordered the flank companies of the 4th battalion, of the 60th regiment from St. Vincent's, and part of the 21st from St. Christopher's, to reinforce Brigadier General Graham. Fortunately, however, they arrived too late, as their numbers were inadequate to save it, and they afterwards made part of the garrison at Fort Matilda.

[69] This gentleman, after having enjoyed a lucrative post, was unwilling to lose the fruits of it, and, instead of rendering any assistance to General Prescott, he took French leave, not forgetting to carry with him a chest well lined, in order to render his residence at Antigua comfortable.

[70] The republican officer who came with him informed us that he saw the execution of the unfortunate royalists, and that twenty-seven heads were struck off in seven minutes and a half!

[71] On the 19th of October the Admiral sent Lieutenant Skynner with a party of seamen to a battery at the N. W. end of the town, from whence he brought off some cannon and mortars.

[72] On the 2d of November, Captain Miller was promoted to the command of the Vanguard, Captain Sawyer being removed to the Assurance, vice Captain Bryer, deceased; and Lieutenant Launcelot Skynner of the Boyne, was appointed commander of the Experiment, vice Captain Miller.

[73] Fort Matilda, formerly Fort Charles, was at first a battery only, erected to command the road; afterwards it was enclosed as a depot for arms and ammunition in case of insurrection among the slaves; and during the last war the French added to its outworks, which were now totally in ruins, but served the enemy, particularly those on the opposite side of the Galion river, as trenches, and effectually covered their musketry that commanded the principal works of the besieged: in short, the fort was completely commanded on the three sides by land, so that not a man in it could move without being seen by the enemy.

[74] During the siege a cannon ball took off the fore part of the General's hat. He coolly observed, "that a miss was as good as a mile!"

[75] So much having been said of this man, it may be agreeable to the reader to be informed of his origin, and pursuits in the former part of his life.—Victor Hughes was originally a petty inn-keeper at Basse Terre, Guadaloupe; from whence he was driven for some misdemeanor, and became master of a small trading vessel at St. Domingo; then a lieutenant in the French navy; and afterwards a deputy in the national assembly: from whence he came out to the West Indies as commissioner, with controlling powers over the commanders of the army and navy. His abilities were certainly good, his courage and perseverance undoubted; but, from the ferocity of his character, he was both feared and hated. Colonel Drummond, who with his small party was taken at Point Bacchus, relates that the republicans put to death all the sick they found in the hospital at Petit Bourg, many of the women, and some children, cutting off heads, and otherwise mutilating the bodies; that, as the men who surrendered with him at Point Bacchus, fainted in their march, they were instantly bayonetted; the Colonel himself was, by particular directions from Victor Hughes, ordered to clean the prison ship in turn with the others; but from this disgrace he was relieved by the dutiful attachment of his men, who would not permit it: his food and lodging were the same as the rest, no attention being paid to his rank; but from the respect and good behaviour of his men, not one of whom would desert from him. A great number of people of all ages, sexes, and conditions, were condemned to the guillotine by this inexorable tyrant, all of whom were conducted in boats round the prison ship, in order to distress and intimidate the British prisoners.

His Excellency Sir Charles Grey,		K. B. Commander in Chief.
Major General Thomas Dundas.
Lieutenant Colonel Symes,		Quarter Master General.
Major Henry Grey,		Deputy Quarter Master General.
Lieut. Col. Fisher,		Secretary to the Commander in Chief.
Major Lyon,		Deputy Adjutant General.
Captain Finch Mason,	}	Aid de Camps to the Commander in Chief
Lieut. John Cunningham,
Captain Newton Ogle,
Capt. Maitland,		Aid de Camp to Major General Dundas.
Dr. Wardle,		Surgeon on the Staff.
Also Chevalier Sancée, a brave and ingenious French Officer, whom the Commander in Chief took with him, as being acquainted with the island of Martinique, and the fortifications of Fort Bourbon and St. Louis, having served under the Marquis de Bouillé at the construction of the former works.

Colonels	Elias Durnford, Chief Engineer.
	John Chillcotts.
	Robert Douglas.
Captains	William Johnston.
	James Gieddes.
	Lewis Hay.
1st Lieutenants	Richard Downe.
	Douglas Lawson.
	Richard Fletcher.
2d Lieutenant	Elias Walker Durnford.

Lieutenant Colonel Blundell, President.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnston.
Major Watson.
Major Ross.
Major Baillie.
Third battalion grenadiers	2 Captains.
Second light infantry	1 Ditto.
Third ditto	1 Ditto.
Third brigade	4 Ditto.

General Prescott	President.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnstone	seventieth regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Stewart	fifty-eighth. Dead.
Captain Whitworth	royal artillery.
Captain Flood	fifty-eighth.
Captain Taggart	fifty-fifth.
Captain Ingram	fifty-fifth. Dead.
Captain Forbes	thirty-fourth.
Captain Pomiere	fifteenth.
Captain Dunbar	seventieth.
Captain Sharpe	sixth.
Captain Harvey	thirty-third. Dead.
[Pg A49]Captain Gillespei	thirty-first.
Captain Blacker	sixty-fifth regiment.
Captain Lorrain	ninth.
Captain Hindson	fifteenth.
Captain Macdonald	fifteenth.

Lieutenant Colonel	—— Bontein.
Captains	James Clifton. Andrew Smith.
First Lieutenants	William Moore. Cayley Johnstone.
Second Lieutenants	—— Popham. —— Heyland.
Adjutant	Mr. Randal Ripton.

By the Rev. COOPER WILLYAMS, A. M.
VICAR OF EXNING, SUFFOLK, AND LATE CHAPLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP BOYNE.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY T. BENSLEY;
FOR G. NICOL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL; B. AND J. WHITE, FLEET-STREET; AND J. ROBSON, NEW BOND-STREET.
1796.

PREFACE.

CONTENTS.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FRENCH WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION OF FORT BOURBON.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XIII.

APPENDIX.

LIST OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY

Killed, or died of their Wounds.

Died of the Fever or other Disorders.

List of the Officers Prisoners to Victor Hughes, who were living at Point à Pitre the first of January, 1795.

FOOTNOTES

Transcriber's Note

Boyne	98 guns	Vice Admiral Sir John Jervis, K. B. Commander in Chief of the naval force in the West Indies.
Boyne	98 guns	Captain G. Grey.
Vengeance	74	Commodore C. Thompson.
Vengeance	74	Captain Henry Powlett.
Irresistible	74	John Henry.
Veteran	64	Charles Edmund Nugent.
Blanche	32	Christopher Parker.
Terpsichore	32	Samson Edwards.
Blonde	32	John Markham.
Solebay	32	William Hancock Kelly.
Beaulieu	40	John Salisbury.
Quebec	32	Josias Rogers.
Rose	23	Edward Riou.
Vesuvius	bomb	Charles Sawyer.
Nautilus	18 guns	James Carpenter.
Rattlesnake	18	Matthew Henry Scott.
[Pg 16]Seaflower	16	William Pierrepoint.
Zebra	18	Captain Robert Faulknor.
Experiment	44	Simon Miller. armed en flute.
Woolwich	44	John Parker. armed en flute.
Dromedary	44	Sandford Tatham. armed en flute.

Asia	64 guns	Captain John Brown.
Santa Margarita	36	Eliab Harvey.
Assurance	44	Velters Cornwall Berkley.
Ceres	32	Richard Incledon.
Winchelsea	32	Lord Viscount Garlies.
Roebuck	44 hosp. ship	Andrew Christie.

		Where killed or wounded.
Brigadier General Symes	Quarter Master Gen.	Point à Pitre.
Lieut. Colonel Campbell	9th regiment	Martinique.
Lieut. Colonel Gomm	55th regiment	Point à Pitre.
Major Irving	70th regiment	On board the Assurance.
Captain Armstrong	8th regiment	Fleur d'Epée.
Captain Combe	15th regiment	Point à Pitre.
Captain M'Donald	21st regiment	Fleur d'Epée.
Captain Grove	35th regiment	Point à Pitre.
Captain M'Ewan	38th regiment	Martinique.
Captain Fenton	43d regiment	Point à Pitre.
Captain Morrison	58th regiment	Fleur d'Epée.
Captain Forbes	34th regiment	Berville.
Lieut. Thong	6th regiment	Fleur d'Epée.
Lieut. Booth	8th regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Newport	12th regiment	Point à Pitre.
Lieut. Lyster	12th regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Croker	15th regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Knollis	21st regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Price	21st regiment	Fleur d'Epée.
Lieut. Cockrane	39th regiment
Lieut. Manson	40th regiment	Point à Pitre.
Lieut. Crofton	43d regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Hennis	58th regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Conway	60th regiment	Ditto.
Lieut. Toosey	65th regiment	Fleur d'Epée.
Lieut. Auchmuty	17th regiment	Point à Pitre.
Lieut. Mercer	Marines	Ditto.

Major General Thomas Dundas.
Captain Dally	6th regim.
Lieutenant Gale
Surgeon Barton
Captain Saumarez	8th regim.
Ensign Armstrong
Ensign Caulfield.
Captain Campbell	9th regim.
Captain Twedie	12th regim.
Lieut. Perryn
Lieut. Wallace
Lieut. Wright
Lieut. Miller
Captain Combe	15th regim.
Lieut. James
Lieut. Napier
Lieut. Cane	17th regim.
Lieut. Ritchie	17th regim.
Major Rowley	21st regim.
Lieut. Mewt
Lieut. Stornton
Lieut. M'Donald	22d regim.
Lieut. Garnons	23d regim.
Lieut. Polhill	23d regim.
Lieut. Tilth	29th regim.
Lieut. Davis	31st regim.
Lieut. M'Kenzie
Lieut. Williams
Captain Wallace	32d regim.
Lieut. Morndrew
Surgeon Taylor
Captain Harvey	33d regim.
Lieut. Beaty	33d regim.
Captain Roache	34th regim.
Lieut. Innes
Lieut. Forrester
Lieut. Wattle
Lieut. Nash
Captain Johnson	35th regim.
Captain Graves
Lieut. Mukins
Lieut. Fitzgerald
Lieut. Phaire
Lieut. Sands
Lieut. Barry
Captain Douglas	38th regim.
Lieut. Mytton
Lieut. Clarke
Lieut. Brown
Lieut. Bawer
Lieut. Col. Freemantle	39th regim.
Captain Johnston
Captain Shaw
Captain Purdie
Lieut. Burslen
Lieut. Atherton
Lieut. Reynell
Lieut. Scanlan
Lieut. M'Rea
Ensign Tidsley
Ensign Hutchinson
[Pg A60]Ensign Atkins
Adjutant Simpson
Adjutant M'Kenzie
Surgeon Campbell
Captain Head	40th regim.
Captain Vignoles	43d regim.
Captain Bayard
Captain Affleck
Captain Spencer
Captain M'Dowal
Capt. Lieut. Jones
Lieut. Butler
Lieut. Graham
Lieut. Dennison
Ensign Daniel
Ensign Kirwan
Qr. Mast. Burnett
Qr. Mast. Bruce
Surgeon Hodskinson
Lieut. Phipps	44th regim.
Lieut. Davis	44th regim.
Lieutenant Moe	45th regim.
Major Lyon, Deputy Adj. General	55th regim.
Captain Taggart
Lieut. Main
Lieut. M'Kenzie
Lieut. Taylor
Captain White	56th regim.
Captain Cuthbert
Captain Fancourt
Lieut. Perry
Lieut. Hague
Lieut. Stowell
Lieut. Warren
Lieut. O'Hara
Lieut. Taylor
Chaplain Ruxton
Lieut. Col. Stewart	58th regim.
Captain Ingram
Captain Hood
Lieut. Maudsley
Lieut. Hamilton
Lieut. Berford
Lieut. Murray
Lieut. E. Smith
Lieut. Bouchier
Lieut. Tonson
Lieut. Cunningham	60th regim.
Lieut. Sneider
Lieut. Cook
Lieut. Montmallin
Lieut. Belt
Lieut. Col. Buckridge	64th regim.
Major Compton
Lieut. Usher
Lieut. Thornhill
Lieut. M'Guire
Lieut. Wilson
Lieut. Strafford
Lieut. Knight
Adjutant Wilkinson
Quart. Mast. Molloy
Surgeon Wingate
Lieut. Col. Close	65th regim.
Major Dalrymple
Captain M'Gregor
Captain Blacker
[Pg A61]Captain Oliver
Lieut. Brimlow
Lieut. Kennedy
Lieut. Adams
Lieut. Milward
Surgeon Brown
Captain Nares	70th regim.
Captain Eiston
Captain Ogle
Captain Atkinson
Captain Bruce
Lieut. Cox
Lieut. Floyer
Lieut. Gifford
Surgeon Raye
Captain Shadwell	10th lt. dra.
Lieut. Col. Dornford	engineers.
Captain Chilcot
Captain Lawson
Captain Dawse
Major Shewbridge	artillery.
Captain Tygrell
Captain Harris
Captain Smith
Captain George
Captain Nugent
Captain Thornhill
Captain Coulston
Captain Malony
Captain Jones
Captain Dawson
Doctor Dundon	hospital.
Doctor Brown
Doctor Wright
Apoth. Vanderguest
Apoth. Carnigue
Mate Mallet
Mate Green
Mate Harris
Mate Cooper
Mate Turnbull
Mate Hennings

Brigadier General Colin Graham
Lieut. Ekins, since dead of his wounds	6th regim.
Capt. Lieut. Smith	9th regim.
Lieutenant Hurst	15th regim.
Captain Stovin	17th regim.
Lieutenant Keating	33d regim.
Captain Eiston	35th regim.
Lieutenant Strickland
Ensign Holmes
Ensign Barclay	38th regim.
Lieut. Col. Magan	39th regim.
Lieut. Horsburg
Lieut. Dale
Ensign Divignes
Quar. Mast. Clements
Surgeon Ormsby
Captain Dansey	40th regim.
Lieutenant Holwell	40th regim.
Lt. Col. Drummond	43d regim.
Captain Thomson
Captain Cameron
Captain Thorley
Lieut. Hull
Lieut. Cameron
Lieut. Tidey
Lieut. De Yonge
Ensign Deshon
Ensign Delisle
Surgeon Salmon
Lieut. Philips	44th regim.
Lieut. Miller	44th regim.
Lieut. Hamilton	55th regim.
Lieut. Dixon	55th regim.
Captain Owen	56th regim.
Lieut. Barclay
Lieut. Johnson
Lieut. M'Causland
Mate Bell
Ensign Richardson	58th regim.
Lieut. Cudmore	64th regim.
Cornet Garside	10th lt. dra.
Captain Suckling	artillery.
Lieut. Stackpole	artillery.
Lieut. Dornford	engineers.
Mate Ramage	hospital.
Mate Anderson	hospital.

Page	Original	Correction
ii	to	too
xi	Surry	Surrey
xiv	Surry	Surrey
62	fron	from
84	the the	the
103	apppear	appear
115	dedetachment	detachment
A13	prompitude	promptitude
A14	Case Pilote	Cape Pilote
A14	Case Navirre	Cape Navirre
A24	Case Navire	Cape Navirre

By the Rev. COOPER WILLYAMS, A. M. VICAR OF EXNING, SUFFOLK, AND LATE CHAPLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP BOYNE.

LONDON: PRINTED BY T. BENSLEY; FOR G. NICOL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL; B. AND J. WHITE, FLEET-STREET; AND J. ROBSON, NEW BOND-STREET. 1796.

PREFACE.

CONTENTS.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FRENCH WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION OF FORT BOURBON.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XIII.

APPENDIX.

LIST OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY

Killed, or died of their Wounds.

Died of the Fever or other Disorders.

List of the Officers Prisoners to Victor Hughes, who were living at Point à Pitre the first of January, 1795.

FOOTNOTES

Transcriber's Note

By the Rev. COOPER WILLYAMS, A. M.
VICAR OF EXNING, SUFFOLK, AND LATE CHAPLAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP BOYNE.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY T. BENSLEY;
FOR G. NICOL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL; B. AND J. WHITE, FLEET-STREET; AND J. ROBSON, NEW BOND-STREET.
1796.