An Account of the Campaign in the West Indies, in the Year 1794 Part 5

[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.

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 a.s.sault became the legal prize or booty of the captors; consequently the Commanders in Chief found no hesitation or difficulty in considering the produce, merchandise, &c. afloat and on sh.o.r.e 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 a.s.sault 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 n.o.ble 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 Carenage, and the same in the town and bay of St. Pierre and in Trinite in the island of Martinique, and at Ba.s.se Terre and Point a 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 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 s.h.i.+pped 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 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, antic.i.p.ate 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 r.e.t.a.r.d, 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, till the dispatches from England discovered the success with which the artful stories of this party had been attended.

[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.

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 Trinite, &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 Bouille 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 composition the most easy to the conquered; and yet their fame has been vilified, and the hard-earned pittance of booty s.n.a.t.c.hed 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!

[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.

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 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 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.

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

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 moment an armament arrived from France, under the direction of two commissioners from the national a.s.sembly. It consisted of two frigates, one corvette, two forty-fours armed en flute, and two other s.h.i.+ps, 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'Epee, 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 Ba.s.se Terre, where they arrived in the afternoon of the 7th of June, and were joined by the Resource, Captain Ross, and the Winchelsea, Captain Lord Garlies; on board of which s.h.i.+ps General Grey and his suite embarked to be landed at Ba.s.se 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 a Pitre. On his pa.s.sage 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 Ba.s.se Terre Road, to carry the General's further orders into execution, touching reinforcements from the different islands.

[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 circ.u.mstance, 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 pa.s.sage.

[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'Epee. The British merchants and sailors from the town of Point a Pitre had thrown themselves into this fort to a.s.sist 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 a.s.sailants; 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 a Pitre, which, not being tenable after the loss of Fleur d'Epee, was abandoned by them, and they crossed over to Ba.s.se 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 a Pitre.--There were in Guadaloupe when taken by the French a larger proportion of troops than in either of the other conquered islands.

At noon of the 8th of June, the Boyne and the rest of the fleet anch.o.r.ed off Grozier, and saw the union jack displayed on Fort Fleur d'Epee 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 a 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'Epee, 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, having troops on board, got on sh.o.r.e on the Ba.s.se 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'Epee and Grozier battery, was now warped a cable's length further from the sh.o.r.e. On the 11th, in the morning, several boats full of men, attended by a gun-boat, were discovered making towards our post at Pet.i.t Bourg, from the harbour of Point a 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. The enemy had crossed the river Sallee to Ba.s.se 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 a 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 a 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 Sallee. On this point of land, which runs into the harbour of Point a Pitre, Captain Pratt, commanding a detachment of artillery, was ordered to erect a battery 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 sh.o.r.e, 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]

[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.

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'Epee, burning the houses and sugar-works that lay in their 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'Epee, leaving the foundation walls only standing. Our troops now encamped at Grozier were employed in erecting batteries against Fort Fleur d'Epee, as the enemy were in too great force for our reduced numbers to attempt an a.s.sault on their princ.i.p.al 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 pa.s.sable, 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 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 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]

[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 b.a.l.l.s.--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'Epee 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.

On Tuesday the 24th of June, General Grey opened his batteries, which he had erected near Grozier, against Fleur d'Epee; at the same time Brigadier General Dundas kept up a smart fire on Point a Pitre, where the enemy seemed to be making preparations against the hurricane months, now approaching, by stripping the s.h.i.+ps 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'Epee, 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; in the latter two seamen were wounded.

On the 27th, the batteries at Grozier having opened as usual on Fleur d'Epee, 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 Pet.i.t 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.

[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 friends.h.i.+p. 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."

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'Epee, 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 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'Epee, 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. .h.i.t 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 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 a 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'Epee, 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, 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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed were not in the best order, owing to the quickness of the march, until they came to the grenadiers, who were 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 s.h.i.+pping in the harbour, which were placed in tiers, and entirely enfiladed the road along which the troops were advancing. After pa.s.sing 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 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 hara.s.sing them in their retreat, though kept at bay by the gallant exertions of the Honourable Captain Stewart with a party of grenadiers, a.s.sisted 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 against Fleur d'Epee, 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'Epee, 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 Ba.s.se Terre, and having made the best arrangements possible to maintain them, and to enable him to renew his attacks on Point a Pitre and Fleur d'Epee 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 Ba.s.se 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 benefit of fresh air, and every attention paid to them that could alleviate their sufferings.

[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'Epee, 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 a 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'Epee by storm.