An Account of the Campaign in the West Indies, in the Year 1794 Part 7

The undernamed are the officers of Royal Engineers to serve the army on the expedition.

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.

No emigrants allowed to go as servants or otherwise from Barbadoes with the expedition, without particular leave from the Commander in Chief; nor any negroes to be hired by the officers, without the consent of their owners.

_Head Quarters, Riviere Sallee, Feb. 6, 1794._

GENERAL ORDERS.

Parole, MARTINICO. C. S. MORNE.

Field Officer for the day, Lieut. Colonel Buckridge.

The army will halt to-day.

The Commander in Chief cannot but express the highest sense he entertains of the exertion of the officers and soldiers in a long fatiguing march yesterday, and the orderly behaviour of the men during the whole march, and which must at all times demand his utmost attention; and he a.s.sures them the same conduct will (and speedily) put an end to the campaign.--The Commander in Chief is pleased to order an extra day of fresh provisions and rum to be issued out to the men this day as soon as possible.--The regiments which loaded yesterday on their march will draw their pieces immediately; and no regiment to load in future without orders, except the advanced guard.--A general court martial to be convened immediately for the trial of William Milton, of the English light dragoons, and Samuel Price, of the black dragoons, for robbery; and all such prisoners as shall be brought before them. Capt.

Cunningham, and Jacques and Falice, to appear as witnesses.

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.

Names of the members, and dates of their commissions, to be given in immediately to Major Lyon, deputy quarter master general, acting judge advocate. List of the evidence for and against to be given in at the same time. The quarter masters of the different regiments at head quarters to give in to the quarter master general a return of the effective strength immediately.

AFTER ORDERS. _Feb. 7, 1794._

William Milton, private in the detachment of British light dragoons, and Samuel Price, a negro, attached to the dragoons, tried by a general court martial, of which Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Blundell was president, for having entered the house of Jacques, an inhabitant of this place, and robbing him of a sum of money, are both found guilty of the crime laid to their charge; and, by virtue of the power and authority vested in the court by the fourth article of the twenty-third section of the articles of war, the said prisoners, William Milton and Samuel Price, are adjudged to suffer death; which is approved of by the Commander in Chief, and the general court martial is dissolved.

The Commander in Chief feels most sensibly, and laments the necessity of making examples so immediately after landing, notwithstanding the strongest and most pointed orders given by him so recently against every kind of irregularity and improper behaviour in soldiers on service, but particularly against this very crime committed by the prisoners.

Determined, however, to have his orders obeyed, to preserve discipline in the army, which is so essential to its success, and to prevent a repet.i.tion of crimes so base, disgraceful, and detestable, the prisoners, William Milton and Samuel Price, are ordered to be executed at eight o'clock to-morrow morning. The troops to parade at seven o'clock to-morrow morning, in readiness to attend the execution. The ninth and fifteenth regiments to send four men each in augmentation of the castle guard in the rear of the head quarters. Six mules will be delivered to each of the flank battalions, and four to each regiment, at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, at the quarter master general's.

_Head Quarters, Riviere Sallee, Feb. 8, 1794._

Parole, WHYTE. C. S. BATTERIES.

Field Officer of the day, Major Watson.

The Commander in Chief hopes the awful scene of this morning will have its proper effect, and not lay him again under the most feeling and painful necessity of repeating it, but which must certainly be the unhappy case in the persons of future offenders. The General could not be justified in the eyes of his king and country, and this army he has the honour to command, in acting otherwise, their existence and success depending (of which every good thinking soldier must be sensible) upon a proper degree of discipline and subordination, with the most minute and strictest obedience to orders, &c.

The General has the pleasure to announce to the army the complete success of Brigadier General Whyte, at the head of the third light infantry, in gallantly storming and taking the batteries of Cape Solomon and Bourgis. In Cape Solomon were four thirty-six pounders and two twenty-four pounders; in Bourgis three twenty-four pounders, all in perfect order to turn against the enemy; with powder and shot in abundance. This success opens a near communication with the fleet, by enabling them to come into Ance d'Arlet Bay, with every supply the army may be in want of; and what still renders it more valuable, carried with the loss only of one man.

_Head Quarters, Riviere Sallee, Feb. 9, 1794._

Parole, DUNDAS. C. S. GROS MORNE.

Field Officer of the day, Major Baillie.

The Commander in Chief has again the pleasure to announce to the troops the further success of his majesty's arms towards the conquest of the island of Martinico, by the able conduct of Major General Dundas, and the gallantry and spirit of the troops under his command, in attacking the enemy's troops under the command of Mons. Bellgarde at Trinite with bayonets, and putting them totally to the rout with great slaughter, he narrowly escaping with a few followers into Fort Royal. The Major General with great spirit followed up the blow, and took possession of the very strong fort of the Gros Morne, where the English colours are now flying.

He has also the pleasure to add the gallantry of the seventieth regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Johnston, and led by Colonel Dundas, who with so much spirit and prompt.i.tude attacked the enemy posted upon Morne Charlotte Pied, and put them totally to flight, taking possession of that important commanding ground looking down upon Pigeon Island, which, when, attacked (in conjunction with Brigadier General Whyte) and taken, will enable the English fleet to come up into Fort Royal Harbour, in full view of the enemy's Forts of Bourbon and Royal.

The Commander in Chief is happy in the opportunity of making honourable mention of Captain Nares of the seventieth regiment, who led the advanced guard with so much true courage and judgment in the above attack, as reported to him in the strongest manner by Colonel Dundas.

_Head Quarters, Riviere Sallee, Feb. 11, 1794._