An Account of the Campaign in the West Indies, in the Year 1794 Part 8

Parole, GORDON. C. S. CASE NAVIRE.

The Commander in Chief is happy again to a.s.sure the army of the progress of our arms towards the reduction of Martinico. Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, and Captain Rogers commanding a squadron of his Majesty's s.h.i.+ps, by their good conduct, activity, and spirit, have made a landing good at Cape Pilote, and taken all the batteries upon the coast from Cape Pilote to Cape Navirre. The gallantry of the troops, in charging and putting to flight the enemy wherever they dared to appear, was never more conspicuous.

_Head Quarters, Riviere Sallee, Feb. 12, 1794._

Parole, WHYTE. C. S. PIGEON ISLAND.

Field Officer of the day, Major Baillie.

It is with the utmost satisfaction the Commander in Chief announces to the army the capture of Pigeon Island, which surrendered yesterday morning about eleven o'clock, being a post of great strength, and of the utmost importance towards the success of our future operations. The Commander in Chief gives his thanks to Brigadier General Whyte, who commanded and conducted this service with such spirit and ability as to do him honour. Likewise to Colonel Symes, quarter master general, for his able a.s.sistance and zeal upon the occasion.--The Commander in Chief returns his thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Close, who commanded the third battalion of light infantry; and to Major Manningham, for his conspicuous exertions. Likewise to Lieutenant Colonel Paterson and Major Manly, who commanded the royal artillery, which was well and ably served; and to Colonel Durnford of the engineers.

The Commander in Chief gives his thanks to all the officers and soldiers employed on that difficult and particular service, whose courage and exertions (so eminently manifested) merit the greatest praise.

The Commander in Chief also has to offer his warmest acknowledgments and obligations to Lieutenants Rogers and Rutherford, commanding the seamen, and to all the other officers and seamen of his Majesty's navy; whose perseverance, able a.s.sistance, and good conduct, contributed much to the capture of the island.

_Head Quarters, Riviere Sallee, Feb. 13, 1794._

GENERAL ORDERS.

Parole, YORK. C. S. GLOUCESTER.

The Commander in Chief is happy in the opportunity of expressing the pleasure he received from the report of Major Lyon, deputy adjutant general, of the spirited conduct of the fifteenth regiment, commanded by Captain Pomier, in the attack of a very strong post of the enemy at eleven o'clock last night, in which attack two hundred of the enemy were surprised, and totally routed, with some loss, and all their cattle, provisions, arms, &c. and some prisoners taken, with the loss of one man only of the fifteenth regiment killed, and two wounded.

The fifteenth regiment, at the same time that they accept the Commander in Chief's acknowledgments for their spirited conduct, will allow him to say, that if they had not fired, the surprise might have been more complete; and firing, he trusts, they will in future, in all night attacks, on all occasions, avoid, and which, they well know, how very strongly he recommended previous to the opening of the campaign; and he desires the commanding officers will turn back to their orders, and read them to the officers and men.

The Commander in Chief desires that the warm sense he entertains of the spirited service of Captain de Rivigne (who commanded the howitzers in the siege and capture of Pigeon Island, as reported by Brigadier General Whyte) may be made known to the army, &c.

_Head Quarters, Heights of Brunot, Feb. 17, 1794._

Parole, CONQUEST. C. S. ST. PIERRE.

Field Officer, Major Campbell.

The Commander in Chief hopes that every care is taken of, and humanity shewn to, the negroes attached to the regiments, and to all those employed with the army; and that they are victualled, attended to, and encouraged. This the commanding officers of regiments and corps, and every officer in all departments, will attend to, and inquire into: as many have fled from the camp, which must be owing to their having been neglected, or ill used by some of the men, such treatment must be prevented in future, otherwise the army will suffer every inconvenience.

_Head Quarters, Brunot, Feb. 19, 1794._

Parole, ST. PIERRE. C. S. DUNDAS.

Field Officer, Colonel Coote.

The Commander in Chief has the pleasure to announce to the army the complete capture of St. Pierre, the most considerable town in this island, which contains the greatest part of its wealth, its roads crowded with s.h.i.+ps and merchandise, now the prizes of the army and navy.

The Commander in Chief holds himself highly obliged to the troops for their spirited and cool conduct in the course of the attack yesterday; and congratulates them upon so easy an acquisition of the strong ground hitherto occupied by the enemy, owing to the prompt and spirited movement of Lieutenant Colonel Buckridge, and the support of the light infantry under Lieutenant Colonel Coote and Lieutenant Colonel Blundell: this being the very ground intended to be occupied, and essential for the impending siege. The sixth, ninth, and second light infantry, with all the artillery of the camp at Brunot, to march and form the line of the new camp at Sourier at day-break. The seventieth and fifteenth regiments to remain at the port of Matilda, and the covering of the landing place, till further orders.

The commissary to order the provisions, &c. of the army to be escorted to the most convenient and contiguous situation for the supply of the army in their new position; which, from their present landing place, will be nearer than their former encampment. The cavalry, provost's, and every other department attendant on the army, to move to-morrow morning.

The post of Colomb, occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Coote, to be retained by two companies, and that of Lieutenant Colonel Buckridge by one company.

No bullocks for draught, which are necessary for agriculture to the inhabitants, or milch cows, to be slaughtered by the army.

_Head Quarters, Heights of Sourier, Feb. 22, 1794._

Parole, NAVY. C. S. ANIMATION.

Field Officer, Major Campbell.

The Commander in Chief saw with pleasure and surprise this morning the great progress that has been made in forming an excellent road for the battering train through so difficult a country, and the fair prospect of the artillery shortly arriving at the destined ground. Nothing can exceed the order and indefatigability of the British sailors, and the zeal and pleasure with which they appear animated in the most laborious exertions; he has remarked this with the utmost satisfaction.

He begs Captains Hervey, Kelly, and Carpenter, with the officers and men under their command, will accept his best thanks and acknowledgments of how much he owes them. When the two services thus combine and co-operate, the greatest obstacles may be surmounted, and every difficulty vanish. The Commander in Chief has given orders to the commissary that the seamen shall be amply supplied with provisions and rum.

_Head Quarters, Camp at Sourier, Feb. 24, 1794._

Parole, GREAT GUN. C. S. MORTAR.

Not that the Commander in Chief has any reason whatever to suspect the advanced posts and guard of the camp are not alert, but, on the contrary, their steadiness and attention give him true satisfaction: nevertheless he thinks it right to warn them, that the enemy, in their present hopeless situation, may be desperate, and attempt to insult some of the posts: more they cannot do; but the slightest advantage gained, their expiring cause may for a moment be spirited up to hold out a little longer, and cause the loss of a few brave men; this the Commander in Chief wishes to avoid, and to make the conquest of this valuable island of Martinico with the least loss possible, he being ever attentive and watchful of their preservation. He particularly desires the advanced posts will, if possible, increase their vigilance, and in case of an insult, to meet it coolly, not risking themselves by darting forward (this not being the time for such exertion), but to check their ardour, and content themselves by standing on the defensive, and repulsing the enemy, covering steadily the bringing up the battering train to their destined ground, which will very soon be completed, and the batteries ready to open powerfully upon the enemy from three points at one and the same time; which done, the Commander in Chief a.s.sures the army that he has every reason to believe they will be in possession of the enemy's last stake in a little time, and honourably put an end to their labours.

The Commander in Chief again repeats his orders for all the out-posts that are the least exposed to the enemy's fire, to fortify and shelter themselves, throwing up blinds at certain distances to run behind when a sh.e.l.l falls, and which will effectually secure them.--In the trench of Lieutenant Colonel Coote's post three or four cross blinds should be made; and the engineer is immediately to order it. The advanced guns also to be guarded, to prevent a shot damaging a wheel or carriage; which Lieutenant Colonel Paterson will order to be done.

_Head Quarters, Camp, Heights of Sourier, Feb. 28, 1794._