Cooper Willyams

“ 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. ”

“ The troops always to form two deep; and, the roads being so narrow in the island, it will be necessary for them to march by files: if there is room to do otherwise, the commanding officer will be the best judge.—The soldiers will bear in mind the use of the bayonet, which in possession of, they can have no excuse for retreating for want of ammunition, the bayonet being the best and most effectual weapon in the hands of a gallant British soldier; in which mode of attack (the General assures them) no troops upon earth are equal to them. ”

“ 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 ”

“ The Commander in Chief, hoping therefore for this effect and conduct from the people in general, does in a more particular manner recommend to persons of consequence to set a laudable example of fortitude on every occasion, and to assemble and embody under proper leaders, to act in conjunction with his majesty's regular troops, for the protection of their honour, families, and fortunes, which must be dearer to them than life. ”

“ It is strictly forbid that any officer, soldier, or seaman, shall presume to take any negroes, except those delivered to them by the quarter master general's department. The marauding which has taken place obliges the General to remind the commanding officers of corps to refer to orders already given out on that head. It will give him extreme concern to be obliged to punish with severity such crimes; but as the existence of the army depends on its discipline, it must be maintained. The first man caught in the act of plundering, to be hung on the spot. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ One serjeant, one corporal, and twelve privates, from each regiment, to parade every morning at six o'clock, and evening at five, and to be instructed in the exercise of the artillery; and when perfected, the commanding officer of artillery will report to the general or commanding officer on the spot, that they may be relieved by an equal number, to be taught in the same manner, that there may be no want of artillerymen to man and fight the guns on the batteries, in case of an attack. ”

“ The army is sent to carry on honourable war [Pg A4] against the French colonies, and by their conduct, in preserving the persons and properties of the peaceable inhabitants, to conciliate the minds of the people to the British government; therefore the General determinately assures the troops, that he will allow of no drunkenness or licentious behaviour, no burning of churches, houses, or edifices of any description, without orders, or plundering in any shape whatever. All persons that with their property remain in their habitations, shall be treated with humanity. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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) . ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The British soldiers cannot be ignorant of the high reputation they have always acquired for obedience, attention, and expertness, in arms; and consequently they must be sensible how much their king and country expect from them: and the General is impressed with every assurance, that the troops will not disappoint them upon this occasion. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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 ”