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 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 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, 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. 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 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 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 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]

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; 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 benefit of fresh air, and every attention paid to them that could alleviate their sufferings.