Journal of Occurrences at Dominica. three decks bore a Rear Admiral's flag, and they, by this time, were formed in line of battle; the frigates standing on to leward, for the purpose, as we afterwards found, of cutting off the merchantmen lying in the harbour, should they attempt to escape. The sun was now up, and every one anxiously waiting for information about them; the masters of the merchantmen, however, had early conceived them to be enemies, and the General seemed by this time to have formed the same opinion himself. During the night, the government vessel, employed for carrying dispatches to and from Barbadoes, had arrived, and gave information that no such fleet had been there when she sailed; there remained, therefore, little doubt of their being enemies. The General opened his dispatches, and told the gentlemen around him the only news they contained was a declaration of war against Spain. He then ordered a shot to be fired from Fort Young, across the Admiral, although the English colours were still flying, which was no sooner done, than they were struck, and the French colours hoisted by the whole squadron in their place: at the same moment eighteen large boats, full of troops, pushed off from the leward side of the ships, and rowed towards Point Michell, lying about half way between Roseau and Scott's Head. The sensations of the inhabitants, at this moment, when all doubt was removed, could not be pleasant; but the time for action was arrived, and not a moment was lost. The General instantly ordered off the light companies of the 46th and 1st West India regiments, and grenadiers of the St. George's militia, under Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West India. regiment, to oppose their landing; and the remaining companies of the 46th regiment were ordered down from Morne Brune, where they had been under arms since three o'clock, to support them;, he likewise communicated by signal to Colonel Broughton, who commanded at Prince Rupert's, the arrival of an enemy's fleet, and of their having begun to disembark their troops, with such other particulars and orders as he thought proper: he then proceeded to Point Michell in person, where he found Captain O'Connell had been joined by Captain Levant's company of militia. They had used every exertion, but in vain, to oppose the enemy's landing; who, although they had used the utmost expedition to get to the point of disembarkation, succeeded in getting 700 men landed, who were preparing to advance towards the town. The detachment of Royal Artillery, commanded by Captain Waller, and assisted by Lieutenant Schaw of the 46th, with a party of that regiment, who had been trained to the use of the great guns, were keeping up a heavy fire from Fort Young, on the ships, which was well seconded from Melville's battery, by Captain Anderson, and Lieutenant Corlet, with part of the artillery-company of the St. George's regiment, Ensign Court being detached to Fort Young with the remainder. After the detachment under the command of Captain O'Connell were obliged to retire, from the superior numbers of the enemy, they took post at the barrier Now Lieutenant-Colonel, 75d regiment, and a most meritorious officer, serving at present in New South Wales. Journal of Occurrences at Dominica. gate, on the side of Point Michell, nearest to Roseau, to come at which the French were obliged to advance along a narrow path at the foot of the hill, which is here a perfect precipice, guarding it completely on one side, and on the other washed by the sea; on the beach there are many large fragments of rock, precipitated from the top of the hill, and which make the road very difficult, and prevents more than two or three people advancing abreast. Immediately on the enemy gaining a firm footing ashore, they advanced sharp shooters amongst these rocks to pick off our men, whilst their boats returned for more troops; and their light vessels, which drew little water, came so close to the beach, as to annoy our men a good deal by their grape shot, the fire of which was for some time very heavy; however, about this time the remaining four companies of the 46th regiment came up. One company, under Captain Woolesly*, and part of the St. George's regiment, under Major Constable, were detached to guard a pass on the hill, and to give timely notice of the approach of the enemy on that side. At the same time two six-pounders were brought up to the gate by the great exertions of the Rev. John Audain, and some other spirited individuals, with a party of sailors and negroes. These were instantly employed against the brigs and schooners, and soon made them sheer off; they were then turned with great effect upon the troops, now reinforced by a second disembarkation, who pushed forward a strong column to storm the barrier; but after a long and persevering attack, they were repulsed with very considerable loss. In this attack Major Nann, of the 1st West India regiment, an active and gallant officer, whom the General had left in the command of the troops on this side of Roseau, was mortally wounded, and obliged to be carried off the field. Captain O'Connell, although himself slightly wounded, then resumed the command. The line of battle ships had by this time sufficiently neared the town and forts to commence a very tremendous, but ill-directed fire on them, which continued without intermission until two in the afternoon. The Admiral's ship, of 120 guns, upon seeing the small vessels beat off at Point Michell, stood in herself, and opened a heavy fire of grape on our troops, in hopes of dislodging them from the important post they occupied, but without effect, the shot being all directed too high. Their boats had now received a third division of troops on board, and proceeded for Woo.bridge's Bay, on the north side of the town, where General Prevost had already detached a party of the St. George's regiment, under Captains Atkinson and Beech, thinking they would be joined by some militia from the out-parishes. He now sent off Colonel Beech with the remaining companies of the regiment, except the light infantry under Captain Laing, who were, much to their regret, left to guard the ford of the river with a howitzer. On the Woodbridge side the contest was soon over; the St. George's regiment being detached in companies never acted together; Now of 25d, or Fusiliers: Journal of Occurrences at Dominica. separated as they were, however, they under their respective Captains made a gallant resistance, to the greatly superior force opposed to them; and Captain Atkinson was wounded, when bravely leading on his men to attack the French on the beach. After ineffectually opposing the enemy's landing, they retreated towards Morne Daniel, a small post, with one thirty-two pounder, defended by a serjeant of the 46th regiment, and six men of the 1st West India regiment, who kept up a spirited and well directed fire on the French, and prevented their gaining the town on that side so soon as they otherwise would have done. Whilst these things were taking place on the right, the enemy had made two more attempts to storm the pass at Point Michell, without effect; in both of which they lost numbers of men, whilst ours was small in comparison. Their last effort to seize it was particularly fatal to them: a column of grenadiers advanced with trailed arms, under an officer of undaunted courage, who determined to take it or perish in the attempt. Whilst they advanced along the narrow path, our men were completely hid from view, Captain Archibald Campbell*, of the 45th grenadiers, who were advanced at the gate alone observing the enemy's motions. They were allowed to advance very close, when a dreadful fire of grape and musquetry was opened upon them, which killed their commander, and threw the whole column into the utmost confusion: they retreated precipitately, and suffered severely, being for a considerable time under our fire, which was most tremendous on them, so long as they were within reach. After suffering this severe repulse, the French Commander-in-chief, Le Grange, who had served under Menou in Egypt†, determined to take a circuitous route; and accordingly, with 500 men, proceeded round the hill, intending to fall upon the rear of our post, whilst another attack should be made in front. General Prevost haying reason to think that the enemy had obtained a firm footing in Woodbrige Bay, and being apprized of their having detached a force round the bill, saw that the post so gallantly maintained for seven hours could no longer be defended, and therefore ordered the regular troops to begin their march to Prince Rupert's across the island, the communication along shore being entirely cut off. Having entered the town, and ordered Fort Young to be defended as long as possible, he crossed the river; and finding the militia retreating, and pursued by the enemy, he proceeded for St. Rupert's himself, attended by Lieutenant Prevost, his Aid de-Camp, and Mr. Hopley, QuartermasterGeneral of the militia; having sent orders to Colonel Beech, that he wished as many of the St. George's as volunteered to encounter further danger and hardships, to proceed to Prince Rupert's by forced marches. He left Mr.、 Captain Archibald Campbell, is particularly noticed for his good conduct in the General's dispatches. + Latterly in the first Spanish campaign under Buonaparte, where he received a very severe wound, and is now unfit for active service. ने This gallant young man has lately fallen in Portugal, as well as a younger brother in the battle of Albuera. Journal of Occurrences at Dominica. Metcalfe President of the Council, to make such terms for the surrender of the town, as could be obtained. Most unfortunately about this time some houses near to Fort Young, caught fire, from the waddings of our own guns. Several of the line of battle ships having withdrawn into Woodbridge's Bay, and keeping up an incessant fire, obliged our people in the fort to fire over the town, in order to reach them, which occasioned this dreadful misfortune; and as the whole of the white people were under arms, and such of the negroes as were willing to be serviceable, busily employed in conveying their master's property into the country, the flames were allowed to rage for some time before any notice was taken. In hopes, however, that the enemy would assist in extinguishing the fire, a white flag was displayed from the fort, and two gentlemen went off to the Admiral to propose terms of surrender; but so much time was lost before they would consent to any terms, unless they would agree to surrender the Island, that the fire was allowed to spread until eight in the evening, before any effectual efforts were made to stop its progress, and by that time the finest part of this beautiful town was consumed, and many reduced to poverty, who were before in affluent circumstances. The French did not advance into the town until four o'clock in the evening, when five companies of the St. George's militia, and Captain Levant's company, who had ail assembled on Morne Brune, surrendered to the enemy, and laid down their arms. The whole of the regulars, except the artillery, which returned next day, with some more of the St. George's militia, also surrendered; the rest made good their retreat to Prince Rupert's, through a country never travelled at night before, unless by carts, and great part of it without roads; two companies of the St. George's militia, also under Captains Armatrading and Beech, with some of the light infantry, reached Prince Rupert's on the third day, after suffering great fatigue. The General himself, by changing horses at the different plantations he stopped at, and having taken a nearer route than the troops, arrived in twenty-four hours, which was a prodigious exertion, considering the nature of the roads he had to travel in the dark. The enemy, by five o'clock of the evening of the 22d, had full possession of Roseau and Morne Brune; but English colours were still flying at Scott's Head, where Lieutenant Wallis* of the 46th regiment commanded, with about thirty men of that corps, and the York light infantry volunteers: hitherto no attempt had been made to reduce it, but towards evening two of their line of battle ships stood towards it, with an intent to reconnoitre; a very heavy fire was immediately opened on them, and they soon drew off. Mr. Wallis having only a week's provisions, and no water within the fort, very properly abandoned it in the night, and retreated with his detachment towards Prince Rupert's, which he reached in safety. The conduct of this officer was exceedingly firm, and displayed all the coolness of a veteran; Lieutenant Wallis, (now Captain) has again distinguished himself in defence of Dominica. Journal of Occcurrences at Dominica. nor was that of Lieutenant Schaw*, of the same corps, less to be applauded, He happened to be on guard at Fort Young, and served at the guns with his detachment the whole of the day, and was particularly noticed by the General for his coolness and soldier-like behaviour. He afterwards, when the white flag was displayed, drew off his men to Morne Brune, and having given them some refreshment from his own quarters, followed the route of the rest of the troops. His conduct was the more praise-worthy, as the militia were on Morne Brune, waiting a summons to surrender, at the time that Lieutenant Schaw passed with his detachment. Both of these deserving young officers, and also Fort Adjutant Gualey, 11th regiment, were very honourably mentioned by the General in his dispatches. The enemy landed above 4000 men, the half of which was composed of the 26th demi-brigade, one of the best in the French service; the rest were dismounted hussars, and Piedmontese troops; the latter mostly very young men. To oppose them we had not above 600 men†, of whom scarcely five were actually engaged. The enemy acknowledged the loss of 500 men in killed and wounded; ours was small in comparison, being under 60; and about 250, including the artillery, which was the only part of the regulars that fell into the enemy's hands, laid down their arms. They could have easily reached Prince Rupert's, had the General given positive orders that they should attempt it; but it appears that he was desirous of having none but, effective men in that garrison, being afraid of the provisions failing in case of a long siege; he therefore left it to their own option, having sent word to Colonel Beech, that he would be |