Twenty-one thousand three hundred and five Marines were voted for
the year 1782.
Accounts were received in March of the fall of Minorca, after
sustaining a siege which immortalized its defender, General Murray,
and his brave garrison. It was scurvy alone that conquered it,
which a body of Seamen, formed into a _Marine Corps_, withstood.
Many were the honourable traits of patience and zeal shewn by the
Soldiery of every description, through sufferings under disease and
fatiguing duties. The Royal Artillery was, as usual, conspicuous
for their courage and exertions.
The disasters of the last year, and a change of Administration,
whose views and sentiments, as to the future conduct of the war,
were very opposite to those of their predecessors, produced a
suspension of every offensive attempt upon the American Continent.
The West Indies was doomed to become the theatre of our Naval
efforts, and the scene on which to revive our drooping glory. Sir
Samuel Hood commanded the English Fleet, in that quarter, after
his return from America; but was opposed to De Grasse at the head
of overpowering numbers. No example of our history can afford a
brighter instance of daring enterprize, with practical science,
than was evinced by the British Chief in attempting the relief of
St. Kitts. Although it was not succeeded by fortunate events,
still that does not shade its merit. His able plan of attacking
an immense superiority at anchor in the road of Basseterre,
was superseded by the French Admiral, who, decoyed by his able
manœuvres, relinquished that advantage, which was quickly seized by
his acute opponent.
In the different actions that followed, Captain, now Col.
Strickland, and Lieuts. Forster and Griffiths, of Marines, were
wounded.
A want of troops placed not within Sir Samuel's power to raise the
siege of Brimstone Hill, which held out as long as possible, but at
last capitulated on honourable terms.
My bounds will not allow me to extend these details, in which the
Marine Corps bore always a zealous, though a subordinate share.
Rear-Admiral Hood soon after joined Sir George Rodney, who brought
out a powerful reinforcement of ships, that was most judiciously
augmented by the single arrivals of others; by which method the
West India Fleet became superior to the enemy, without their being
apprized of it.
A train of success had elated De Grasse, who, with a mighty force,
put to sea from Martinique on the 8th of April, in the certain
confidence of adding Jamaica to his other conquests. The British
Fleet soon followed him, and a partial affair took place on the
9th; when an opportunity was lost by the French, of making a
serious impression on the English van, under Sir Samuel Hood,
unsupported by the centre and rear, from a casual failure of wind,
under the island of Dominique.
Little hope of bringing the enemy to a decisive battle continued
from that day, until the 11th, when a general chace was directed
against two ships, whose recent damages had forced to leeward of
their fleet, and exposed them to capture. Observing their danger,
De Grasse, who might have weathered Guadaloupe, sacrificing that
object, bore up to save them.
The Zelé falling on board the Ville de Paris during the night, by
which she lost her main-mast, was chaced in the morning by the
Monarch, to support which ship the French Admiral hazarded all,
with his united force. Captain Reynolds was then recalled to his
station in the line, and the conflict began at seven, on the 12th
of April. That glorious day, with its important consequences, at so
critical a period of our history, must be recognized by the latest
posterity. To particularize any belongs not to me on so great an
occasion, where all were entitled to praise. The high talents of
Sir Charles Douglas afforded his gallant superior much useful aid
through the day.
De Grasse being carried a captive to that island which he had but
a little while ago viewed the certain spot of his triumphs as a
conqueror, is an impressive example of the vicissitudes of fortune.
He had the mortification to witness those grateful effusions of its
natives, poured forth to their saviours, which, under different
circumstances, would have been offered to him under the constrained
forms of political adulation.
In this long-contested action four Captains of Marines were
wounded, but only two were named in the public dispatch--Bell
and Bagg. Lieut. Mounier was killed, and the Subalterns Breedon,
Buchan, Harris, and Laban were wounded.
Respecting Lieut. Mounier, of the Torbay, I am led to notice the
following anecdote, as having been narrated to me by Lieut. Collins
of that ship. In the morning, after the two hostile fleets had
formed the line and were approaching each other, Mounier, whose
spirit in single combat had previously been fatally experienced by
his antagonist, expressed a sensation of an immediate change in his
destiny. Under this impression he requested Lieut. Collins to play
a game at picquet to divert the time, until they opened fire. This
they continued to do, when each went to his respective station. The
sad presentiment was soon realized to poor Mounier, who was early
in the battle cut in two, and the greater part of his remains were
scattered on the sea.
Sir Edward Hughes encountered, in four different actions, Monsieur
Suffrein, one of the bravest Officers in the Naval service of
France. Possessing, in each, a great advantage in numbers, the
utmost height of valour, but productive of no immediate effects,
was exhibited in all by the British Fleet. The French Admiral
shewed himself worthy of the trust confided in him by his Sovereign.
In one of these battles, fought on the 12th of April, the
Monmouth, Captain Alms, suffered extremely, and was particularly
distinguished. All the Marines on her poop were either killed or
wounded, excepting Captain Pearce and Lieut. Mounier, who nobly
volunteered to assist in fighting her guns on the main deck, after
they had lost all the brave men under their own command.
The discomfiture of the combined armaments before Gibraltar in
September of this year, must ever stand as a memorable event upon
our annals. Humanity and victory walked hand in hand, and, as
usual, adorned the national character, on that grand occasion. The
long-tried valour of General Elliot, and the spirited services of
Sir Roger Curtis, with those under their controul, were sealed and
consummated by deeds of mercy, which will never be forgotten by
our enemies. That fortress was soon after relieved by Lord Howe,
under circumstances most honourable to his Lordship, the Officers,
Seamen, and Marines who seconded him.
In every incidental combat at sea, during the currency of 1782,
our wonted prowess was at all times conspicuous. The short, but
well-contested fight of Captain Jervis (now Earl St. Vincent) in
the Foudroyant, with Le Pegase, afforded a powerful evidence how
much success is dependent on seamanship and discipline. While a
dreadful carnage was the Frenchman's lot, the English loss was
confined to a few slightly wounded, among whom was numbered her
Commander, whose professional address obtained a bloodless victory.
The names of Pole, Luttrell, and Salter, were destined to be
conspicuous, and their encomiums transcended to Lieuts. Pownol and
Rankine, of my Corps, for their steady co-operation and bravery in
the Success and Mediator.
The year closed with negociations for a general peace, the
provisionary articles of which were mutually signed at Paris by
Commissioners from Britain and America, on the 22d of November.
These were soon after followed by the exchange of preliminary
articles with France and Spain, on the 20th of January, 1783.