A number of additional Companies were deemed necessary to the corps
of Marines, which was composed of 12,115 for the service of 1794.
During this year a number of First Lieutenants were appointed to
Companies in Black Regiments; a transit which many embraced.
A correspondence with General Paoli having been opened by Lord
Hood, relative to the state of Corsica, that active Officer
determined, in consequence, upon driving the French from all their
ports in the island.
Throughout the whole of this arduous business, the constancy and
persevering valour of the Naval Officers and Seamen were never
more conspicuous. To their scientific and laborious exertions in
dragging cannon to the top of a hill which commanded the Fort of
La Convention, must be ascribed the success against that important
key to St. Fiorenzo itself. The storm which was consequent upon
it, reflects high honor upon that shining Officer Col. (now Gen.)
Moore.
The Naval Chief was not contented with possession of the Gulf and
Fortress of St. Fiorenzo alone, but followed up his views also
against Bastia, the capital. This he resolved to attempt with the
skeletons of four regiments, serving in his fleet as Marines, and
a brigade of Seamen. The final surrender of that town and citadel,
garrisoned by 4000 French and Corsican Soldiers, to a besieging
force of 1248, and of mingled descriptions, must ever stand as one
of the most brilliant events that adorn our military history. His
Lordship was lavish in praise of all his brave coadjutors, which
was repeated on the reduction of Calvi and with it the fall of
Corsica. This closed his meritorious career.
The defenceless and disaffected state of the French West India
islands had prompted an enterprize against them, which sailed from
England towards the close of 1793. These objects were confided
to Sir John Jervis (now Earl St. Vincent) and Lieutenant General
Sir Charles Grey. The rapidity and success of all their movements
convinced their Country that the trust could not have been reposed
in more able hands.
Soon after their arrival at Barbadoes little time was lost, when
their first efforts were levelled against the strong and valuable
island of Martinique. My bounds will not authorize me to enlarge
upon the train of operations, which preceded its surrender, so
very honorable to the talents and zeal of those distinguished
Commanders, in most of which, the corps of Marines appears to have
had but a trifling share. The chief duty, of an active nature,
which fell to their lot was against Fort St. Louis, upon which
a combined attack was planned, by a brigade of 1000 Seamen and
Marines, under Commodore Thompson, and supported by Captains
Riou, Rogers, and Baynton of the Royal Navy, approaching from
Point Negro towards its western side, while it was assailed by the
Asia and Zebra sloops in front, and harassed by the enfilading
fire of two batteries on shore. A body of Grenadiers and Light
Infantry, from the camps of La Coste and Sourriere, were also to
advance, on the land side, under the cover of a hill. This joint
attack was, however, anticipated by the unparalleled enterprize
and courage of Captain Faulkener, of the Zebra sloop, who dashed
close to the walls of the Fort, and carried it, at the head of his
ship's company of Seamen and Marines, at the very moment when the
republicans were in consultation about its defence.
Mons. Rochambeau, instead of turning the guns of Fort Bourbon
against the town, afterwards occupied by Colonel Symes and the
flank corps, as well as Fort Louis, both of which it commands,
immediately stipulated for its surrender, and the whole island,
which took place on the following day being the 21st of March. His
Royal Highness Prince Edward, (now Duke of Kent), who had lately
arrived from Canada, commanded at the Camp of La Coste, with
deserved credit.
No time was lost in proceeding against St. Lucia, which became an
easy conquest. The islands of the Saintes were likewise carried by
the Seamen and Marines of the Quebec, Blanche, Ceres, and Rose. The
reduction of Guadaloupe immediately followed, where a landing was
effected in the Ance de Gosier, of some infantry and a body of 500
Seamen and Marines, under cover of the Winchelsea, Lord Garlies,
who, carrying his ship close to the enemy's batteries, quickly
silenced them.
The assault of the Fort of La Fleur d'Epée, was attempted in
three divisions, headed by Prince Edward, Major General Dundas,
and Colonel Symes; to each of which was attached a part of the
Naval battalion. The storm was most decisively conducted with the
bayonet, but, amidst the heat of the contest, a great part of the
garrison was put to the sword. Having thus obtained possession of
the quarter of Grande Terre, from the republicans also abandoning
Fort Louis, the town of Point a Petre, and the battery upon the
islet à Couchon, the 43d Regiment was left at D'Epée, and the
rest of the forces were re-embarked. Two divisions of the Army
under Prince Edward, and Colonel Symes, were again landed on the
evening and morning of the 14th and 15th of April, at Petit Bourg,
who seized the evacuated redoubt of D'Arbond, carrying Arret by
assault, in which was involved the material post of Palmiste, by
day break of the 20th; while Major General Dundas, having been put
ashore near the town of Basseterre, led his division against Morne
Magdaline, which he also gained.
General Collot being now cooped up within the town, and Fort
Charles, both of which were commanded by the heights in possession
of the British, he proposed terms for the surrender of Guadaloupe,
which were discussed, and subscribed.
Sir Charles Grey says, "that to the unanimity and extraordinary
exertions of the Navy and Army, under fatigues never exceeded, his
Majesty and their Country, are indebted for the rapid success in
extending the British Empire, by adding to it the valuable islands
of Martinique, St. Lucia, Guadaloupe, the Saintes, Marigalante,
and Descada." Sir John Jervis remarked, "that the unabated
exertions of the Officers and men, _under his command_, could never
be surpassed, and that keeping constant pace with the troops no
difficulty or danger arrested, for an instant, their career of
glory."
A kind of forlorn detachment from France, which escaped all our
cruizers, achieved the recovery of Guadaloupe, after a series of
hardy contests, in which the Marines bore a part--Lieutenant John
Mercer, of my corps, was wounded in one of them, and became a
victim to fever, lamented by his friends, and his corps. Fruitless
would have been all the enemy's efforts, if fascinating liberty had
not erected her standard, whither numbers repaired, in the sanguine
hope of sharing in her gifts.
The 1st of June, 1794, presents one of the best fought actions that
appears on our Naval records. France had continued to molest our
commerce by her cruizing squadrons, but her internal necessities,
during this year of general scarcity, obliged her to concentrate
her ships, and, with all her united forces, to cover the safety of
an immense convoy from America. This was the main object, for which
nothing too much could be risqued.
From the instances of defection which had so often occurred in her
military leaders, that republic, jealous of its baneful extension,
combined Mons. St. Andre, an approved democrat, in the public
character of a Commissioner, with their Chief Vice Admiral Villaret
Joyeuse, on board the Montagne.
During three preceding days the fleets were in sight, two partial
affairs took place, and some very able manœuvring. The wind having
been gained by Lord Howe, on the evening of the 31st of May, at
seven in the morning of the following day, he bore up to battle,
while the French coolly awaited his approach to so close a distance
that little more than an hour decided the victory. The republican
Chief gave the first example of flight, in which St. Andre,
doubtless, coalesced, in spite of all his popular enthusiasm. Seven
captured ships were amongst the fruits of that glorious day, which
enervated all the subsequent exertions of a vindictive foe, during
the war.
Many of the fleet having been supplied with acting Marines, from
different regiments, the loss which befell our establishment was,
on that account, proportionally less. Captains (now. Colonel)
Smith, and C. Money, besides Lieutenant S. Mitchell, were among the
wounded, and comprized the total of our casualties in Officers.
The carnage amongst the French was dreadful, and in the ships alone
that were taken, it far exceeded the whole sustained by the British
fleet.
The united thanks of a grateful Country were conveyed to the
Officers, Seamen, and Marines, for their faithful services on this
proud day.
Few single actions appear on the face of this year. One which was
fought betwixt the Artois and La Revolutionaire French frigate, did
honor to Captain Nagle in achieving her capture; but it deprived
his King of a brave and good soldier, his family of a promising
member, and his corps of one of its most shining ornaments, in
Lieut. Peter Craigie, of Marines, who was severely wounded, and
died soon after amputation.