Eighteen thousand Marines was the establishment of 1796.
The extensive and lamentable casualties which had befallen our
troops in the West Indies, with the enterprizing successes of
Victor Hughes, demanded auxiliary aids from Europe, not only to
remedy misfortunes, but to fill up their exhausted ranks.
After a train of unprecedented bad weather, which was combated
by Rear Admiral Christian with an uncommon perseverance, this
squadron and army, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, reached Barbadoes
early in 1796. An expedition was instantly undertaken against the
Dutch settlements in Guiana, to which Demerara, with Issequibo,
capitulated on the 22d of April, as did Berbice on the 2d of May,
without resistance.
The first object of the main Army was against St. Lucia, upon which
island, a debarkation was made on the 27th of April. A series of
attacks took place against the enemy's posts, in which Brigadier
General Moore, and the 27th Regiment, were particularly noticed.
On the 2d of May 800 Seamen and 320 Marines were landed, who
co-operated on shore with much credit, until the total subjection
of St. Lucia, upon the 26th. I cannot express their good conduct
in stronger terms, than in these which proceeded from Sir Ralph
Abercromby, in General Orders of May 27th:--
"During the services which have been carried on in the island of
St, Lucia, all the courage and every exertion of the Army, would
have proved ineffectual, if Rear Admiral Sir H. C. Christian, and
the Royal Navy, had not stepped forward with the alacrity which
had been so conspicuous in forwarding the most arduous part of
the public service; to their skill and unremitting labour is,
in a great measure, owing the success which has attended his
Majesty's arms. It will afford the Commander in Chief the greatest
satisfaction to be able to lay before his Majesty the eminent
services which have, on this occasion, been performed by the Royal
Navy; and Admiral Sir H. C. Christian will confer a particular
obligation on Lieut. General Sir R. Abercromby and the Army at
large, if he will communicate to the Royal Navy, and particularly
to Captains Lane, Ryves, and Stephenson, and the other Officers who
acted on shore; and to the Corps of Marines, the great obligation
which they consider themselves under to them.
"T. BUSBY, Adjutant General."
St. Vincents and Grenada, disorganized by the bustling Victor
Hughes, were again restored to order; in effecting which objects,
the Marines were also auxiliary, in union with their brethren of
the Navy.
Early in this year the Dutch possessions of Amboyna and Banda were
taken by the exertions of the squadron under Admiral Rainier, and
the reduction of Columbo in the isle of Ceylon, with an immense
booty, also occurred, by the joint forces under Colonel J. Stuart,
and Captain Gardner of the Heroine. Although devoid of much
military interest, still those settlements were of high importance
in a commercial view, and I reflect with a mixture of pleasure
and of pride, upon every instance in which my Corps has been
instrumental in promoting the solid interests of their Country.
An expedition, that was destined for the recovery of the Cape
of Good Hope, under Admiral Lucas, became a prey to the active
vigilance of Sir George Elphinstone, who, with a cool judgment,
and anxious to spare the effusion of blood, proposed terms of
surrendering his squadron. By this exemplary address, eight ships
of war were gained without a shot, or the loss of a man.
The French settlement of Foul Point, on the island of Madagascar,
on the coast of Africa, was destroyed by the Seamen and Marines of
the Crescent, Brave, and Sphynx, in the month of December.
Captain, now Lord Nelson, gave crouded displays of his zeal and
courage upon various services in the Mediterranean during this
year, by the cutting out some vessels from under the batteries
of Loano, the capture of a Spanish frigate in La Minerve, and in
obtaining possession of the Isle of Elba, without any loss. Porto
Ferrajo, afterwards noted for its distinguished defence by a few
Marines and some mixed troops, likewise capitulated to him, on the
Captain, of 74 guns, having been placed against the grand Bastion.
The able valour of Captain Macnamara, of the Southampton, in
boarding and bringing off, from under a heavy fire of the batteries
on Porquerollos, one of the Hieres islands, the corvette Utile, is
beyond praise. Lieut. Lydiard behaved most spiritedly, and William
Oirton, private Marine, was the only man killed on this brilliant
service.
The conduct of Captain Bowen, his Seamen and Marines, in the
Terpsichore, was twice most gallantly evinced by the capture of El
Mahonesa and La Vertale, in the months of October and December.
Returning homewards, the Naval incidents of the year were repeated
and animated.
On the 17th of March, Sir Sidney Smith, with that intrepidity in
hazard so natural to him, destroyed a small convoy within the port
of Herqui; which was not accomplished however, without landing some
Seamen, under Lieut. Pine, and the Marines of the Diamond, under
Lieut. Carter, who, in spite of a body of troops, pushed ashore,
climbed the precipice in front of their batteries, and re-embarked,
after having spiked the guns. Lieut. Pine was wounded, and Lieut.
Carter mortally, of which he soon died, leaving behind him the
merited character of a most excellent Officer and amiable man.
On the 20th, Sir John Warren, with his little squadron, engaged a
very superior force, taking one frigate and four of a convoy.
Lieut. Williams, of Marines, appears mentioned by Sir Edward Pellew
as having rendered essential service on board the Indefatigable, in
capturing La Virginie upon the 21st of April.
The fortunate contest between the Unicorn, Captain Sir Thomas
Williams, and La Tribune, began under an obvious disadvantage, and
while it has fully established the fame of that Officer, it was
likewise most honourable to Lieut. Hart of my Corps. The Seamen
and Marines of La Margaretta were also much distinguished in
Captain Martin's official dispatch, announcing the capture of La
Tamise.
Captain Trollope, in the Glatton, of 54, armed with heavy
carronades, stands most highly on the records of this year, by
his having encountered and beat a squadron carrying upwards of
200 guns, and in every respect nearly thrice his force. While the
circumstances of the battle reflect a lustre upon all who fought,
the unsubdued spirit of Captain Strangeways, of Marines, was
truly heroic, and demands the grateful sympathy of his Country
and his Corps. After having received a ball in his thigh, he was
necessarily carried below, and on a tourniquet having been applied
by the Surgeon, he insisted upon going again to his quarters,
where he continued to animate his men until he fainted from loss
of blood, when Captain Trollope was obliged to interpose his
authority for his removal from danger. He afterwards fevered and
died, forsaking by destiny a distressed widow and family to deplore
his fall, to the tutelar care of Providence and the British nation.
William Hall, Corporal of Marines, was, besides, the only one
wounded in this memorable action.
Sir John Warren, by his reiterated exploits through the year, has
very meritedly founded a name for spirit and zeal.
Towards the close of 1796 the French fleet put to sea from Brest,
with the direct aim of invading the sister kingdom of Ireland. To
it an army of 15,000 men was united under General Hoche. Heaven
again stepped forth to thwart their schemes, whose elementary
agents were employed to overthrow them. Scarcely had they set sail,
when the winds began to blow with violence, which burst into a
storm after gaining sight of the wished for land. Their armament
was finally scattered, and while a part of it, was buried in the
ocean, others were doomed to augment the British Navy, and the
remains to hasten back, in disappointment and in terror, towards
their own ports.
Judging, from external evidences, their reception would have been
worthy of Irishmen, had their invaders reached their shores.
Patriotism shone forth in every rank of society, and one godlike
churchman[3] exerted those powerful energies, which must always be
attached to every reputable member of his honorable calling, in
keeping alive the sacred flame.