FORTS BOURBON AND LOUIS CLOSELY INVESTED ... BATTERIES ON THE FIRST
PARALLEL ERECTED ... THE SEAMEN EMPLOYED IN GETTING GUNS TO THE
BATTERIES ON THE WEST SIDE ... A DANGEROUS PASS DESCRIBED ...
CAPTAIN MILN MORTALLY WOUNDED; HE DIES; HIS CHARACTER ... BELLGARDE
DELIVERS HIMSELF AND ARMY INTO THE HANDS OF SIR CHARLES GREY ...
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE EDWARD ARRIVES, AND TAKES A COMMAND ...
BATTERIES OPENED AGAINST FORT BOURBON ... LIEUTENANT BOWEN'S
SPIRITED CONDUCT ... FORT LOUIS TAKEN BY STORM ... CAPTAIN
FAULKNOR'S GALLANT CONDUCT ... FORT BOURBON SURRENDERS.
From the 20th of February Forts Bourbon and Louis, with the town of Fort
Royal, were completely invested, and the General was busily employed in
erecting batteries on his first parallel. On the north-east side the
army under General Prescott broke ground on the 25th of February, and on
the west side towards La Coste (where Sir Charles Gordon commanded,
Prince Edward not having as yet arrived from Canada) fascine batteries
for mortars and cannon were erecting with every possible expedition. In
this business the seamen, who formed a camp at Point Negro under Captain
Josias Rogers of the Quebec, eminently distinguished themselves; and
though the roads were not quite so bad as on the Sourier side, yet they
had many severe difficulties to encounter, that rendered dragging the
mortars and heavy ordnance to the batteries fatiguing and hazardous in a
great degree. Part of the way which they were obliged to go was in sight
of Fort Bourbon; soon after which they descended into a hollow way or
ravine, where a rivulet invited them to refresh themselves, and it was
with difficulty their officers could prevent them from slaking their
thirst at this stream, which crossed them at a time when the fatigue and
heat they sustained rendered the temptation almost irresistible,
especially to men fearless of danger, and thoughtless to a proverb. No
sooner did they begin to descend into this ravine, than the enemy threw
their shells with such judgment, that they frequently fell at the moment
our people were passing the rivulet. It was in the afternoon of the 22d
of February that Lieutenant James Miln of the Boyne was proceeding with
his company of seamen to relieve those who had been the fore-part of the
day at work on one of the advanced batteries, and having been observed
on his march by the enemy in Fort Bourbon, they as usual began to fire
their mortars into the ravine; Mr. Miln, who, added to the greatest
courage, possessed much prudence, was hurrying his men through this
dangerous pass, and was in the act of calling to two men who were
drinking at the rivulet (the rest of his company having passed on), when
a shell burst near him, carried off one of his legs, and shattered the
other in a dreadful manner. At the same time one of the men, who had
loitered, lost a leg. In this dreadful situation he was carried two
miles to Sir Charles Gordon's camp, before his wounds could be bound up,
and from thence to his own quarters at Point Negro, where he suffered
amputation of one leg. The next day the surgeon general of the navy went
to him from the Boyne, and finding his situation dangerous in the
extreme, having no better place than the ground, in an open sugar-house,
part of which was the head quarters of the naval officers, and being
within range of the enemy's guns, which frequently threw their shot and
shells over him, he was conveyed to the royal hospital at St. Pierre;
but from the loss of blood he had sustained, and the nature of the
climate, he was seized with the lock jaw, of which he died on Sunday the
9th of March, and the next day was buried in the garden of the hospital
with the honours of war, together with Lieutenants Spencer and
Rosehill[19] of the Beaulieu, and Lieutenant Smith of the fifty-eighth
regiment. The burial service was performed by the Chaplain[20] of the
Boyne, and attended by Colonel Myers, commandant of St. Pierre, Captain
Salisbury of the Beaulieu, and the other naval and military officers,
and the principal English gentlemen who were in that town. The Admiral,
who always distinguished merit, and rewarded it when in his power, had
promoted Mr. Miln[21] to the command of the Avenger sloop, late
Marseillois, taken at St. Pierre.
[19] The Admiral had lately promoted Mr. Rosehill to the rank of
Lieutenant for his spirited behaviour at Trinite.
[20] Who this day performed the funeral service over thirteen
people belonging to the army and navy.
[21] As it was my lot to be much in the society of this excellent
young man, having from the time we arrived in the West Indies
enjoyed his friendship, and on several occasions accompanied him on
service, afterwards attending him from the camp at Point Negro to
the hospital at St. Pierre, and remaining with him at intervals
till the time of his death: these circumstances will, I trust,
plead my excuse for detaining the reader from more important events
of the campaign while I pay the tribute of respect to the memory of
my gallant but ill-fated friend. Mr. James Miln was a native of
Arbroath in Scotland, and after serving for near thirteen years
with credit in the navy, was promoted to a lieutenancy on board the
Blanche frigate by Admiral Sir John Laforey, and was afterwards
taken on board the Boyne as fifth lieutenant by Sir John Jervis on
his arrival at Barbadoes. His general good conduct as a man and
officer soon attracted the notice of the naval Commander in Chief
(than whom no man is more quick sighted to discern merit, and happy
to reward it). By him no doubt he would have been much employed on
the most active service, had not that melancholy event taken place,
which deprived the service of a good and brave officer, and left me
only the sad task of deploring, while I commemorate the death of a
friend, from the excellency of whose heart and understanding I was
in hopes of reaping future entertainment and improvement.
Bellgarde found it in vain to attempt any thing further, after his last
shameful defeat; and being with his black army shut out of Fort Bourbon
by General Rochambeau (who, when he retreated after the loss of his camp
on Sourier under cover of the fire of that fort, shut the gates against
him), he now determined to make the best bargain he could for himself;
and accordingly on the 25th of February sent a message to Sir Charles
Grey, offering to give up his army, on condition that himself, and
certain others that he named, should be permitted to go to America;
which request the Commander in Chief complied with; and on the 4th of
March, Bellgarde, with his secretary, a white man, by whose councils he
had always been guided, and eight people of colour, sailed in a
schooner for America, whither he had taken the precaution at various
times to forward a quantity of wealth against any change of
circumstances should make such a retreat desirable[22].
[22] Since writing of this, news has arrived from the West Indies
of the capture of a ship belonging to Victor Hughes (the present
republican tyrant of Guadaloupe) loaded with wealth amassed by this
plunderer to the amount of half a million sterling. Such has been
the general conduct of the French Commanders, while ours have been
vilified for claiming even the legal bounty for their suffering and
exhausted followers.
On Tuesday the 4th of March his Royal Highness Prince Edward arrived at
this island, and was received with a royal salute from the fleet.
Immediately he took the command of that brigade of the army encamped on
the Cas Navire side, and at La Coste, which had hitherto been under the
direction of Sir Charles Gordon[23].--Intelligence having reached the
Commander in Chief that a number of brigands, composed of some runaways
from Bellgarde's army, and other wretches, had committed many
depredations and murders, pillaging and burning houses and villages in
several parts of the island; he dispatched a detachment of the fifteenth
regiment, commanded by Lord Sinclair, with a party of the Prince of
Wales's light dragoons, commanded by Lieut. Shadwell, and conducted by
Captain Cunningham (one of his Excellency's aid de camps), who surprised
one hundred and fifty of these people in the act of burning and
plundering the village of Francois[24]. At the first charge the enemy
were routed, thirty-six of them, with their chief (who was cut down by a
dragoon), were killed, and four taken prisoners, who were instantly hung
up, to deter others from such infamous acts as had been committed by
these miscreants.--Every preparation was now made for opening our
batteries against Fort Bourbon, which were constructed only about eight
hundred paces from the fort, and about six hundred in front of our own
lines. These batteries would have been constructed much sooner, but,
owing to the heavy rains that fell almost constantly, and which, at this
season of the year, were unusual, the works had been greatly retarded,
and the difficulties encreased. On the morning of the 6th of March,
every thing being ready for a heavy cannonade, Sir Charles Grey sent a
flag of truce with a summons to the garrison to surrender, which was
refused by General Rochambeau. Accordingly, at day-break on the 7th (the
gun-boats having as usual attacked Fort Louis during the night) mortars,
howitzers, and great guns, opened from five batteries at the same
instant, keeping up an incessant fire on the fort and advanced redoubt
the whole of that day and the night, from each of which it was returned
with equal fury. All the following day the same spirited attack and
defence was continued. On the 9th the enemy made a sortie from the fort,
and attacked the advanced picquet from the camp at La Coste, composed of
part of the third battalion of light infantry, and some sailors under
command of Captain Faulknor of the Zebra. After an engagement of some
length the enemy gave way, and were imprudently followed by our troops
under the guns of the fort; by this excess of ardour we lost some men,
while the enemy suffered but little. The gun-boats and Vesuvius now kept
up a constant fire from Fort Royal Bay: in the former two seamen were
killed by grape, and part of the head of the bomb ketch was shot away.
On the 13th a melancholy accident occurred in one of our batteries,
which was formed and manned entirely by seamen. Captain Faulknor of the
Zebra, who commanded in it, being provoked by the interference of an
officer of artillery in the works which one of the seamen of the Asia
was employed in, and the sailor not obeying him with alacrity, was
provoked to strike him with his sword, which unfortunately wounded him
mortally, and he died in a few minutes. Captain Faulknor was acquitted
by the court martial that was instantly summoned by the Admiral to
investigate the matter; and the circumstance of its happening in the
heat of action, when the least disobedience of orders involves the most
fatal consequences, as well, as that it appeared there was no
premeditated intention of killing the unfortunate man, but was a blow
given from the impulse of momentary passion; the sentence was confirmed
and approved.--From this time the siege was carried on with unremitted
exertion by night and day; shot and shells were constantly flying, and
new batteries daily constructed; so that our advanced batteries were at
length brought within five hundred yards of the fort, and not more than
two hundred from the redoubt: the latter indeed was so battered, that it
might with ease have been stormed; but the General knew that a mine
which communicated from the fort would involve in certain destruction
all who attempted so desperate an action; and therefore preferred the
more sure means of success, by regular and methodical approaches. On
Monday the 17th of March two new batteries opened on Fort Louis from
Point Carriere, a neck of land that forms the south-west side of the
Carenage, and not more than two hundred yards across the mouth of that
harbour to the walls of the fort; one of these was commanded by Captain
Riou[25] of the Rose.--The French had a fine frigate called the
Bienvenu, which was anchored in the centre of the Carenage, on board of
which it was reported a number of English prisoners were confined, and
were consequently exposed to the fire of our batteries. Lieut. Bowen of
the Boyne formed a resolution to extricate his countrymen from their
perilous situation; and having obtained the Admiral's permission, and
approbation of his plan, at noon he boldly pushed into the harbour from
Point Carriere, where he had collected his boats destined for the
enterprise, well manned by tried and determined seamen. The instant he
appeared round the point, the enemy prepared to give him a warm
reception. The walls of Fort Louis were covered in an instant with
troops, which kept up an incessant fire of musquetry on him; at the same
time the frigate endeavoured to keep him off, by plying both her great
guns and small arms; but at length, intimidated by the boldness of the
attempt, they fled from their quarters, and Mr. Bowen at the head of his
men boarded the frigate, and took the captain, officers, and crew of her
prisoners without resistance. All this time the enemy in the fort
continued to pour vollies of grape and musketry on the frigate, which
was returned with great spirit by the British seamen, who now turned
their own guns upon them, and would have brought her out of the harbour,
but the sails being all unbent, it was impossible in such a situation to
bend them: the tri-coloured flag, which was fastened to the gaff of the
mizen, they were not able to strike, though a sailor had the audacity to
go aloft for that purpose, scorning the musketry of the enemy. Mr.
Bowen, seeing no chance of getting the ship out of the harbour, and
finding that the English prisoners were in another vessel further up,
from whence it was rendered impossible to release them, contented
himself with securing the officers and crew of the frigate, whom he
brought off, in spite of every effort made by the republicans to prevent
him. As the bullets were flying thick around him, he suffered the
Frenchmen to lie down in the bottom of the boats, that they might not be
killed by their own countrymen; a very different conduct from what they
had observed to our people who were in the same situation[26]. In this
business he lost only three men killed, and four or five wounded. The
success of this enterprise gave the Commanders in Chief confidence, that
a spirited attack by land and sea on Fort Louis would succeed.
Accordingly the Admiral ordered a number of bamboos of thirty feet long
to be cut and made into scaling ladders, connected with strong line. The
gun-boats and row-boats were collected in the bay round the Point
Carriere, and the sailors' camp at Point Negro, with Prince Edward's
camp at La Coste and Cas Navire, held themselves in readiness to
co-operate in the grand attack. The navy to be employed in this business
was under the immediate direction of Commodore Thompson. On Thursday the
20th of March, before day-break, the third battalion of grenadiers,
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Buckridge, and the first battalion of
light infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Coote, marched by the
hill on which Fort Bourbon is situated from the camp on Sourier,
unperceived by the enemy, and took a position that gave them the command
of the bridge that connected the town of Fort Royal to the road leading
up to that fort, the batteries on the second parallel being ready, those
on Morne Tortenson and Point Carriere kept up a well-directed and heavy
fire on Fort Louis, and all the other batteries cannonaded Fort Bourbon
during the whole of the day and night of the 19th instant, and on the
morning also, till about ten o'clock, when the Asia of 64 guns, Captain
Browne, and the Zebra sloop of 16 guns, Captain R. Faulknor, got under
way. The Zebra led in towards the mouth of the harbour, receiving the
fire of grape and round, without returning a shot: the Asia had got
within the range of grape shot, when, to the surprise of every body, she
wore and made sail from the fort[27]. The Admiral, Sir John Jervis, had
previously made the signal for the rest of the fleet to be ready to
second the attempt of these two ships, by loosing the topsails of the
Boyne, and lying at single anchor ready to slip and run in; on
perceiving the Asia was foiled in her attempt, and supposing, as she was
under a heavy fire from the fort, that either Captain Browne was killed,
or that some other desperate accident had happened, he instantly
dispatched Captain George Grey of the Boyne to take the command of the
Asia, and if he could not get in, to run her aground under the walls of
the fort. Captain Grey soon returned, and brought the pleasing
intelligence that not a man was hurt on board of the Asia. She then
stood in again, and again put about, when near the mouth of the harbour,
and sailed from it. Captain Faulknor, seeing that he stood no chance of
being seconded by the Asia, and being all this time under a dreadful
fire from Fort Louis, boldly pushed in towards that fort, still
reserving his fire till he came close to the walls of it; and then
running his ship aground, plying his small arms and great guns, he drove
the enemy from thence, and leaping into a boat, scaled the ramparts.
Seeing the Zebra go in, all the boats with scaling ladders, attended by
the gun-boats, seemed to fly towards the scene of action. Those from
Point Carriere mounted the walls near where Captain Faulknor had so
gallantly run his ship, and seconding him, drove the enemy out of the
fort, hauled down the republican flag, and hoisted the British union in
its stead[28]. The storming party of seamen from the camp at Point
Negro, under Captain Rogers, landed at the town of Fort Royal, of which
they soon took possession, being aided by the first battalion of
grenadiers, under Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, and third light infantry,
under Lieutenant Colonel Close, from Prince Edward's camp at La
Coste.--While this was doing, Lieutenant Colonel Coote kept up a heavy
fire of musketry on the bridge and road, over which the enemy were
retreating to throw themselves into Fort Bourbon; and Captain de Revigne
covering the attack of the infantry by a well-directed fire of some
field pieces, the whole action was so eminently successful in every
part, that it is hard to say where was the greatest glory, every one
performing the service allotted to him in so excellent a manner. General
Rochambeau, seeing that all resistance would now be useless, Fort Royal,
his grand depot of provisions and ammunition, being lost, sent a flag to
General Grey, offering terms of capitulation; and commissioners being
named, who met at the house of Madame Dillon to arrange the preliminary
articles of it, the terms were finally adjusted and agreed to on the 22d
instant; and the ratification thereof being signed by the Commanders in
Chief on both sides, on the 23d following, at four o'clock in the
afternoon, his Royal Highness Major General Prince Edward took
possession of both gates of the fort with the first and third battalions
of grenadiers, and first and third light infantry. On Tuesday the 25th
of March, 1794, the garrison marched out of Fort Bourbon, to the number
of nine hundred men; and being allowed the honours of war for their
gallant[29] defence, they marched down the hill with their colours
flying; and laying down their arms on the parade of Fort Royal, were
embarked on board of ships which took them immediately to France. Our
troops, both army and that part of the navy that had served (during the
siege) on shore, lined the road as the enemy passed; and entering the
fort, they struck the French and hoisted the British colours, changing
the name from Fort Bourbon to Fort George, in compliment to our gracious
Sovereign, which it now bears, and Fort Louis bears the name of Fort
Edward.--At the commencement of the siege the garrison of Fort Bourbon
consisted of one thousand two hundred men, which were reduced to nine
hundred at the conclusion of it. Five stands of colours laid down by the
garrison, and two colours of Fort Bourbon, were brought to England by
Major Grey, second son of his Excellency the Commander in Chief, and
presented by him (with the dispatches) to his Majesty, who ordered them
to be hung up in the Cathedral of St. Paul, as a lasting memorial of the
gallant action atchieved by Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis, and
their brave forces[30]; by which one of the most valuable of the French
islands in the West Indies was added to the British dominions,
possessing (besides great revenues and prodigious sources of wealth) one
of the finest harbours in the world, in which the whole British fleet
might safely anchor.
[23] See Appendix, page 24.
[24] See Appendix, page 25.
[25] The same officer who distinguished himself by his gallantry in
saving his Majesty's ship the Guardian at the Cape of Good Hope in
the year 1789. See Gent. Mag. vol. lx. page 465.
[26] See Appendix, pages 26 and 27.
[27] Monsieur de Tourelles, the ancient lieutenant of the fort,
either through fear, ignorance, or treachery, refused to run the
ship in under pretence of shoals.
[28] The whole fleet, witnessing this gallant action, instantly
saluted the British colours with three hearty cheers.
[29] The gallant defence made by General Rochambeau and his
garrison was strongly manifested on our entering Fort Bourbon, as
there was scarce an inch of ground untouched by our shot or shells;
and it is but justice to say, it did them the highest
honour.--Among the casualties that happened during the siege, the
following deserves notice. A party of the besieged were in one of
the chambers of the Bomb-proof in the Traverse, when a shell from
one of our batteries fell into the arched way, and rebounding,
burst the door of the chamber, and killed the whole party.
[30] It is much to the credit of the officers, who served on shore
from the landing on the island till the reduction of Fort Bourbon,
a period of forty-seven days, that they shared the same hardships
as the privates without a murmur, sleeping in their clothes the
whole time; and being so situated that they seldom could have the
benefit of tents or any kind of hovel, they were exposed
continually to the heavy rains and nocturnal damps which in a
tropical climate so severely try the constitution; but, owing (as
it was imagined) to the flannel shirts which were invariably worn
by all ranks, they, as yet, suffered less from sickness than could
have been expected.
ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION OF FORT BOURBON.
On the 21st of March, 1794, by order of their Excellencies Sir
Charles Grey, K. B. General and Commander in Chief of his Britannic
Majesty's forces in the West Indies, &c. &c. &c. and Vice Admiral
Sir John Jervis, K. B. commanding his Majesty's fleet, &c. &c.
Commodore C. Thompson, Colonel R. Symes, and Captain J. Conyngham,
met at Dillon's house to receive proposals of capitulation for Fort
Bourbon, from Colonel d'Aucourt, Captain Dupriret, and Gaschet
Dumaine, jun. nominated Commissioners for that purpose by General
Rochambeau.
_The following_ ARTICLES _were proposed, discussed, and modified,
at a second conference held at Fort Royal on the 22d of March,
1794_.
Article I. The garrison, composed of the troops of the line,
artillery, gunners of the marine, and national guard, shall march
out with colours flying, thirty rounds a man, and two field pieces
with twelve rounds.--ANSWER. The colony of Martinique, already
reduced by the arms of his Britannic Majesty, and the forts and
towns of St. Pierre and Fort Royal taken with sword in hand,
General Rochambeau can only capitulate for Fort Bourbon, and what
it contains.--Granted. But they are to lay down their arms at a
place appointed, and not to serve against his Britannic Majesty,
or his allies, during the present war.
II. Three months pay to be allowed to the troops of the
line.--ANSWER. No pay will be given. All their effects will be
allowed them; and they will be provided with whatever may be
necessary for their voyage to France.
III. The thirty-seventh regiment, formerly Marshal Turenne's, shall
keep their colours and arms.--ANSWER. Refused, being contrary to
all customs of war. The officers may keep their swords.
IV. They shall be furnished with ships to carry them to
France.--ANSWER. Granted.
V. The emigrants, who have returned to Martinique, shall not be
present where the garrison lay down their arms or embark.--ANSWER.
Granted.
VI. Such persons of the national guard, who can give proofs of
their property, shall be permitted to remain in the island, giving
that property as security for their conduct.--ANSWER. Those of the
national guard in Fort Bourbon who have affairs to settle, and
whose sojourn may not be deemed dangerous to the colony, may remain
according to the declaration of the General, dated January 1, 1794.
Such as wish to go to France shall be allowed, leaving their agents
here.--ANSWER. Granted.
VII. Persons not included in the above article, who are compelled
to return to France, shall be allowed a certain time to settle
their affairs.--ANSWER. A proper time shall be allowed: fifteen
days at least.
VIII. Persons belonging to the garrison of Fort Convention,
possessing no landed property, but who exercised some profession or
trade previous to the present capitulation, shall be allowed to
continue their trade or calling; nor sent to France, provided their
future conduct should not make such a measure necessary.--ANSWER.
They are regarded in the same predicament with those in Article VI.
IX. The legal regulations of the constituted authorities shall be
confirmed.--ANSWER. Refused.
X. The code of civil judicature in force through the island shall
be continued for the space of two years.--ANSWER. Granted, till his
Britannic Majesty's pleasure be known.
XI. The property of owners and captains of ships shall be secured
to them on board and on shore.--ANSWER. Granted, as to their
property in Fort Bourbon.
XII. The inhabitants of St. Pierre, embarked on English ships,
shall be set at liberty, and their property, under seal, secured to
them.--ANSWER. This article cannot come within the present
capitulation. The claimants may apply to the commanders of the
fleet and army.
XIII. The ordonateur and officers of administration shall have
permission and time to regulate their accounts, and to take with
them the papers relative to that end.--ANSWER. Granted.
XIV. There shall be an entire and absolute oblivion of the past,
and an end to all animosities.--ANSWER. Granted, according to the
proclamations.
XV. The rights of free citizens inrolled in the national guard
shall be preserved.--ANSWER. Refused.
XVI. The liberty of individuals composing the companies of
l'Enclume, d'Octavius, de la Croire, and de Pontouur, shall be
confirmed.--ANSWER. Refused. The slaves must be restored to their
owners.
XVII. A period shall be fixed for the taking possession of the
fort, and the necessary time allowed for the garrison to take out
their effects.--ANSWER. The two gates of Fort Bourbon to be
delivered up to the troops of his Britannic Majesty immediately
after the exchange of the present articles. The garrison will march
out at the great gate, and be conducted to the place appointed for
each corps, by the commissioners who have managed the present
capitulation, and will lay down their arms at the place of their
embarkation. Three days will be allowed for the evacuation of the
fort, and the commissaries of artillery and stores will remain in
the forts to take inventories of all the magazines.
XVIII. The greatest attention shall be paid to the sick and
wounded; and they shall be furnished with ships to carry them to
France as they recover.--ANSWER. Granted; but at the expence of the
French government, and to be attended by their own surgeons; if not
sufficient for the purpose, surgeons shall be furnished.
XIX. General Rochambeau, immediately upon the surrender of the
fort, shall be at liberty to take his measures for his return to
France. A frigate to be furnished him, his aides de camp,
secretaries, and suite.--ANSWER. A commodious vessel shall be
allowed to General Rochambeau, with the necessary passports for his
safe return to France.
XX. The effects, trunks, chests, private papers, and all that
General Rochambeau shall declare to belong to himself and suite,
shall be put under the protection of an English guard, when the
troops of that nation shall have taken possession of Fort
Convention, and shall be embarked with him.--ANSWER. Granted.
XXI. The civil ordonateur, or intendant of the colony, shall have
liberty also, with the officers of administration, comptroller and
treasurer, with those employed in the public offices at St. Pierre
and Fort Royal, to return to France.--ANSWER. Granted.
XXII. The same demands made by General Rochambeau in Art. XX. shall
be granted to the intendant and those under him.--ANSWER. Granted.
XXIII. All papers of accounts in the forts or town shall be
carefully collected by the principals of each department to which
they belong, and embarked in the same ship with the
ordonateur.--ANSWER. All papers, not essential to be left in the
colony, shall be given, and free access to take authentic copies of
such as it may be thought necessary to retain.
XXIV. Captains and officers of merchant ships, who have not settled
their affairs, shall be allowed time to do so. The former the space
of four months, the latter of two months, under the protection of
the commander of his Britannic Majesty's forces, that they may
recover their debts; after which they will procure the readiest
passage to whatever place may be expedient for their affairs, with
passports from the English commanders.--ANSWER. Granted.
_Additional Article._ Fort Bourbon to be delivered up to his
Britannic Majesty in its present state, with no deterioration of
its batteries, mines, magazines of artillery or provisions, and
every thing it contains which is not the private property of the
garrison.
Fort Royal, March 22, 1794.
Signed.
D'AUCOURT. C. THOMPSON.
GASCHET, Fils. RICH. SYMES.
DUPRIRET. JOHN CONYNGHAM.
Approved by me, Approved by us,
DTE. ROCHAMBEAU, CHARLES GREY.
Commander in Chief of the French JOHN JERVIS.
West India Islands.
* * * * *
On the 21st of March Captain Faulknor was promoted from the Zebra sloop
to the command of the Bienvenue French frigate of 40 guns, taken in the
Carenage of Fort Royal, and which was now named the Undaunted by the
Admiral, to express the greatness of that action, which finished the
capture of the whole island. At the same time Lieutenant Bowen was
promoted to the command of the Zebra sloop, for his gallant conduct on
the 17th instant, as well as at various other times.
The gun-boats, which by the French were called "Les Petit Diables," were
of infinite service, and gained the officers commanding them immortal
credit, by the steady and well-directed fire they kept up constantly,
both night and day, on Fort Louis; and though continually exposed to an
heavy fire both of grape and round shot, their loss was small, not more
than four killed and wounded, during the siege. The several ships of the
line contributed their aid, by sending row-boats armed to attend them in
case of accident.