GENERAL DUNDAS DIES OF THE YELLOW FEVER ... HIS CHARACTER ... A
FRENCH SQUADRON ARRIVES IN THE WEST INDIES, AND TAKES POSSESSION OF
GRAND TERRE ... THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF, ON RECEIVING AN ACCOUNT
THEREOF, RETURN TO GUADALOUPE ... SIR CHARLES GREY LANDS ON GRAND
TERRE, AND TAKES THE HEIGHTS OF MASCOT ... SEVERAL ACTIONS TAKE
PLACE ... A TRUCE TO BURY THE DEAD ... AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON
POINT A PITRE.
On the evening of the 3d of June, Major General Thomas Dundas, the
governor of Guadaloupe, became the victim of that dreadful fever, which
once more began to desolate these islands. He was ill only three days.
By his death the army in the West Indies suffered an irreparable loss,
and the service in general one of its brightest ornaments. Amiable both
in public and private life, brave and generous, possessed of that true
courage which never exceeds the bounds of humanity, he justly gained the
love of the army, and fell lamented by all that knew him[44]. At this
inauspicious moment an armament arrived from France, under the
direction of two commissioners from the national assembly. It consisted
of two frigates, one corvette, two forty-fours armed en flute, and two
other ships, with about one thousand five hundred land forces on board
of them[45]. They instantly made good their landing on Grand Terre; and,
after two unsuccessful efforts, at last succeeded in their attack on
Fort Fleur d'Epee, which they carried by storm[46].--As soon as this
news reached Colonel Blundell, he instantly dispatched a schooner to St.
Christopher's, with an account of it to the Commanders in Chief, which
fortunately found them there, the Boyne being off Old Road taking in
water for her voyage to England. Sir Charles Grey was busy in inspecting
the works on Brimstone Hill. The Commanders in Chief instantly
determined to return to Guadaloupe, and accordingly pushed, under a
press of sail, for Basse Terre, where they arrived in the afternoon of
the 7th of June, and were joined by the Resource, Captain Ross, and the
Winchelsea, Captain Lord Garlies; on board of which ships General Grey
and his suite embarked to be landed at Basse Terre, in order to visit
the ports in that quarter, and to give the necessary instructions for
future operations. The Admiral ordered the Nautilus, Captain Bayntun, to
proceed to Martinique, with orders from Sir Charles Grey for a
reinforcement from thence, and himself proceeded in the Boyne to the Bay
of Point a Pitre. On his passage he met Commodore Thompson with his
squadron from Martinique, coming round the point of Vieux Port. On their
joining, he ordered the Solebay and Avenger into Basse Terre Road, to
carry the General's further orders into execution, touching
reinforcements from the different islands.
[44] He was interred on the 4th of June, with all military honours,
on one of the highest batteries in Fort Matilda, which, from that
circumstance, was called Dundas's battery, and a stone with a
suitable inscription was placed over his remains. The command of
the forces, and the government of Guadaloupe, now devolved on
Lieutenant Colonel Blundell of the forty-fourth regiment.
[45] This armament appears to have sailed from Rochfort about the
25th of April, and to have been forty-one days on the passage.
[46] Their success appears to have been greatly accelerated by the
treachery or cowardice of several French royalists then in the
fort, who offered their services to sally on the besiegers.
Accordingly they marched out; but, on approaching the enemy, they
were panic struck and fled, and few of them returned to Fleur
d'Epee. The British merchants and sailors from the town of Point a
Pitre had thrown themselves into this fort to assist the garrison,
which was greatly reduced by sickness and death. This little band,
under command of Lieutenant Colonel Drummond of the forty-third
regiment, did all that gallant men could do; twice they repulsed
the assailants; but at length, overpowered by numbers, and the
royalists having demanded that the gates should be thrown open, and
the enemy now pouring in from all sides, the few remaining troops
were obliged to make the best retreat they could to Point a Pitre,
which, not being tenable after the loss of Fleur d'Epee, was
abandoned by them, and they crossed over to Basse Terre. In this
affair, besides the loss of many others, Captain Suckling of the
artillery was wounded at his gun by a bayonet, and left behind at
Point a Pitre.--There were in Guadaloupe when taken by the French a
larger proportion of troops than in either of the other conquered
islands.
At noon of the 8th of June, the Boyne and the rest of the fleet anchored
off Grozier, and saw the union jack displayed on Fort Fleur d'Epee as a
decoy to British vessels, which we found had been successful in several
instances; from hence, too, we had a view of the French fleet lying in
the harbour of Point a Pitre. The Admiral, without delay, arranged every
thing in his department to prevent a surprise from any future
reinforcements of the enemy which might arrive. At day-break of the 9th,
the enemy in Fort Fleur d'Epee, on hoisting their colours, opened an
heavy fire of round and grape-shot on the Boyne, as did the two-gun
battery at Grozier on the rest of the fleet, but happily without any
material damage to them. This morning the London transport, having
troops on board, got on shore on the Basse Terre side of the bay.
Lieutenant Thompson of the Boyne, was sent with the launch to take the
men out of her; in doing which he was exposed to a severe fire from a
battery on Islet a Couchon, or Hog Island; but he succeeded in removing
them without any loss. In the evening Sir Charles Grey and his suite
came on board the Boyne,[47] from whence he could for the present with
greater ease arrange his troops, and communicate with them at their
different posts. This day also Lord Viscount Garlies in the Winchelsea
frigate attacked the two-gun battery at Grozier, where he had
distinguished himself in the last campaign, and once more drove the
enemy from their guns: but very few troops having yet arrived, no
attempt could be made to land there, as before. The Boyne having been
much annoyed by the fire of Fort Fleur d'Epee and Grozier battery, was
now warped a cable's length further from the shore. On the 11th, in the
morning, several boats full of men, attended by a gun-boat, were
discovered making towards our post at Petit Bourg, from the harbour of
Point a Pitre: their intention seemed to be to attack a transport and
sloop of ours. The Winchelsea frigate was ordered towards them, and
receiving the fire of the battery on Hog island, and another near Fort
Louis, she obliged them to return into the harbour. The enemy had
crossed the river Sallee to Basse Terre, and had taken post at Berville,
a fine plantation belonging to a gentleman of that name. They instantly
set fire to the house, and destroyed all the mills, sugar-works, and
store-houses, belonging to it, to a very large amount; they then
encamped at the post of St. Jean, or Gabbare, a point of land opposite
to the harbour of Point a Pitre. General Grey thought this a favourable
moment to attack them, which was accordingly done at eleven o'clock at
night on the 13th, under the command of Brigadier General Dundas, who
with the 1st light infantry led by Brevet Major Ross, with the 39th
regiment under Major Magan, and a detachment of artillery and two
field-pieces, attacked the enemy with such determined bravery, that
after a severe conflict they fled in the utmost disorder, precipitating
themselves into the sea in order to swim across the harbour to Point a
Pitre; but few succeeded in the desperate attempt, many being drowned,
and more shot by our light infantry, who followed close at their heels:
they left one hundred and seventy-nine dead on the field; our loss was
trifling, seven men killed and twelve wounded. The enemy's camp,
colours, baggage, and ammunition, with one piece of cannon, fell into
our hands.[48] The light infantry and the 39th regiment remained at
Berville, having for their advanced post Savonge, and St. Jean on the
banks of the river Sallee. On this point of land, which runs into the
harbour of Point a Pitre, Captain Pratt, commanding a detachment of
artillery, was ordered to erect a battery of two twenty-four pounders
and two howitzers, which he effected with such dispatch, that by the
next morning it was completed, and opened with a most tremendous fire on
the republican frigate La Pique, lying within gunshot of the shore, to
the no small surprise and astonishment of the commodore, who was then on
board. The frigate retaliated, and a brisk fire was kept up for some
time, when she thought it advisable to weigh anchor, and take shelter
under the guns of her own batteries, after having lost between forty and
fifty of her crew in killed and wounded, and being much damaged in her
hull and rigging. On the 14th the Roebuck, Captain Christie, arrived
with troops (draughted from several regiments), and two gun-boats also
came very seasonably; one of which, under command of Lieutenant Wolley
of the Boyne, attacked the battery at Grozier, and again made the enemy
retire from their guns.[49]
[47] Accompanied also by the Honourable Captain Stewart, brother to
Lord Garlies; who having received permission to return to England,
handsomely came forward at this time to offer himself as a
volunteer.
In this second campaign (see Appendix, page 37) Colonel Symes,
Colonel Francis Dundas, and Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, were
promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
[48] See the Appendix, page 32.
[49] On the 18th of June, Lieutenant Colonels Coote and Cradock
arrived from St. Christopher's, where they had been detained by the
yellow fever, which they had caught on board a transport in which
they were proceeding to England on leave of absence, and though not
recovered from the baneful effects of that disease, they now came
forward to offer their services to the Commanders in Chief, which
were accepted in a manner highly honourable to both parties.
On Thursday the 19th of June, General Grey once more made good his
landing on Grand Terre, about six miles to windward of Grozier, under
cover of the Vanguard, Veteran, Vengeance, Solebay, and Winchelsea, and
immediately moved on to Grozier, from whence he drove the enemy, who
retreated towards Fort Fleur d'Epee, burning the houses and sugar-works
that lay in their road.[50] About this time Lieutenant Macnamara, of
the marines, was sent to Deseada to secure that island against any
attempt of the enemy. On his landing he was attacked by a party of the
inhabitants, who had formerly surrendered the island to us, aided by
some brigands and a mixed rabble. In a short time, however, he drove
them to the mountains, having killed twelve, and hung up six, as an
example to deter others from similar acts of rebellion. On the 20th the
enemy sunk one of our gun-boats by the fire of their battery on Hog
Island, but none were killed in her. On the 21st they set fire to, and
burnt a fine house on the heights of Mascot, near Fleur d'Epee, leaving
the foundation walls only standing. Our troops now encamped at Grozier
were employed in erecting batteries against Fort Fleur d'Epee, as the
enemy were in too great force for our reduced numbers to attempt an
assault on their principal work. On the 22d the Honourable Captain
Stewart, commanding the 9th grenadiers, and a party of seamen under
Lieutenant Wolley,[51] marched from Grozier to attack St. Ann's Fort, a
strong post about twelve or fourteen miles to windward. After a most
fatiguing march, during which some heavy showers of rain rendered the
roads hardly passable, they reached the foot of the hill on which the
fort was situated; up which our people scrambled so leisurely, and such
a profound silence reigned among them, that they approached within
fifteen or twenty paces of the centinel before he perceived them, though
he was apparently alert on his post. Our French guide was now so
terrified that he fired his pistol at the centinel, which gave the
alarm; instantly our troops turned forward, and with three cheers began
to storm the works. The enemy were completely surprised, and not more
than two of them escaped. During this the French emigrants who had
accompanied our people, had marched into the town, where they began the
most brutal excesses; but the humane exertions of our officers soon put
a stop to their mischievous proceedings. In this attack near four
hundred of the enemy were killed, and one prisoner taken: on our part
one only was wounded. Several sloops and schooners were found in the
bay, all in ballast and their sails unbent, except one of them, in which
Lieutenant Thomson was sent with an account of their success to the
Commanders in Chief. It being impossible to keep possession of this
post, from the small number of our troops, and intelligence being
brought that a large detachment of the enemy were on their march to cut
off the retreat of this party, it was determined to return to the camp
without loss of time, all the ammunition having been previously
destroyed, and the guns of the fort dismounted.--The day proving
unusually hot, and the roads being deep and slippery from the incessant
rains that had fallen during the preceding night, the troops were not
able to reach the camp without halting; in consequence of which they
took post at a planter's house on an eminence, where they were received
with great hospitality. By three in the afternoon the men who had
dropped down by the way from fatigue, were brought in (except two who
reached the camp next morning), and the party proceeded to their
different stations without further accidents.[52]
[50] In the afternoon one hundred and eighty seamen from the Boyne,
Commanded by Lieutenants Wolley, Thomson, and Maitland, landed
under the Salines to windward of Grozier, and took post on the
heights near that place; other parties of seamen also were landed
at Grozier, forming altogether a strong reinforcement for the army.
[51] With whom on this occasion Lieutenant Thomson served as a
volunteer.
[52] In this business Lieutenant Wolley had some narrow escapes.
The commanding officer of the fort rushed out of the guard-room on
the alarm, with a lighted match in his hand. He first fired an
amuzet, luckily pointed in an opposite direction; he then three
times attempted to fire a twenty-four pounder as Mr. Wolley and his
men were advancing to the muzzle of it; but fortunately, either
from the dampness of the powder, or trepidation of the man, it
missed taking effect; on which he flung down his match, and
retreated to the further end of the fort, whither Mr. Wolley
followed; but, from the darkness of the night, he soon lost sight
of him. As he returned he was met by his own men, who, taking him
for an enemy, were about to put him to death, when his voice
discovered their mistake. Had the cannon in the first instance gone
off, it must have made considerable havock among our men, as it was
loaded with a bag of musket balls.--This day Captain Armstrong of
the 8th regiment, was killed by a cannon ball at the landing-place
at Grozier, while giving directions to a serjeant about some
ordnance which was to be landed there. He was on horseback, and had
just remarked, that there could be no danger from the fire at Fleur
d'Epee at that place; a shot, however, from the fort dipped over
the point of land which seemed to shelter the landing-place, and
cut him asunder. He has often been heard to say that he thought
that a man must be truly unfortunate who fell by a single cannon
ball.
On Tuesday the 24th of June, General Grey opened his batteries, which he
had erected near Grozier, against Fleur d'Epee; at the same time
Brigadier General Dundas kept up a smart fire on Point a Pitre, where
the enemy seemed to be making preparations against the hurricane months,
now approaching, by stripping the ships in the harbour of their sails
and rigging. On the 26th, early in the morning, the enemy, to the number
of three hundred, made a sortie from Fleur d'Epee, on our advanced post,
consisting of one hundred men, but were soon obliged to retreat; we lost
one man killed and eight wounded: at the same time our batteries and
gun-boats cannonaded the fort; in the latter two seamen were wounded.
On the 27th, the batteries at Grozier having opened as usual on Fleur
d'Epee, a detachment of our troops under Brigadier General Fisher
marched forward to attack a piquet of the enemy posted on Morne Mascot,
from whence they drove them after a sharp contest, and established
themselves, as our advanced post, within musket shot of the fort.[53]
During the preceding night the light infantry at camp Berville were sent
by Brigadier General Dundas, under command of Major Ross of the 25th
regiment, to Petit Bourg, where they embarked, and joined the army at
Grozier. This movement, by which the main body was much strengthened,
was effected unperceived by the enemy, and the 39th and 43d regiments
only left at Berville.
[53] In this affair Captain Morrison of the 58th regiment was
killed by a musket ball through his head as he was leading his men
on to the attack; he fell regretted by all who knew him, being an
accomplished, amiable, and brave man: I too felt severely on this
occasion, having enjoyed much of his society and friendship. The
Commander in Chief, who knew his worth, paid the tribute of
applause to his memory; and the Admiral, when he heard of his fall,
exclaimed, "He has left few equals behind him."
Several skirmishes now daily took place, and many fell on both sides;
though, from want of steadiness at the last, the enemy were always
greater losers than ourselves. On the morning of the 29th of June, a
large body of the enemy, to the number of one thousand, marched out of
Fort Fleur d'Epee, and seemed to meditate an attack on a detachment of
light infantry under Colonel Gomm, posted to the right of the grenadiers
who were on Morne Mascot, under Brigadier General Fisher. By this false
movement, they hoped that a detachment of the grenadiers would be sent
to reinforce the light infantry, and thereby weaken the force on Morne
Mascot, which was their real object of attack. In a short time, however,
they were perceived mounting the side of Mascot heights, with colours
flying and singing the national songs, covered by a heavy fire of round
and grape-shot from Fleur d'Epee, which prevented our grenadiers from
shewing themselves till the enemy were close to them; on which General
Fisher made them prostrate themselves on the ground, and wait the
approach of the enemy in that posture. The instant the republicans came
within a few yards of them they started up, and an obstinate engagement
commenced, which terminated at length by the grenadiers advancing to the
charge; on which the enemy fled, and were pursued down the hill with
great slaughter. Our loss amounted to thirty killed and wounded: among
the former was Lieutenant Toosey of the 65th regiment; of the latter,
Captain De Rivigne of the artillery, received a ball in the side of his
neck. Brigadier General Fisher was hit three times by grape-shot, which
caused contusions only, and his horse was killed under him. In the
evening the enemy sent in a flag of truce, requesting permission to bury
their dead and carry off their wounded, which was granted them;[54] yet
they left a number of both, on the side of the hill, to the great
annoyance of our piquet, which during the following night was disturbed
by the groans of the dying and wounded. The day following the enemy
again made an attempt, in equal force, against our post on Mascot, and
was again repulsed with great loss. The rainy season being already set
in, and the hurricane months now approaching, determined the Commander
in Chief to make an effort to finish the campaign at once. From his
success in the two last engagements, and the excellent manner in which
he had planned the attack, it would no doubt have succeeded, had his
orders been punctually obeyed. The plan he had laid down was, for a
large body of troops under General Symes, to march during the night, and
make themselves masters of Morne Government, and the other commanding
heights round the town of Point a Pitre, whilst himself, at the head of
the rest of his army, was in readiness on the heights of Mascot to storm
Fort Fleur d'Epee, on receiving a signal from General Symes; but, from
some unfortunate misapprehension, the whole of General Grey's
well-concerted plan was rendered abortive, and the almost total
destruction of our exhausted forces ensued: but it is my business to
detail the events of this unfortunate affair as accurately as the
confused accounts I have received will permit. Brigadier General Symes,
having under his command the first battalion of grenadiers, commanded
by Brigadier General Fisher, and the first and second light infantry,
led by Colonel Gomm, with a detachment of seamen from the Boyne[55] and
Veteran, commanded by Captain Robertson of the Veteran, marched from the
heights of Mascot at about nine o'clock at night, on the 1st of July.
They first descended into a deep ravine thick planted with coffee
bushes, through which there was no road, the seamen bringing up the
rear. The night was uncommonly dark, which rendered their march both
dangerous and fatiguing. After proceeding about a mile they halted on a
road, and were joined by two small field-pieces, which were put under
the charge of Lieutenants Thomson and Maitland, to be dragged by their
seamen. During the halt some people, who were heard to speak French,
were seen near the rear; Lieutenant Wolley endeavoured to secure them,
but they escaped through the bushes, and no further notice was taken of
this. The army moved forward about two miles further, on a road leading
through deep ravines, and made a second halt for about an hour; the
march was then re-commenced, but no orders ever passed during the time:
they now proceeded for some miles without meeting with any obstruction,
when an order came for the seamen in the rear to advance to the attack,
which they did by running as fast as they could for upwards of a mile.
The parties they passed were not in the best order, owing to the
quickness of the march, until they came to the grenadiers, who were
drawn up as a corps de reserve. About this time the bugle horn sounded
to advance, and soon after a heavy firing of round and grape-shot from
Morne Government, and also from several other batteries of the enemy,
commenced, as also from some twelve-pounders landed from the shipping in
the harbour, which were placed in tiers, and entirely enfiladed the road
along which the troops were advancing. After passing the grenadiers, the
seamen were halted for a few minutes to form, they being perfectly out
of order from running; but scarce thirty of them were got together, when
Lieutenant Wolley was ordered to advance with them, and Captain
Robertson remained to form and bring up the rest. The cannonading from
the enemy's guns was the most severe the oldest soldier ever witnessed,
especially from the guns which were on the road; two or three tiers of
which were planted behind each other, from which the enemy were driven
by the bayonets of our gallant fellows, who no sooner had taken one
battery, but another opened on them from behind. The whole now became a
scene of confusion impossible to describe. Instead of any of the heights
being attempted, the greater part of the troops and the seamen were got
into the town, where they were mowed down by the grape-shot, which
played upon them in every direction,[56] as well as musketry from the
windows of the houses. Where-ever our men perceived this, they broke
open the doors, putting all they found in them to death; and those who
could not stand the bayonet were shot as they leaped from the windows.
General Symes was by this time badly wounded,[57] and his horse killed
under him. Colonel Gomm (who led the light infantry), with several other
officers, was killed, and a great many more desperately wounded;[58] and
Captain Robertson, who commanded the seamen, was blown up. At length
General Fisher (the second in command, who, as well as every other
officer on this service, was ignorant of General Symes's plans) sounded
a retreat, and the miserable remains of this gallant party marched off,
the enemy harassing them in their retreat, though kept at bay by the
gallant exertions of the Honourable Captain Stewart with a party of
grenadiers, assisted by Lieutenant Wolley and the seamen of the Boyne,
who covered the retreat; till at length the latter fell by a musket-ball
through his leg, and was brought off by his men. When the remains of
this unfortunate detachment got back to Mascot,[59] General Grey found
it in vain to attempt any thing against Fleur d'Epee, being obliged to
detach the second battalion of grenadiers to cover the retreat, and his
troops being all so much reduced and exhausted, yet from the effect of
the batteries he had erected to cover his attack of Fleur d'Epee, which
opened on that fort in the evening, there could have been no doubt of
success had not the above-related misfortune taken place.[60] It being
totally impossible to attempt any thing further at this season, the
General that night began to reimbark his cannon and mortars, and in two
days had got off the whole of his troops without loss; he then
strengthened the posts on Basse Terre, and having made the best
arrangements possible to maintain them, and to enable him to renew his
attacks on Point a Pitre and Fleur d'Epee after the hurricane months, in
case any reinforcements should arrive (without which it would be totally
impossible), he embarked on board the Boyne, leaving Brigadier General
Colin Graham to command on Basse Terre, and then repaired to St. Pierre
in the island of Martinique, where he established his head-quarters. The
Boyne proceeded to Fort Royal Bay, where she was laid up for the
hurricane months in a snug harbour, called Trois Islet Bay, and the sick
and wounded were landed for the benefit of fresh air, and every
attention paid to them that could alleviate their sufferings.
[54] A young officer, formerly of Walsh's regiment, took this
opportunity of escaping to us. His name was Clarke, his family of
Martinique, where his father was a counsellor at law. He had been
imprisoned three months at Bourdeaux, on his endeavouring to avoid
joining the armies on the frontiers, and was released to embark on
this expedition, as the only chance of rejoining his friends. He
reported, that one Fremont, a daring fellow, who, though not first
in command, had great influence, was killed this morning on the
walls of Fleur d'Epee, by a musket-ball from one of our people. The
enemy lost in this action upwards of three hundred men. On the
29th, the Commander in Chief sustained a heavy loss in the death of
Captain Newton Ogle, of the 70th regiment, one of his excellency's
aid-de-camps; he was a young man of an excellent understanding, and
had distinguished himself on all occasions where his exertions had
been called forth.
[55] Lieutenant Wolley of the Boyne, was appointed acting major of
brigade; and Lieutenants Thomson and Maitland, and Mr. Oswald,
commanded the three companies of seamen.
[56] One of the frigates in the harbour did great execution; by a
single discharge of grape-shot, killing three officers and
thirty-six privates of the light infantry, who were unfortunately
drawn up in a street effectually commanded by her guns.
[57] General Symes died soon after of his wound.
[58] Captain Burnet of the 43d regiment, who had led his company of
grenadiers into the town, was blown up at the time Captain
Robertson was killed. His clothes being on fire, were pulled off by
his brother officers. His face and hands were rendered entirely
black by the explosion. In this situation he first received a
musket-ball which broke his arm, and was then met by his own
grenadiers, who, taking him for one of the French blacks, attacked
him with charged bayonets, and wounded him in three places before
he could make himself known to them. The instant they discovered
their mistake they expressed the utmost horror and contrition, and
brought off this excellent officer in their arms; who, I am happy
to be enabled to add, survived, notwithstanding the dreadful
situation he was in. Lieutenant Conway of the 60th regiment, was
also blown up, and in that condition continued to lead on his men
and encourage them, till unfortunately he fell by a musket-ball
through his body.
[59] General Grey was waiting on Morne Mascot for Brigadier General
Symes's signal of his having succeeded in taking the heights near
Point a Pitre; having the second battalion of grenadiers, the 65th
regiment, and six companies of Grand Terre, and second battalion of
seamen commanded by Captain Sawyer, ready to attack Fort Fleur
d'Epee by storm.
[60] Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to
thirty-eight officers, forty-three serjeants, and six hundred and
eleven privates.
I must here beg leave to add an extract from Admiral Sir J.
Jervis's public letters to the Lords of the Admiralty on this
subject. "The fate of Captain Lewis Robertson, who had
distinguished himself highly, fills my mind with the deepest
regret; he had long been a child of misfortune, although he
possessed talents to merit every success and prosperity; and, as I
am informed, has left a widow and infant family unprovided for. I
beg leave to recommend them to the protection and good offices of
their lordships, to obtain a suitable provision, which will be a
great encouragement to officers in similar circumstances, to
emulate so great an example."
* * * * *
The celebrated Brigadier General Arnold, being on business of a
mercantile nature at Point a Pitre, was captured at the time the
place fell into the hands of the republicans, and, being
apprehensive of ill treatment, changed his name to Anderson. He was
put on board a prison-ship in the harbour, and had considerable
property in cash with him, of which, it is supposed, Fremont and
Victor Hughes were informed, as he received an intimation from one
of the French sentries, that he was known, and would soon be
guillotined. On this alarming intelligence he determined to attempt
an escape, which he effected in the following masterly manner. At
night he lowered into the sea a cask containing clothes and
valuables, with a direction on it, that if it floated to the shore
of our camp at Berville, it might be known, and restored to him; he
then lowered down his cloak bag to a small raft which he had
prepared, on which also he got himself, and proceeded to a small
canoe, in which he pushed for the British fleet, directed by the
Admiral's lights. On his making towards the mouth of the harbour he
was challenged by the French row guard, but by the darkness of the
night escaped from them, and arrived on board the Boyne by four
o'clock on Monday morning, the 30th of June.
During the whole time of this latter campaign the fever, which had
been so destructive the preceding year, continued to rage in our
army and navy with unabated violence. General Grey lost all the
servants he brought from England by it, including two who had lived
with him for many years. It first broke out with violence when the
former campaign ended.