No. XVII.
Dispatches from Sir George Beckwith, and Letter from Lord Castlereagh, p. 11.
Downing-street, March 27.
The following despatches have this day been received from Lieut.-General Beckwith, Commander of His Majesty's Forces in the Leeward Islands, addressed to Lord Viscount Castlereagh.
"Martinique, Feb. 1.
"My Lord,
"In my last, No. 42, I had the honour to report to your Lordship the sailing of the army from Carlisle Bay upon the 28th ult. I have now the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that we landed in two divisions upon the 30th; the first division, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost, consisting of between 6 and 7,000 men, at Bay Robert, on the windward coast, in the course of the afternoon, without opposition; and, notwithstanding the difficulties of the country, we occupied a position on the banks of the Grand Lezard River before day-break of the 31st, with a corps of nearly 4,000 men, after a night march of seven miles through a difficult country. These services were greatly facilitated by the judicious and manly conduct of Captain Beaver, of His Majesty's ship Acasta, who led into the Bay in a bold and officer-like manner, preceded by His Majesty's brig Forester, Captain Richards. The exertions and success of this measure were completely effective, two transports only striking in the narrow passage at the entrance of the Bay. Hitherto we have experienced no resistance from the militia of the country; and they manifest a disposition every where to return to their homes, in conformity to a joint proclamation by the Admiral and myself, which is obtaining a very extensive circulation. The second division of the army, consisting of upwards of 3,000 men, under the command of Major-General Maitland, landed near St. Luce and Point Solomon on the morning of the 30th; but, as our communication with that corps is not yet established, I cannot enter into any details. Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost, with the advance in my front, will take possession of the heights of Bruno in the course of this day; and I am led to expect will there, for the first time, feel the pulse of the regular troops of the enemy. The port of Trinite, which lies beyond the line of our operations, will, by order of Captain Beaver, of the navy, be taken possession of this day, by a detachment of seamen and marines from the squadron to windward, under the command of Captain Dick, of the Penelope. The Admiral, with the body of the fleet and store-ships, is in the vicinity of Pigeon Island, at the entrance of Fort Royal Bay. Our operations to windward have been vigorous and effectual in point of time; and the privations of the troops have been considerable, and borne in a manner worthy of the character of British soldiers. From what has passed, I am of opinion the inhabitants of the country manifest a friendly disposition; and after the heights of Surirey shall be carried, which I expect will be strongly contested, the campaign will be reduced to the operations of a siege, and the defence of the fortress.—The services rendered by the captains and officers of the navy to windward have been great and essential, and the exertions of Captain Withers of the navy, principal agent for transports, peculiarly meritorious.
"Geo. Beckwith,
Com. Forces."
"Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 3.
"My Lord,
"In my letter of the 1st inst. I had the honour to report, for His Majesty's information, the progress then made in our operations against the enemy. My expectation that Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost would meet them upon Morne Bruno, and that the heights of Surirey would be warmly contested, was realized in the course of the same day; and both were carried under the direction of the Lieutenant-General, with that decision and judgment which belong to this respectable officer, and much to the honour of Brigadier-General Hoghton, the officers and men of the Fusileer brigade and light battalion, engaged on that service. On the 2nd, it appeared to me to be desirable to extend to the right of our position; which was effected in a spirited manner by the King's infantry. An exertion was then made to carry the advanced redoubt; but, having soon reason to believe that it would have been acquired with a loss beyond the value of the acquisition, the troops were withdrawn; and the enemy abandoned it during the night, with another redoubt contiguous to it, with evident marks of disorder: both will be occupied and included in our position this night. Pigeon Island surrendered at discretion yesterday, which enables the shipping to enter Fort Royal Bay; all the batteries on the Case Naviere side have been destroyed and abandoned, a frigate and some other merchant-vessels burned, the lower fort abandoned, and all their troops withdrawn from Fort Royal to the principal fortress. I consider the investiture to be nearly completed, and we must now look for the operations of a siege. Time does not admit of details; but your Lordship will perceive that these operations have been effected in eight days from our quitting Barbadoes, notwithstanding heavy rains and most unfavourable weather, in which the troops have borne every species of privation in a manner worthy their character as British soldiers.
"Geo. Beckwith,
Com. Forces."
"Camp, Heights of Surirey,
Martinique, Feb. 10.
"My Lord,
"Having, in my communications of the 1st and 5th instant, submitted to your Lordship's consideration general reports of the operations of the army I have the honour to command, I now beg leave to inclose the special reports of the General Officers commanding divisions, and of Brigadier-General Hoghton, whose brigade was in action upon the 1st; with separate returns of our loss upon the 1st and 2nd, which, I am inclined to believe, will terminate our operations in the field.—The lower fort, formerly Fort Edward, was taken possession of before day-break in the morning of the 8th, by Major Henderson, commanding the Royal York Rangers, with that regiment, without resistance, and we now occupy that work. St. Pierre surrendered to Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, of the 46th, the day before yesterday; and I have not yet received the details. In the course of all these services, where the co-operation of the navy was practicable, the greatest exertions have been made by the Rear-admiral; and the important advantages rendered on shore by that excellent officer, Commodore Cockburn, in the reduction of Pigeon Island, and the landing cannon, mortars, and ammunition at Point Negroe, and conveying them to the several batteries on that side, have been of the highest importance to the King's service.
"Geo. Beckwith,
Com. Forces."
"Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 2.
"Sir,
"In conformity with your orders, I disembarked on the 30th ult. with the Fuzileer brigade of the 1st division of the army, at Malgre Tout, in the Bay Robert, at four o'clock, p. m. and proceeded from thence to De Manceau's estate, where I arrived late, in consequence of the difficulties of the country, and the unfavourable state of the roads for the movement of cannon. Before the dawn of the next day, I reached Papin's, and proceeded from thence with the advance, composed of the Royal Fusileer regiment, and the grenadier company of the 1st West India regiment. The enemy retiring before me, I reached the heights of De Bork's estate towards evening, where I was joined at day-light on the 1st inst. by Brigadier-General Hoghton, with the 23rd regiment and the light infantry battalion, under the command of Major Campbell, of the Royal West India Rangers. I lost no time after this junction, and pushed forwards the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, with the Royal Fusileers, to possess himself of Morne Bruno; this movement I supported by the light infantry battalion, under Brigadier-General Hoghton, who was ordered, after uniting the two corps, to proceed to force the heights of Desfourneaux, whilst I held the Royal Welsh Fusileers in reserve, to strengthen such points of attack as might require it. On my coming on the heights of Surirey, I had innumerable proofs of the valour and judgment of the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, of the excellence of the Fusileer brigade, and of the spirited and judicious exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and Majors Pearson and Ostley, of the 23rd or Royal Welsh Fusileers; also of the bravery of Major Campbell and the light infantry battalion; all of which have enabled me to retain this valuable position without artillery, within 300 yards of the enemy's intrenched camp, covered with guns. The officers belonging to my staff distinguished themselves by their zeal and activity during the heat of the action. I have to lament the loss of Captain Taylor, Acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, who was severely wounded whilst rendering effectual services to his country.—I cannot omit acknowledging, that to Lieutenant Hobbs, of the Royal Engineers, I am indebted for the rapidity of our movements, and ultimate success, from his acquaintance with this country, which enabled him to guide and direct our movements.
"Geo. Prevost,
Lieut.-Gen."
(Private.)
"Downing-street, May 25th, 1809.
"Dear Sir,
"I beg to congratulate you on the successful termination of the operations in Martinique, in which you bore so distinguished a part. I hope that this will find you safely returned to Nova Scotia, without having suffered in your health from your West India campaign.
"I remain, dear Sir,
"Your faithful and obedient servant,
"Castlereagh."
"Lieut.-Gen. Sir G. Prevost,
&c. &c. &c."