[11] They met with considerable opposition in this business; and the boats employed in landing the troops by some mistake got close under the enemy's batteries, before they discovered their situation. Our loss however was less than might have been expected. The Dromedary, venturing too near the battery of Point Negro, received a shot between wind and water, entering under the counter, and a second shot went through the quarter-deck barricade, killed one man, and wounded four, among whom was Captain Tatham.
[12] Vide Appendix, page 7.
[13] About this time the army had nearly experienced an irreparable loss. As General Dundas was writing in his tent, a notorious villain, of the name of Barbarose, presented himself at the door of the tent, demanding to speak with the General, who, to drive him away, called to the centinel to "bayonet the fellow;" on which, in his fright, he dropped a dagger well oiled; and on being seized, proved to have been the assassin of a French royalist.
[14] On our first arrival at the island of Martinique, the Commanders in Chief dispatched Captain Mason (aid de camp to the General) bearing a flag of truce, with a summons to the town of St. Pierre. Au Cane, the mayor, met him on the quay on horseback, attended by a numerous body of armed men, with a field piece; &c. and instead of reading the letter and summons, dismissed him rudely with threats.
[15] Information having arrived that some of the enemy had retired from St. Pierre to a five-gun battery on that part of the island, Major Manningham was dispatched with a strong detachment in flat-boats, under the protection of the Zebra sloop of war, and was completely successful in driving them from thence.
[16] According to the best account I could collect, ten killed and forty-four wounded.—I must here beg the reader will pardon the inaccuracy of my account of the killed and wounded in this and the other actions that took place. Though I have made every possible inquiry, I have not been able to meet with the regular returns, which must have been given in to the adjutant general's office at Martinique.
[17] The two six-pounders were to strengthen the post that commanded the road to Fort Royal by Dillon's house.
[18] One day, when the Commander in Chief met them on the road, they (being ignorant that a battery was appointed for them to serve in) surrounded the General, and offered him their services, swearing they thought it d——d hard to have all work and no fighting; and hoped his Honour would let them have some share in it. The General, with that kindness which won the hearts of all that had the happiness to serve under him, said, "Well, my lads, you shall have a battery to yourselves." On which, having saluted him with three hearty cheers, the honest fellows went readily to their work again.
[19] The Admiral had lately promoted Mr. Rosehill to the rank of Lieutenant for his spirited behaviour at Trinité.
[20] Who this day performed the funeral service over thirteen people belonging to the army and navy.