The assault of the Fort of La Fleur d'Epée, was attempted in three divisions, headed by Prince Edward, Major General Dundas, and Colonel Symes; to each of which was attached a part of the Naval battalion. The storm was most decisively conducted with the bayonet, but, amidst the heat of the contest, a great part of the garrison was put to the sword. Having thus obtained possession of the quarter of Grande Terre, from the republicans also abandoning Fort Louis, the town of Point a Petre, and the battery upon the islet à Couchon, the 43d Regiment was left at D'Epée, and the rest of the forces were re-embarked. Two divisions of the Army under Prince Edward, and Colonel Symes, were again landed on the evening and morning of the 14th and 15th of April, at Petit Bourg, who seized the evacuated redoubt of D'Arbond, carrying Arret by assault, in which was involved the material post of Palmiste, by day break of the 20th; while Major General Dundas, having been put ashore near the town of Basseterre, led his division against Morne Magdaline, which he also gained.
General Collot being now cooped up within the town, and Fort Charles, both of which were commanded by the heights in possession of the British, he proposed terms for the surrender of Guadaloupe, which were discussed, and subscribed.
Sir Charles Grey says, "that to the unanimity and extraordinary exertions of the Navy and Army, under fatigues never exceeded, his Majesty and their Country, are indebted for the rapid success in extending the British Empire, by adding to it the valuable islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, Guadaloupe, the Saintes, Marigalante, and Descada." Sir John Jervis remarked, "that the unabated exertions of the Officers and men, under his command, could never be surpassed, and that keeping constant pace with the troops no difficulty or danger arrested, for an instant, their career of glory."
A kind of forlorn detachment from France, which escaped all our cruizers, achieved the recovery of Guadaloupe, after a series of hardy contests, in which the Marines bore a part—Lieutenant John Mercer, of my corps, was wounded in one of them, and became a victim to fever, lamented by his friends, and his corps. Fruitless would have been all the enemy's efforts, if fascinating liberty had not erected her standard, whither numbers repaired, in the sanguine hope of sharing in her gifts.
The 1st of June, 1794, presents one of the best fought actions that appears on our Naval records. France had continued to molest our commerce by her cruizing squadrons, but her internal necessities, during this year of general scarcity, obliged her to concentrate her ships, and, with all her united forces, to cover the safety of an immense convoy from America. This was the main object, for which nothing too much could be risqued.
From the instances of defection which had so often occurred in her military leaders, that republic, jealous of its baneful extension, combined Mons. St. Andre, an approved democrat, in the public character of a Commissioner, with their Chief Vice Admiral Villaret Joyeuse, on board the Montagne.
During three preceding days the fleets were in sight, two partial affairs took place, and some very able manœuvring. The wind having been gained by Lord Howe, on the evening of the 31st of May, at seven in the morning of the following day, he bore up to battle, while the French coolly awaited his approach to so close a distance that little more than an hour decided the victory. The republican Chief gave the first example of flight, in which St. Andre, doubtless, coalesced, in spite of all his popular enthusiasm. Seven captured ships were amongst the fruits of that glorious day, which enervated all the subsequent exertions of a vindictive foe, during the war.
Many of the fleet having been supplied with acting Marines, from different regiments, the loss which befell our establishment was, on that account, proportionally less. Captains (now. Colonel) Smith, and C. Money, besides Lieutenant S. Mitchell, were among the wounded, and comprized the total of our casualties in Officers.
The carnage amongst the French was dreadful, and in the ships alone that were taken, it far exceeded the whole sustained by the British fleet.