Those Northern Powers, against whom Britain had reluctantly drawn the sword, experienced a severe and early chastisement in the loss of all their West India Colonies, which successively yielded to the prompt and vigorous measures of Admiral Duckworth and Sir Thomas Trigge. St. Bartholomew's, St. Martin's, which alone offered any resistance, St. Thomas, and Santa Cruz submitted to the Army and Fleet during the month of March, and the islands of St. Eustatius and Saba were occupied by our forces in April. These conquests afforded no field for achievement, but they gave opportunities for the display of much united zeal.
Captains Manby and Butcher, their Officers, Seamen, and Marines were noticed for gallant single actions, and Lieutenant Mackenzie, with those under him, for much intrepidity in cutting out a schooner from under the batteries at Guadaloupe.
It is with a heartfelt pain that I am constrained to blend with these honorable details, another instance of baneful insubordination which occurred on board the Castor frigate, upon Sunday the 13th of December. The trying hour produced another example of steady fidelity in Lieutenant J. S. Smith and his loyal party of Marines. Captain Fanshawe upon observing the first symptoms of revolt, ordered the detachment under arms, which was obeyed with an unsurpassed alacrity. The young but spirited Officer, who headed them, needed no prompter to a decisive conduct. He, with an unlooked for rapidity, charged bayonets, drove the guilty criminals to the larboard side of the lower deck, where, cooped up, they were forced to surrender their ringleaders.
The heroic feelings of a private Marine, who was confined to his hammock at the outset of this commotion, would have done honor to any age of the world. Though depressed with fever, still he arose, put on his accoutrements, took his musquet and his post in the ranks. On being questioned why he was there, he nobly replied to his Officer, "Oh, Sir, this is not a time to be sick." This action obtained for him a subsequent promotion, and on retrospect, it still merits a pecuniary tribute. It is under the impulse of cordial esteem, as well as of public justice, that I annex the very flattering testimony of the Court Martial, which sat upon those deluded mutineers, respecting the firm conduct of Lieutenant Smith and his party. Captain Western, the President, addressed him in these words: "I have it in command from this Court to express to you the high sense they entertain of your very Officer like conduct on the evening of the 13th of December, and the good and steady conduct of the party of Marines embarked under your orders. Your prompt and spirited execution of Captain Fanshawe's orders appears to the Court to have stopped a very dangerous mutiny, and the token of their approbation of your conduct will be transmitted to the Commander in Chief, and inserted in the minutes of the Court Martial." This became much enhanced by the following very judicious and handsome order from Admiral Duckworth:
"Southampton, Fort Royal Bay, 26th December, 1801.
"Memorandum—Whereas the members of the Court Martial on the mutineers of his Majesty's ship Castor, have felt called upon, in justice to the exemplary and meritorious conduct of Lieutenant J. S. Smith, of the Marines, and the party under his command, to express their high sense of such spirited behaviour.
"It is my directions that these sentiments of the Court are read on board his Majesty's ship under my orders, to testify how fully I accord with the Court in the commendation so deservedly bestowed.
"(Signed) J. S. DUCKWORTH."
Early in 1801 Lieut. Vyvian, of my corps, fell in a gallant attempt to bring out two vessels, at anchor, within the bar of Senegal, protected by heavy batteries on the shore. Nothing could exceed the obstinate courage of all under Lieutenant Dick, who commanded in the attack. After twenty minutes contest they carried his Majesty's late sloop the Senegal, which they were obliged to destroy, and with much difficulty the boats effected a retreat across a tremendous surf, and exposed to a dreadful discharge of grape shot. This success was dearly purchased with the lives of Lieutenant Palmer, 1 Midshipman, and 8 Seamen and Marines. Lieutenant Vyvian left not behind him his superior for promising talents, or correct manners.