As the predominant duties of this class of men are on board our navy, where military evolutions can only be performed upon a narrow scale; considering that a sudden and unforeseen emergency may place them in the situation I have described, it might be a means of rousing an emulous zeal between each, and of fixing that intimacy which is requisite to promote a mutual confidence, to form the detachments in every Fleet, or Squadron, into one battalion, or more; which being constantly maintained in a state of arrangement, would be better prepared for these momentary calls. The benefit which must arise would far counterbalance any trifling expence that might be incurred in the different necessary appendages to such establishments, and would afford opportunities by which to recompence the meritorious individuals of a Corps, whose hopes cannot now aspire above one uniform level.
The whole of this armament sailed against Martinico on the 13th day of January; the land forces, having been already reduced by the fever and small pox.
During the night of the 15th the squadron beat up into the Bay of Port Royal, and on the following morning his Majesty's ship Bristol attacked and silenced Fort Negro, a strong battery of seven guns. Her Marines, as well as those of the Rippon, were immediately landed, who, with fixed bayonets, climbed up the rocks and entered the embrazures, without resistance, as the enemy had abandoned the works. The British colours were hoisted at ten, and the army was afterwards disembarked in the neighbourhood of that post, where they slept on their arms.
Next day a Council of War determined to change the attack against St. Pierre's, when the troops returned on board, and the guns were destroyed. After some consideration this idea was also relinquished, and it was resolved to proceed against Guadaloupe. Having made that island upon the morning of the 23d, a disposition of attack, against Basseterre and the Forts, was given out, which commenced at nine, and continued, without an interval, until night, when the whole were silenced.
The loss was confined in this long and heavy cannonade, to Lieutenant Roberts, of Marines, in the Norfolk, killed; Captain Trelawney, of the Lyon, Lieutenants Curle and Chaudy, of Marines, on board that ship and the Rippon, wounded; with 30 of different descriptions killed and 60 wounded. The town was unhappily set on fire, which irritated the flying inhabitants to a more vigorous defence of the island.
Upon the 24th the troops were landed, when the French abandoned the works they had began on the rising ground behind Basseterre, without opposition. Our army took possession of them and halted there during the night. Next morning the enemy also deserted the citadel, retiring towards the mountains with the resolution of resting their future defence upon the chance of sickness gaining ground amongst our troops, and of succours from Europe. The 61st regiment, under Major Teesdale, was directed to occupy the town and citadel. This detachment owed their salvation to a Genoese deserter, who informed the Commanding Officer, when on the eve of entering the latter, of their impending danger from the explosion of a mine to which the train had been laid, and that was to have been fired by a Negro, who, unaware of the hazard to himself, was bribed to this duty. By pushing rapidly into the citadel, the train was found, and timely swept away, as the dark coloured emissary was advancing, with drunken and staggering steps, to have executed the diabolical design.
Upon the 25th the field pieces, and every necessary implement were landed, and the ground marked out for the different regiments, in such a manner as to co-operate instantly when required. A corps of Light Infantry, drawn from the several Battalions, was also formed and placed under the command of Major (now General) Melville, which rendered very essential services.
The French Commandant, Mons. Nadau, took post in a deep cleft of the mountains, which commanded his supplies from Cape Terres, by far the best cultivated quarter of the island. Every approach to this recess was also guarded by intrenchments. Upon the 26th a summons was sent him, which he modestly but firmly rejected.
Some trifling skirmishes, that involved nothing except a loss of men took place, instead of that active system of enterprize, which should, if possible, be ever followed in a West India warfare. The enemy gathered spirit from our inactivity, and in their turn harassed and insulted the Citadel itself, and the relief of our Guards. This error, however, afforded an opportunity of distinguishing the 61st Regiment, which was successfully employed in dislodging the enemy from the grounds they occupied.
An attack being meditated against Fort Louis, upon the Grande Terre, or North East side of the Island, a Squadron was ordered, under Captain Harman, of the Berwick, with some Companies of the Highland Regiment, under Major Campbell, of the Marines; he having also a considerable detachment of his own Corps. The whole proceeded to execute this service upon the 6th of February, from which day, till the 13th, the ketches continued a brisk bombardment. The Squadron advanced to the contest early on that morning, and after five hours cannonade, silenced the Fort and its numerous dependant batteries. During this attack, the Highlanders and Marines were in the flat-bottomed boats, ready to seize upon the first favourable moment for debarkation; and on this signal being made they bravely pushed ashore, under a heavy resumed fire from every point of the enemy's defence. Major Campbell, upon this occasion, allowed them no breathing time; for finding that the ammunition was generally injured by landing at an improper place, he resolutely pushed on with fixed bayonets, and after a severe action carried the Fort, with, all the batteries. This was not accomplished without a considerable loss.