“Major Edwards has great pleasure in confirming Lieutenant Blackhall’s appointment to the grenadiers; he regrets the wound received by that officer, but hopes it will not prevent his joining that company which he animated by his zeal and example.
“The conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, is above all praise; they have fought the enemy with every species of disadvantage and deprivation; they have borne the latter without a murmur, and their determined valour has achieved victory. In spite of every obstacle, they have nobly sustained the character of their country, and it will be gratifying to their feelings to know that their gallant exertions have been witnessed and applauded by the whole of the British force off the shore.
“Major Edwards cannot conclude without expressing his regret for the loss of Lieutenant Munro, of the grenadiers, and the brave men who have fallen on this occasion; their memory, however, will long survive, and be held dear in the recollection of the regiment. Most sincerely does he regret the severe wound received by Lieutenant Michael Creagh; but which, he hopes, will not deprive the service of that valuable and gallant officer; and he trusts the wounds received by Lieutenant White, will not long prevent him joining the corps.
“Corporal William Hall, who hoisted the King’s colour on the redoubt, is appointed serjeant for his gallant conduct, in the room of Serjeant Millan, killed.
“Private John Moore, of the light infantry, is appointed corporal, for his gallant behaviour on the 8th instant.”
The conduct of the regiment was highly commended in detachment orders by Lieut.-Colonel Keating.
On the morning of the 9th of July, the flank companies of the regiment marched into St. Denis, and entering the principal battery, struck the tricoloured flag of France, and hoisted the King’s colour of the Eighty-sixth; they were followed by the regiment, when the French garrison grounded their arms and embarked for the Cape of Good Hope.
Representation having been made of the gallant behaviour of the Eighty-sixth at the reduction of this island, the royal authority was given for their bearing the word “Bourbon” on their colours and appointments, as a mark of their Sovereign’s approbation, and to commemorate their gallantry on this occasion.
Bourbon and the Isle of France had been blockaded some time; the capture of the former emboldening the British navy, a small fleet ventured within the Isle de Passe, on the south-west side of the Isle of France, where one British ship was burnt and sunk, and several disabled, which gave the enemy a superiority at sea, when their frigates menaced the batteries of Bourbon. The “Africaine” frigate arriving from England short of hands, Lieutenant W. Home, a serjeant, and twenty-five men of the Eighty-sixth went on board, and this frigate, and the “Boadicea,” having put to sea under Commodore Rowley, came up with, and engaged, two French frigates. The “Boadicea” was becalmed astern, the “Africaine” fought the two French ships until Captain Corbett and one hundred and sixty of his crew were killed and wounded, when the frigate being a complete wreck, she struck her colours, but Commodore Rowley coming up with the “Boadicea,” the enemy made sail, and the shattered frigate was towed into St. Paul’s. Only three of the soldiers of the Eighty-sixth escaped; six having been killed, and Lieutenant Home and seventeen wounded.