The regiment remained in North America until October 1761, when it embarked for Barbadoes, where an armament was being assembled for the attack of the French West India Islands, and the land forces were placed under the orders of Major-General the Honorable Robert Monckton.
1762
The armament sailed from Carlisle Bay, in Barbadoes, on the 5th of January, 1762, and proceeded against the island of Martinique, which was settled by the French about the year 1635. After menacing the coast at several points, a landing was effected in the middle of January in Cas des Navières Bay; many difficulties were encountered from the rugged surface of the country, and from the formidable heights occupied by the enemy, but these were overcome by British skill, discipline, and valour; the heights of Morne Tartenson were carried on the 24th of January, and of Morne Garnier on the 27th; Fort Royal surrendered on the 4th of February, and these successes were followed by the submission of the island to the British Crown.
Major-General the Honorable Robert Monckton commended the conduct of the troops in his despatch, and added,—"The difficulties they had to encounter in the attack of an enemy, possessed of every advantage that art or nature could give them, were great. Their perseverance in surmounting these obstacles furnishes a noble example of British spirit:" and in alluding to the conduct of the three divisions of grenadiers, one division of which was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable John Vaughan, at this period Lieut.-Colonel commandant of the ninety-fourth (since disbanded), but who was appointed to the FORTY-SIXTH regiment in November following, added, that "they had particularly distinguished themselves, the warmest part of the service having fallen to their lot."
The capture of Martinique was followed by the submission of Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent.
War had in the interim been declared against Spain, and the FORTY-SIXTH joined the armament under General the Earl of Albemarle, destined to proceed against the wealthy Spanish settlement of the Havannah, in the Island of Cuba. On the 7th of June a landing was effected, and on the 9th the troops took up a position between Coximar and the Moro Fort. Extraordinary difficulties were encountered in making the approaches, and carrying on the siege, while a severe sickness prevailed amongst the seamen and soldiers. Every obstacle was, however, overcome by the unanimity which existed between the land and sea forces. The Moro fort, which protected the harbour, and was regarded as almost impregnable, was captured by storm on the 30th of July; on the 11th of August a series of batteries opened so well-directed a fire on the defences of the town, that the guns of the garrison were soon silenced, and flags of truce were hung out. On the 13th of August the town of the Havannah, with all its dependencies, and the ships of war in the harbour, surrendered, and the British troops took possession of this valuable settlement. Negociations for peace were shortly afterwards commenced, and the preliminary articles were signed at Fontainebleau by the Duke of Bedford on the 3rd of November, 1762.
1763
The treaty of Fontainebleau was concluded at Paris on the 10th of February, 1763, the ratifications were exchanged on the 10th of March, and peace was proclaimed in London on the 22nd of that month.
By this treaty the whole of Canada, part of Louisiana, together with Cape Breton, and the other islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, were ceded to Great Britain. In the West Indies, the islands of Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent, and Grenada, were retained by Great Britain; but Martinique, Guadaloupe, Marigalante, and St. Lucia, were restored to France. In the East Indies, the French obtained the restitution of their settlements, but agreed not to erect any fortifications in Bengal. Minorca was restored to England in exchange for Belle-Isle, which had been captured by the British in 1761, and it was stipulated that the fortifications of Dunkirk should be demolished. Spain ceded East and West Florida to Great Britain, in return for the restitution of the Havannah, Manilla, and all the places which Spain had lost since the commencement of the war.
1764