The French occupied a second position, strengthened by two redoubts connected by an entrenchment. On the 2nd of February the British made a movement to extend their right, and the Royal Fusiliers were again engaged, and manifested the same heroic ardour and superiority over the enemy as on the preceding day. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham led the Fusiliers, supported by the light battalion, against the enemy's advanced redoubt, in open day, and the spirited conduct of the officers and men was again eminently displayed: but it appearing to the commander of the expedition that the redoubts would be gained with a loss beyond the value of the acquisition, the Fusiliers were ordered to desist. The loss of the regiment was one serjeant and twenty rank and file killed; Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, Captains Row and Cholwich, one serjeant, one drummer, and fifty-eight rank and file wounded, three men missing. The enemy afterwards abandoned the redoubt and spiked the cannon.
On the following day a general order was issued, in which it was stated—"The benefit the advanced corps under Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost have produced to His Majesty's service, from the gallant and successful attack made upon Morné Bruno and the heights of Surirey, on the 1st instant, by the first brigade of the army and the light battalion under Brigadier-General Hoghton, demands from the Commander of the Forces a reiteration of his acknowledgments, and his assurance to the brigadier-general, and to the commanding officer of the Royal Fusiliers, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and of the light battalion, also to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of those regiments, that he will not fail to lay their meritorious exertions before the King. The exertions of all the corps engaged yesterday were conspicuous; and although the state of the works possessed by the enemy did not admit of their being carried by the bayonet, which rendered it the general's duty to direct the corps employed to retire, they manifested a spirit and determination which, when tempered by less impetuosity, will lead to the happiest results."
Fort Bourbon was afterwards besieged; and on the surrender of this place the French marched out (7th March) and laid down their arms; the Royal Fusiliers and the two other battalions of the first brigade receiving each an Eagle from the French regiments, with a proportion of brass drums, &c.
The capture of this valuable island having been achieved, the troops were again commended in general orders for their excellent conduct: and the Royal Fusiliers were subsequently honoured with the privilege of bearing the word "Martinique" inscribed on their colours, as a mark of royal favour and approbation. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney received a gold medal for his conduct in this service.
After the completion of this brilliant enterprise, the Royal Fusiliers returned to Nova Scotia; before embarking they were again commended in general orders. They sailed from Martinique on the 15th of March, and arrived at Halifax in April.
Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham being anxious to stimulate the Royal Fusiliers to good conduct by distinguishing merit, assembled a board of officers for that purpose, and the names of the following non-commissioned officers and soldiers were recorded in the "Book of Merit."
Serjeant Thomas Simpson for meritorious and gallant conduct at Martinique. Quarter-Master-Serjeant Timothy Meagher, Serjeants John Ledsam, John Henry, John Day, William Harris, William Inchbold, Joshua Redshaw, Thomas Beale, Thomas Miller, George Kenney, —— Willson, George Clementson, Corporal Dove, Drummer Thomas Maud, Privates William Vagg, Mark Ewing, Benjamin Price, James Haughney, Nathaniel Moss, and James Delamy for general good conduct; Serjeants Meagher and Henry were afterwards promoted to commissions.
In April, 1809, Lieutenant and Adjutant Orr, a most meritorious officer, was promoted to a company, on which occasion the serjeants presented him with an address, expressive of their regard and gratitude for the manner in which he had performed the duty of adjutant. This circumstance was, however, deemed a departure from strict discipline, and the Commander-in-Chief in North America, General Sir James Craig, declared in General Orders, that the serjeants had been guilty, unintentionally, of an act of insubordination.[17] The sentiments expressed in this order obtained the concurrence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, who stated in orders;—"The reason for which the Commander-in-Chief has directed the circulation of this Order, is, that he may avail himself of this opportunity of declaring to the army his most perfect concurrence in the sentiments therein expressed by the distinguished and experienced officer by whom it was framed, on a subject which appears to have been by some very much misunderstood.—The circumstance of inferiors of any class of military men assembling for the purpose of bestowing praise and public marks of approbation on their superiors, implies a power of deliberation on their conduct which belongs to the Sovereign alone, or to those officers who may be intrusted with the command and discipline of the troops. It is a procedure equally objectionable whether in the higher or lower ranks of the army; and as the Commander-in-Chief cannot but regard it as a principle subversive of military discipline, he trusts it is a practice which will be for ever banished the British service: and he directs commanding officers to act accordingly.
"By command of the Right Honourable the Commander-in-Chief,
"Harry Calvert,
"Adjutant-General."