While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, the French Revolution involved Great Britain in war with France; and in 1793, the SEVENTIETH regiment embarked from Ireland, under the command of Colonel Eyre Coote, for the West Indies, to take part in an attack on the French West India Islands.
1794
An armament was assembled at Barbadoes in the beginning of 1794, under the orders of General Sir Charles, afterwards Earl, Grey, for the capture of Martinique, and the SEVENTIETH regiment had the honor to take part in this enterprise. The grenadiers and light infantry were formed in flank battalions, and Lieut.-Colonel Coote commanded the first battalion of light infantry; the regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Johnston. A landing was effected, at three different points, on the island of Martinique on the 5th, 6th, and 8th of February; and the first light infantry, under Lieut.-Colonel Coote of the SEVENTIETH, distinguished themselves at the capture of the heights of Morne le Brun. The battalion companies had also an opportunity of signalizing themselves. Sir Charles Grey stated in his despatch,—“I received intelligence of the enemy’s landing troops, and taking post on Morne Pied, to cut off the communication between Brigadier-General Whyte and head-quarters at Salée, and I ordered the SEVENTIETH regiment, with two howitzers, to march on the same night and dislodge them, which was executed with great spirit, and the post taken possession of early on the morning of the 9th, under the good conduct of Adjutant-General, Colonel Dundas, the SEVENTIETH regiment being commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Johnston, and the enemy completely defeated at the first charge.” The loss of the regiment on this occasion was limited to a few private soldiers wounded.
After a series of brilliant successes, possession was gained of the greater part of the island; Fort Bourbon and Fort Royal were besieged, and the garrisons forced to surrender,—the French troops in the former delivering up five stand of colours, and those in the latter two. These colours were sent to England, and lodged in St. Paul’s Cathedral by a party of life guards and foot guards on the 17th of May. Thus the British flag waved a second time over Martinique, the island having been captured by the English in 1762, but restored to France by the peace of Fontainebleau in the following year.
In these successes of the British arms, in which the SEVENTIETH regiment had the honor to share, the commander of the expedition stated—“The spirit, unanimity, and perseverance of the navy and army never were more conspicuous; nor has more cordial co-operation ever been manifested between His Majesty’s naval and land forces. In a word, the general and field officers, and the commanding officers of corps, have set such an example of zeal, activity, and animation in this service, which has been so laudably imitated by all the officers and soldiers of this little army, that they merit the greatest praise.”
1795
Having sustained severe loss from the climate of the West Indies, the SEVENTIETH regiment returned to Europe in May, 1795; it was speedily recruited, and embarked for Gibraltar under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Coote.
1796
1800
The regiment performed garrison duty at Gibraltar until February, 1800, when it embarked for the West Indies; six companies, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Wolfe, arrived at their destination, and were stationed at Trinidad. The vessel containing four companies, under Lieut.-Colonel Nichol, sprung a leak at sea, and put into Lisbon harbour, from whence they were ordered to proceed to the island of Jersey.
1801