of state which accompanied it, it may be expected that I should give the public some account of the siege and capture of that

Annual Register, 1781, Public Papers, p. 143.

island; and it may, perhaps, be thought the more incumbent upon me to do so, as Sir George Rodney, in his letter of the 29th of June to the Admiralty, has misstated several facts respecting that event, and insinuated that it had surrendered without making any defence.

"Early in the morning of the 23d of May, I received information that the enemy's squadron had been seen to windward the evening before, and that it was then approaching the island. I instantly dispatched Captain Barnes, of the Rattlesnake, with the intelligence to Sir George Rodney. Captain Barnes was fortunate enough to find the fleet at Barbadoes, and he delivered my dispatch on board the Sandwich, at twelve o'clock on the night of the 26th of May.

"About ten o'clock in the morning of the 23d, the squadron brought-to off Minister Point, hoisted French colours, and immediately got their troops into boats, with an intention to land at Minister Bay; but finding the sea very high, and receiving some shot from a gun at Minister Point, which would have annoyed them in landing, they returned on board. They then endeavoured to get into Rockly Bay; but the current carrying them to leeward, they went round the west end of the island. This squadron consisted of the Pluton, of seventy-four guns; the Experiment, of fifty; the Railieuse, of thirty-two; the Sensible, a flute, of thirty-two; the Eagle, of fourteen; and four sloops, under the command of the Chevalier d'Albert de Rious.

"Next morning (the 24th), the enemy effected a landing at Great Courland Bay, with very little loss. The temporary battery there, of three eighteen pounders, was almost entirely without cover, and so injudiciously situated, that ships could fire upon the back part of it, before a gun from it could bear upon them. The Pluton brought-to within 400 yards of this battery, and kept up so constant a fire, that in a very short time the party was driven from it, having been scarcely able to bring a gun to bear upon her. But a gun at Black Rock, under the direction of Major Hamilton of the militia, being at a greater distance, continued to fire upon the Pluton for a considerable time, and killed many of her men.

Annual Register, 1781, Public Papers, p. 143.

gunpowder, provisions, and all effects whatsoever belonging to the King of England, shall be given up to the general of the troops of His most Christian Majesty.

"18. The inhabitants who shall have any English soldiers or sailors in their houses, shall be obliged to give informa

under the penalty of one hundred half
joannes.

"LE MARQUIS DE BOUILLE.
"LE COMTE DE GRASSE.
"GEORGE FERGUSON.
"H.F.R. STANHOPE."

"At Tobago, June 2, 1781.

"Upon quitting the battery, our troops were posted on the heights, upon each side of the road leading from Courland to Scarborough, to harass the enemy in their march; but the French general, with great judgment, avoided the defile, and leaving the road, ascended the heights upon his right. He there kept his men partly concealed behind a wood, and sent a party to gain some heights, which were still above him. This advanced party exchanged a few shot with some of our regulars; but as they were at a considerable distance from each other, there were only two of our people killed.

66

Upon this occasion Mr. Collow offered to set fire to his canes, to distress the enemy; but some rain which had fallen in the night unfortunately prevented their burning so rapidly as to have that effect. Mr. Collow's magnanimity, however, is not the less deserving of praise.

"As the troops were much fatigued with the hard duty they had undergone that and the preceding day, and as there was likewise reason to believe that the enemy would attempt to cut off our retreat to Concordia, the place of our rendezvous, by detaching part of their army round by Mother road, it was judged proper to carry the troops thither in the evening.

"General Blanchelande, governor of St. Vincent's, who commanded the French troops, in the meantime dispersed papers amongst the planters, expressing surprise at their deserting their houses; and informed them that their plantations would be plundered and confiscated, if they did not return to them in twentyfour hours. These, however, had no effect upon the inhabitants, who were determined to retire with me to Concordia. The general at the same time sent a flag of truce, to inform me that he had landed, with 3000 men, to conquer the island: and he offered to give any terms if I would capitulate; but his offer was rejected, and his excellency was requested not to trouble me again upon that subject. In consequence of which, he dispatched a cutter that night (the 24th) to Martinico for a reinforcement.

"Upon the 25th, the enemy took post upon the different heights in the neighbourhood of Concordia, and on the 26th they took possession of the town of Scarborough, up the hill.

"On the 27th the enemy seemed inclined to attack us. Mr. Charles Low, understanding that I was unwilling to destroy his dwelling-house and other buildings, although they afforded some shelter to the enemy, came himself and proposed to burn them, which he instantly put in execution.

"The 28th the French squadron came into Rockly Bay, having left Courland the day before. A party of twenty Negroes,

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who were sent this day, under the command of Messrs. Hamilton, M'Eller, and Irvine, to burn the remainder of Mr. Low's houses, very bravely effected that business, notwithstanding the opposition made by a large body of the enemy. Messrs. M'Eller and Irvine, and nine of the Negroes, were unfortunately wounded.

"The 29th, as well as the two preceding days, the enemy endeavoured, without effect, to draw us from our post, by exposing small parties, in marching them from one place to another.

"Early on the morning of the 30th, I received a letter from Rear-Admiral Drake, acquainting me that he was coming, with six sail of the line and three frigates, to relieve the island, and that General Skene was on board with 528 men. The joy occasioned by the expected arrival of this long-looked-for succour did not last, as we were soon afterwards informed that the whole French fleet had arrived from Martinico, in consequence of General Blanchelande's letter, dispatched the 24th at night, and had fallen in with Mr. Drake, who was thereby prevented from landing the troops, and it was supposed his squadron was taken.

"This day the enemy took possession of Mr. Cotton's house, from whence they could see every thing that passed at Concordia. They proposed that night to make a vigorous attack, and the garrison, as usual, was ready to receive them; but their guides losing the path in the dark, they returned next morning to their quarters, much fatigued, and resolved not to make another attempt until their reinforcements from Martinico should arrive.

"On the morning of the 31st, we received intelligence that the enemy's fleet was again seen to windward, having returned from chasing Admiral Drake; and at sun-set that evening we saw two French frigates and three cutters, full of troops, go into Courland Bay.

"The ground at Concordia is strong, and there is a view from it of both sides of the island, which made it a desirable post for us to possess; but the trench which had been dug there some years was almost entirely filled up, and if it had been cleared out, would have required above 2000 men to defend it. The engineers being, for these and other reasons, of opinion that it was no longer tenable against so superior a force, it was unanimously resolved, in a council of war, to retreat directly to the main ridge, where a few huts had been built, and some provisions and ammunition previously lodged. In consequence of this resolution, the garrison began to march at one in the morning of the 1st of June, and before eight they effected their retreat to Caledonia, without the loss of a man.

"Caledonia is near the centre of the island, and from thence to the north side, across the main ridge, there is a road six miles in length, and so narrow, that two men cannot walk abreast. Upon each side there is an impenetrable forest, which extends some miles; a handful of men could undoubtedly defend this road against a powerful army. Rejoiced that the troops had got to this place, and believing they could hold out whilst the provisions lasted (of which there were a few days), I went on with the engineers, to get every thing ready for their reception at the huts.

"The Marquis de Bouille, who had arrived at Courland the evening before, with the reinforcement, having been deceived by the silence of our march, and by sentries being left after the garrison went away, sent a flag, at day-break, to Concordia, believing the troops were still there; but being disappointed, he immediately sent orders to the Marquis du Chillieu, governor of Dominica, to land at Man-of-War Bay, with 300 or 400 men; and he followed us directly himself, as far as Brother-field. Being still more disappointed, when he got there, to learn that we were four miles before him in a strong country, he instantly ordered the adjoining plantations of Nutmeg Grove and Belmont to be reduced to ashes, which was done accordingly, in hopes of making the inhabitants surrender. An order was then issued to burn four plantations more in four hours, which was to be repeated at the like interval, till the island should either be surrendered or laid waste.

"At this time the enemy required Mr. Orr to show them the road to our camp, which he positively refused. He offered to go with an officer and a flag, but he would not conduct their army. Threats of burning his house, and of putting him to death, had no effect upon Mr. Orr, although at that very instant the plantations of his neighbour were in flames. Mr. Turner, a capitulant of St. Vincent's, was then applied to; but although that gentleman's whole property was under the French government, he peremptorily refused to shew them the road, upon their attempting to push on a body of men, under protection of a flag of truce. The Marquis de Bouille was therefore obliged to send the flag without the troops.

"Upon being informed of some of those circumstances, I hastened back to Caledonia, when, to my very, very great mortification, the militia refused to hold out any longer. My duty to his Majesty, and my regard for the inhabitants, concurred in making me urge them earnestly to defend the island to the last extremity; but in vain: for, exhausted with fatigue-in despair

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