|
at Basse-terre; while Sir John Jervis, with the Boyne, Vanguard, Vengeance, and Veteran, proceeded direct to Pointe-à-Pitre. On the 8th, at noon, the vice-admiral anchored off the harbour, and discovered the French squadron moored within the carénage. It was not until the morning of the 19th, that a sufficient number of troops was assembled, to attempt a recapture of Grande-terre. Early on that morning a landing was effected, under cover of the 32-gun frigates, Solebay and Winchelsea, without loss or opposition, at Anse-à-Canot. On the same afternoon the troops, joined by two battalions of seamen under the command of Captain Lewis Robertson of the Veteran, and Captain Charles Sawyer, of the Vanguard, took possession of the village of Gosier. From the 25th to the end of June, several skirmishes occurred between the republicans and British ; ending with much loss and some credit to each, but with no solid advantage to either. On the morning of the 2d of July an unsuccessful attempt was made upon the town of Pointe-à-Pitre ; the failure of which led to the abandonment of an intended assault upon the post of Fleur-d'Epée, and to a withdrawal, on the 3d, of the British forces from Grande-terre. The British loss, between the 10th of June and 3d of July, amounted, on the part of the army, to one lieutenant-colonel, four captains, seven lieutenants, and 93 non-commissioned officers and privates killed, one major, three captains, seven lieutenants, and 319 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded, and 56 non-commissioned officers and privates missing ; total, 105 killed, 330 wounded, and 56 missing. On the part of the navy, the loss was, one captain (Lewis Robertson of the Veteran), Four seamen, and two private marines killed, one lieutenant (Isaac Wolley), one lieutenant of marines (John Mercer), 24 seamen, and three private marines wounded, and 16 seamen missing ; total, seven killed, 29 wounded, and 16 missing. The French troops remained in quietness at Grande-terre until the 27th of September ; when, having received from France, by means of some frigates whose names we are unable to give, a considerable reinforcement, they proceeded to Basse-terre, landing at Goyanne and Lamentin. From these points, the French immediately marched to the attack of the British camp at Berville, commanded by Brigadier-general Graham. The latter defended his position until the 6th of October ; when, finding his provisions nearly exhausted, his communication with the shipping cut off, his hopes of relief at an end, and his effective force reduced to 125 rank and file, he surrendered to the French commander, or commissary, Victor Hugues, on honourable terms. The British, during the siege, had sustained a loss, as far as could be ascertained, of two officers, and 25 non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and five officers ^ back to top ^ |