who, after seeing the last man off the shore, and spiking all the guns, effected, from his activity and intelligence, his own retreat without lofs. Captains Elphingstone, Hollwell, and Mathews, fuperintended the embarkation, and to their indefatigable attention and good difpofitions we are indebted for the happy fuccefs of fo important an operation. Captain Elphingtone, as the Governor of Fort La Malgue, has ably afforded me the inoft effential afliftance, in his command and arrangement of the feveral important pofts included in that diftrict. It is impoffible for me to exprefs, but in general terms, the approbation that is due to the conduct and merits of the feveral commanding officers, and indeed of every officer, in every rank and fituation. Troops have feldom experienced, for so long a time, a fervice more harraffing, diftreffing and fevere; and the officers and men of the regiments and marines have gone through it with that exertion, fpirit and good will, which peculiarly diftinguish the British foldier. At Fort Mulgrave, Lieutenant Duncan, fen. of the Royal Artillery, was fo effentially useful, that to his exertions and abilities that poft was much indebted for its prefervation for fo long a time. The general fervice has been carried on with the most perfect harmony and zeal of the navy and army. From our deficiency in artillery men, many of our batteries were worked by feamen: they, in part, guarded fome of our pofts, and their aid was peculiarly useful in duties of fatigue and labour. In all these we found the influence of the fuperior activity and exertions of the British foldiers. It was the conftant attention of Lord Hood to relieve our wants and alleviate our difficulties. The Sardinian troops we have always confidered as a part of ourfelves. We have experienced their attachment and good behaviour, and I have found much affiftance from the ability and conduct of the Chevalier de Revel, and from Brigadier-General Richler, who commands them. Notwithstanding the undefined fituation of command, I found every difpofition and acquiefcence in Lieutenant General Gravina, commanding the Spanish troops, to execute every proposed mea fure which the common caufe required. The lofs of the British on the 17th at Fort Mulgrave, and on the Heights of Pharon, amounts to about 300 men, of which, during the last four days, no exact account could be procured: And, as the troops, in embarking, were put on board the nearest and most convenient fhips, till they are again united in corps, I cannot have the honour of tranfmitting particular returns, nor even knowing the detail of circumftances that attended the attack of those posts. It is now about three weeks that, from the unfortunate accident of General O'Hara being made prifoner, the Government of Toulon devolved on me; my best exertions have not been wanting in that fituation, and I humbly hope that his Majefty may be pleafed to look upon them in a favourable light. I beg leave to add, that the battalion of Royal Louis, and two independent companies of French Chaffeurs, raifed at Toulon, have behaved, on every occafion, with fidelity and fpirit. They embarked at La Malge, to the number of about 600 men, and are now with us. I have the honour to be, With the most profound refpect, obedient humble fervant, DAVID DUNDAS, Lieut. Gen. Right Hon. HENRY DUNDAS, &c. December 21, 1793. SIR, After every inquiry, the inclofed is the most distinct report that can be obtained of the lofs of the British troops on the 17th of December; that of the other troops in the fame pofts, who greatly exceeded them in number, I do not know, but I have reafon to think was infinitely fmaller in proportion. DAVID DUNDAS, Lieut. Gen. Right Hon. HENRY DUNDAS, &c. Return of the miffing of the British forces, on the morning of the 17th of December, 1793. ATTACK OF FORT MULGRAVE. Royal Artificers. 3 rank and file and feamen. Royal Artillery. 25 rank and file and feamen. 2d Battalion of Royals. and feamen. 1 ferjeant, I drummer, 18 rank and file 18th or Royal Irish Regiment. 1 Enfign, 2 rank and file woun ed. 30th Regiment. 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 5 ferjeants, 3 drummers, 140 rank and file and feamen. Marines. 2 Lieutenants, 2 ferjeants, 2 drummers, 56 rank and file and feamen. Royal Navy. 1 Midfhipman, 28 feamen. ATTACK OF THE HEIGHTS OF PHARON. 11 Regiment. I Lieutenant, ferjeant, 15 rank and file and feamen. 18th or Royal Irish Regiment. 1 ferjeant, 5 rank and file and feamen. Marines. 1 Lieutenant, 15 rank and file and feamen. Officers names milling. 11th Regiment. Lieutenant Knight. 18th or Royal Irith Enfiga Minchin. 30th Regiment. Captain De Vauiorel, Lieutenat Cuyler. Marines. Lieutenants Williams, Barry, and Lynn. Royal Navy, Mr. Alexander Wilkie, midfhipman. Officers Names wounded and prefent. Royal Artillery. Lieutenant Duncan, fen. Royal Navy. Lieutenant Goddard, Mr. J. W. Loring, midship man. (Signed) THO. HISLOP. D. A. G. The fate of the above officers and men, returned miffing, is not or cannot be known; but, from all the intelligence that can be gained, it is much to be apprehended that they fell before day break, gallantly defending the poft they were entrusted with, when abandoned by other troops. D. DUNDAS, Lieut. Gen. OPERATIONS IN THE WEST INDIES AND AMERICA, AS RECORDED IN THE LONDON GAZETTE. Sunday, June 2. Whitehall, June 1. Captain Maitland, of the 63d regiment, arrived this afternoon with a dispatch from Major-General Cuyler to Mr. Dundas, of which the following is a copy: "SIR, "Head Quarters, Tobago, April 18, 1793. "In my letter of the 4th inftant, I had the honour to acquaint you, that I then only waited for the arrival of Vice-Admiral Sir John Laforey, to carry into execution the contents of your letter of the 10th of February last. Having previoufly ordered to be embarked the neceffary artillery, ftores, provifion, and camp equipage, on board of fome faft failing fchooners, hired for the purpofe, i acquainted the Admiral, upon his arrival at Barbadoes on the 10th inftant at noon, that we were ready to proceed. His Majefty's fhips, the Trufty, of fifty guns, and Nautilus, of eighteen, being equally fo, the embarkation of the detachment of royal artillery, and of nine companies of the fourth battalion of the 60th regiment, took place on the 11th inftant. Thefe, with the two flank companies of the 9th regiment, under the command of Major Baillie, which were brought from St. Kitt's by the Admiral's fhip, compofed the whole of the force for the expedition, a return of which I have the hon us herewith to inclofe to you. The Trufty, Nautilus, and Hind fchooners being infufficient for the reception of the troops, I accepted of the voluntary offer of Captain Spencer, of the merchant fhip Hero, to convey a part of the fourth battalion of the 60th regiment. The 12th of April we failed; the 14th instant, at one o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived in Great Courland Bay. The neceffary orders having been given for the difembarkation and difpofition of the troops on landing, the whole was on fhore by three, together with twenty-five marines from the Trufty, commanded by Major Bright, which the Admiral most readily granted upon my application. We immediately advanced within fight of the enemy's fort, whence I fent a fummons to Monfieur Monteil, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 32d regiment, and Commandant of the island, to furrender. He refused. The fituation of the enemy's work, which they had lately been ftrengthening to the utmost of their power, was evidently much stronger than I had been taught to believe, and every day increafed this ftrength. Our numbers were unequal to the ope rations of a fiege. Seeing there was no time to ie loft, I determined to affault the poft that night. The troops lay upon their arms at the place where we had halted until one o'clock, at which time we formed, and marched at half past one, leaving the artillery under the care of Lieutenant Hope and the detachment. We had more than two miles to proceed. The men were pofitively forbidden to fire, but to truft entirely to the bayonet; the fmallness of our number not justifying a diverfion to favour the general attack, which, was determined to be on the north-west fide, where I had reafon to believe the work was moft imperfect. We reached the town of Scarborough undiscovered, but here we were fired upon from a houfe by foine of the French inhabi S 2 tants, tants, which gave the garri on the alarm; however, no return of fire or delay was made. In confequence of a negro, who ferved as a guide to the gre nadiers, running away, a part of the column feparated in moanting the bill; this occafioned a delay and feparation that coul · not be rectified during the night, which was extremely dark. Se, arated, however, as they were, the troops approached the fort; the light infantry and a part of the grenadiers on that fide where the fort was moit defencelets, and where the whole were to have made their effort. The other part of the troops having taken the road which led directly to the ba.rier, and the enemy's fire commercing on the flank companies, the former advanced to attack the barrier, under a heavy fire of round and grape fhot and mufquetry, which drew the attention of the enemy to this part of the work; and the dank companies at that moment pushing forward, very gallantly entered the wo k; upon which the enemy furrendered, and the humanity of the British troops accepted of them as prifoners of war. Great praise is due to the officers and men for their behaviour, and particularly to Major Baillie and Major Gordon, the later of whom left the command of his battalion, and folicited to lead the two light companies. I cannot fufficiently exprefs the obligations I am under to ViceAdmiral Sir John Laforey, for his ready and zealous exertions and aff ftance to u in every step of the bufinefs. I am allo greatly indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Viyers, of the 15th regiment. and to Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, of the royal artillery. I had fent for the former from Dominica, as being an officer of known abilities, and had chofen him as a proper perfon to be at the head of the Quarter-Mafter General's department in this country, to which I have appointed him deputy, until his Majesty's pleature be known. Inclofed I have the honour to fend you a return of the killed and wounded, and of the prifoners taken in the fort; alfo of the enemy's artillery and flores. This difpatch will be delivered to you by Captain Maitland, of the 60th regiment, acting deputy Adjutan -General, who has been with me thefe five years, and is wel qualified to give you much information relative to this country. With the greatelt refpe, I have the honour to be, "SIR, "Your most obedient and moft humble Servant, "Right. Hon. Henry Dundas, &c.” |