not have been displayed than by both officers and men of so young a ship's company, many being under 20 years of age, and only three marines who had joined that corps more than two weeks before they embarked. I have no hesitation in saying, that had not the above unlucky accident occurred, she must have struck to us, as the next morning her foremast and bowsprit were the only masts standing, much cut in the hull, and I counted 11 shot in the wreck of her mainmast; that our 12-pounders could not do that justice too from its size, nor the thickness of her sides, that was so well intended. Rob. Lawrie. I am, &c. Return of Killed and Wounded on board the Cleopatra. Total.-20 killed, 2 since dead of wounds, 18 dangerously wound. ed, and 18 slightly wounded. Dispatch from Lieutenant-general Sir William Myers, Bart. commanding His Majesty's Troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, to Earl Camden, K. G. on the Repulse of the French in the West-Indies. Barbadoes, March 9. their gallant exertions may be laid before his majesty : the zeal and talent manifested by the brigadiergeneral upon this occasion, it is my duty to present for his royal consideration; and at the same time I beg to be permitted to express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery of his majesty's troops, and the militia of the colony, employed upon that service. The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and the loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to them, that, however inferior our numbers were on this occasion, British troops are not to be hostilely approached with impunity; and, had not the town of Roseau been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and much to exult in. Your lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss in men, compared to that of the enemy, is but trifling; but I have sincerely to lament that of major Nunn, of the 1st West-India regiment, whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he is an excellent man, and a meritorious officer. I am, &c. My lord, I have the honour to inclose to your lordship a copy of a dispatch from brigadier-general Prevost, dated Dominica, 1st March. The details contained therein are so highly reputable to the brigadiergeneral, and the small portion of troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great satisfaction in recommending that W. Myers. Head-quarters, Prince Rupert's, Sir, About an hour before the dawn of day, on the 224 ult. an alarm was fired at Scotshead, and soon after a cluster of ships was discovered off Roseau. As our light increased, I made out five large ships, three frigates, two brigs, and small craft, under British colours, a ship of three decks carrying a flag at the mizen. The frigates ranged too close to Fort Young; I ordered them to be fired on, and, soon after, 19 large barges, full of troops, appeared appeared coming from under the lee of the other ships, attended and protected by an armed schooner, full of men, and seven other boats, carrying carronades. The English flag was lowered, and that of France hoisted. A landing was immediately attempted on my left flank, between the town of Roscau and the post of Cachecrow. The light infantry of the 1st West-India regiment were the first on the march to support captain Senant's company of militia, which, throughout the day, behaved with great gallantry. It was immediately supported by the grenadiers of the 46th regiment.The first boats were beat off, but the schooner and one of the brigs coming close in-shore, to cover the landing, compelled our troops to occupy a better position, a defile leading to the town. At this moment I brought up the grenadiers of the St. George's regiment of militia, and soon after the remainder of the 46th, and gave over to major Nunn these brave troops, with orders not to yield the enemy one inch of ground. Two field-pieces an amuzette and a six-pounder) brought into action for their support, under the command of serjeant Creed, of the 46th regiment, manned by additional gunners and sailors. These guns, and a 24poander from Melville-battery, shook the French advancing column, by the execution they did. were I sent two companies of the Saint George's militia, under the commmand of lieut.-col. Constable, and a company of the 46th, to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of the position occupied by major Nunn. On my return, we found the Majestueux, of 120 guns, lying opposite to Fort Young, pouring into the town and batteries her broadsides, followed by the other seventy-fours and frigates, doing the same. Some artillery, several captains of merchantmen, with their sailors, and the artillery militia, manned five 24-pounders, and three eighteens, at the fort, and five twenty-fours at Melville's-battery, and returned an uninterrupted fire.-From the first post red-hot shot were thrown. At about 10 o'clock, A. M. major Nunn, most unfortu nately for his majesty's service, whilst faithfully executing the or ders I had given, was wounded, I fear, mortally. This did not discourage the brave fellows. Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West-India regiment, received the command and a wound almost at the same time; however, the last circumstance could not induce him to give up the honour of the first, and he continued in the field, animating his men, and resisting the repeated charges of the enemy, until about one o'clock, when he obliged the French to retire from their advanced position with great slaughter. It is impossible for me to do justice to the merit of that officer. You will, I doubt not, favourably report his conduct to his majesty, and at the same time that of captain James, who commanded the 46th, and captain Archibald Campbell, who com. manded the grenadiers of the 46th. Foiled and beat off on the left, the right flank was attempted, and a considerable force was landed near Morne Daniel. The regulars not exceeding 200, employed on the left in opposing the advance of their columns, consisting of 2000 men, could afford me no reinforcement; I had only the right wing of the St. George's regiment of militia to oppose them, of abont ed, and that no wanton or disgrace 100 men. They attacked with spirit, but unfortunately the frigates stood in so close to the shore, to protect this disembarkation, that, after receiving a destructive fire, they fled back, and occupied the heights of Woodbridge estate.— Then it was that a column of the enemy marched up to Morne Daniel, and stormed the redoubt, de fended by a small detachment, which, after an obstinate resistance, they carried. On my left, captain O'Connel was gaining ground, notwithstanding a fresh supply of troops and several field-pieces, which had been brought on shore by the enemy.-I now observed a large column climbing the mountain to get in his rear. The town, which had been for some time in flames, was only protected by a light howitzer, and a six-pounder to the right, supported by part of the light company of the Saint George's regiment. The enemy's large ships in Woodbridge-bay out of the reach of my guns, my right flank gained, and my retreat to Prince Rupert's almost cut off, I determined on one attempt to keep the sovereignty of the island, which the excellent troops I had warranted. I ordered the militia to remain at their posts, except such as were inclined to encounter more hardships and severe service; and captain O'Connell, with the 46th, under the command of capt. James, and the light company of the first West-India regiment, were directed to make a forced march to prince Rupert's. I then allowed the president to enter into terms for the town of Roseau ; and then demanded from the French general that private property should be respect. ful pillage should be allowed. This capt. capt. O'Connell, to whom I beg to refer you: his services entitle him to consideration. I am much indebted to the zeal and discernment of fort-adjutant Gualy, who was very accessary to the execution of my orders. I cannot pass unnoticed the very soldier-like conduct of lieut. Wallis, of the 46th regiment, to whom I had entrusted the post of Cachecrow, or Scotshead; perceiving our retreat, he spiked his guns, destroyed his ammunition, and immediately commenced his march to join me at Prince Rupert's, with his detachment; nor that of lieut. Shaw, of the same regiment, who acted as an officer of artillery, and behaved with uncommon coolness and judgment, whilst on the battery, and great presence of mind in securing the retreat of the additional gunners belonging to the 46th regiment. On the 27th, after levying a contribution on Roseau, the enemy reimbarked, and hovered that day and the next about this post. This morning the French fleet is seen off the south end of Guadaloupe, under easy sail. Our loss, you will perceive by the returns I have the honour to transmit, was inconsiderable, when compared with that acknowledged by the enemy, which included several officers of rank, and about 300 others. Geo. Prevost, Lieut. Sir IV. Myers, Bart. P. S. As I find I cannot spare captain O'Connell from the duty of this garrison, I must refer you to the master of a neutral vessel, who has engaged to deliver this dispatch, [TRANSLATION.] From the General of Division La Grange, &c. to his Excellency General Prevost, &c. Head-quarters at Roseau, the 5th Ventose, Year 13, February 25. The general of division La Grange, grand officer of the legion of honour, inspector-general of the gendarmerie, commander in chief of the troops of the expedition of the Leeward islands. General.-Before I commence any military operations against the fort, into which it appears that you have retired, I shall fulfil a preliminary duty, authorised and practised by civilized nations. You are aware, no less than myself, of the nature of your position, and of the entire inutility of occasioning any You further effusion of blood. witnessed with grief the melancholy fate of the town of Roseau; my first endeavours on entering it were to issue orders for stopping the progress of the conflagration; but, unfortunately, considerable destruction had already taken place. The want of necessaries is ever attended with the most cruel consequences, the evils of which can easily be calculated. This consideration is more than sufficient, without reference to the particular circumstances in which you are placed, to induce you to accept the honourable conditions that I am ready to grant you, and thus to preserve the interesting inhabitants of this colony from fresh calamities, which are inseparable from the occurrences of war. beg you, general, to make me an early communication of your answer; and, in the mean time, to receive the assurance of the high consideration which I have for you. I have the honour to salute you. I La Grange, (Signed) Head quarters, Prince Rupert's, Feb. 25. Sir, I have had the honour to M m 3 receive receive your letter. My duty to my king and country is so superior to every other consideration, that I have only to thank you for the observations you have been pleased to make on the often inevitable consequences of war. Give me leave, individually, to express the greatest gratitude for your humanity and kind treatment of my wife and children; at the same time to request a continuance thereof, not only to her and them, but towards every other object you may meet with. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Geo. Prevost. Killed and Wounded in the Actions of the 22d of February, 1805, at Point Michael, Morne Daniel, and Roseau. Total.-1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 19 rank and file, killed; 1 fieldofficer, 2 captains, and 18 rank and file, wounded; 1 captain, I serjeant, and 6 rank and file, taken by the enemy. Names of the Officers wounded.— Capt. Colin Campbell, of the 46th regiment ; major Nunn and captain O'Connell, of the 1st West-India regiment. N. B. Three sailors wounded, exclusive of the militia, from which no return has been received, but whose loss is considerable. James Prevost, maj. of brig. Brimstone-hill, St. Kitt's, March 8. Sir, I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 27th inst. by the mail-boat, to say that intelligence had been received here, on that morning, of the arrival of a French force at Dominica, and the steps I had taken to make such circumstances known to government. I lost no time in placing this garrison in the best state to repel any attack that might be made by the enemy, and increasing the provisions to a quantity sufficient to maintain a garrison of 500 men for three months, which was, by the exertions of the resident commissary, effected on the 1st instant. I have now to inform you, that on the morning of the 5th inst a French squadron, consisting of five line of battle ships, (one a three-decker), three frigates, two brigs cf war, and a schooner, with, according to accounts since received, 3,500 men on board, appeared off Nevis-point, and stood in for Basseterre, where the frigates only anchored. I did not think it consistent with the safety of this garrison to divide the small force of regular troops under my command ;-and the militia being found inadequate to give effectual opposition, it was previously agreed with president Woodley, that 300 of them should be thrown into this garrison in the event of the enemy's effecting a landing; in consequence of which, and the enemy having landed about 500 men at Basseterre, he marched in here with great promptness on the same day, with the above 300 men, including seamen and militia. The enemy took possession of the town, demanding the immediate payment of 40,0001. sterling, in failure of which it should be burned. The inhabitants with difficulty raised 18, with which sum they embarked, intimating an intention of attacking this hill, and, from the state of prepara tion we were in, as well as the zeal shewn by the troops in this garrison, I have every reason to believe that the result would have been such as you would wish. It does not appear, however, that this squadron wish |