fort that commanded the N.E. passage into Grand Port; and having upon the 17th instant, embarked 50 men of the 33d and 69th regiments, and their respective officers, an officer and 12 artillery-men, 40 men from the Staunch, and 100 men from la Nereide (50 marines and the same number of seamen, the whole of the different parties volunteers), I left the ship at one a.m.” (without a single field-piece), “and landed before day-light at the Canaille de Bois, and after a march of six miles reached the point, and carried the works without the loss of a man: the commanding officer and three men on the side of the enemy were killed, and three gunners taken prisoners. Having halted three hours, spiked eight 24-pounders, and two 13-inch mortars, burnt the carriages, blown up the magazines, and embarked a 13-inch brass mortar in a new praam, well calculated for carrying troops or guns over flats, I moved on to the old town of Grand Port, a distance of twelve miles, leaving in the houses and villages we passed, the proclamations addressed to the inhabitants. On the whole of our march, we were attended by three of the Nereide’s and Staunch’s boats, with guns mounted, commanded by Lieutenant Deacon; and from the nature of the ground, they so completely commanded our road, that scarcely an enemy could shew himself; a strong party who were advancing to attack us were put to the rout by their fire, and six killed and wounded. General Van de Masson, the second in command of the island, who had arrived with a strong reinforcement upon the 14th instant, and commanded this party, was reconnoitreing us the whole of the day, retiring as we advanced. At sun-set, having succeeded in every view I bad for landing, and gained from some of the most respectable inhabitants and well-wishers to the English, the most satisfactory information, I returned on board; but wishing to know what effect the proclamations[1] would have upon the inhabitants, I landed with the same force yesterday morning, taking the Staunch in with me to support us, and cover our retreat if necessary. I pushed on, destroyed the signal-house, staffs, &c., of Grande Riviére, and perceived the enemy had 700 or 800 men in or near the battery, but upon the opposite side of the river: I then returned to Point du Diable, and continued there three hours, blowing up the remainder of the works; after which I moved on to Canaille de Bois, and embarked at sun-set, leaving the Staunch to command and protect the harbour. The inhabitants appeared much tranquillized and satisfied with our conduct on shore, and the proclamation. The loss of the enemy in the two days was 8 men killed, the number of wounded not known: mine as per margin.”
During the whole of this march of nearly 22 miles, in an enemy’s territory, not one of Captain Willoughby’s party was killed, and only two were wounded. This forbearance on the
- ↑ Most of which were actually backed with Captain Willoughby’s compliments, as an indirect answer to the proclamation issued by De Caen after the attack of Jacotel. – See p. 151.
