1809	Colonial Expeditions - West Indies	208

successful, but not without a loss amounting to 84 killed, 334 wounded, and 18 missing. The French, who, though decidedly inferior in numbers, were strongly posted, acknowledged a loss, in killed and wounded together, of 700 men. On the same night, or the succeeding morning, the French troops in this vicinity abandoned their advanced posts, and retired upon Fort Desaix. After the detachment of 600 York Rangers, under Major Henderson, had possessed themselves of the battery on Pointe Salomon, an attack was made upon Islet aux Ramiers, or Pigeon island ; and, on the 4th of February, after being bombarded for 12 hours by 10 mortars and howitzers, five of which had been got to the top of a commanding height by the very great exertions of a detachment of seamen under Captain Cockburn of the Pompée that important little spot surrendered. This post was acquired with a loss of only two seamen killed and one soldier wounded. Nor did the French garrison of 136 men, the retreat of whom had been cut off by the frigates Æolus and Cleopatra, Captains Lord William Fitzroy and Samuel John Pechell, and the brig-sloop Recruit, Captain Charles Napier, detached to the upper end of the bay, lose more than five killed and 11 wounded.

Sir Alexander immediately stood in with the squadron and anchored in Fort-Royal bay ; but, on the approach of the two frigates and sloop, the French had set fire to and destroyed the Amphitrite and the other vessels in the harbour. They had also abandoned all the forts in this quarter, at Casa-Navire, and along the neighbouring coast, and shut themselves up in Fort Desaix. On the 5th, Major-general Maitland, who had marched from Sainte-Luce to Champin and La Croissades without the slightest opposition, pursued his march, and on the 8th arrived at Casa-Navire, equally unmolested ; thereby completing the investment of Fort Desaix on the western side. On the 9th, being garrisoned solely by militia, the town of St.-Pierre and its dependencies, with the ship-corvette Diligente at anchor in the port, surrendered, on the first summons, to Lieutenant-colonel Barnes ; and on the 10th the town of Fort-Royal was occupied by the British troops.

From the 10th to the 19th the besiegers were occupied in constructing gun and mortar batteries, in landing cannon, mortars, and howitzers, with their ammunition and stores, in dragging them to the several points selected by the engineers, and in the completion of the works preparatory to a bombardment of Fort Desaix. On the 19th, at. 4 h. 30 m. a.m., the British opened upon that fortress from six points, with 14 heavy pieces of cannon and 28 mortars and howitzers ; and the bombardment continued without intermission until the 23d at noon, when the French

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