[lighthallI LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GARRET FISHER 69 



"the two divisions of marines are to do duty with the battalion of 

 grenadiers under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher." 

 Several bitterly disputed actions took place in the difficult tropical 

 mountains and swamps. The French royalists in general found 

 common cause with the British. The Revolutionists armed and freed 

 all the negroes. "On the 27th June the batteries at Grozier having 

 opened as usual on Fort Fleur d'Epée, a detachment of our troops, 

 under Brigadier-General Fisher, marched forward to attack a piquet 

 of the enemy posted at Morne Mascot, from whence they drove them 

 after a sharp contest, and established themselves as our advanced 

 post, within musket shot of the fort." On the 29th the Revolutionists 

 made an attack in strong force on Morne Mascot, "mounting the side 

 of Mascot heights with colours flying and singing the national songs, 

 covered by a heavy fire of round and grape shot from Fleur d'Epée, 

 which prevented our grenadiers from shewing themselves till the 

 enemy were close to them; on which General Fisher made them 

 prostrate themselves on the ground and wait the approach of the 

 enemy in that posture. The instant the republicans came within a 

 few yards of them they started up, and an obstinate engagement 

 commxcnced, which terminated at length by the grenadiers advancing 

 to the charge, on which the enemy fled and were pursued down the 

 hill with great slaughter. Our loss amounted to thirty killed and 

 wounded. . . . Brigadier-General Fisher was hit three times by 

 grape shot, which caused contusions only, and his horse was killed 

 under him. . . . Theday following the enemy again made an attempt, 

 in equal force, against our post on Mascot, and was again repulsed 

 with great loss. The rainy season being already set in, and the 

 hurricane months now approaching, determined the Commander-in- 

 Chief to make an effort to finish the campaign at once. From his 

 success in the last two engagements, and the excellent manner in 

 which he had planned the attack, it would no doubt have succeeded 

 had his orders been punctually obeyed. The plan he had laid down 

 was for a large body of troops under General Symes to march during 

 the night and make themselves master of Morne Government, and 

 the other commanding heights round the town of Point à Pitre, whilst 

 himself at the head of the rest of his army was in readiness on the 

 heights of Mascot to storm Fort Fleur d'Epée on receiving a signal 

 from General Symes; but from some unfortunate misapprehension 

 the whole of General Grey's well-conceived plan was rendered abortive, 

 and the almost total destruction of our forces ensued. Brigadier- 

 General Symes, having under his command the first battalion of 

 grenadiers, commanded by Brigadier-General Fisher, and the first 



