70 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



and second light infantry commanded by Colonel Gomm, with a 

 detachment of seamen from the Boy ne and Veteran, marched from 

 the heights of Mascot about nine o'clock at night on the 1st of July." 

 Then followed a long fatiguing march in the darkness through deep 

 ravines, when they finally found themselves caught in a heavy en- 

 filading fire of enemy batteries, "the most severe the oldest soldier 

 ever witnessed." They fought desperately, but "the whole became 

 a scene of confusion impossible to describe. Instead of any of the 

 heights being attempted the greater part of the troops and seamen 

 got into the town, where they were mowed down with grape-shot and 

 musketry from the windows of the houses." General Symes was by 

 this time badly wounded, and his horse killed under him ; many officers 

 were killed and desperately wounded. He had failed to carry out 

 the plan of General Grey and had not revealed his own plans to any 

 other officer. "At length General Fisher (the second in command, 

 who, as well as every other officer on this service, was ignorant of 

 General Symes 's plans), sounded a retreat, and the miserable remains 

 of this gallant party marched off, the enemy harassing them in their 

 retreat." Thus the army was saved from utter destruction by 

 Fisher's ability and presence of mind. Sir Charles Grey and his 

 main army were now called to Martinique. In consequence of these 

 misfortunes, followed by a terrible scourge of yellow fever, and the 

 arming of all the slaves by the Revolutionists, as above stated, the 

 small garrison left in Guadaloupe were in the end reduced and worn 

 out. On the 9th of December, General Prescott consequently skilfully 

 evacuated the Island by night. The unfortunate French royalists 

 were inhumanly massacred by fiendish methods similar to those of 

 the present Russian Bolsheviks. Sir Charles Grey and his suite had 

 embarked once more with Sir John Jervis on the Boyne; and thus, 

 with his staff. General Fisher reached England again on the 21st of 

 January, 1795. Generals Dundas and Symes having been killed, 

 General Fisher was the principal officer remaining of those who had 

 set out from England with the Commander-in-Chief. The deeds of 

 Fisher are stated in succinct form in Johns' "Military and Naval 

 Heroes of Great Britain." 



Among the numerous picked regiments included in this great 

 Expedition were several with whom he had had, or was to have, the 

 closest associations. The 55th (Westmorelands) , the 60th (Royal 

 Americans), the 9th (East Norfolks), the 17th, were all represented. 

 He was loved and admired by all. So that it was not strange that he 

 was in turn the Colonel of each. On the 17th of February, 1794, we 

 have seen that he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the 9th 



