646 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



which however was soon put a stop 

 to by a repetition of the same impe- 

 tuous attack on our part^ and the 

 enemy, after some firing, called for 

 quarter, which was generously grant- 

 ed by the conquerors, although in 

 the moment they were highly exas- 

 perated at the conduct of the Bata- 

 vian troops in blowing up the pow- 

 der magazine at Fort Frederici, 

 after it had been in our possession. 

 A captain with some other officers 

 and 120 men were taken at this 

 post, about 30 having made their 

 escape across the river Commewyne 

 to Fort New Amsterdam. By this 

 brilliant affair a position was secur- 

 ed, by which a heavy fire could be 

 brought on Fort New Amsterdam, 

 a communication with the river 

 Commewyne oj)ened, the means of 

 forming a junction with brigadier- 

 gen. Maitland's corps established, 

 and the command of the finest purt 

 of the colony, abounding with re- 

 sources of all kinds, obtained. — 

 Brigadier-gcneral Hughes's exertions 

 upon this occasioh were highly me- 

 ritorious, and by his animating ex- 

 ample contributed much to the 

 success of the day. On the 30th in 

 the morning, the commodore and 

 myself went on shore at the captur- 

 ed forts, and directions were given 

 for covering the troops and guns 

 from the fire of Fort New Amster- 

 dam, to which they were greatly 

 exposed, and for pointing the fire 

 of the forts towards the enemy. 

 The troops underwent great fatigue 

 in executing tlicse works, which, 

 however, they cheerfully submitted 

 to, under the direction of lieut.-coi. 

 Shipley, who as usual was unceasing 

 in his exertions. Brigadier-general 

 Hughes remained in the command 

 there, giving every necessary sup- 

 port and countenance. The enemy 



fired from time to time from Fort 

 New Amsterdam, by which three 

 men at Fort Leydcn were wounded, 

 but some shells being throw in re- 

 turn from two mortars, which we 

 had got on shore at P^ort Leyden, 

 the firing on the part of the enemy 

 ceased. On the same day 1 receiv- 

 ed a report from brigadier-general 

 Maitland, that a landing had been 

 effedcd at the Warappa Creek by 

 the first division of his corps, under 

 the command of major Hardyman, 

 of the 1st battalion of the roj'ais, 

 M ho took possession of the enemy's 

 posts, where there were two guns, 

 after a short resistance ; and the 

 brigadier-gen. further stated, that 

 he was proceeding to land with the 

 whole of his corps. Under these 

 circumstances, no time was lost in 

 disembarking at Fort Leydcn tho 

 rest of the troops, and pushing 

 them on by the north bank of the 

 Commewyne to nearly opposite 

 Zooland's plantation, where it was 

 intended to cross the river to form 

 a junction M'ith brigadier-general 

 Maitland's corps on its expeiSfed ar- 

 rival there. The artillery, stores, 

 and provisions were also conveyed 

 in boats by the indefatigable ex- 

 crtions of the navy into the Com- 

 mewyne river, and an armed naval 

 force established therein. On the 

 3rd May, brigadier-gen. Maitland 

 having with great diligence procured 

 a number of plantation boats to 

 convey his corps, appeared coming 

 down the Commewyne in very good 

 order, and landed at a plantation 

 on the south side of that river. On 

 the same evening part of the 16th 

 regiment crossed the Commewyne 

 to join brigadier-general Maitland, 

 and were followed the next day by 

 the remainder of that regiment : 

 orders were also given for all tho 



troops 



