APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



197 



enemy to shew his fire, and parti- 

 cularly the number and position of 

 his guns ; this service was per- 

 formed in a most gallant manner, 

 the boats taking a position within 

 point blank shot of the fort, which 

 returned the fire from four guns, 

 one of them heavy. The enemy 

 did not appear to have any guns 

 mounted on the town side of the 

 river. 



Having sufficiently reconnoitred 

 the place, arrangements were made 

 for its attack, which it was decided 

 should lake place at eight o'clock 

 that evening ; but at sun-set a very 

 heavy squall blowing directly on 

 the shore, obliged the squadron to 

 get under weij^h, and prevented 

 our return until the next morning, 

 when the following disposition was 

 made of the troops and squadron 

 by Commodore Sir James Yeo and 

 myself: The Princess Cliarlotte, 

 Wolfe, and Royal George, to en- 

 gage the batteries, as close as the 

 depth of water would admit of their 

 approaching the shore ; the Sir 

 Sidney Smith schooner to scour the 

 town, and keep in check a large 

 body of militia who might attempt 

 to pass over into the fort ; the 

 Moira and Melville brigs to tow 

 the boats with the troops, and 

 then cover their landing by scour- 

 ing the woods on the low point 

 towards the foot of the hill by 

 which it was intended to advance 

 to the assault of the fort. 



Captain O'Connor had the di- 

 rection of the boats and gun-boats 

 destined to land the troops, which 

 consisted of the flank companies of 

 De Watteville's regiment, the 

 company of the Glengary light 

 infantry, and the second battalion 

 of the royal marines, being all that 

 could be landed at one embarka- 

 tion. The four battalion compa- 



nies of the regiment of Watteville, 

 and the detachment of artillery, 

 remaining in reserve on board the 

 Princess Charlotte and Sir Sidney 

 Smith schooner. 



As soon as every thing was 

 ready, the ships opened their fire, 

 and the boats pushed for the point 

 of disembarkation in the most re- 

 gular order. The landing was 

 effected under a heavy fire from 

 the fort, as well as from a consi- 

 derable body of the enemy drawn 

 up on the brow of the hill and in 

 the woods. The immediate com- 

 mand of the troops was entrusted 

 to Lieutenant Colonel Fischer, of 

 the regiment De Watteville, of 

 whose gallant, cool, and judicious 

 conduct, as well as of the distin- 

 guished bravery, steadiness, and 

 discipline of every officer and sol- 

 dier composing this small force, I 

 was a witness, having, with Com- 

 modore Sir James Yeo, the depu- 

 ty-adjutant-general, and the offi- 

 cers of my staff, landed with the 

 troops. 1 refer your excellency to 

 Lieutenant Colonel Fischer's letter 

 enclosed, for an account of the 

 operations. The place was gained 

 in ten minutes from the moment 

 the troops advanced. The fort 

 being every where almost open, 

 the whole of the garrison, consist- 

 ing of the third battalion of artil- 

 lery, about four hundred strong, 

 and some hundred militia, effected 

 their escape, with the exception of 

 about sixty men, half of them 

 severely wounded. 



I enclose a return of our loss, 

 amongst which I have to regret 

 that of Captain Holtaway, of the 

 royal marines. Your excellency will 

 lament to observe in the list the 

 name of that gallant, judicious, 

 and excellent officer Captain Mul- 

 caster, of the royal navy, who 



