464 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



to Fort Jerome, a very strong for- 

 tress, about two miles west of the 

 city, with orders, on the comnaence- 

 ment of the action, to force the 

 gate with a field-piece, and to 

 storm by the sally port, the walls . 

 being too high for escalade. Upon 

 his summon, Captain Gillerman, 

 who had no provisions but biscuit 

 left, gave the answer of a brave 

 soldier — that he would abide the 

 fate of the cit}'. 



The honour of his majesty's 

 arms, my lord, has been maintain- 

 ed without the loss of one British 

 soldier, by shot or sickness, or hav- 

 ing recourse to that glorious, but 

 at the same timedeplorableresource, 

 the assault of a populous city. 

 Wlien it is considered the courage 

 and persevering fortitude of the 

 French garrison, with their supe- 

 riority of position and numbers, I 

 trust his majesty will not disapprove 

 of the measures taken for the re- 

 duction, the magnitude of the 

 object obtained, and the terms 

 granted to the enemy; and which 

 will be delivered to your lordship 

 by my military secretary captain 

 Twigg, of the 54th regiment, to 

 whom I beg leave to refer for 

 further information, and earnestly 

 recommend him as an officer deserv- 

 ing such mark of favour as his 

 majesty may be graciously pleased 

 to confer. 



I have, my lord, now a further 

 most gratifying duty to perform- 

 that of making known to his ma- 

 jesty the most zealous and indefati- 

 gable exertions of the following of- 

 ficers: — Brigadier-general French, 

 second in command ; lieutenant- 

 colonel Hosford, commanding the 

 firstbrigade; lieutenant-col. Smith, 

 commanding the royal artillery, 

 whose abilities and unwearied at- 



tention surmounted uncommon dif- 

 ficulties ; lieutenant-col. Myers, 

 deputyquarter-master-general, and 

 commissioner to arrange the ar- 

 ticles of capitulation. 



The prominent situation of those 

 officers afforded me a constant ex- 

 perience of their zeal, abilities, and 

 anxiety for the most honourable 

 termination of the enterprize ; and 

 which sentiments,! can assure your 

 lordships, actuated every officer, 

 non-commissioned officer, and sol- 

 dier upon the expedition. 



It would be ingratitude in me, 

 my lord, were I to omit stating, in 

 the strongest possible terms, the 

 cordial co-operation, as I have al- 

 ready noticed, and efficient aid the 

 army received from captain Cumby, 

 coramandinghis majesty's squadron 

 before the city, who also landed two 

 officers, lieuts. Denman and She- 

 riff, with a detachment of seamen, 

 who were of infinite service, and 

 cheerfully underwent the most se- 

 vere fatigue and labour. 



It is impossible for me to pass 

 over in silence the very great assist- 

 ance I received from VVilliam Val- 

 ton, jun. esq., an English gentle- 

 man, who formerly resided in the 

 island and whose acquaintance 

 with the country, inhabitants, and 

 languages, rendered his voluntary 

 and able services of the most essen- 

 tial benefit, as private secretary to 

 me during the expedition. — I have 

 the honour to be, &c. (Signed) 

 H. I. Carmichael, major- 

 general, commanding his 

 Britannic majesty's forces 

 at the city of St. Domingo. 



From the London Gazette, Au- 

 gust 5. — Copi/ of a Letter Jf-om 

 Vice Admiral Sir James Sauma- 



reZf 



