4G8 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



driving the enemy from their sole 

 possession on the coast, his majes- 

 ty's settlements, and the British 

 commerce, would be more secure, 

 and more easily protected. Hav- 

 ing therefore procured some light 

 vessels and boats, the best adapted 

 for passingthe bar, a detachment of 

 the garrison of Goree, consisting of 

 6 officers, 6 Serjeants, 4 drummers, 

 and 150 rank and file, was embark- 

 ed on board the Agincourt trans- 

 port, on the 4th of July, when we 

 sailed, and anchored at the bar, on 

 the evening of the 7th. Next morn- 

 ing commodore Columbine was of 

 opinion the troops might be passed 

 over the bar, which was acccord- 

 ingly effected, though with much 

 difficulty, by the exertions of the 

 navy. We unfortunately, however, 

 lost a schooner and sloop, contain- 

 ing much of our provisions and am- 

 munition; and the schooner George 

 went on shore inside the bar, I 

 landed the detachment and 60 royal 

 marines from the ships of war on 

 the left bank of the river, where I 

 took up a position, with a view to 

 wait till provisions could be passed 

 from the shipping, and the schooner 

 George could be got off. We then 

 learnt that the enemy had made a 

 formidable line of defence at the 

 post of the Baubague, 12 miles up 

 the river, where there is a battery, 

 in front of which three cannoniers 

 and four other vessels were moored, 

 and the wholeprotectedby a strong 

 boom drawn across the river. On 

 the 9th we were attacked, but 

 speedily repulsed the enemy, and 

 drove them within their lines at Bau- 

 bague, after which we returned to 

 get off the schooner, which was ef- 

 fected on the following evening. 

 The 1 1th was employed in refitting 

 theschooner, and embarking provi- 



sions and water. TheSolebay, fri- 

 gate, and Derwent, sloop of war, 

 were ordered to anchor opposite to 

 the postofBaubague,and bombard 

 it, which was executed with much 

 effect. During the night, in shift- 

 ing her birth, the Solebay unfortu- 

 nately got aground, but in a posi- 

 tion which enabled her still to annoy 

 the enemy. On the morning of the 

 1 2th the troops were embarked, and 

 the flotilla proceeded up the river, 

 till just without gun shot of the 

 enemy's line of defence; and when 

 every thing was in readiness for a 

 night attack, we received informa- 

 tion that it was the intention of the 

 French commandant to capitulate. 

 Willing to spare an unnecessary ef- 

 fusion of human blood, the attack 

 was postponed. On the morning 

 of the 13th, we discovered that the 

 boom was broken, that the enemy 

 had abandoned the battery and ves- 

 sels, leaving their colours flying, 

 and shortly afterwards a letter was 

 received from Messrs. Degrigny 

 and Durecu, in the name of the 

 commandant of Senegal, offering to 

 capitulate. Mr. Heddle, surgeon 

 to the forces, who had acted as my 

 aid-de-camp during the campaign, 

 was sent forward to treat with these 

 gentlemen, and soon returned with 

 the articles of capitulation, which 

 I inclose, and which we ratified.-— 

 I immediately took possession of | 

 the battery of Isle aux Anglois; , 

 and in the course of the evening i 

 the battery of Guelander facing the I 

 town. Next morning the garrison i 

 laid down their arms, and were em- 

 barked. We then found that the '■ 

 force which had been employed \ 

 against us amounted to 160 regu- 

 lar soldiers, and 240 militia and vo- 

 lunteers. We had no reason, how- 

 ever, to count on much opposition 



from , 



