8 
THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS EOWNMAN R.A, 
morass covered with mangroves, and those places they had occupied 
with a redoubt and well palisaded entrenchments defended with 
cannon and all the militia of that part of the country. We could only 
approach them in a very contracted front, which was at last reduced to 
the breadth of the roads, intersected with deep and wide ditches. Our 
artillery, which consisted of four field-pieces and two howitzers, were 
ordered to keep a constant fire on the top of the entrenchments to 
cover the attack made by Duroure’s regiment and the Highlanders, 
who, on this occasion, behaved with the greatest coolness and resolution, 
keeping up as they advanced a regular platoon firing. This behaviour 
so intimidated the enemy that they abandoned the first entrenchment 
on the left, into which the Highlanders threw themselves sword in hand 
and with part of Duroure's regiment pursued the enemy into the 
redoubt. The enemy still kept their ground at their entrenchments on 
the right, from whence they annoyed our people very much both with 
musketry and cannon, and though those who had carried the first 
entrenchment had got into their rear, yet, till a bridge could be made 
to pass the river, they could not get round to attack this post. This 
took us nearly half an hour, but however, we got time enough to take 
nearly 70 of the enemy prisoners as they were endeavouring to make 
their escape, amongst whom were some of the most considerable men 
in the island. We found in both the entrenchments six pieces of 
cannon. Our loss was one officer and 18 men killed, and two officers 
and 52 men wounded. 
As soon as the ditches could be filled up for the passage of the 
artillery, we proceeded on our march towards Petit Bourg. A con¬ 
siderable number of the enemy had lined an entrenchment about half 
a mile on the left of the road, but when they perceived we were 
endeavouring to surround them, they abandoned it, keeping always 
about 200 yards in our front and setting fire to the sugar canes, which 
obliged us more than once to leave the road to avoid any accident to 
our powder. 
The troops arrived late on the banks of the river Lezard, behind 
which, at the only ford, the enemy had thrown up very strong 
entrenchments, protected with four pieces of cannon on the hill behind 
them. Having reconnoitred the side of, the river, and finding it might 
cost us dear to force the passage at the ford, I therefore kept up the 
enemy's attention all night by firing.into their lines. During this 
time I got two canoes conveyed about a mile and a half down the river, 
where being launched, we ferried over, before break of day in the 
morning, a sufficient number of men to attack them in flank, whilst we 
should do the same in front. The enemy soon perceived their danger, 
and left their entrenchments with the greatest precipitation. 
Thus we passed without the loss of a man, still pursuing them to 
Petit Bourg, which place they had fortified with lines and a redoubt 
filled with cannon. 
We found Captain Uvedale there in the Granada bomb, throwing 
shells into the redoubt. The enemy did not remain in it long, when 
they saw our intention of occupying the heights around them ; but left 
