THE SERVICES OE LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 7 
rendered. I now received orders to march from this place to Petit 
Bourg, where I am to be quartered. The company of artillery I 
belonged to has received orders to remain in this island, as have like¬ 
wise the 4tli, 63rd and 65th regiments. I am appointed to Petit 
Bourg with 20 men; the 4th regiment is quartered in the village, and 
by General Grump's being here, it is head-quarters. The 63rd 
regiment and a detachment of artillery with Lieutenants Patrickson 1 
and Young 2 are stationed at Fort Royal, and the 65th regiment is 
appointed to Grand Terre. 
It is not easily conceived what hardships and difficulties the troops 
have gone through that were employed upon this service, viz., the 
want of provisions, crossing of rivers, climbing of precipices, lying on 
the bare ground in wet clothes, excessive heat of the climate, and 
many other things which sufficiently shew the goodness and bravery of 
our troops and the skill and perseverance of our leaders. For my own 
part I believe I fared as badly as any soldier in the army. Very often 
indeed have I been obliged to be content with a small piece of salt 
pork or beef and a biscuit and a draught of water. Fresh meat on the 
march was the greatest rarity. I did not from the day of my landing 
till I returned to Petit Bourg but once lie up on a bed. Every night 
my mattress was the bare ground or the leaves of the sugar cane, and 
yet notwithstanding I never had the smallest illness, though others 
were attacked with many disorders. The flux was the most fatal, for 
in a few days it generally carried off the person who was seized with 
it. During these operations we took 45 pieces of artillery, which had 
they been defended with any spirit must have done great damage to 
our army. 
Before I proceed further with my journal, I will insert the letter 
written by Brigadier-General Clavering describing our operations. 
At Monsieur Poyen's, 
Capes Terre, Guadeloupe, 
April 24th, 1759. 
Sir, 
On Thursday, April 12 th, at daybreak, I landed with the 
troops which you put under my orders, consisting of 1300 men, 
exclusive of the Antigua volunteers, at a bay not far distant from 
Arnoville. The enemy made no opposition to our landing, but retired 
as our troops advanced to very strong entrenchments behind the river 
Le Corn, This post was of the utmost importance to them, as it 
covered the whole country to the Bay of Mahault, where the provisions 
and supplies for the whole place were landed from St. Eustatius, and 
therefore they had very early taken possession of it, and had spared no 
pains to strengthen it, though the situation was such as required little 
assistance from art. 
The river was only accessible at two narrow passes, on account of a 
1 Kane’s List, No. 254. 
2 Kane’s List, No. 304. 
