2 
THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 
he has left of some of the campaigns in which he bore a part. The 
summary is given as far as possible in Lieut.-Colonel Downman’s own 
words, with only such alterations as may serve to make the meaning 
clearer and more connected. The detailed accounts of his active 
service it has been considered advisable to divide into separate parts 
according to the different campaigns and events described, and which 
are as follows :— 
PART I.—The expedition to the West Indies and taking the island 
of Guadeloupe in 1759, and subsequent residence in the 
island. 
PART II.—Campaigns in the American War of Independence, 
1777-8. 
PART III.—The capture of the island of St. Lucia in 1778, and 
subsequent evolutions of the English and French 
fleets. 
Lieut.-Colonel F. Downman’s Summary of his Services. 
He received his commission as a fire-worker in the Royal Artillery 
on June 8th, 1757. During the summer he was encamped at Chatham, 
and in the winter he worked hard in the Laboratory at Woolwich in a 
canvas frock, marked No. 6 on the back ; Lord George Sackville 1 
frequently came to see the young subs at work. 
In June, 1758, he was with the little army at that time annoying the 
coast of France, which landed at Cancale Bay, under command of the 
Duke of Marlborough. 3 He was employed in the burning and destruc¬ 
tion of all the vessels and store houses at St. Malo. 
In July, the whole army returned to England, and the Duke went 
with a portion to Germany. The remainder was placed under General 
Bligh and sailed again for the coast of France. In August, Lieut. 
Downman was ten days on shore at Cherbourg constantly employed in 
mining and destroying the bason and works there. In the further 
operations in September, he commanded the only two 6-pr. guns that 
landed with the army at St. Lunaire Bay, and marched to St. Cas, 
where he had the unhappiness to see so many gallant officers and men 
lost in the embarkation in the Bay of St. Cas. * * * 8 
In November, he went with the army, under General Hobson, to the 
West Indies in the fleet commanded by Commodore Moore. 
In January, 1759, he landed with the troops at Martinico. The 
army lost a number of foot soldiers and two field-pieces in the hurry of 
running away in the night. In the same month he was actively 
1 Lieut -General of the Ordnance. 
* Charles, 2nd Duke, died 20th Nov., 1758, in Germany. He was Master-General of the 
Ordnance and Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. 
8 While the army was embarking on Sept. 11th, the French, who had collected a large force 
under the Duke d’ Aguillon, attacked the English rear-guard of some 1500 men and inflicted a loss 
of over 700 officers and men killed, drowned and taken prisoners, including General Dury, who 
commanded. 
8e$ Major-General Bligh’s despatch, September 13th, 1758. 
