493 
THE SEEVICES 
OF 
LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A.. 
IN 
FRANCE, NORTH AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES 
BETWEEN THE YEARS 1758 AND 1784. 
EDITED BY 
COLONEL P. A. WHINYATES, late R.H.A. 
CHAPTER II. 
French fleet enters Choc Bay. Land their troops. Attack General 
Medows on the Vigie and are repulsed. French troops re-embarked. 
Their fleet departs. The Governor of St. Lucia capitulates. 
On the 16th December, 1778 at daylight, we saw the French fleet 
some miles to leeward of the island. In the afternoon it was close 
in shore to the north-westward. We concluded the enemy in¬ 
tended to have another brush at our ships, but they had got such a 
beating by our batteries and men-of-war that they dared not venture 
again. In the evening they stood into Choc Bay about three miles to 
the northward and came to anchor. As soon as it was dark we saw 
fires on the shore, and three rockets were discharged. This we right¬ 
ly concluded was the prelude to landing their army. Their small craft 
left Gros Ilot Bay that they first went into, and came into Choc Bay, 
and before morning all the troops they contained were landed. 
On the 17th, as soon as the dawn of day appeared and objects were 
to be distinguished, we saw the French army on shore and advancing 
in large columns. All our pickets and guards posted on the heights 
on the north side of the town came in, and the enemy took possession. 
From thence they fired a few cannon shot at the 46th Regiment 
stationed on an eminence in the rear of the town. The 46th retired 
immediately, and none now of the British remained on that side but 
General Medows, who still kept ground on his Peninsula. 
Early this morning I was ordered from the battery by the seaside 
[No. 4] to the one of four 18-prs. [No. 5]. I have already said it is 
10. VOL. XXV. 43 
