Two frigates and two sloops of war were ordered by the Admiral to cruize off the harbour of Point à Pitre, to prevent supplies being carried to the enemy; notwithstanding which many American and other vessels from the neighbouring disaffected islands, contrived to elude their vigilance. Victor Hughes, the commissioner from the French convention, and now commander in chief of their troops in this island (the commanders of the army and navy that came out with him being dead), was indefatigable in gaining over the blacks and mulattoes to his interest; and, in consequence of his late success, they flocked in great numbers to his standard. As they came in he formed them into different corps, and had them instructed in the use of arms. The remains of the second battalion of grenadiers[63] were ordered about the latter end of August to Guadaloupe, to relieve the flank companies of the 15th and 64th regiments: they embarked at Fort Royal on board the Dictator, and landed at Petit Bourg, from whence they marched directly to the camp. During the month of September the troops in the different camps were, from sickness, inadequate to furnish guards for the different batteries. Several companies could not produce a single man fit for duty; the 43d could not afford a corporal and three men at night, for the protection of their own camp, much less give their complement for the batteries. The greater part of the town of Petit Bourg was converted into hospitals for our sick, besides great numbers ill in the camps; the officers were equal sufferers with the men, so much so, that field officers were obliged to mount captain's guard. The different islands were drained of their troops, in order to keep up some appearance in front of the enemy; and the royalists had taken the duty of the Gabarre for some time past, where they conducted themselves with much spirit in several attacks made upon them by the enemy from the opposite side of the river. The grenadiers that arrived last, were now reduced, in less than three weeks, to twenty men; and from the situation of the several camps on the verge of the swamps, a ground they were obliged to occupy, was truly deplorable. About this time General Prescott arrived at the town of Basse Terre, where he took the command, and no appearance of any reinforcement from England as yet cheered our drooping spirits. On Saturday, the 26th of September, the enemy from Point à Pitre and Fort Louis embarked a large body of troops in small vessels, and passing our ships of war unperceived, under cover of the dark night, effected two different landings on Basse Terre; the one at Goyave, to the eastward of Petit Bourg, and the other at Lamantin, near Bay Mahault. As soon as it was known that this landing was effected, most of our sick were carried from Petit Bourg on board the ships that lay near that place, and when the news was received at head-quarters, General Graham ordered all the