An Historical Review of the Royal Marine Corps, from its Original Institution down to the Present Era, 1803Gillespie, Alexander, Major
History
An Historical Review of the Royal Marine Corps, from its Original Institution down to the Present Era, 1803
Gillespie, Alexander, Major
Great Britain. Royal Marines -- History
Their force which included Major (now Colonel) Bright, 1
Lieutenant, 2 Serjeants, 1 Drummer, and 27 private Marines, not
amounting to 400 men, carried Fort Castries by storm, and with
it the island of Tobago, garrisoned by greater numbers. Some
untoward circumstances arising from the cowardice or treachery of
a guide, added to a dark night, occasioned a small derangement in
our approach to the attack, but it was amply attoned by a general
intrepidity in the troops; the main body of which pushed boldly
towards the barrier, who attracted the whole attention of the
enemy, while the flank companies of the 9th and 60th regiments
entered their works. This affair was achieved by the bayonet, with
little loss on either side; for mercy, as usual, was shewn by
Englishmen to the vanquished.
St. Pierre and Micquelon also soon became easy conquests. Such are
the crouded and brilliant instances of this war, that I cannot
venture upon a minute detail of any, or render justice to their
merits.
Lord Hood, who had been recently called forth by his Country,
in the hour of threatened danger, and who, upon its having been
dispelled, had again become the citizen, was once more placed at
the head of a powerful fleet. This he destined to carry to the
Mediterranean, where it was his lot to perform very important
services, throughout which, he approved himself an accomplished
adept in the schools of a Sully and a Marlborough. Never since
our existence before, have the talents of a _Naval Officer_ been
exerted on so wide a field.
Untrained to the courtly habits of life, uninstructed in the arts
of diplomacy, the world usually attaches _to him_ no embellishments
of character, but professional bravery, uncorruptible zeal,
impressive unadorned manners. The Nation, however, could not have
had a more dignified representative, a cooler agent, or a more
indefatigable servant than Lord Hood upon so trying an occasion,
and amidst such mingled and arduous duties. His intercourse with
the deputies from different departments in the South of France, was
guided by wisdom and led to success, while his appeals to their
community breathed a well timed humanity towards that oppressed
land.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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