On the arrival of the reinforcements at Barbadoes, the British naval and military commanders resolved to act offensively, and attack the French island of _St. Lucia_. On this occasion the regiment was formed in brigade with the twenty-eighth, forty-sixth, and fifty-fifth, under Major-General Prescott. The expedition sailed from Carlisle-bay on the 12th of December, a landing was effected at St. Lucia on the following day, and on the 14th, the French troops were driven from several important posts. In the meantime a French armament of very superior numbers approached the island, and the British took up positions to repel the enemy. The French fleet made a desperate attack on the British naval force, but was repulsed. A numerous body of the enemy landed, and stormed the post of La Vigie, which was occupied by the grenadiers, light infantry, and fifth regiment, under Brigadier-General Medows; when the determined bravery of the British proved triumphant over very superior numbers, and the French were repulsed and forced to re-embark, leaving the ground covered with killed and wounded. The flank companies of the FIFTEENTH had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves on this occasion. The governor surrendered the island to the British arms immediately after the departure of the French armament. [Sidenote: 1779] [Sidenote: 1780] The FIFTEENTH remained at St. Lucia several months. In the meantime, the French possessed a great superiority of numbers, both of naval and land force, in the West Indies; and in June, 1779, they attacked the island of _St. Vincent_, and in July _Grenada_; the regiment embarked from St. Lucia, for the relief of these islands; but they were captured before any force could arrive to their assistance. While the regiment was at sea, some sharp fighting occurred between the hostile fleets, without decisive results, and the regiment was afterwards landed at the island of St. Christopher's, where it was stationed during the year 1780. [Sidenote: 1781] Holland having adopted a line of politics hostile to the British, and favourable to the American interest, war took place between Great Britain and the United Provinces; and in February, 1781, the Dutch island of _St. Eustatius_ was captured. The FIFTEENTH regiment was afterwards removed from St. Christopher's to St. Eustatius, and the flank companies were subsequently detached to the former island. The British commandant at St. Eustatius neglected to adopt the necessary precautions for the security of the island, and during the night of the 26th of November, a French force, under the Marquis of Bouillé, effected a landing, captured the commandant as he was taking a morning ride, overpowered the posts, and forced the garrison, consisting of the battalion companies of the thirteenth and FIFTEENTH regiments, to surrender prisoners of war. The commandant, Lieut.-Colonel Cockburn, was afterwards tried by a general court-martial, and cashiered.