The conduct of the FIFTH regiment and its Lieutenant-Colonel on this occasion, was of the most distinguished description. Brigadier-General Medows, though severely wounded in the right arm early in the day, would not quit his post, but continued in the field, riding about and giving orders, till the attack was over. At one moment, finding his ammunition nearly expended, he drew up his little phalanx in front of their colours, and waving his sword in his hand, emphatically exclaimed, "Soldiers, as long as you have a bayonet to point against an enemy's breast, defend these colours." They did so, and secured the conquest of St. Lucie. It was in this action that the FIFTH by its gallant conduct acquired the privilege of wearing a _White Plume_ in the cap instead of the red and white tuft worn by the other regiments of the line; having taken from the bodies of the slain French grenadiers, the advance and élite of the enemy's force, as many white feathers as sufficed to equip every man in the regiment with the new decoration. The loss of the French amounted to about four hundred killed and eleven hundred wounded, while the killed on the side of the British was only ten, and one hundred and thirty wounded; amongst whom were Lieutenants Pratt and Harris. The sense General Grant entertained of the services of Brigadier-General Medows and the detachment under his command, was expressed in the following letter, dated from Morne Fortuné, the 19th of December, 1778: "Sir, "I cannot express how much I feel obliged to you, and the troops under your command, for repulsing, with so much spirit and bravery, so great a body of the enemy, and own it was just what I expected from you and them; and I am sure, under your command, they will always behave in such a manner as to do honour to you, themselves, their king, and their country; and I must beg of you to express my gratitude." [Sidenote: 1779] [Sidenote: 1780] During the year 1779, the regiment was sometimes embarked on board ship, and at others employed on shore at St. Lucie and Antigua, and was engaged with the enemy on the 19th of June, 6th of July, and 7th and 8th of September. From January to July, 1780, it was occasionally in Gros Isle Bay, St. Lucie, at Martinique, St. Kitt's, and Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, and was engaged on the 17th of April, and on the 15th of May. It was then ordered home, and after a boisterous passage, landed on the 16th of September at Portsmouth, from whence it embarked again for Ireland in December, and arrived at Cork in January, 1781. [Sidenote: 1781] [Sidenote: 1782]