For its services on this occasion the 1st West India Regiment was permitted to inscribe the word "Dominica" on its colours. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 29: This does not appear in Brigadier-General Prevost's letter, but is mentioned in that of General La Grange.] [Footnote 30: "During a continued march of four days, through an exceedingly difficult country, that brave officer (Captain O'Connell) did not leave behind even one of his wounded men."--BRYAN EDWARDS.] [Footnote 31: A summons to surrender.] [Footnote 32: A refusal.] CHAPTER XI. THE HURRICANE AT DOMINICA, 1806--THE REDUCTION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX, 1807--THE RELIEF OF MARIE-GALANTE, 1808. In 1806, Dominica was visited by a terrific hurricane, from which the 1st West India Regiment suffered some loss. On the afternoon of the 9th of September the sky became totally overcast, and masses of clouds gathered over the island. About 7 p.m. a tremendous thunderstorm commenced, accompanied by violent gusts of wind, which increased in strength, until by 10 p.m., every vessel in the harbour, to the number of sixteen, was either sunk or driven ashore. The rain fell in such torrents that the whole of the barracks on Morne Bruce, where a company-of the 1st West India Regiment was stationed, and nearly the whole of those on Morne Cabot, were carried away, and three men of the 1st West India Regiment were killed, and several injured. Every house from the River Mohaut to Prince Rupert's was overthrown, and the town of Portsmouth was laid in ruins. In Roseau, 131 persons were killed or wounded, the greatest mischief being there caused by the overflowing of the river, which inundated the town in all directions, every house which obstructed its passage being swept away by the torrent. "No pen," says a witness of the scene, "can paint the horrors of that dreadful night! The tremendous noise occasioned by the wind and rain--the roaring of the waters, together with the shock of an earthquake, which was sensibly felt about midnight--the shrieks of the poor sufferers crying out for assistance--the terror of those who in their houses heard them, and dared not open a door or window to give succour, and who momentarily expected to share the same fate, formed a scene which can hardly be conceived, and is still more difficult to be described." The regiment remained stationed at Dominica until the month of April, 1807, when it was removed to Barbados, with the exception of four companies which had been detached to Grenada and Tobago, and which soon after rejoined head-quarters at Barbados. In this year also, the establishment of West India regiments was augmented by a second lieutenant-colonel, Major Samuel Huskisson, from the 8th Foot, being appointed the second lieutenant-colonel of the 1st West India Regiment by the _Gazette_ of the 2nd of June.