the establishment. The regiment remained at St. Lucia until July, 1801,
when it was moved to Port Royal, Martinique. In January, 1802, two
companies were detached to St. Vincent, and, in July, the remainder of
the regiment, with the exception of one company that remained in
Martinique, followed them to that island, from whence a company was soon
afterwards detached to Antigua. In October, these detachments rejoined
head-quarters, but, in April, 1803, two other companies were sent to
Grenada. In May, 1804, the regiment, with the exception of one company
at Grenada and another sent to St. Vincent, was moved to Dominica. In
this year the establishment of West India regiments was increased from
500 to 1000 men; and in December, 1804, the strength was 618.

The rupture of the Treaty of Amiens had, in 1803, led to fresh conflicts
in the West Indies, in which, however, the 1st West India Regiment had
taken no share; but in the spring of 1805, while it was still stationed
at Dominica, the light company being with the 46th Regiment at Morne
Bruce, and the remainder of the regiment (except the two detachments) at
Prince Rupert's, its turn for active service came.

On the 22nd of February of that year, the island was attacked by a
French combined naval and military force, under Admiral Missiessy and
General La Grange, which force had been despatched from France specially
for the reduction of Dominica. The enemy's flotilla consisted of the
following vessels:

Guns.
Majestueuse 120
Magnanime 74
Suffren 74
Jemmappes 74
Lion 74
Armide 44
Gloire 44
Infatigable 44
Lynx 16
Acteon 16
---
580

The French regular troops employed were:

26th Regiment 1600
2nd Battalion Piedmontese 2000
Dismounted Cavalry 250
Artillery 250
Detachments of Corps 500
----
4600

Exclusive of the marines of the various ships.

The enemy's force sailed from Martinique on the afternoon of February
21st, 1805; and, flying the British flag, arrived off Dominica between 3
and 4 a.m. on February 22nd. The British commander-in-chief,
Brigadier-General Prevost, deceived by the colours of the ships,