it Carbet, the fleet dropped down to
Grand Ance, where the principal attack was to be made. There, after the
enemy's batteries had been silenced by the fleet, the 2nd Brigade, with
the remainder of the 1st, were landed; and after a short but sharp
skirmish with a body of the enemy, advanced with the bayonet and drove
him from his position at Petrizel. The approach of night put an end to
further advance, and the troops bivouacked on the ground they had won.

Next morning, the 9th, at daybreak, the troops advanced in two columns.
The 1st Brigade moved upon and occupied Dole, while the 2nd Brigade
marched by difficult mountain paths upon the left of Morne Palmiste, by
Petrizel, and by this turning movement compelled the enemy to withdraw
his posts and retreat to Morne Palmiste by noon. While this had been
taking place the 3rd Brigade had disembarked in the vicinity of Bailiff,
to leeward of Basseterre, and after a short struggle had occupied that
capital.

In the afternoon of the 9th, the 1st and 2nd Brigades converged upon
Morne Palmiste, and clambering up the rugged and bush-covered heights,
compelled the enemy, after the exchange of a few shots, to evacuate his
works and retire to Morne Houel, where he had eight guns in position.

While the British were still occupying the defences on Morne Palmiste,
intelligence was brought to Sir James Leith that the French Commander of
Grandeterre, with the whole of his available force, was moving in rear
of the 1st and 2nd Brigades to endeavour to form a junction with the
main body of the enemy at Morne Houel. The detachment of the 1st West
India Regiment was at once despatched to reinforce the rear-guard, and
to occupy in force all the passes of the Gallion, a river running
through a formidable ravine at the foot of Morne Palmiste. The troops
from Grandeterre being thus cut off, endeavoured to form a junction by
unfrequented paths through the woods; but, being met at every point by
the skirmishers of the 1st West India Regiment, who searched the woods
in every direction, they were compelled to abandon the attempt and
retire at dusk.

The night closed in with torrents of rain, and the British, having been
told off in columns in readiness to attack the formidable position of
Morne Houel at daybreak next morning, bivouacked on the ground, without
shelter, and drenched to the skin. About 11 p.m., the Comte de Linois
sent a messenger to propose terms of surrender; but nothing being