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Foreign News
April 9, 1762
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
British forces under General Monckton captured Martinico (Martinique) on February 12, 1762, after a siege involving key assaults on January 24 and 27. The island surrendered unconditionally, with low British losses under 300. Related updates include thanksgiving proclamation and Jamaica defenses.
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Full Text
Important News
of the Surrender of
Martinico &c.
PORTS MOUTH. April 6.
Since our last a Number of Vessels have arrived at Boston from the West Indies; by one of them who arrived there last Wednesday in 32 Days from St. Kitts, & another from Guadaloupe in 24 Days. We have certain Advice, That The Island of MARTINICO, with all its Dependencies have Surrendered to his Britannick Majesty's Forces, Commanded by General MONCKTON, &c.
There are none of the Articles of Capitulation come to Hand; the following is all we can collect at present of the Operations of our Troops during the Siege, (except the Proceedings from the 6th of January to the 18th. which we gave an Account of in our Paper the 2d Inst.)
JANUARY,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23:
EMPLOYED in erecting Batteries and skirmishing with the Enemy, without any further Loss than plaguing our Sentries: The Army were impatient to come to Action.
24th, General Francis Grant, by Day Light, at the Head of 25 Companies of Grenadiers, and the first Battalion of Royal Highlanders, by Way of Flankers, attacked Mount Tortenson, which in about two Hours Time. beat all that opposed them. and possessed all their doubling Redoubts and Intrenchments.
A Grenadier of the 28th Regiment had Monsieur La Touche's Horse by the Bridle, but was killed. We took one of Mr. La Touche's Aid de Camps, 5 Officers and 50 Grenadiers. In short, this has been the greatest Stroke of Valour ever displayed, either in Europe or America; since the Commencement of the War.
25, 26, 27, Employed in erecting Batteries and skirmishing. Mr. La Touche's People petitioned to be allowed to make a Sally of us, as they termed it. The 27th, at 3 in the Afternoon; they paid us welcome. though an unexpected Visit: We were very soon amongst them and gored them, and in less than one Hour were in Possession of their Camp and Batteries: and had also the Pleasure of seeing nine Thousand Whites, and three Thousand armed Negroes running before us. We took Mr. NADO, late Governor of Guadaloupe, 7 Officers, and 100 private Men prisoners. From this Affair is dated the Fall of Martinico.
28. We bombarded and cannonaded Fort Royal from the Batteries the Enemy abandoned the Night before. The Regulars and Militia, convinced of the superior Valour of the British Forces. began to come in.
29. Our Batteries from Mount Fortenson began to play on the Fort. Deserters as usual.
30. Bombarding and cannonading as usual.
31. Captain James Robinson of Montgomery's Light Infantry took Possession of some Batteries mounting 21 Pieces of Cannon. Bombarding as usual.
Feb. 1. More Batteries erected.
2. A new Battery began to play on them: their Fire slackened; several Deserters from the Fort.
3. Early in the Morning 50 French and 12 English Prisoners from the Fort deserted; the Fire from the Enemy Slackened much in the Evening: between 7 and 8 o'Clock the Enemy beat a Parley from the Fort.
4. Monsieur Delengrey, who commanded, surrendered the Fort, together with 800 French and Negroes. to his Britannick Majesty's Troops; also a fine Train of Artillery and a vast deal of stores of all Kinds.
5, The Inhabitants coming in from all Quarters for Protection.
6. A Summons was sent to the Garrison of Pigeon Island, which was returned by a French Officer without being opened; the General desired him to tell his Commandant that he would make him eat that very Paper.
In Consequence of that Message, the Commandant sent His Excellency a Carte Blanche.
The greatest Part of the Island have surrendered, notwithstanding the Provocation the Enemy has given us by being obliged to fight armed Slaves: there never was a war carried on in a more civilised Manner, none hurt but such as were in Arms. no Houses or Plantations destroyed, nor any pillaging allowed of.
I believe some of the Noblesse of Guadaloupe will forfeit their Estates and be hanged, as it appears plainly in the Merchants Books, that they are concerned in Privateering Business.
We learn by a Letter from the West Indies. That the Inhabitants of St. Eustatia, were almost certain that the English could not reduce the Island of Martinico:-One Man there on the 7th of February, held Stakes for Fourteen Thousand four Hundred Pieces of Eight. that the Island would not surrender in nine Months. The French gasconaded most scandalously on the Appearance of our Forces; and contemptuously called those brave Troops, who had conquered Quebec and Belleisle, Women in Soldiers Cloaths; but a universal Gloom was soon Spread on the whole French Corps at St. Eustatia.--When the General retired, he gave Leave to the Privateers to quit the Island, and make their Escape in the best Manner they could: A Number of Petteaugers got to Eustatia, with Women, Children, Negroes and Effects from Martinico..--The Flower and Glory of that Island fell the same Day that Grenada fell; a select Body of 100 Men were entirely cut to Pieces, except 39, with, as the French say, 1500 more or less Note in all: A dreadful Carnage! and that executed in a very short Time. -One Letter mentions, that the Bombardment and Cannonading of Fort Royal was such, that Milton's Description of the Infernal Region, was not to be compared with it.
Extract of a Letter from the West Indies, dated March 4. 1762.
MARTINICO
Surrendered to the British Troops the 12th of February, upon such Terms as the English thought proper to allow them--All the Windward Islands entirely in Possession of the English.
We hear that the French Regular Troops who were Prisoners of War, had embarked and sailed the 26th of Feb. from Martinico.
His Excellency General THOMAS has issued a Proclamation appointing the 11th of March to be a Day of Thanksgiving throughout the Islands under his Command: the following is extracted from said Proclamation.
"It hath also pleased Almighty God, to favour His Majesty's just Deigns, by preserving in a very extraordinary Degree the Health & Vigour of His Forces, in a Climate to which they were generally unaccustomed; and by many other Demonstrations of his mighty Power, so that the said Island of Martinico have been entirely reduced to His Majesty's Obedience. in much less Time than could be reasonably expected.' after the great Preparations made by the Enemy for the Defence of the same; and hath thereby removed from the Leeward Islands the Scourge which had so sorely afflicted them in all former Times of War since their settlement: for which the Inhabitants thereof are in a more particular Manner bound in Duty, to offer up their Praises and Thanksgiving to his Divine Majesty."
In a Jamaica Paper of the 11th of February, we have the Speech of his Excellency Gov. Littleton, on the 4th of the same Month, to the Council and Assembly of that Island, with their respective Addresses to him.
His Excellency mentions to them, that he had Intelligences, that the Enemy had projected an Invasion of that Island, they expecting the Junction of a Spanish Squadron then in those Seas; which had induced his Excellency to issue his Majesty's Proclamation for Martial Law to take Place; and recommends to them to pursue all other Measures to put the Country into a proper State of Defence, and to use every Means which might most effectually secure that Island, and avert the Mischiefs that apparently threaten it:
On the 13th of January an Embargo was laid on all Shipping in the Ports of Jamaica; at the same Time Martial Law was proclaimed in that Island.
We hear that Part of the Fleet at the Reduction of Martinico were sailed for Jamaica.
NEW-YORK, March 25.
By a Vessel from Guadaloupe, we have Advice that Letters were received there from our Forces at Martinico, giving an Account that they were in Possession of Fort Royal. Fort St. Pierre, and all the Places of any strength: That 13 Parishes; being the chief Part of the Island. had sent to General MONCKTON offering to Capitulate on the same Terms as Guadaloupe; which the General absolutely refused, insisting that the Island and all its Dependencies should be surrendered at Discretion, that they might enjoy their Plantations, &c. and the Soldiers Prisoners of War, that they should have no other Terms till His Majesty's Pleasure was known.
That General MONCKTON met with no great Opposition in taking Fort Royal, and that our greatest Loss of Men was of the Highlanders, occasioned by a Sally from the Town. in which the Enemy were driven back, and our Troops following them too eagerly, Part of the Highlanders got into the Town with the French, and the Gates were shut upon them: That there are but 16 Parishes in the Island. Our whole Loss does not exceed 300.
of the Surrender of
Martinico &c.
PORTS MOUTH. April 6.
Since our last a Number of Vessels have arrived at Boston from the West Indies; by one of them who arrived there last Wednesday in 32 Days from St. Kitts, & another from Guadaloupe in 24 Days. We have certain Advice, That The Island of MARTINICO, with all its Dependencies have Surrendered to his Britannick Majesty's Forces, Commanded by General MONCKTON, &c.
There are none of the Articles of Capitulation come to Hand; the following is all we can collect at present of the Operations of our Troops during the Siege, (except the Proceedings from the 6th of January to the 18th. which we gave an Account of in our Paper the 2d Inst.)
JANUARY,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23:
EMPLOYED in erecting Batteries and skirmishing with the Enemy, without any further Loss than plaguing our Sentries: The Army were impatient to come to Action.
24th, General Francis Grant, by Day Light, at the Head of 25 Companies of Grenadiers, and the first Battalion of Royal Highlanders, by Way of Flankers, attacked Mount Tortenson, which in about two Hours Time. beat all that opposed them. and possessed all their doubling Redoubts and Intrenchments.
A Grenadier of the 28th Regiment had Monsieur La Touche's Horse by the Bridle, but was killed. We took one of Mr. La Touche's Aid de Camps, 5 Officers and 50 Grenadiers. In short, this has been the greatest Stroke of Valour ever displayed, either in Europe or America; since the Commencement of the War.
25, 26, 27, Employed in erecting Batteries and skirmishing. Mr. La Touche's People petitioned to be allowed to make a Sally of us, as they termed it. The 27th, at 3 in the Afternoon; they paid us welcome. though an unexpected Visit: We were very soon amongst them and gored them, and in less than one Hour were in Possession of their Camp and Batteries: and had also the Pleasure of seeing nine Thousand Whites, and three Thousand armed Negroes running before us. We took Mr. NADO, late Governor of Guadaloupe, 7 Officers, and 100 private Men prisoners. From this Affair is dated the Fall of Martinico.
28. We bombarded and cannonaded Fort Royal from the Batteries the Enemy abandoned the Night before. The Regulars and Militia, convinced of the superior Valour of the British Forces. began to come in.
29. Our Batteries from Mount Fortenson began to play on the Fort. Deserters as usual.
30. Bombarding and cannonading as usual.
31. Captain James Robinson of Montgomery's Light Infantry took Possession of some Batteries mounting 21 Pieces of Cannon. Bombarding as usual.
Feb. 1. More Batteries erected.
2. A new Battery began to play on them: their Fire slackened; several Deserters from the Fort.
3. Early in the Morning 50 French and 12 English Prisoners from the Fort deserted; the Fire from the Enemy Slackened much in the Evening: between 7 and 8 o'Clock the Enemy beat a Parley from the Fort.
4. Monsieur Delengrey, who commanded, surrendered the Fort, together with 800 French and Negroes. to his Britannick Majesty's Troops; also a fine Train of Artillery and a vast deal of stores of all Kinds.
5, The Inhabitants coming in from all Quarters for Protection.
6. A Summons was sent to the Garrison of Pigeon Island, which was returned by a French Officer without being opened; the General desired him to tell his Commandant that he would make him eat that very Paper.
In Consequence of that Message, the Commandant sent His Excellency a Carte Blanche.
The greatest Part of the Island have surrendered, notwithstanding the Provocation the Enemy has given us by being obliged to fight armed Slaves: there never was a war carried on in a more civilised Manner, none hurt but such as were in Arms. no Houses or Plantations destroyed, nor any pillaging allowed of.
I believe some of the Noblesse of Guadaloupe will forfeit their Estates and be hanged, as it appears plainly in the Merchants Books, that they are concerned in Privateering Business.
We learn by a Letter from the West Indies. That the Inhabitants of St. Eustatia, were almost certain that the English could not reduce the Island of Martinico:-One Man there on the 7th of February, held Stakes for Fourteen Thousand four Hundred Pieces of Eight. that the Island would not surrender in nine Months. The French gasconaded most scandalously on the Appearance of our Forces; and contemptuously called those brave Troops, who had conquered Quebec and Belleisle, Women in Soldiers Cloaths; but a universal Gloom was soon Spread on the whole French Corps at St. Eustatia.--When the General retired, he gave Leave to the Privateers to quit the Island, and make their Escape in the best Manner they could: A Number of Petteaugers got to Eustatia, with Women, Children, Negroes and Effects from Martinico..--The Flower and Glory of that Island fell the same Day that Grenada fell; a select Body of 100 Men were entirely cut to Pieces, except 39, with, as the French say, 1500 more or less Note in all: A dreadful Carnage! and that executed in a very short Time. -One Letter mentions, that the Bombardment and Cannonading of Fort Royal was such, that Milton's Description of the Infernal Region, was not to be compared with it.
Extract of a Letter from the West Indies, dated March 4. 1762.
MARTINICO
Surrendered to the British Troops the 12th of February, upon such Terms as the English thought proper to allow them--All the Windward Islands entirely in Possession of the English.
We hear that the French Regular Troops who were Prisoners of War, had embarked and sailed the 26th of Feb. from Martinico.
His Excellency General THOMAS has issued a Proclamation appointing the 11th of March to be a Day of Thanksgiving throughout the Islands under his Command: the following is extracted from said Proclamation.
"It hath also pleased Almighty God, to favour His Majesty's just Deigns, by preserving in a very extraordinary Degree the Health & Vigour of His Forces, in a Climate to which they were generally unaccustomed; and by many other Demonstrations of his mighty Power, so that the said Island of Martinico have been entirely reduced to His Majesty's Obedience. in much less Time than could be reasonably expected.' after the great Preparations made by the Enemy for the Defence of the same; and hath thereby removed from the Leeward Islands the Scourge which had so sorely afflicted them in all former Times of War since their settlement: for which the Inhabitants thereof are in a more particular Manner bound in Duty, to offer up their Praises and Thanksgiving to his Divine Majesty."
In a Jamaica Paper of the 11th of February, we have the Speech of his Excellency Gov. Littleton, on the 4th of the same Month, to the Council and Assembly of that Island, with their respective Addresses to him.
His Excellency mentions to them, that he had Intelligences, that the Enemy had projected an Invasion of that Island, they expecting the Junction of a Spanish Squadron then in those Seas; which had induced his Excellency to issue his Majesty's Proclamation for Martial Law to take Place; and recommends to them to pursue all other Measures to put the Country into a proper State of Defence, and to use every Means which might most effectually secure that Island, and avert the Mischiefs that apparently threaten it:
On the 13th of January an Embargo was laid on all Shipping in the Ports of Jamaica; at the same Time Martial Law was proclaimed in that Island.
We hear that Part of the Fleet at the Reduction of Martinico were sailed for Jamaica.
NEW-YORK, March 25.
By a Vessel from Guadaloupe, we have Advice that Letters were received there from our Forces at Martinico, giving an Account that they were in Possession of Fort Royal. Fort St. Pierre, and all the Places of any strength: That 13 Parishes; being the chief Part of the Island. had sent to General MONCKTON offering to Capitulate on the same Terms as Guadaloupe; which the General absolutely refused, insisting that the Island and all its Dependencies should be surrendered at Discretion, that they might enjoy their Plantations, &c. and the Soldiers Prisoners of War, that they should have no other Terms till His Majesty's Pleasure was known.
That General MONCKTON met with no great Opposition in taking Fort Royal, and that our greatest Loss of Men was of the Highlanders, occasioned by a Sally from the Town. in which the Enemy were driven back, and our Troops following them too eagerly, Part of the Highlanders got into the Town with the French, and the Gates were shut upon them: That there are but 16 Parishes in the Island. Our whole Loss does not exceed 300.
What sub-type of article is it?
Military Campaign
War Report
Colonial Affairs
What keywords are associated?
Martinico Surrender
British Siege
West Indies
General Monckton
Fort Royal
Highlanders Loss
Thanksgiving Proclamation
What entities or persons were involved?
General Monckton
General Francis Grant
Monsieur La Touche
Mr. Nado
Monsieur Delengrey
General Thomas
Gov. Littleton
Where did it happen?
Martinico
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Martinico
Event Date
February 12, 1762
Key Persons
General Monckton
General Francis Grant
Monsieur La Touche
Mr. Nado
Monsieur Delengrey
General Thomas
Gov. Littleton
Outcome
island surrendered unconditionally; british losses under 300; french prisoners including 800 at fort royal; all windward islands in english possession.
Event Details
British forces under General Monckton besieged Martinico starting January 19, 1762, with key assaults on Mount Tortenson (Jan 24) and enemy camp (Jan 27), leading to flight of 9,000 whites and 3,000 armed Negroes. Fort Royal surrendered Feb 4; full island capitulation Feb 12. Low opposition, civilized conduct; proclamation of thanksgiving issued.