The New Hampshire Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Martinico Jan. 29th

WE landed in Carlisle Bay on the 15th instant, the Ships of War having previously silenced many Batteries along Shore. The Enemy with their whole Strength collected had Possession of the two remarkable strong Hills called Morne Fortuné and Granier, with many strong Redoubts mounted with Cannon, Batteries, Breastworks, &c. On the 24th current our Troops crossed a very deep and almost impassable River, and that in the Face of the Enemy, to the Attack of their Works on the Morne Fortuné so impregnably posted as the Enemy seemed to be. It was really amazing to see the Ardor with which our brave Men advanced, they drove them out of one Work, and then another, and in a few Hours we were in Possession of all their Works, consisting of not less than ten Redoubts with Cannon, strong and most advantageously situated.
The Enemy retired in the utmost Confusion to the Morne Granier which commanded the Ground we had got Possession of, and where they had also Redoubts mounted with Cannon, and a deep River or Gully between us.

The 25th and 26th we were annoyed a good deal, with Cannon and Shells from Fort Royal and Morne Granier.

The 27th in the Afternoon the Enemy had the Temerity (inspired with a good Quantity of L'eau de Vie) to attack with about 3000 Men, under Cover of a new erected Battery, the Brigade of the Army on the Left: They were received properly, and instantaneously repulsed & the happy Consequence was that our Troops pursued them, passed the River, and got Possession of Morne Granier, where two Brigades, the Light Infantry and Grenadiers took Post that Night, in order to attack their strong Works on the Morrow; but that Trouble was saved, by the Enemy evacuating them in the Night. So that we are now in Possession of the Ground on which the Safety of Fort Royal depended.

It must immediately fall when our Batteries open against it, which will be To morrow Morning.

The General is perfectly well.

In our different Actions we have not had more than 400 killed and wounded; and but two Officers killed on the Spot, Capt. Cockburn of the 42d and Lieut. Jermin of the 22d.

We have killed Numbers of the Enemy, and have more Prisoners than we know what to do with, several Croix de Distinction.

As the Enemy have been defeated in their very strongest Post, and where they had collected almost all their Force, we may expect that the future Business in the Reduction of this Island will be easy, ...although by Nature the most undesirable Country to attack that ever was seen: The whole Island is nothing but deep Gullies and high Mountains.

There cannot be enough said in Honour of our brave Troops; they really surmounted more Difficulties than could have been expected from Men.

We yet are very healthy, notwithstanding the necessary Hardships and Fatigues they have been exposed to, laying upon their Arms without any Cover for above a Week together....

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Barbadoes to one in Marblehead, dated Feb. 7, 1762.

I Have the Pleasure to tell you, that although the French tho't themselves so well secured and intrenched, that we must have re imbarked our Troops again, that upon the first Attack of Morne Fortuné they were then convinced of their Mistake....Our Grenadiers were ordered to attack them in their intrenchments and Redoubts, which they marched up to, with their Bayonets fixed, in the Face of the whole Fire of the Enemy, which so amazed them that they gave up and retired from Redoubt to Redoubt, until we drove them out of the whole.....Morne Granier was also very strong, but we have got Possession of that, and before now, I am pretty sure, we are in Possession of Fort Royal. Deputies have been with Terms of Surrender, but they were rejected...as we shall not receive that Island upon the same Terms as Guadaloupe. ..

Post script of another Letter from Barbados, dated Feb. 7.

Yesterday our Packet arrived from Martinico, which he left last Tuesday the 2d Inst...Our Forces were then in Possession of Capuchin Hill (which is near Fort Royal) they were then erecting more and heavier Cannon to play on the Fort; several of our Batteries being then employed in that Work, and that the Fire from Fort Royal was so slow, that we had Reason to think the chief of the French had deserted it..

Monk. Latouch the French General it is said, can't be found....The Governor of St. Pierre's we have got. .. It is the general Opinion that we are Masters of the Whole by this Time.