to bear with such effect, that the fort fired only an occasional gun when the ship was in stays. At 1 P.M. the first division of seamen and marines in the boats stormed and carried the fort without loss, and struck the Dutch colours, which the enemy, on retreating, had left flying. By a rapid movement, the British, “under the command of Lieutenant Willoughby,” reached the heights, and, with the loss of only 4 or 5 killed and wounded, drove the Dutch soldiers from their position. This done, the remainder of the seamen and marines were landed, and the Gipsy schooner anchored in the cove.[1]”
On the 1st Feb. two 18-pounder carronades and a light field-piece were landed from the Theseus, and, with great difficulty, dragged four miles to the advanced post, situated about eight hundred yards to the westward of the town, which it in part overlooked. This post was placed under the command of Lieutenant Willoughby; and a battery erected near it was confided to the charge of Mr. Eaton Travers, midshipman, who had most gallantly supported him at the storming of Piscadero, &c.
On the 2d and 3d, two long 18-pounders, four more carronades, and one or two field-pieces were brought on shore and mounted. A Dutch 12-pounder, also, was transported from the fort to Willoughby’s battery, and a constant fire kept up between the adverse parties.
“On the evening of the 4th, there was a smart skirmish between the British at the advanced post, and the enemy’s sharp-shooters, in which the latter were repulsed; and on the morning of the 5th, a more serious affair took place[2] “in front of that battery, Lieutenant Willoughby having marched out with nearly his whole force, consisting of about 80 or 85 seanen and marines, for the express purpose of giving battle to about 500 Dutch and French, the latter privateers’ men, who had landed their guns, and mounted them in a battery of their own construction. On this occasion the British again defeated their adversaries, but sustained a loss of 23 killed and wounded, the whole in fair fight with muskets alone, not a man having suffered “from the cannon of Fort République," The senior marine officer, serving under Lieu-
