successes of Commodore Rowley, previous to the reduction of the Isle of France, the former writer says:–
“There was one circumstance attending the attack on this island, which, though hitherto scarcely noticed by historians, contributed greatly to enlighten the minds of the inhabitants, till then kept in profound ignorance of the state of things. We mean the daring adventure of Capt. Willoughby, of the Nereide, who, after landing at Jacotel, penetrated into the interior of the island, and distributed the proclamations which made the inhabitants acquainted with the views of the British government, and induced them, on our forces’ landing, to lay down their arms, and gladly avail themselves of British protection[1].”
After recording the most honorable acquittal of Captain Willoughby, Mr. James thus happily expresses himself:–
“To this testimony in favor of the Nereide, we shall merely add, that the noble behaviour of her officers and crew threw such a halo of glory around the defeat at Grand Port, that, in public opinion at least, the loss of the four frigates was scarcely considered a misfortune[2].”
On the morning of the 30th Nov. 1810, the day after the debarkation of the British troops under Major-General Abercromby, “there was a slight skirmishing between the adverse pickets; and on the 1st and 2d of December, an affair, rather more serious, took place between the British main body and a corps of the enemy, who with several field-pieces had taken a strong position to check the advance of the invaders. The French, however, were soon overpowered by numbers, * * * * * *. Immediately after the termination of this battle. General De Caen, who, in the slight support he received from the Colonial Militia, now learnt to appreciate the effects of the proclamations so industriously spread among them by Captain Willoughby, proposed terms of capitulation; and on the following morning, the 3d, the articles were signed, and ratifications exchanged, surrendering the island to Great Britain. The garrison of the Isle of France consisted, it appears, of no more than 1300 regular troops, including, to their shame be it spoken, a corps of about 500 Irishmen, chiefly recruits taken out of the captured Indiamen. But the militia force amounted to upwards of 10,000 men; a number which General De Caen, no doubt, would have gladly exchanged for at many more regulars as he had under his command[3].”
- ↑ Brenton, v, 481.
- ↑ James, v, 431.
- ↑ Id. 475. – N.B. In this we perfectly agree with Mr. James; for General De Caen, knowing that Captain Willoughby, at the head of only 200 men, had landed and marched upwards of 20 miles in the face of 2200, must have felt that he could stand but little chance of retaining his government, by means of the French militia, after 13,000 British and native troops had been brought against him.
