About day-break, Lieutenant-Colonel Ritchie's division began the attack on the upper
post of the enemy, which was occupied by
about two hundred and fifty Caribs, from which
they immediately fled down to Mariaqua after
the first fire; the division then pushed on to
the second height, which was also soon abandoned. The enemy at first only observing this
division, actually came out to attack it; but
Lieutenant-Colonel Leighton appearing at that
instant, they precipitately returned: a like
sortie was attempted on Lieutenant-Colonel
Prevost's party, but after advancing two hundred yards, the enemy likewise returned; the
Grenadiers of the forty-sixth as soon as the
firing began, climbed through the brushwood
on Belmont Ridge, and pushed on to support
Lieutenant-Colonel Ritchie and the Light Company, keeping the road until it rose upon the
ridge, met the Grenadiers, and they advanced
together. The guns kept the road until they
arrived at the upper end, where the enemy had
Colonel Leighton replied, " He would not admit
of any conditions whatever; that the French
General must make a discretionary surrender,
and rely on the British clemency." During
this interval of negociation, the enemy endeavoured to steal away unperceived; the object of it was only to amuse and gain time:
a party of the forty-sixth were ordered to storm
E.ncmy the place, which they did, followed by the
driven from
the Vigic. whole; only a few of the national troops tarried
to receive mercy, the rest dashed through all
manner of danger, like men wholly influenced
by despair, and in consequence of this temerity, numbers perished; thus escaping captivity,
and perhaps the ignominy of execution, which
was the justly awarded punishment of every
inhabitant carrying arms. The whole of the
Calibs retired very early in the morning, and
by that means principally escaped through
Mal'iaqua before the destined parties had been
able to arrive at their respective posts. In the
I)lace were found three four-pounders mounted
on field carriages, and sixteen swivels, some
mounted, others lying on the ground; they did
