FRENCH ATTACK ON

DOMINICA

WEST-INDIES

1805

translated and edited by Geert van Uythoven

“This event took place during the attack on Dominica in the West-Indies, by the Rochefort squadron in 1805. The French had already undertaken in vain two attacks in order to capture the British held position at Point Michel, and now they started their third and final desperate attack. A column of grenadiers of the 26me d’Infanterie de Ligne advanced in a really brave and impressive way. The British were covered by their walls, except for Captain Archibald Campbell, who was observing the movements of the French.

When the French had closed in to about ten yards (about twelve paces, a more or less fixed distance at which was to respond), the captain ordered his men (grenadiers of the 46th Foot) to make ready to fire. The French commanding officer encouraged his own men with an ‘Avancez mes enfants, avancez!’. At that moment Captain Campbell, who was an able marksman, took a musket from the hands of one of his men with the purpose of having the honour to shoot down the French officer himself. However, this French officer noticed him calmly taking aim, yelling at him heroically, ‘Tuez, Monsiuer, tuez!’ Captain Campbell lowered his musket again, saying: ‘by God, I cannot kill such a brave fellow!’, and ordered his men to fire.

The French officer fell, pierced by several musket balls. The column wavered and broke, being decimated during its retreat.”

Source: Anonymous, “Anekdote”, in ‘Militair-Wochenblatt’, 1. Jahrgang (Berlin 1816).

© Geert van Uythoven