sent
the captain of the fort, an artillery officer, on board the
_Majestueuse_, to conduct the supposed British admiral and his fleet to
a safe anchorage.[29] Shortly afterwards the boats pushed off with the
troops, and the squadron changed its colours to French.

Directly this was perceived, the grenadier company of the 46th, with the
light company of the 1st West India Regiment (107 rank and file), under
Captain O'Connell, and a company of militia, marched from the garrison
at Morne Bruce to Point Michell, about three miles distant. At this spot
the enemy concentrated, and effected a landing under a heavy fire from
the fleet. Two thousand eight hundred troops having been landed at the
extremity of a cape within a short distance of Point Michell, they
advanced towards that place in column of subdivisions, the only
formation which the restricted space would admit, the point being
bounded by inaccessible heights on the right, and a broken and rugged
shore on the left.

The two companies of the 46th and the light company of the 1st West
India Regiment were posted behind the walls of some ruined buildings in
the village of Point Michell, which afforded excellent cover, and where
they were entirely sheltered from the fire of the enemy's shipping;
while the French had to advance on a narrow front, entirely exposed to
their fire.

The attack commenced about 5 a.m. Four times the enemy were led to the
assault, and as many times they were repulsed. At about 6.30 a.m. the
remainder of the 46th and some local militia arrived, and the struggle
continued; but not without loss on our side, Major Nunn and Captain
O'Connell, 1st West India Regiment, being wounded, the former mortally,
and four men killed. At last, the enemy, finding all his endeavours to
force the position were ineffectual, landed the remainder of his troops
to leeward of the town of Roseau, on the British right, and attacked
Fort Daniel, a small redoubt mounting a six-pounder gun, and defended by
2 artillerymen, and 1 sergeant and 5 men of the 1st West India Regiment.
These were all made prisoners in the work, which the enemy had attacked
with 500 men. Brigadier-General Prevost then retired with the militia to
the heights of Woodbridge Estate; and, the British right being now
turned, the regulars, some 200 in number, who had been so gallantly
defending the left, retired to effect a junction with the garrison at
Fort Rupert, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Broughto