y
they embarked for Barbados, arriving at that island on the 26th. The
regiment being then very much below its strength, on account of the
heavy losses which it had sustained during the expedition to New
Orleans, it was determined to transfer the majority of the privates who
remained to the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th West India Regiments, and reform
the regiment from a body of some 700 American negroes, who, in the late
war with the United States, had served with the British, and had been
temporarily organised as Colonial Marines.

On the 14th of December, the skeleton of the regiment embarked in H.M.S.
_Niobe_ for Bermuda, where the Colonial Marines were then stationed, and
arrived at St. George's on the 9th of January, 1816. It was only then
discovered that the number of men with whom it was intended to reform
the regiment, did not exceed 400; most of whom were of but poor
physique, and, moreover, unwilling to engage. At first the authorities
determined to force these men to enlist, but ultimately the whole plan
was abandoned; and the skeleton of the regiment left Bermuda on the 18th
of March to return to the West Indies. It arrived at Barbados on the 1st
of April; and the men who had already been transferred being sent back
to it, the corps was completed with drafts from the late disbanded
Bombor Regiment.

This was effected in time to enable the 1st West India Regiment to take
a very active part in the suppression of an alarming insurrection of
slaves, which broke out suddenly at Barbados on Easter Sunday, the 14th
of April, 1816. "The revolt broke out in St. Philip's parish, shortly
after sunset, and it extended, in the two following days, to the
parishes of Christ Church, St. John and St. George. A conflagration upon
a high ridge of copse-wood called Bishop's Hill, in the parish of St.
Philip's, was the first signal. Shortly after, the canes upon eight or
nine of the surrounding estates were set on fire. Some few of the rebels
were furnished with fire-arms, and a scanty supply of ammunition, and
the remainder were armed with swords, bludgeons, and such rude weapons
as they had been able to procure. Their approach was announced by the
beating of drums, the blowing of shells, and other discordant sounds.
They demolished the houses of the overseers, destroyed the sugar works,
and fired the canes.... Sixty estates were more or less damaged, many of
them to a considerable amount."[41]

As soon as the news reached Bridget