his
garrison amounted to about three hundred men, exclusive of as many negro
inhabitants. The flat-bottomed boats, for disembarking the troops, being
hoisted out, and disposed alongside of the different transports, the
commodore stationed his ships on the west side of the island, and the
engagement began with a shell from one of the ketches. This was a
signal for the great ships, which poured in their broadsides without
intermission, and the fire was returned with equal vivacity from all
the batteries of the island. In the course of the action the cannonading
from the ships became so severe and terrible, that the French garrison
deserted their quarters, in spite of all the efforts of the governor,
who acquitted himself like a man of honour; but he was obliged to
strike his colours, and surrender at discretion, after a short but warm
dispute, in which the loss of the British commodore did not exceed one
hundred men killed and wounded. The success of the day was the more
extraordinary, as the French garrison had not lost a man, except one
negro killed by the bursting of a bomb-shell, and the number of their
wounded was very inconsiderable. While the attack lasted, the opposite
shore of the continent was lined with a concourse of negroes, assembled
to view the combat, who expressed their sentiments and surprise in loud
clamour and tin-couth gesticulations, and seemed to be impressed with
awe and astonishment at the power and execution of the British squadron.
The French colours being struck, as a signal of submission, the
commodore sent a detachment of marines on shore, who disarmed the
garrison, and hoisted the British flag upon the castle of St. Michael.
In the meantime, the governor and the rest of the prisoners were secured
among the shipping. Thus the important island of Goree fell into the
hands of the English, together with two trading vessels that chanced
to be at anchor in the road; and stores, money, and merchandise, to
the value of twenty thousand pounds. Part of the troops being left in
garrison at Goree, under the command of major Newton, together with
three sloops for his service, the squadron, being watered and refreshed
from the continent, that part of which is governed by one of the Jalof
kings, and the prisoners, with their baggage, being dismissed in
three cartel ships to France, the commodore set sail for Senegal, and
reinforced fort Louis with the rest of the troops, under colonel Worge,
who was at this