ng the mountains
that were deemed inaccessible.

But, howsoever deficient the governor might have been in the article of
courage, certain it is, the inhabitants behaved with great spirit and
activity in defence of their country. They continually harassed
the scouring detachments, by firing upon them from woods and sugar
plantations, which last the English burned about their ears in
resentment. Their armed negroes were very expert in this kind of bush
fighting. The natives or militia appeared in considerable parties,
and even encountered detached bodies of the British army. A lady of
masculine courage, whose name was Ducharmy, having armed her slaves,
they made several bold attempts upon an advanced post occupied by major
Melville, and threw up intrenchments upon a hill opposite to the station
of this officer, who had all along signalized himself by his uncommon
intrepidity, vigilance, and conduct. At length the works of this virago
were stormed by a regular detachment, which, after an obstinate and
dangerous conflict, entered the intrenchment sword in hand, and burned
the houses and plantations. Some of the enemy were killed, and a great
number taken. Of the English detachment twelve soldiers were slain, and
thirty wounded, including three subaltern officers, one of whom lost his
arm. The greatest body of the enemy always appeared at the governor's
head-quarters, where they had raised a redoubt, and thrown up
intrenchments. From these a considerable detachment advanced on the
sixth day of February, in the morning, towards the citadel, and fell in
with an English party, whom they engaged with great vivacity; but, after
a short though warm dispute, they were obliged to retire with some
loss. Without all doubt, the inhabitants of Guadaloupe pursued the most
sensible plan that could possibly have been projected for their own
safety. Instead of hazarding a general engagement against regular
troops, in which they could have no prospect of success, they resolved
to weary them out by maintaining a kind of petty war in separate
parties, to alarm and harass the English with hard duty in a sultry
climate, where they were but indifferently supplied with provisions and
refreshments. Nor were their hopes in this particular disappointed.
Both the army and the navy were invaded with fevers, and other diseases,
epidemical in those hot countries; and the regimental hospitals were so
crowded, that it was judged convenient to send five hun