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Caribbean

On June 22nd, the main British army supplemented with conscripted Colonial Militias set sail for the Caribbean. The different fleets rendezvous at Carlise Bay in Barbados, prior to beginning the assault on French held Martinique. Admiral George Rodney led the British fleet while General Robert Monckton was in charge of the invasion forces.

Naval Action of July 5th:

Aware of British fleet movements in the area, the French made and attempt to intercept and end the British threat to their remaining Caribbean holdings.

Elements of Rodney’s fleet encountered a French patrol on July 5th and lined up for battle. The British forces in the engagement consisted of the HMS Cambridge (80), Suffolk (70), Marlborough (68), Trident (64), Eagle (58), Hector (44), Kinsale (40), Tweed (32), and the Argo (28). The French forces consisted of the Formidable (80), Juste (74), Intrepide (74), Protee (64), Aigle (50), Vestal (32), Sauvage (30), and the Diane (24).

Battle Results:
British Forces: Trident (64), foundered later from damage, surviing ships moderately damaged.
French Forces: Protee (64) captured but later foundered, Aigle (50) captured, Sauvage (30) captured, surviving ships heavily damaged.

Decisive British Victory

More British sails were spotted on the horizon by the French, where where other elements of Rodney’s fleet, just as the battle began turning against the French. The French forces were forced to turn and flee, unable to help the that could not keep up, resulting in the British capture of three vessels. The French had at least done enough damage to the (formerly French) Trident that it would succumb to the waves before it could reach a port. The Protee also would not survive to make it be converted or sold

The way was clear to the invasion of Martinique. Rodney chose not to pursue the French as he needed to make the rendezvous at Barbados without further delay.

Invasion of Martinique

On July 13th, the British fleets had all arrived at Carlise Bay, and prepared for the campaign, departing 10 days later on July 23rd.

The following ships comprised the British invasion fleet: HMS Cambridge (80), Princess Amelia (80), Dublin (74), Bellona (74), Suffolk (70), Marlborough (68), Devonshire (66), Edinborough (64), Worchester (60), Augusta (60), Dreadnought (60), Princess Mary (60), Eagle (58), Winchester (50), Bristol (50), Norwich (50), Ludlow Castle (44), Hector (44), Penzanca (44), Kinsale (40), Launceston (40), Tweed (32), Minerva (32), Southhampton (32), Pomone (30), Sauvage (ex-French) (30), Milford (28), Argo (28), Lowenstoffe (28), Shannon (28), Squirrel (20), Lively (20), as well as several support ships of less than 20 guns.

On August 3rd, the British fleet landed 9000 British troops and Milita on Martinique relatively uncontested, and began the contest over the island. The island governor Francis V Beauharnis had at his defense 1500 French soldiers, 7000 militia, and 15 privateers guarding the bay.

Battle Results:
British Forces: ~700 casualties
French Forces: ~250 casualties, most militia deserted or surrendered. 14 privateers captured, 1 sunk. All remaining French troops surrendered.

In a combination of battles and sieges, Fort Royal and other key towns on the island were taken over one by one over the next several weeks, resulting in the final full surrender of the island on September 20th.

Only one ship, HMS Devonshire (66) was lost due to navigation errors and running aground on rocks, and unable to be floated. After it was stripped of all usable equipment, it was broken up and burned.

Fall of St Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent:

Mere days after the surrender of Martinique elements of the British fleet sailed toward St. Lucia. Captain Hervey, in disguise as a lower officer, met in parley with the French Governor, whom did not surrender, but in truth his purpose was to ascertain the defenses of the island which was a single small fort. Hervey then sailed his squadron in, an overeager French soldier fired a shot even though others were preparing to surrender. Fearing resistance Hervey sailed in close and reduced the fort to rubble by cannon. The French took ten casualties from the bombardment before Hervey saw the stricken colors and ceased firing. St. Lucia then surrendered on September 28th.

On October 3rd, other elements of Rodney’s fleet arrived at Grenada, and demanded the French Governors surrender. He did not comply, but the residents capitulated, forcing the governor to surrender Grenada and the undefended Grenadines the next day on October 4th.

Hervey then continued on toward St. Vincent securing the surrender of the French there on October 7th.

With the fall of St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent, all that remained of French Caribbean island possessions was Saint-Dominique.