being augmented from the three presidencies to the number of three thousand six hundred and fifty rank and file, of whom about one-half were Europeans. The whole of the expedition – consisting, besides transports, of the Boadicea, the Sirius, the Iphigenia, the Magicienne, and the Nereide, under the command of Commodore Rowley – arrived on the 7th of July, 1810, at Grande Chaloupe, about six miles to the westward of St. Denis, the capital of the Isle of Bourbon. A landing was effected by a part of the force with some difficulty, owing to the state of the weather; and the troops, about six hundred in number, advanced in excellent order towards St. Denis.
They found the enemy drawn up on the plain in two columns, each with a field-piece at its head, supported by some heavy cannon in a redoubt. A severe fire of musketry and artillery was opened upon the British force, till, on reaching the plain, orders were given to charge. The French remained steadily at their guns till the British Grenadiers came in contact with them, when they fled before the deadly thrust of the bayonet, but attempted to form in rear of the redoubt, from which they were speedily driven by the weapon they so much dreaded, and the main force of the island was totally defeated by this small portion of the invading army.
The remainder of the troops having landed under Colonel Keating, preparations were made for a simultaneous attack upon the capital; when, at the very moment of advance, a flag of truce arrived to treat for the surrender of the island, which was accordingly taken possession of, with the trifling loss of eighteen killed, seventy-nine wounded, and four drowned in landing.
The capture of the Isle of Bourbon was but a preliminary to an attempt on the more important settlement of the Mauritius, which was destined soon after to share its fate. Before this occurred, however, the British arms sustained a series of nautical disasters, which for a time gave the enemy the dominion of the Indian seas; but though the proceedings of the British navy do not fall
