British campaign in the Caribbean (1803) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British campaign in the Caribbean
Part of the Napoleonic wars
Date 20 June – 25 September 1803 Location Caribbean Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	France Batavian Republic
Commanders and leaders
William Grinfield Samuel Hood	Antoine Noguès César Berthier Antony Meertens
Units involved
Expeditionary force	Colonial garrisons
Strength
3,149 14 ships	800 (France) 1,500 (Batavia)
Casualties and losses
20 killed 118 wounded 8 missing 700 dead from disease	800 captured 1,500 joined British service 1 ship captured

The British campaign in the Caribbean was a series of battles during the first year of the Napoleonic Wars. It started after a peace agreement, the Treaty of Amiens, broke down. War between Britain and France began again in May 1803.

British forces in the West Indies (the Caribbean islands) received orders to attack France's valuable sugar islands. The British expedition, led by William Grinfield and Samuel Hood, left Barbados on June 20, 1803. They had 3,149 soldiers and several warships.

They quickly captured St Lucia on June 22, 1803, after a tough fight for its main fort, Morne-Fortunée. Nine days later, they took Tobago. After leaving soldiers to guard these new islands, the British forces went back to Barbados.

Later, on August 10, Grinfield was ordered to take over the Dutch colonies of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice. These colonies were unhappy with the rule of the Batavian Republic (a French-controlled Dutch state). They had asked the British government for a peaceful takeover. Even though many of Grinfield's soldiers were now guarding the captured French islands, he gathered about 1,300 men. They arrived off Georgetown on September 18. The Dutch governor agreed to surrender. The colony of Berbice was also taken without a fight on September 27.

Why the Caribbean was Important

The money from sugar was very important for both Britain and France. Almost half of France's trade came from the West Indies. A lot of their ships and sailors depended on this trade. For Britain, the Caribbean islands were also important, making up 20% of their trade. Losing these islands would have caused big money problems for either country.

Controlling the Atlantic Ocean and having power in South America also needed control of key harbors in the islands. Losing a base in the Caribbean would have been a major setback. France especially wanted to be a strong sea power. They had even planned to build a large naval base on the island of Tobago.

Because these islands were so valuable, both nations worked to protect them. The peace from the Treaty of Amiens was not expected to last. Both sides stayed ready for war. When war was declared in May 1803, many French warships were already in the Caribbean. Britain also had nearly 10,000 soldiers spread across its West Indian colonies.

British forces in the area knew war was coming as early as April. Lieutenant-General William Grinfield, the Commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands, had 4,000 men ready. When war was declared, Grinfield was ordered to attack French-held islands like Martinique, St Lucia, or Tobago. Martinique was too strong, but Grinfield thought St Lucia could be captured. On June 17, Hood sent Captain James O'Brien in HMS Emerald to stop supplies from reaching St Lucia.

The Campaign Begins

The invasion force left Barbados on June 20. The naval fleet included Samuel Hood's flagship, the 74-gun HMS Centaur. It also had the 74-gun Courageux, the frigates Argo and Chichester, and the sloops Hornet and Cyane.

On board were soldiers from the 1st Regiment of Foot, the 64th Regiment of Foot, 68th Regiment of Foot, and the 3rd West Indies Regiment. In total, there were 3,149 soldiers under Grinfield's command. The next morning, they were joined by the 36-gun frigate Emerald and the 18-gun sloop Osprey.

Taking St Lucia and Tobago

By 11:00 AM on June 21, the ships were anchored in Choc Bay, north of Castries. Most of Grinfield's soldiers landed there. The wind was strong, making it hard to row ashore. But by 5:00 PM, the troops were on land. They moved inland, pushing French outposts back towards Castries. The town surrendered at 5:30 PM.

Meanwhile, Captain Benjamin Hallowell took some sailors and marines to Gros Islet. Their goal was to cut off the path between the fort at Pigeon Island and St Lucia's main fortress, Morne-Fortunée. After Castries fell, the French soldiers at Morne-Fortunée were asked to surrender. But their commander, Brigadier Antoine Noguès, refused.

So, at 4:00 AM the next morning, the British attacked the fort. Two groups of soldiers, led by Brigadier-General Thomas Picton, stormed the walls. The British had 130 casualties during the attack. But by 4:30 AM, the fort and the entire island were in British hands. About 640 French prisoners were sent back to France.

After this quick victory, the British decided to attack Tobago next. The 68th Regiment and three companies of the 3rd West Indies Regiment stayed to hold St Lucia. Hood's Centaur and other smaller ships took Grinfield and the rest of the forces to Tobago. Tobago was captured on July 1. The capital, Scarborough, was taken by two groups of Grinfield's soldiers. The French general, Berthier, knew how many British soldiers were coming. He decided to surrender without a fight. The island was then guarded by eight companies from the 1st Regiment and one company from the 3rd West Indies Regiment. The expedition then returned to Barbados.

Capturing Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice

A 1798 map showing the Dutch colonies of Essequibo and Demerara

The Dutch colonies in South America were controlled by the Batavian Republic. In early July, the French governor Victor Hughes visited them. This made the Dutch plantation owners very worried. They remembered the 1794 invasion of Guadeloupe and feared what might happen to them. So, they asked the British to take over peacefully. On August 10, Grinfield received orders to accept the surrender of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice.

Many of Grinfield's original soldiers were now guarding the newly captured islands. Grinfield asked for 5,000 more men to be sent. He was promised a battalion from Gibraltar, but it never arrived. After waiting in vain until the end of August, he decided to use the soldiers he had.

By adding Royal Marines to his force, Grinfield gathered 1,300 men. On September 1, he set out with Hood's ships. This group included Centaur, the 16-gun troopship Alligator, Chichester, the transport ship Brilliant, the 22-gun brig Heureux, and the 16-gun sloop Netley. However, they didn't reach the meeting point off the Demerara River until September 18 because of very light winds.

A message was immediately sent to the Dutch governor in Georgetown. It demanded that the colonies surrender. In return, the Dutch officers would be treated with respect and allowed to leave. Public buildings and ships would be taken, but private property would not. Meanwhile, Netley, with someone who knew the coastline, went to scout for small boats. By early the next morning, 24 local boats were gathered. Soldiers were moved from Chichester and Centaur, which were too big to enter the river.

The next day, June 20, a Dutch group arrived, and they agreed to the surrender terms. Hornet, which had been blocking the port, then sailed up the river with Netley. Two hundred soldiers landed and secured Fort William Frederick. Heureux captured the 18-gun Hippomenes, a Dutch naval ship, moored in the river. The colonies of Demerara and Essequibo were handed over at noon the next day.

The governor of Demerara and Essequibo, Antony Meertens, could not surrender Berbice, as it was governed separately. So, a separate group was sent. This included Heureux, Alligator, Netley, and soldiers and marines on the transport ship Brilliant. The colony was finally taken without a fight on September 27. Of the 1,500 Dutch soldiers, half joined the British Army. They formed their own regiment, called the York Light Infantry Volunteers.