The War of the Austrian Succession has…
May 1745 CE
Convoys and holdings of each nation are a target or a threat.
Three hundred British militia, slaves and regulars with two privateers from Saint Kitts had invaded the French half of neighboring Saint Martin in 1744; they will hold it until the 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
In retaliation, two French royal frigates of thirty-six and thirty guns, respectively, under Commodore La Touché, plus three privateers and two Dutch vessels, used as tenders, sail in late May 1745 from Martinique to invade and capture Anguilla.
The British on Anguilla are aware of the threat and thus ready themselves with around one hundred and fifty militia and regulars from the islands small garrison.
They are surprised early in the morning of the 21st May by the French fleet.
Le Touché lands seven hundred and fifty-nine men at a place called Rendezvous Bay.
The surprise landing is a great encouragement to the French on the island and a great discouragement to the heavily outnumbered British.
The Governor, Arthur Hodge, forms their defenders into three platoons, and posts them in a very narrow path behind well hidden breast-works by which the French are to pass.
The first of these contains twenty-two regulars, commanded by Captain Richardson.
The French are advancing into carefully placed ambush.
The regulars engage the French, firing by platoons regularly, and with a good accuracy, taking a heavy toll on the attackers.
Within a few minutes, the advance guard breaks rank and soon flees.
Within fifteen minutes the other sections repeat the same fate, holding their ground as the rest of the French advance and they too also retreat.
The British now launch a counterattack, pursuing the retreating French as they head back towards their boats in the bay.
The retreat becomes a rout as the panicked French try to get into their boats, many of them drowning in the attempt.
The French ships open fire on the British, who halt their pursuit and round up prisoners.
The small British force expects a fresh attack the next day but the French, having encountered such heavy resistance, decide not to push on and withdraw to Martinique.
At least one hundred French are killed, drowned or wounded in this action, while another fifty are taken prisoner.
The British bury thirty-five dead, and are in search of the few remaining French soldiers who had hidden in the bushes, including a few who had been wounded.
Among the dead are the second captain of Commodore Le Touché, the first Lieutenant of the second warship; Captain Rolough from a privateer; the son of the Governor of Saint Barthélemy, and several other officers.
Touché, who is himself wounded in his arm and thigh, sets on shore a Flag of Truce to ask for prisoners back in exchange for articles such as food, wine and stores.
The British force have suffered seven casualties but have captured two French colors, many firearms, cartridge boxes, hand grenades and swivel guns.
According to the Governor the spoils were given to ‘negroes’ of the island for their reward in helping in the defense.
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