Battle of Cul-de-Sac 1778
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 9:49 pm
The Capture of St Lucia or the Battle of Morne de la Vierge was a battle fought on the island of St. Lucia in the West Indies during the American War of Independence between 18 and 28 December 1778, between the British and the French forces. The British landed on St Lucia and defeated a French landing force that had come to reinforce the garrison. The island then capitulated.
On 18 December 1778, a force of 9,000 French troops were landed on St. Lucia. The small British force of 1,400 men occupied a hill located on the neck of a peninsula, known as Cul de Sac. The French were fairly raw soldiers, trained to fight in the classic European style of linear battles. They advanced on the British force several times. The British, particularly the 5th Regiment of Foot, were veterans of colonial fighting. They inflicted a stinging defeat on the French, who lost 400 killed and 1100 wounded; British losses were only 10 killed and 130 wounded.
With the defeat of D'Estaing on 15 December and therefore the loss of all hope of reinforcement, the French garrison surrendered on the 28th. The imminent arrival of British reinforcements under John (Foul Weather Jack) Byron forced the French to reembark their remaining troops during the night of 28–29 December; they returned to Martinique by 30 December.
St Lucia would be a crucial base from which to resupply the British fleet for the rest of the war in the lesser Antilles. British Admiral Rodney would use St Lucia as a base for the fleet that destroyed French naval power at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. The British held St Lucia was held by the British until 3 January 1784. It provided them a good bargaining chip for the handing back of islands captured by the French.
After the battle, the 5th Foot took the white plumes worn by the French soldiers and wore them as battle trophies. Later on, these plumes became the standard part of the uniform for the regiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_ca ... _St._Lucia
St Lucia SG478/81
On 18 December 1778, a force of 9,000 French troops were landed on St. Lucia. The small British force of 1,400 men occupied a hill located on the neck of a peninsula, known as Cul de Sac. The French were fairly raw soldiers, trained to fight in the classic European style of linear battles. They advanced on the British force several times. The British, particularly the 5th Regiment of Foot, were veterans of colonial fighting. They inflicted a stinging defeat on the French, who lost 400 killed and 1100 wounded; British losses were only 10 killed and 130 wounded.
With the defeat of D'Estaing on 15 December and therefore the loss of all hope of reinforcement, the French garrison surrendered on the 28th. The imminent arrival of British reinforcements under John (Foul Weather Jack) Byron forced the French to reembark their remaining troops during the night of 28–29 December; they returned to Martinique by 30 December.
St Lucia would be a crucial base from which to resupply the British fleet for the rest of the war in the lesser Antilles. British Admiral Rodney would use St Lucia as a base for the fleet that destroyed French naval power at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. The British held St Lucia was held by the British until 3 January 1784. It provided them a good bargaining chip for the handing back of islands captured by the French.
After the battle, the 5th Foot took the white plumes worn by the French soldiers and wore them as battle trophies. Later on, these plumes became the standard part of the uniform for the regiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_ca ... _St._Lucia
St Lucia SG478/81