capture anglo french war amphibious expedition july led french forces british held west_indies island having landed july assault occurred night july french forces assaulted british fortifications overlooking island capital captured cannons turned fort george governor lord opened negotiations surrender admiral rejected terms capitulation insisting adopting harsh terms written rejected terms choosing instead surrender permitted forces town sent france prisoner war july french forces fleet word arrived british fleet admiral approaching fleets battled day french severely damaged british ships fleets returned bases terms treaty paris france returned british control end war background following entry france american war independence american ally early french admiral arrived west_indies early december command fleet consisting ships line number smaller vessels time british fleet admiral arrived west_indies fleet admiral british captured french held despite attempt relief british monitor french martinique based british fleet reinforced january ships line admiral assumed command british islands station half fleets received reinforcements french fleet superior british furthermore departed june order provide escort services british merchant ships gathering convoy europe leaving free act french governor general martinique seized opportunity begin series operations nearby british possessions target isle fell june turned attention islands hoped capture barbados key british possession making progress prevailing easterly trade winds turned attention instead british defences time britain richest colonies producing significant quantities sugar plantations lord british governor alerted possibility french attack repeated requests support admiral british commander told principal french interest bring relief attacked disposal soldiers drawn 48th regiment foot artillery men militia volunteers consider forces especially french extraction ordered construction significant fortifications prominence overlooking island capital steep fortified stone walls surrounding series french capture french fleet anchored coast north july troops landed day consisted man troops drawn regiments champagne arrival french ordered forces withdraw fortifications spent july british position concerned appear time decided launch attack sent flag demanding surrender british governor rejected demand plan attack called columns attack fortifications small fourth detachment demonstration location british reasonably expect attack evening july formations moved columns numbering men led brother column accompanied advance guard demonstration force numbered 4th demonstration force opened fire columns charged british defenders panicked fled hill apparent safety fort george british leave premises neglected spike cannons driving metal spike rendering cannon abandoned brought heights french captured cannons fire fort george realising situation hopeless raised white flag french took prisoners claimed casualties killed wounded british reports claimed french casualties numbered closer french claimed prizes merchant ships anchored harbour admiral rejected proposed terms list articles drafted found proposed articles merely unprecedented uncertain nature extent aim time supply pretext taking away lives fortunes council unanimous rejecting proposed capitulation british chose surrender instead consequence permitted troops items taken destroyed silver plate clothing personal papers came particularly harsh blow governor copies papers sent wife destroyed fire invited governor apologised noting coat wearing left leading refused parole sent france prisoners war aftermath admiral alerted capture july route force retake learnt attack immediately sailed arriving morning july alerted intentions 5th embarked troops weighed anchor 6th fleets battled prevailing disorganized attack major actions west_indies sailed north led unsuccessful siege british held savannah georgia september successes capturing defeating immensely popular france playwright actor wrote containing capture popular work attended performance visit paris occupation french began construction series fortifications richmond hill designed defend attack like theirs cannons pointed defences completed british remained french hands end war returned britain terms treaty paris rule appointed governor reported british residents harsh oppressive british resumed control cracked predominantly roman catholic french speaking population leading discontent exodus french trinidad religious cultural divisions society contributed rise local resistance culminated nearly successful rebellion
Capture of Grenada (1779)