invasion invasion september successful french invasion island anglo french war action took place british authorities caribbean aware france entered war ally united_states_of_america french governor west_indies notified august france war organized invasion spies rally sympathetic french speaking dominican support early september french forces landed southeastern coast island rapidly took island defenses eventually gained control high ground overlooking island capital lieutenant governor surrendered remaining forces remained french hands end war returned british control background following pivotal battles october ensuing surrender british general army france decided openly enter american war independence ally young united_states_of_america france objectives entering war included recovery territories lost britain seven years war key territory particular interest west_indies island lay french held martinique guadeloupe captured britain recapture island improve communication islands deny use dominican ports preyed french shipping governor concerned island security war began operating instructions colonial authorities london minimize expenses defence pushed forward improvement fort sites work incomplete took leave june sailing england command left lieutenant governor work improve defenses incomplete august governor received word war declared prelude french frigate reached martinique august orders paris earliest opportunity immediate plans operation maintained contacts dominican population remained largely french years british administration result accurate picture condition dominican defenses knew island garrison numbered fewer soldiers fit duty concerned whereabouts fleet admiral significantly powerful unbeknownst recently assumed post orders retain fleet barbados instructions received british regular forces island total numbered distributed defences capital hills overlooked carefully maintained facade peace dealings dominican authorities began preparing forces martinique september stuart signed agreement formally prohibited crews day sent officers royal_navy frigate anchored near present day portsmouth stuart suspicious man questioned released september informed frigate sailed barbados immediately moved launch invasion british sources suggest french soldiers island gained entry battery evening garrison drink poured sand fort cannons temporarily rendering useless fact agents island convinced local french speaking militia abandon duties called invasion sunset september french troops volunteers departed martinique aboard frigates corvette flotilla smaller vessels sources describing action significantly varying numbers size french force numbers report action british sources claim force numbered point attack battery british garrison drink cannons overcome significant resistance dawn september 48th regiment soldiers driven fell deaths securing battery french fired cannons sent signal rockets signal allies actions alerted stuart alarm immediately raised french dominican militia failed muster arranged militia ended duty deployed defenses french proceeded land troops objective gaining high ground capital main force men landed miles south near heavy fire hill batteries resulting casualties landed landed north fleet frigates moved bombard defenses french briefly captured coastal fort times driven fire ended withdrawing forces able reach capture hill batteries noon french occupied high ground capital stuart realized situation hopeless negotiations followed signed terms capitulation proceedings interrupted french frigates captain apparently unaware proceedings fired fort young british flag flying commanders rushed fort prevent exchanges gunfire completed agreement french formally took control british regulars prisoners war militia released return home interested keeping good terms population allow troops town instead levied fee island population distributed men aftermath official correspondence claimed french suffered casualties stuart reported french appeared casualties occurred invasion left garrison french regulars free black militia island turned command returned martinique news fall received surprise london considering single ship line prevented attack admiral widely blamed loss criticized closely orders orders reinforcements late arrival held barbados launch attack took place december events series military actions resulting change control caribbean islands war involved appointed governor leeward_islands taken prisoner british surrender remained french hands annoyance returned british control terms treaty paris fact french supplied natives mixed blood locals arms invasion caused problems british local forces previously somewhat pacific resisted british attempts expand holdings island leading expanded conflict
Invasion of Dominica