page_title: Invasion of Dominica (1778)
section_title: Invasion
hierarchical_section_title: Invasion of Dominica (1778) / Invasion
caption_attribution_description: English: François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé
context_page_description: The Invasion of Dominica was a successful French invasion of the island of Dominica in the British West Indies, during the American Revolutionary War. The action took place before British authorities in the Caribbean were aware that France had entered the war as an ally of the United States of America. The French governor in the West Indies, François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé, was notified on 17 August that France was at war, and organized the invasion, infiltrating spies to rally sympathetic French-speaking Dominican support.
  Early on 7 September 1778, French forces landed on the southeastern coast of the island. They rapidly took over some of the island's defenses, and eventually gained control of the high ground overlooking the island capital, Roseau. Lieutenant Governor William Stuart then surrendered the remaining forces. Dominica remained in French hands until the end of the war, when it was returned to British control.
context_section_description: After sunset on 6 September, 1,800 French troops and 1,000 volunteers departed Martinique aboard the frigates Tourterelle, Diligente, and Amphitrite, the corvette Étourdie, and a flotilla of smaller vessels.  (Sources describing the action give significantly varying numbers for the size of the French force.  The numbers here are from de Bouillé's report of the action; some British sources claim his force numbered as many as 4,500.)  The first point of attack was the battery at Cachacrou, where the British garrison, befuddled by drink and with inoperative cannons, was overcome without significant resistance around dawn on 7 September.  Two of the 48th Regiment's soldiers were driven over the ramparts and fell to their deaths.  After securing the battery the French fired cannons and sent signal rockets skyward to signal their allies.  These actions also alerted Stuart at Roseau, and the alarm was immediately raised.  Many of the French Dominican militia failed to muster, as arranged.  About 100 militia ended up mustering for duty, and were deployed among Roseau's defences.
  The French proceeded to land more troops between Cachacrou and Roseau, with the objective of gaining the high ground above the capital.  The main force of 1,400 men was landed about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Roseau near Pointe Michel, with heavy fire from the hill batteries resulting in 40 casualties.  De Bouillé landed with another 600 at Loubiere, between Pointe Michel and Roseau, while another 500 landed north of Roseau, and the fleet's frigates moved to bombard Roseau's defences.  The French briefly captured the coastal fort at Loubiere, but were three times driven out by fire from above.  They ended up withdrawing until forces were able to reach and capture the hill batteries.  By noon, the French occupied the high ground above the capital, and Stuart realized the situation was hopeless.
  Negotiations followed, and Stuart and de Bouillé signed the terms of capitulation at about 3:00 pm.  The proceedings were interrupted by one of the French frigates, whose captain, apparently unaware of the proceedings, fired on Fort Young, where the British flag was still flying.  The two commanders rushed to the fort to prevent further exchanges of gunfire before they completed the agreement.  The French then formally took control of Roseau.  The British regulars were made prisoners of war, and the militia were released to return home.  De Bouillé, who was interested in keeping on good terms with the population, did not allow his troops to plunder the town.  Instead, he levied a fee of £4,400 on the island's population that was distributed among his men.
caption: François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé
exif: {}