Chapter I

Join my regiment in Jersey. Embark for England. Winter at Chatham.
The 52d regiment made Light Infantry. New system of drill
introduced. Encamp at Shorncliffe in Kent. French camp and
flotilla at Boulogne. Invasion threatened, and precautions taken
by Sir John Moore. The Duke of York reviews the troops at
Shorncliffe. Sudden order for our regiment to embark for the
West Indies. Unfortunate occurrence on the march from
Shorncliffe to Portsmouth. Remarks thereon. Embark and sail for
Barbadoes. Tremendous storm. Various occurrences on the voyage.
Arrive at Barbadoes. First impressions as to climate, &c. Death
of the Commander-in-Chief of the West Indies. We proceed to
Antigua. The harbour and dock-yard. Disembark at midnight. Lose
my baggage. Scarcity of fresh water in Antigua. The regiment
suffers dreadfully from yellow fever. Its losses. Hurricane.
Officers’ funerals. The military governor and his brigade-major
die. A receipt for yellow fever. Dancing and other gaieties.
Death of Sir William Myers, the new Commander-in-Chief in the
West Indies. Terrible mortality in his family. Death of the new
Governor of Antigua. Great mortality in the 96th regiment in
Antigua. A French squadron. Dominica is attacked. The French are
repulsed by the 46th regiment. We expect a visit from the same
squadron at Antigua. Preparations for its reception. We are
reinforced. Long marches. Sudden death of several soldiers from
excessive heat. The 68th regiment is sent to Antigua. Its
immense losses by climate. Horse-races and balls at St. John’s.
More funerals. Lord Nelson arrives in search of the French and
Spanish squadrons. He returns to Europe. My health begins to
suffer. A medical board orders me to Europe for its restoration.
My own ideas as to _slavery_. Take my passage for Europe. Sail
to Tortola. Large homeward-bound fleet. Dreadful gales and other
mishaps on the voyage home. Anchor in Dublin Bay. Quarantine.
Land at Dublin. Proceed to England. 1