NAM.1988-06-30-1

Letterbook: 'Letterbook of Maj Gen Hugh Carmichael, 1810-11'. Containing copies in a number of hands of out-letters written by Maj Gen Hugh Lyle Carmichael (1764-1813), Commander of HM Forces in Guadaloupe, or on his behalf, 1 Jul-5 Dec 1810 and 2 Jan-3 Apr 1811. The letters are addressed to Brig Gen Charles Wales, Commanding at Grande Terre; Lt Gen Sir George Beckwith, Commander of the Forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands; Adm Sir Alexander Cochrane, Governor of Guadeloupe; Lord Liverpool, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies; Officers Commanding regiments in his command- 15th (The Yorkshire East Riding) Regiment of Foot, 8th West India Regiment and Royal York Rangers; and local civil officials. The letters cover a range of subjects including: training West Indian troops in the use of artillery, sickness among the troops (Carmichael himself had two bouts of fever during the period), supply of bread to the troops, the state of the fortifications and artillery on the island (report of Beckwith 15 October), officers' European leave, formation of volunteers in Pointe a Pitre, capture of ships, accommodation for troops, misconduct of officers, their arrest and courts martial, courts of enquiry, problems with the ordnance depot and the shortage of money with which to pay the troops (24 November). There is also a letter to Liverpool complaining about the lack of pay and inspection reports on the 15th Regiment of Foot (30 October), 8th West India Regiment (30 October) and Royal York Regiment (4 November), Cochrane took over as Governor of the island on 11 September and it seems that Carmichael acted as governor both before then and at times afterwards when Cochrane was absent.

Guadeloupe, Recapture of, 1810 (Napoleonic Wars, West Indies 1803-1810)