A letter describing the events of the Battle of Jersey

A letter describing the events
of the Battle of Jersey

A letter, of unknown authorship, dated Jersey, 10 January 1781

Estimate of numbers

Last Saturday, to the great surprise of every body, we beheld 800 French, commanded by a Baron de Rullecourt, in the very heart of the town of St Hillery, without a single shot being fired. The Lieut-Governor was acquainted of their arrival whilst in bed: he got up, and, on his coming down, found his house surrounded. On his appearing, they took him prisoner, and led him to the marketplace, where he found about 500 drawn up. They took every body prisoners they could lay their hands upon, and obliged them to go into the court-house, where they forced the Governor to sign a capitulation.

The French commander endeavoured to prevail on the King's Advocate to sign, and many others; but they refused: he then suffered them to retire to their houses on their paroles; and sentries were placed in different parts to prevent their joining the troops that were assembling upon the Gallows Hill, on the west side of the town.

The Baron then obliged the Governor to write to Capt Mulcaster, the engineer, who had fortunately got safe into Elizabeth Castle; to Major Peirson, of the 95th; to Capt Lumsdale, commanding the 78th, or highlanders; and to Capt Campbell, of the Glasgow volunteers, or 83rd, not to fire a shot, but lay down their arms, as he had signed a capitulation. This order they determined not to obey.

The Baron next insisted that the Governor should go with him in person to the castle, in order to endeavour to prevail upon Capt Mulcaster; and took a party of 100 or 150 men to accompany them. They no sooner came within reach, than the brave Mulcaster fired at them, and carried off the leg of one of the French officers. Mr d'Auvrrgne, the overseer of the works, went to the castle, and told them, he feared, if they slid not surrender, the French would hang the Governor, and burn the town. Mulcaster answered. Let them begin to hang, burn, and be d... ... d, for he would not surrender the castle, or the British flag, so long as he had a man to defend it, to save any body.

Peirson's demand

Major Peirson came down from the hill with a flag of truce into the town, to demand the Lieutenant-Governor from the enemy; which was refused, and he returned. The French commandant then obliged the Lieutenant-Governor to go with a flag to Major Peirson, to endeavour to prevail upon him, and the rest of the troops, to surrender, in consequence of the capitulation he had signed.

But the Major, Capt Lumsdale of the 78th, and all the officers of the Militia, refused: the latter assured the two commanders of the regulars that if they would not capitulate, they would support them to the last. Major Peirson answered the Governor that he looked upon him as a prisoner, therefore could obey no orders that he should give out. The flag then required half an hour to retire: it was refused, and the Major pulled out his watch, and told them, he would give them ten minutes, and no more, when he would be at their heels, and attack them.

In the mean time the Major observed that the French had neglected to occupy the Town Hill to the east of the town. He detached Capt Fraser of the 78th, with his and the light company of the 95th, and two companies of the militia, to make a detour round the town, and take possession of it; which service he performed like an able officer, and without the loss of a man. They no sooner had possession of that hill, than the troops under Major Peirson attacked the French in the town, with the courage and intrepidity of British troops, supported with equal ardour by tbe militia.

Capt Fraser, with his detachment, came down the hill, and attacked them on the other side of the market-place; for there they had made their stand, placing cannon at each avenue. The fire was heavy whilst it lasted, but the French were so pressed on all sidcs, that they were soon beat. Their commander, the Baron, had his lower jaw broke by a musket-shot, one shot through his neck, and one or two through the thigh ; he died that night of his wounds. He was buried with military honours.

Governor held

The Baron held our Governor by the arm, and kept him in the fire the whole time. Several of their officers were wounded - no other killed there - they had near 100 privates killed, and about 30 wounded, and 280 prisoners.

On our side, we suffered the irreparable loss of poor Major Peirson, who was shot through the heart just as Victory declared herself for him, to the regret of every body: no other officer killed or wounded ; very few privates killed or wounded.

The Major was interred this afternoon about three o'clock, in the parish church of St Hillery, with all the military funeral pomp possible: every regiment attended, with the Lieutenant-Governor, the States of the island, and all the militia officers; in short, no man could be more loved or respected when alive than he was, or more lamented than he is.

The king and the country have lost a finished gentleman, and a very promising brave young soldier. He died in the arms of victory, aged twenty-tbree.

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