Siege of Brimstone Hill | |||||||
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Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
The Fortress of Brimstone Hill, UNESCO World Heritage site. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
France | Great Britain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Comte de Grasse Marquis de Bouillé |
Thomas Shirley Thomas Fraser Sir Samuel Hood Robert Prescott | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
7,000 men[2] | 3,000 men[3] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown |
107 killed 207 wounded hundreds sick |
The French invasion of Saint Kitts also known as the siege of Brimstone Hill, from 19 January–13 February 1782, was a part of the American Revolutionary War. After landing on Saint Kitts, the French troops of the Marquis de Bouillé stormed and besieged the fortress of Brimstone Hill. After a month of battle, the heavily outnumbered and cut-off British garrison surrendered. The Comte de Grasse, who delivered de Bouillé's troops and supported the siege, was outmanoeuvred and deprived of his anchorage by Admiral Samuel Hood. Even though Hood's force was inferior by one-third, de Grasse was beaten off when he attempted to dislodge Hood.[4] Hood's attempts to relieve the ongoing siege were unsuccessful, and the garrison capitulated after one month. About a year later, the Treaty of Paris restored Saint Kitts and adjacent Nevis to British rule.