Source 2a

Letter from Colonel Edward Codd to James Leith, his report of the insurrection. (CO 28/85)

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Transcript

St. Ann's, April 25th 1816

Sir – I have the honour to report to your Excellency that about two o’Clock in the morning of the 15th instant, I received an official notification of an insurrection of the Negroes in the interior of the island on the preceding evening and I was required by the President to co-operate with the militia.About 10 o’Clock, having waited in vain for authentic information of the strength and position of the insurgents, I deemed it necessary to march off in that quarter of the country, when the alarm had first spread, with a force consisting of three field pieces under the command of Brevil Major Brough,

Glossary

Authentic: not false, genuine

Insurgents: rebels; people taking part in an uprising

Field pieces: cannons