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	\| title = Bulletins ~~XXVIII–XXXI~~		\| title = Bulletins Volume 5
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	\| date = 1905		\| date = 1905
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	\| pages = pp. ~~268–273~~		\| pages = pp. 268–275
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Revision as of 12:35, 1 September 2006

Battle of Jersey

Part of American War of Independence

Death of Major Peirson by John Singleton Copley

Date	January 6 1781
Location	Saint Helier, Jersey
Result	Decisive British victory

Belligerents

Great Britain

France

Commanders and leaders

Major Francis Peirson

Baron Phillipe de Rullecourt

Strength

2,000

1,000

Casualties and losses

Around 30

30 dead and wounded

The Battle of Jersey was a battle during the American War of Independence and was technically the last battle fought on British soil (coming after the Battle of Culloden in 1745). It was the last attempt by France to invade Jersey militarily.

On January 6, 1781, a few hundred French troops under Baron Phillipe de Rullecourt landed unnoticed at La Rocque, Grouville, in Jersey. The adverse state of the tides meant that not all the troops, nor the equipment could be disembarked. They marched quickly to Saint Helier and surprised the Island's governor, Moses Corbet, in bed in Government House. De Rullecourt convinced Corbet that thousands of French troops had already overwhelmed Jersey. Corbet, unable to ascertain the true situation, surrendered. He was taken to the Royal Court building in the Royal Square and was persuaded to order Elizabeth Castle's commander Captain Mulcaster and 24-year old Major Francis Pierson's troops at Saint Peter's Barracks to surrender as well. However, both officers, who were better informed as to the real military situation than Corbet, refused to surrender. Pierson then marched his troops to the Royal Square and engaged the French forces.

Peirson was killed early in the battle, but his troops, spurred on by Lieutenant Dumaresq, outflanked the French forces and defeated them. Baron de Rullecourt was also mortally wounded in the course of the battle.

Later, parts of the 83rd Regiment of Foot attacked the French landing point at La Rocque and the French withdrew.

John Singleton Copley painted a dramatized version of the death of Major Peirson. That painting now appears on Jersey's 10 pound note and is in the Tate Gallery.

British units that took place in the battle include the 71st and 95th Regiments of Foot, the 78th (Highland) Regiment of Foot, and the Jersey Militia.

References

Bulletins Volume 5. Jersey Library: Société Jersiaise. 1905. pp. pp. 268–275. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

External links

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