 Rowley 's squadron and a number of supporting transport ships reached Île Bonaparte on 7 July . The main body , under Rowley , approached Sainte @-@ Marie at 14 : 00 , to draw French forces away from Grande <unk> , where Sirius was secretly landing the first " brigade " under Lieutenant Colonel Frazier . This force of 950 soldiers , a small battery of howitzers and the supplies needed for the campaign was landed without loss under the direction of Navy Lieutenant John Wyatt Watling , who had landed first and secured the beach with a party of seamen , distributing the soldiers and supplies as they came ashore . Advancing rapidly to seize the heights over the beach , Frazier drove off French outposts and snipers and cut the main road between Saint Denis and Saint Paul , hampering French communications and the movement of reinforcements . 
