OpenTube

Why the Caribbean was a Soldier's Worst Nightmare

Brandon Fisichella

1,920,833 views

Sponsored by Ekster! Get up to 25% off during their Summer Sale, from July 7, 2024 → August 21, 2024. Plus, make sure to use my code 'BRANDONF' to get additional savings. https://partner.ekster.com/brandonf

You can also find my new book, "Something Like Philosophy: A Symposium of Military Privation & Suffering" here: https://www.nativeoak.org

~~Video Description~~

During the 18th Century, the Caribbean was no set of island paradises! Instead, soldiers who were deployed there faced a near certain death to an inhospitable climate and ravaging sicknesses. The islands were, in the words of a young Horatio Nelson, a "Hell Hole" and according to another British officer, the "Scourge of Europeans". But, why was this the case? And if these little islands were so horrifically deadly, why would so many nations be sending their soldiers there to wither away and die?

~~Sources & Further Reading On This Topic~~

You can find Leach's account, plus the "Present State of the West Indies", to read for free at my website, https://www.nativeoak.org

The other sources can be found here:

The 38th Foot in the West Indies: https://westindiacommittee.org/histor...

The West Indian Soldier
https://westindiacommittee.org/histor...

~~Other Links & Contact Info~~

`Find a free digital library, shop for merchandise, and learn more about this channel's charity work at: ` https://www.nativeoak.org

You can directly support my work by becoming a Patron of this channel:
` Patreon: BrandonF

You may also give a one-time tip here:
` https://ko-fi.com/brandonf

~~Timestamps~~
Intro 00:00
Sterling & Slaves 01:11
Sponsorship 05:12
The Scourge of Europeans 07:17
Little or Nothing Worth 22:00
The Hell Hole 28:40
Conclusion 35:25

20 Comments

@BrandonF Creator 2 years ago (edited) Pinned

I did something a little different with the backdrop for this video. Still experimenting, but let me know what you think.
If you'd like to read any of the sources I quote from in this video, you can find them linked in the description under "Sources" - they're all free!

Also, if you're interested in buying my new book, you can find it here: https://www.nativeoak.org

Finally be sure to check out Ekster during their Summer Sale! When you use my code, BRANDONF, you can get even more savings! https://partner.ekster.com/brandonf

@easadventures1349 2 years ago

On top of all this bullshit, they had to deal with undead pirate crews cursed by aztec gold, octopusheaded captains and undoubtedly the worst pirate anyone had ever heard of.

@Messer-168 2 years ago

Even being a soldier nowadays in the Caribbean doesn’t sound fun, can’t wait to build a road in 110 degrees in the most humid jungle on earth.

@Th3yAreWatching 2 years ago

"Why did they send all those soldiers to waste away in the mosquito lands?"
Britain: You need some sugar to go with that tea.

@TrevorTrove 1 year ago

The older I get the more I realize that paradise usually involves snow. Humidity shuts my brain down

@B59800 1 year ago

"Take him to Jamaica!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

@sasdrusbaslisto9538 2 years ago

A Dominican general who fought the Spanish in Cuba said his best generals were July and August. This is a great analysis

@gso619 2 years ago

As horrific as it was, I can't help but chuckle at the idea of the french government going "Mon dieu. This place is terrible. Let's give up on it. We will focus our attention on Indochina. Nothing bad will ever happen in french Indochina."

@meshuggahshirt 2 years ago

"Take him to the Bahamas."
"NO! NOT THE BAHAMAS! PLEASE NO! ANYTHING BUT THAT!"

@j-hod6274 1 year ago

I always found the idea of fighting on tropical islands rather unique. Imagine going through absolutely hell on earth yet your surroundings are that of paradise.

@thegentlemancrusader9017 2 months ago

This man sounds like he is trying to distract me with tavern conversation while his little goblins steal my gold

@exploatores 2 years ago

the thought of wool uniforms and tropical climate makes me sweat.

@TheIrishvolunteer 2 years ago

Reading of a heroic regiment that fought valiantly always comes with the risk that the final line will be,
“And then they were deployed to the West Indies and were completely annihilated”

@kinsmarts2217 2 years ago

A hot and humid climate is nice on something like a 7 day vacation, with pools, drinks, repellants and air conditioning, otherwise its just a "green hell" full of disease. umbearable heat and mosquitoes.

@Knight-Crusader 2 years ago (edited)

Nice work ! As a french speaker I can tell you that dying from coup de soleil means dying from excessive heat. It means sun stroke literally.

@Tareltonlives 1 year ago

I remember reading on Second Franco-Mexican War and how the French tried to deal with the horrific heat and suffocating humidity of Veracruz in summer by bringing in Zouaves, Algerian soldiers. And while they were tough and the among the best French soldiers, they began to drop themselves with malaria outbreak in the occupied cities and French camps.

@HussarPlays 2 years ago

This really helps with Perspective.

I learned that Napoleon had sent the Polish Legion to quell the Haitian slave rebellion. Those that survived the voyage and conditions soon realized that they had more common with the slaves than the crown and turned on the French forces.

Now we still have Polish Haitians, descendants of the soldiers that joined the slaves and were allowed to settle, have families and land in Haiti.

It really puts in perspective how much of “throwaways” the Polish Legion was to Napoleon.

@murphyjack90 2 years ago

One of the Sharpe novels has a whole plotline devoted to Sharpe trying to avoid deployment to the Carribean.

@spamhonx56 2 years ago

Me, playing Empire: total war, checking the american theatre with its ten scattered units of colonial dragoons:
"i'm sorry my friends, but i need at least a half stack here just in case someone slips past the navy..."

@gx4012 7 months ago (edited)

As a 3 generation British windrush Jamaican, this side of history has to be one of my favourite. I use to be obsessed with learning about black beard and other crazy stories as a kid.