In March 1804, the new Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Green, along with the 16th and 64th Regiments of Foot, arrived in Barbados from Britain, and plans were immediately made to capture the Dutch colony of Surinam from the Batavian Republic.

[2] The country's coastal waters were very shallow making any landing impossible except at the highest point of the tide, and the terrain was difficult to penetrate being covered in thick jungle that stretched down to the shoreline.

[4] In order to secure the capital, the British would be required to make their way ten miles upstream past this series of well-constructed defences and any ship stranded on one of the numerous shoals would be helpless in the crossfire.

[5][7][8] On 28 April an unfavourable reply to Green’s summons was received but a plan to land soldiers for an attack on Fort Purmerend was thwarted by the low tide and marshes, and had to be abandoned.

[7] A landing downstream was at first considered impossible due to the marshes and thick jungle but on 29 April the British learned of a path leading through the forest to the rear of forts.

Heavy rain had made the trail almost impassable but after a gruelling five-hour march undercover of the forests and swamps, Hughes and his men were able to launch a surprise attack that resulted in the capture of the two forts.