Part 1

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A JOURNAL OF THE EXPEDITION TO _CARTHAGENA_,

With NOTES.

In ANSWER to a late PAMPHLET;

ENTITLED,

_An_ ACCOUNT _of the_ EXPEDITION _to CARTHAGENA_.

_Qui statuit aliquid, parte inaudita altera, Æquum licet statuerit, haud æquus suit._

_Senec. Med._

The SECOND EDITION.

_LONDON_: Printed for J. ROBERTS, in _Warwick-Lane_. M.DCC.XLIV.

THE INTRODUCTION.

_The following Sheets contain an Answer to a Pamphlet, which appeared on the Close of the last Session of Parliament, and is entitled,_ An Account of the Expedition to _Carthagena._

_To set that whole Transaction in the most clear Light, the Author has laid before the Publick an exact and faithful _Journal_ of the most material Occurrences, not only during the Troops being on Shore in the Neighbourhood of _Carthagena_, but from the Time of the Fleet's sailing from _Jamaica_; the Period from which the Author of the Pamphlet begins his Relation._

_The Notes are (as far as it was practicable) placed in the same Order with those in the Pamphlet; to which References are made, that the Reader may (if he pleases to take that Trouble) compare each Note with the Answer to it._

_Several Facts will be here found to be placed in a very different Light from the same Facts, as they are described in the Pamphlet, and others to be rejected, as absolutely false and groundless; but the Author flatters himself, that he has advanced nothing which is not founded upon Truth, and such as can be supported by living Evidences, or by authentick Records, whenever his Antagonist shall be pleased to lay aside his Mask; otherwise, no Notice will be taken of any Reply, which may hereafter be published._

January _the 10th, 1740_.

It was resolved in the principal Council of War[1] held at _Spanish Town_ in _Jamaica_, that the whole Fleet should proceed to Windward, to observe the Motions of the Squadron under the Command of the Marquis _d'Antin_; and that Capt. _Dandridge_ should be sent before in the _Wolf_ Sloop to get Intelligence.

No Time having been lost in preparing to put to Sea; _January_ the 22d, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ sailed with his Division out of _Port-Royal_ Harbour; Commodore _Lestock_ the 26th, and Vice-Admiral _Vernon_ the 28th: The three Squadrons, having join'd _January_ the 31st, made Cape _Tiberon_, on the Coast of _Hispaniola_, _February_ the 7th; the same Day Captain _Dandridge_ came into the Fleet. _February_ the 8th, the Admiral made a Signal for General and Flag Officers, and communicated to them the Report he had received from Captain _Dandridge_,[2] _viz._ "_That he had_, January _the 30th, look'd into_ Port-Lewis, _where he had seen nineteen Ships of War; that one of them carried a Flag at the Main-top-mast Head, and another a broad Pendant_;" which Report being taken into Consideration, it was resolved to steer directly to the Isle of _Vache_; where the Fleet arrived _February_ the 12th, and cast Anchor at about two Leagues to the Westward of _Port-Lewis_.

The same Day Captain _Laws_ was sent in the _Spence_ Sloop a-fresh to reconnoitre the Harbour of _Port-Lewis_, who return'd in a few Hours with a Report, "_That he had there counted sixteen Ships of War, and that one of them carried a broad Pendant_."

_February_ the 13th, the Admiral, accompany'd by the General, went in his Barge into the Bay between the Isle of _Vache_ and _Hispaniola_, where there was found sufficient Depth of Water for the large Ships, and good Anchorage for the Transports. _February_ the 14th, a _French_ Officer came off with a Message; but the Admiral declining to see him 'till late in the Evening, he return'd without having deliver'd it.

The Admiral went further up the Bay to a small _Kay_ (Island) with an Intention to reconnoitre the _French_ Fleet, and was there join'd by the General, who perceiving it to be impossible thence to look into the Harbour, desired, that he might in Person go in with the _Spence_ Sloop, and that Captain _Knowles_, being a good Draughts-Man, might accompany him; to which the Admiral consented.

As soon as the Sloop open'd the Harbour, Capt. _Laws_ declared, that the Ships there lying at Anchor were _French_ Men of War, and pointed to one, as having a white Flag at the Main-top-mast-Head; but the General, not being fully satisfied, order'd the Sloop to stand within Gun-shot, when it appeared, that the Ships in View were Merchant-men, most of them unrig'd; excepting one Frigate of forty Guns, whose Main-top-mast-Head lying in a Line with the white Gable-End of an House, occasioned the Mistake about the Flag.

_February_ the 15th, Captain _Boscawen_ and Captain _Knowles_ were sent with a Message to the _French_ Governor; the Purport of which was, that the Admiral not being on board his Ship, when an Officer came off to speak to him, he had not seen him, but now sends to know what he had to offer; that the Fleet was forced by strong Breezes into the Bay; that he desires Leave to Wood and Water: They return'd with a very polite Answer, and brought an Account of the Marquiss _d'Antin_'s being sail'd for _Europe_.

Capt. _Renton_ came into the Fleet, and confirm'd the Report, "_That the Marquis_ d'Antin _sail'd with his Squadron for_ Europe, _January_ the 26th."

_February_ the 16th, the principal Council of War being assembled, it was resolved, that the Fleet, after having taken in Wood and Water at _Iros_, _Tiberon_ and _Donna-Maria_ Bays, should thence proceed directly to _Carthagena_.

_February_ the 17th, the Fleet sailed from the Isle of _Vache_, and the Day following came to an Anchor in _Iros_, _Tiberon_ and _Donna-Maria_ Bays.

Seven Days having been employ'd in taking in Wood and Water; Detachments from the _American_ Regiment, and from the Negroes, were daily sent on Shore to cut Fascines and Pickets.

_February_ the 25th, the _Weymouth_, the _Experiment_, and the _Spence_ Sloop, were order'd a-head, under the Command of Capt. _Knowles_, to sound _Punto-Canoa_ Bay, which lies about two Leagues to the Windward of _Carthagena_.

_February_ the 26th, the whole Fleet got under Sail, and came to an Anchor in _Punto-Canoa_ Bay, _March_ the 4th.

_March_ the 5th, a general Council of War composed of the four principal Officers of the Army, and of the four principal Officers of the Navy, was held for settling the Shares of Plunder; but no Scheme could be then formed for attacking the Town, "from the Want of proper Intelligence."[3]

_March_ the 6th, the General, accompany'd by some of the principal Land Officers, went on Board the _Lyon_ Man of War to reconnoitre the Town, the Coast adjoining, the Forts on _Tierra Bomba_, &c. but did not return to the Fleet before the 8th in the Morning: The _Lyon_ having lost her Main-Mast by the great Swell of the Sea. The _Weymouth_, the _Dunkirk_, the _Experiment_, and the _Spence_ Sloop, were order'd to the Mouth of the Harbour, for taking the Soundings, and for getting Information how near the large Ships could approach for battering the Forts on _Tierra Bomba_.

_March_ the 8th, a general Council of War being assembled, and having received, and carefully weighed, the Reports of the General Officers, and of the Captains of the _Dunkirk_ and _Weymouth_, it was unanimously resolved, that Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ should the next Morning fall down with his Division to the Mouth of the Harbour, and batter the Forts, St. _Philip_, St. _Jago_, &c.

The General afterwards assembled a Council of War, composed of Land Officers; when a Disposition was made for landing the Troops.

_March_ the 9th, in the Morning, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_, accompany'd by the General, proceeded, with his Division, to the Attack of the Forts: Three eighty Gun Ships; the _Norfolk_, Capt. _Graves_; the _Shrewsbury_, Capt. _Townshend_; and the _Russel_, Capt. _Norris_, were order'd to batter those of St. _Philip_ and St. _Jago_: Which Service they perform'd very gallantly, having, before the Evening, drove the Enemy from their Guns, and forced there, to retire out of the Forts.

About Two, the General and Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ went on board the _Norfolk_, and afterwards the _Russel_, for the better reconnoitring the Enemy, and viewing the Ground where the Troops were proposed to be landed.

The Loss on board the _Norfolk_ and the _Russel_ was not very considerable, but the _Shrewsbury_ suffered much more; for having received a Shot in her Cable, she drove so far, as to open the whole Fire of the Castle of _Boca-Chica_, &c. to which she lay exposed till the Night gave her an Opportunity of removing to a safer Birth. As there were no Guns either in _Fort Chambra_, or on what was called the Fascine Battery, the _Princess-Amelia_, and the _Litchfield_ met with no Opposition.

About Five, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ made a Signal for landing the Troops, which was repeated by the Admiral, who lay then with his Squadron at about a League's Distance.

As soon as the Grenadiers appeared, the General joined them, with an Intention to have landed immediately; but the three principal Officers, and two of the Companies, being still wanting, he order'd the Boats to lie under the Cover of the _Russel_ and the _Norfolk_, there to wait their Arrival: They were in a short Time joined by the Lieutenant Colonel and Major, and one Company; but Col. _Wynyard_, "who was detain'd with his Company of Grenadiers, on board the _Strumbulo Fire-Ship_, _from the want of Boats_," being still absent, the Landing was further post-pon'd to about Seven, when they were, without Opposition, put on Shore on the Strand, to the Left of Fort St. _Philip_, under the Command of Lieutenant Col. _Cochrane_: After having seen them in Possession of the Forts, the General returned and went on board a Vessel, which lay near the Shore, and there passed the rest of the Night.

In the Disposition for Landing, the Grenadiers were to have been sustained by a Brigade, commanded by Brig. _Guise_, and Col. _Wolfe_, who themselves join'd the General; but the Brigade did not come down till the Day following, being prevented by the strong Breezes.[4]

The same Evening the Bomb Ketches began to fire upon the Castle.

_March_ the 10th, as soon as the Day appeared, the General went on Shore, and gave Orders for forming the Grenadiers upon the Beach, for covering the landing of the rest of the Troops; which not being compleated till late in the Evening, the whole lay that Night upon their Arms.

_March_ the 11th, the Negroes, Tools, and Tents being put on Shore; the Ground was clear'd, the Tents pitch'd, and the Troops under cover the same Evening.[5]

Two Coupures or Lines were begun into the Woods; one for cutting off the Communication of the Castle of _Boca-Chica_ with the City, the other for opening a way to the Skirts of the Wood, for the erecting a Battery; which last was this Day advanced 500 Yards.

Mr. _Moor_, the principal Engineer, landed in the Night; the Ordnance Ship, on which he was embarked, having been drove to _Leeward_.

_March_ the 12th, a Mortar Battery was begun, between the Forts St. _Phillip_ and St. _Jago_; and the Coupure leading to the Castle, was carried on to the Skirts of the Wood, but that for cutting off the Communication, was discontinued by the Advice of the principal Engineer.[6]

All the Negroes, and as many Soldiers as could be spared, from their other Duty, were employed in cutting Fascines and Pickets. A Traverse was raised in the Coupure leading to _Boca-Chica_, and an Epaulement was thrown up for the covering the Workmen, which were to be employed in raising the great Gun-Battery.

_March_ the 13th, A Defence was made of Casks filled with Sand, to cover the Mortar Battery from the Enemy's Fire; this Evening, (not the 17th, as the Author is pleased to alledge, Page the 10th,) it was finished, and began to play upon the Castle.[7]

The Bomb-Ketches likewise continued to throw their Shells, and it was observed that _several_ of them did not take place in the Castle. The Ground was traced out for the great Gun-Battery.[8]

The Coupure leading to the Castle of _Boca-Chica_, was enlarged. A Lieutenant Colonel's Guard was mounted to cover the Workmen to be employed on the great Gun-Battery.

The Enemy fired very smartly, both Yesterday and this Day, and killed several Men in the Camp.[9]

_March_ the 14th, the Works were carried on with all the Expedition our Circumstances would admit of; but were much retarded, not only from the Heat of the Climate, which renders _Europeans_ almost unable to support the least Fatigue, but from the Negroes throwing down their Loads, and working Tools, whenever a Shot came near them. These Difficulties having been represented to a Council of War by the principal Engineer, signifying at the same time, that an Addition of 1600 Men to the Forces then on Shore was wanting, to enable him to push on his Works with Vigour, a Demand was made of that Number of Soldiers to be landed from the Fleet, which the Admiral was pleased to refuse, alledging, that we could have no Occasion for them.

_March_ the 15th, the General, accompany'd by Mr. _Moor_ and Capt. _Knowles_ view'd the Works at the great Gun Battery, and passed the Skirts of the Wood to reconnoitre the Castle, which had then received little or no visible Damage from the Shells.

_March_ the 16th, all possible Diligence was used in cutting Fascines, sharpening Pickets, preparing Planks and timbers _&c._ for the Battery. The Artillery, and the greatest Part of the Stores, were by this Time landed,[10] of which Part was carried to the great Gun Battery.

_March_ the 17th, the Parapet of the great Gun Battery was very near raised to the Embrasures.

A Representation was made to the Admiral from a Council of War of Land Officers, of the Necessity of driving the Enemy from their Fascine Battery, which, as it was seated on the other Side the Entry into the Harbour, could not be done without the Assistance of the Fleet, otherwise the Attack upon it would have been made by a Detachment from the Land Forces on Shore.

The same Day, it was resolved in a Council of War, composed of Sea Officers, to make an Attempt on the Fascine Battery with three hundred Sailors, and _two hundred Soldiers_, detach'd from those remaining on board the Fleet.

_March_ the 18th, several of the Cannon were drawn up to the Battery, and mounted upon their Carriages.

The Enemy, having discovered our Workmen, began to fire briskly upon them from the Castle, with Stones, _&c._ A Party of the Enemy fired upon the Negroes, who were employed in the Woods in cutting Fascines; but did no other Damage than the interrupting their Work.

During the Night, the Fascine Battery was attack'd by 300 Sailors, and 200 Soldiers, who possessed themselves of it, with very little Opposition.[11]

_March_ the 19th, an Epaulement was raised to the left of the great Gun Battery, to cover it from the Fire of the Enemy's Ships of War; twelve of the Platforms were finished. The Enemy were perceived to be at Work in repairing the _Barradera_ Battery.[12]

_March_ the 20th, the Wood began to be clear'd away before the great Gun Battery, and seven Pieces of Cannon were brought upon the Platforms.

_March_ the 21st, nineteen Embrasures were finish'd, all the Cannon placed upon the Platforms, and the Wood was cut away, which cover'd the Battery from the View of the Castle.

_March_ the 22d,[13] the Battery being finished, began early in the Morning to play upon the Castle, not only with the great Guns, but with forty small Mortars and Cohorns, which fired alternatively; the Enemy return'd the Fire very briskly from the Castle, the Fascine Battery, and the Shipping; but with no great Effect, excepting, that the Balls which miss'd the Battery, did some Damage in the Camp.

_March_ the 23d, A Squadron of Men of War,[14] under the Command of Commodore _Lestock_, were order'd to cannonade the Castle of _Boca-Chica_, and the Enemy's Ships, which guarded the Mouth of the Harbour; but were obliged to drop their Anchors at so great a Distance, that their Shot had little or no Effect. After having suffer'd considerably from the Enemy's Fire, the Admiral sent them Orders to retire; tho' it was upon this Occasion enter'd in the Journals, and by Order, that the Breach was enlarg'd by the Fire from our Men of War; yet, in Fact, the Breach was not touch'd by one single Ball; such of the Shot as reach'd the Curtain, and the Face of the western Bastion, made little more than a slight Impression, and fell into the Ditch.

A continual Fire, and with good Effect, was kept from the great Gun Battery, which the Enemy return'd very briskly, and but with too much Success: Mr. _Moor_, the principal Engineer, having been mortally wounded, as he was attentively considering the Effect of the Shot from his Battery.

_March_ the 24th, a Detachment from the Fleet, composed of Sailors and Soldiers, commanded by Capt. _Watson_, made a second Attempt on the Fascine Battery, and enter'd it without the least Opposition; destroy'd the Carriages, Platforms, _&c._ Early in the Morning the General visited all the advanced Guards and Batteries, and towards the Evening reconnoitred the Breach, which he not thinking to be yet practicable, signify'd the same by Letter to the Admiral, who had vehemently pressed the Attack. The great Gun Battery fired during the whole Night alternatively with round and Grape Shot.[15]

_March_ the 25th, the Breach being enlarged, and reported practicable by an Engineer, who had been sent to reconnoitre: It was resolved in a Council of War to make the Attack the same Evening.

A Disposition having been prepared for that Purpose, and approved by the Council of War; at about half an Hour after five the Troops advanced towards the Fort. The Forlorn-Hope consisted of a Serjeant, and twelve Grenadiers, who were immediately followed by thirty Voluntiers; next march'd 260 Grenadiers (the whole then remaining) under the Command of Lieutenant-Colonel _Macloud_, and afterwards Colonel _Daniel_ at the Head of a Detachment of 500 Men, who had under his Direction some small Parties, carrying Scaling Ladders, broad Axes, Pick-axes and Spades, to be in Readiness in case of need: The whole was sustained by 500 Men, under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel _Cochrane_; and Brigadier _Blakeney_, the Brigadier of the Day, had the Direction of the Attack. Upon a Signal, which was, the Firing of three Bombs from the Mortar Battery, a Volley of round Shot was pour'd in upon the Breach, from the great Gun Battery, and was immediately followed by a second of Grape Shot, which obliging the Centinels upon the Walls to put themselves under Cover, probably occasioned their not having perceived the Troops, when they first began to move to the Attack; but some time before they reach'd the Foot of the Walls, the Drums in the Fort beat to Arms, the Top of the Breach was man'd, the Ships began to fire with Grape Shot, and several Shots were made from Fort St. _Joseph_, tho' without doing any other Execution, than the killing of one Man. The Commandant of the Fort being at that time on board one of the Ships, the Garrison fell into Confusion, and fled with Precipitation out of the Gate, as soon as the Grenadiers began to mount the Breach.[16]

Soon after our Troops were in Possession of the Castle, the _Africa_ and St. _Carlos_ were sunk; and the St. _Philip_ being set on Fire (whether by the Enemy, or the red-hot Balls from the great Gun Battery, is uncertain) blew up very near to the Walls of the Castle; but without doing any Damage. When the Troops were moving towards the Breach, some arm'd Boats from the Fleet, commanded by Capt. _Knowles_, were perceived rowing towards the Mangroves; on what Design[17] was altogether a Secret to the General, he having not received the least Intimation of it. They had on board a Party of Soldiers and Sailors, who being landed on the _Barradera_ Side, marched (the former leading the Way) to the Shore, the nearest to Fort St. _Joseph_; when it was resolved to pass thro' the Water, and to make an Attempt upon it; but the Men, who were sent in to sound, not finding it practicable, and being discovered, the Enemy began to fire upon the Party with Grape Shot, which obliged them to retire under the Cover of the Bushes. The Commandant then proposed, that the Centinel should be civilly desired to admit them into the Fort; but the rest of the Officers not much depending on his Complaisance, advised the making a general Attack upon it with all the Boats; in Answer to which, it was alledged, that as three of the Enemy's Ships of War were already destroyed, and as Fort St. _Joseph_ lay under the Fire of the Castle, of which our Troops were then in Possession, such an Attempt would be quite unnecessary, as that Fort must on Course fall into our Hands: It was therefore resolved to go on board the nearest Ships, and there to wait for fresh Orders from the Admiral, which being come, the Commandant, in a short time, row'd towards the Fort, which he found abandoned, and enter'd it without the least Opposition.

As soon as we had possessed ourselves of the Gate of the Castle, and that the Guards were posted, the General ordered out a Party of _Harrison_'s Grenadiers, with the proper Tools, under the Command of Mr. _Blane_ the Engineer, and of Mr. _Bennett_ (who first enter'd the Breach) to cut the End of the Boom adjoining to the Castle, which they did effectually about nine; and it was the Want of a Boat only that prevented the Landmen's seizing the _Galicia_, on board of which Capt. _Knowles_ rowed about twelve, and afterwards order'd a Party of Sailors to cut the other End of the Boom.

_March_ the 26th, the General issued out the proper Orders, for reimbarking the Troops, Artillery, _&c._ in which Commodore _Lestock_, who remained with his Squadron at the Entrance into the _Lagoon_, was directed to be assisting.

_March_ the 27th, the great Surf of the Sea prevented the Boats from coming into Shore, and retarded the Imbarkation of the Troops, _&c._ A Road was made from the grand Battery to _Boca-Chica_, for the more commodious Conveyance of the large Cannon. The Admiral's Ship, and some other Ships of War, having warped thro' the Channel, began to move up the Harbour.

_March_ the 28th, _Harrison_'s and _Wentworth_'s Regiments, being order'd to strike their Tents, and to go on board their Transports, were prevented by the Surge of the Sea, and obliged to pitch them again near the Walls of the Castle. The _Weymouth_, and the _Cruizer_ Sloop, were sent to demolish two little Batteries on the _Passa-Cavallos_,[18] which they performed without Opposition, and likewise seized or destroyed such small Craft, as they found upon the _Lagoon_.

_March_ the 29th, the two old Regiments, and some of the Stores, were put on board. All the Artillery and the Materials, which had been employed for erecting the great Battery, were placed upon the Shore in Readiness for Embarkation.

_March_ the 30th, Colonels _Wolfe_ and _Robinson_'s Regiments embark'd, and all possible Diligence was used in getting on board the Stores and Artillery.

A general Council of War was held on board the Admiral's Ship, wherein it was resolved to land the troops as soon as should be practicable, "_for the cutting off the Communication of the Town with the Country on the Land Side; and that the Artillery should be embark'd with all possible Expedition to proceed after them_." It was also resolved, "_that such Numbers of Soldiers, as the General should judge would be wanting for that Service, should be landed from the Fleet_."