Part 1

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AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION TO _CARTHAGENA, &c._

[Price One Shilling.]

See the Plan of the City and Harbour of _Carthagena_, published in the _LONDON_ MAGAZINE for _April_ 1740; which will serve to give the Readers of this Pamphlet a clearer Idea of its Contents.

AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

EXPEDITION

TO

CARTHAGENA,

WITH

EXPLANATORY NOTES

AND

OBSERVATIONS.

THE THIRD EDITION.

_Ubi per socordiam vires, tempus, ingenium defluxere, naturae infirmitas accusatur: suam quique culpam actores ad negotia transferunt._ SALLUST.

_LONDON:_ Printed for M. COOPER, at the _Globe_ in _Pater-noster-Row_.

MDCCXLIII.

Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Dialect spellings, contractions and discrepancies have been retained. The footnotes are lettered from A to I, K to T and V to Z. Subsequent footnotes repeat the lettering sequence, beginning with an A.

ACCOUNT

OF THE

EXPEDITION

TO

_CARTHAGENA, &c._

It having been resolved in a general Council of War, held at _Spanish_ Town, to prevent, if possible, the _French_ Fleet joining the Enemy before any Expedition should be undertaken by Land: the _Wolf_ Sloop, Captain _Dandridge_, was dispatched up to _Port Louis_, to observe if the Fleet was in that Port: And on the 22d of _January_, which was the soonest the Fleet could be got ready for the Sea, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ and his Division sailed out of _Port Royal_ Harbour; and two Days after Mr. _Lestock_ and his Division; and on the _Monday_ following the Admiral with the rest of the Squadron (leaving behind him the _Falmouth_ and _Litchfield_ to bring up the Transports;) but the Land Breeze failing, and a great Swell rolling down, obliged them to anchor at the _Keys_ (where the _Augusta_ drove ashore, and beat off her Rudder, and great part of her Keel.) On the 28th the Admiral weighed Anchor, and plied up to Windward, and the 31st joined Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ and Mr. _Lestock_ with their Divisions off _Port Morant_, and the Day following was joined by the _Falmouth_, _Litchfield_, and Transports. _February_ the 7th the Fleet made Cape _Tiberoon_ on the Island _Hispaniola_, and off there was joined by the _Cumberland_, Captain _Stewart_, from _Lisbon_, (who had been separated from the Fleet in the Storm the 1st of _November_) and the next Day the _Wolf_ Sloop came into the Fleet[_A_] and brought with her a _French_ Sloop. The 13th the Fleet anchored at the Isle of _Vache_, about two Leagues to the Westward of _Port Louis_, where they stayed but four Days, having gained Intelligence the _French_ Fleet was divided, and sailed (the Marquis _D'Antin_ and twelve Sail being gone for _Old France_, and Mr. _Rochefieulle_ and six Sail for _Petit Guavas_) upon which the Fleet went and anchored in _Tiberoon_, _Donna Maria_, and _Irish_ Bays, to Wood and Water; and on the 25th sailed from thence, when the _Weymouth_, _Experiment_, and _Spence_ Sloop, were dispatched ahead over to _Carthagena_, to sound _Punta Canoa_ Bay, for the safer anchoring the Fleet, which arrived there the 5th of _March_ in the Evening; and three Days after the same Ships, together with the _Dunkirk_, were ordered by the Admiral down off _Boccachica_, to sound and see if the Fleet might safely anchor there, and how near Ships might come to batter the Forts of _St. Philip_ and _St. Jago_; and so soon as the Admiral had received the Reports from the Commanders of these Ships, a Council of War was held, wherein it was resolved to send three eighty Gun Ships, the _Norfolk_, Captain _Graves_, the _Shrewsbury_, Captain _Townsend_, and the _Russell_, Captain _Norris_, to batter the Forts abovementioned; the _Princess Amelia_, Captain _Hemmington_, to fire against the Fascine Battery, and the _Litchfield_, Captain _Cleveland_, against the little Battery of _Chamba_; (but these two last the Enemy had abandoned) and accordingly the 9th in the Morning they weighed Anchor from _Punta Canoa_ Bay, together with Sir _Chaloner Ogle_, and the rest of his Division, (he being to command the Attack) and about two Hours afterwards, the Admiral and the rest of the Fleet got under sail: At Noon the _Norfolk_, _Russell_, and _Shrewsbury_ began to cannonade the Forts, and in about three Hours time drove the Enemy from their Guns, and obliged them to abandon their Forts[_B_]: Immediately on this Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ made the Signal for landing the Troops, which was repeated by the Admiral, who was just come to an Anchor, (a little to the Eastward) and about five o'clock in the Evening, a Body of Troops were landed without Opposition; but the General not thinking the Body sufficient, (he landing with them) embarked again in the Boats, and sent for more[_C_]. About eight o'Clock they landed again, and went and took Possession of the Forts of _St. Philip_ and _St. Jago_, and about nine the Bomb-ketches were carried in Shore, and began to play on the Castle of _Boccachica_. The three next Days were spent in landing the remainder of the Forces, the Baggage, _&c._[_D_] and by the 16th all the Cannon, Mortars, and Ordnance Stores were landed[_E_]. But the principal Engineer not arriving till the 15th, no Spot was pitched upon for raising a Battery[_F_] against the Enemy, so that the clearing a few Bushes away down by the Water Side, for to pitch their Tents, was all the material Work the Army did for near a Week; and the Enemy was contented to let them be pretty quiet, only now and then firing a Shot, until they opened a Bomb-Battery of four Mortars and some Royals on the 17th[_G_], and then the Fascine Battery on the _Barradera_ Side annoyed them greatly, and particularly the Camp, so that they were obliged to remove it several Paces off.

[_H_]This being represented to the Admiral, Orders were given for all Boats of the Squadron to be ready at Midnight (manned and armed) to go to surprize the _Barradera_ Battery, and the Command given to Captain _Boscawen_[_I_], in which they happily succeeded, spiked up all the Guns; burnt the Carriages, Platforms, and Guard-house; destroyed the Magazine, and took several Prisoners[_K_]. The next Morning, as soon as it was Day, the Enemy from _Boccachica_ began to fire warmly at the Bomb-Battery, (as if they were angry at what happened the Night before) though without doing them any particular Damage; and as they were sensible of the Usefulness and advantageous Situation of this Battery, they set busily about repairing some Part of it, and on the 20th had built up some Embrazures and mounted two Guns, and fired them on the Bomb-Battery again, which the Admiral observing, ordered the _Rippon_, a sixty Gun ship, to go and anchor as near it, as possible, and keep firing on it to prevent the Enemy's working on it any farther[_L_], so that all the next Day the Army was in a State of Tranquillity, and on _Sunday_ the 22d their grand Battery of twenty Guns being finished, about eight o'Clock in the Morning began to play very briskly on the Castle, as did the Bomb-Battery, and thirty or forty Cohorns and Royals planted on the Platform behind the Cannon[_M_], which the Enemy returned as briskly from the Castle, the four Ships[_N_] (Don _Blass_'s in particular) _St. Joseph_'s, and some few Guns from the _Barradera_, so that the Work was warm on both Sides. On the 23d the _Boyne_, _Suffolk_, _Tilbury_, _Prince Frederick_, and _Hampton Court_, were ordered in against _Boccachica_ to cannonade[_O_]; but the _Boyne_ having anchored so far to Leeward, as to lie exposed to the whole Fire of the Enemy's Ships, and _St. Joseph_'s Battery, was much shattered, and ordered off again that Night. The _Prince Frederick_ and _Hampton Court_, sharing the Fire of the Enemy, that had been employed against the _Boyne_, were also much shattered by Morning, when they were likewise ordered to come off; the former having lost her Captain, and both many Men killed and wounded. The _Suffolk_ and _Tilbury_ happening to anchor well to the Northward, lay battering till the next Evening (and with some Success, particularly against the Breach) when the Admiral sent Orders for them to draw off. The Army now began to look on the Breach as accessible, but the Guns in the _Barradera_ Battery, being able to annoy them in their Attack, a Representation thereof was made to the Admiral, who immediately directed the _Princess Amelia_, _Litchfield_, and _Shoreham_, to go in, and anchor as nigh it as possible, and sent the Boats of the Squadron again mann'd and arm'd, under the Command of Captain _Watson_ to destroy it[_P_], which they did effectually, and with scarce any Opposition; the greatest part of the Guns in _Boccachica_ Castle being now dismounted, the Army thought proper to entertain the Enemy's Ships, by widening five or six Embrazures of their Battery, and playing some Guns on them, which the Ships as civilly returned, 'till Night closed in, and firing ceased on both Sides[_Q_]. The 25th in the Morning it was discovered, the Enemy had been throwing up some Fascine Works on the Ramparts; however as they had not moved away any Rubbish from the Breach, it was resolved this Evening to attack it by Storm[_R_], and accordingly soon after Sun-set a Body of Troops marched up and mounted the Breach undiscovered, and quietly took Possession of the Castle, the Enemy flying out at the Gate so soon as they saw the Troops on the Ramparts, and heard their Huzza's. Those aboard their Ships were in the utmost Consternation at such a sudden and successful Event, and with all precipitate Surprize betook themselves to their Boats, setting Fire to one of their Ships, and sinking two others. At the same time the Attack was to be made on the Castle, (in order to divide the Enemy's Forces) the Admiral had given Orders for the Attack of the Castle of _St. Joseph_ by Boats, and sent them away under the Command of Captain _Knowles_, who took Possession of it about ten a Clock at Night, the Enemy abandoning it after firing some Guns: The Boats afterwards went and took Possession of the _Galicia_, the _Spanish_ Admiral's Ship, and then went to Work on cutting the Boom[_S_], and moving the _Galicia_ out of the Channel; and next Morning the Admiral in the _Princess Caroline_, the _Worcester_, and some other Ships sailed into the Harbour of _Carthagena_, and the whole Fleet and Transports continued to sail and warp in as fast as conveniently they could. The Enemy seeing the Admiral and several Ships got into the Harbour, began to expect a Visit at _Castillo Grande_ soon, and as _Mancinilla_ Fort lay opposite to it within Gun-shot, and was not capable of making any great Defence, they thought proper to destroy it, lest we should take Possession of it, and so batter the Castle. On the 28th the Admiral being informed of two small Batteries that guarded the _Passa Cavallos_[_T_], sent the _Weymouth_ and _Cruiser_ Sloop to demolish them, and take all the Imbarkations and Canoes that were there; and disposed the Fire-ships and small Frigates round the Harbour, to guard every Pass and Creek, in order to cut off any Supplies going to the Town. On the 30th the Rear-Admiral and several Ships turned up the Harbour, and anchored a small Distance from _Castillo Grande_, where the Enemy made a Shew of preparing to receive them;[_V_] and in order to stop the Fleet here, had sunk seven Ships across the Channel, and moored two of their Men of War, the _Conquestodore_ of sixty six Guns, and the _Dragon_ of sixty. The 31st early in the Morning, Captain _Knowles_ observed the enemy's two Men of War sunk, and not perceiving any Men in the Castle went and acquainted Sir _Chaloner Ogle_, that it was his Opinion the Enemy had abandoned _Castillo Grande_, who immediately ordered him to weigh Anchor, and run in with his Ship, and fire on it, which he did; and the Castle making no return, he sent his Boats ashore, and took Possession of it, and hoisted the _English_ Flag: And on the Admiral's receiving Intelligence, he ordered a proper Number of Forces to garison it[_W_]. The next Day Captain _Griffin_, and Captain _Rentone_, were sent to see if it was possible to get past the Enemy's Ships they had sunk, and finding the _Conquestodore_'s Stern afloat, the _Burford_ warped up, and cut the Stern Moorings, and hove her round, which opened a fair Channel, and the Bomb-Ketches, and two twenty Gun Ships went through. By this Time the Admiral, and greatest Part of the Squadron, were come up the Harbour. Mr. _Lestock_ and his Division was left at _Boccachica_, with Orders to reimbark the Forces, and Cannon as fast as possible. The second in the Morning the Bomb-Ketches began to play on the Town, and some of the Guns of _Castillo Grande_, that were cleared, fired on a _French_ Ship that lay up at the Head of the Harbour[_X_], upon which the Enemy set fire to her, and she burned the greatest Part of the Day. Next Day the _Weymouth_ getting through the Channel, the Town began to fire on her, but without doing any material Damage. Great Part of the Transports with the Troops being now come up the Harbour, this Night the _Weymouth_, the three Fire-ships, and the _Cruiser_ Sloop, being designed by the Admiral to cover the landing of the Forces, warped over on the other Side the Harbour undiscovered by the Enemy, who in the Morning, to shew their Resentment, gave them a Salvo of what Cannon fronted that Way; (but firing through the Bushes did no Execution) the _Cruiser_ Sloop drawing but little Water, warped up a Creek, and a Party of the Enemy from a Breast-work they had thrown up, fired smartly on her with their Musketry, but were quickly dislodged, a brisk fire, chiefly with Grape Shot, having been kept all Night to scour the Woods. About 5 o'Clock next Morning, being the 5th, the Forces were landed[_Y_], and in their marching up from the Waterside had a small Skirmish with some of the Enemy's Troops that had made a Lodgment in the Woods, whom they soon put to Flight; and about a Mile further were attacked a second Time, but the Enemy as soon shewed their Backs again. Finding the Country open hereabouts, the Army did not chuse to make any further Advances, so they pitched on a Place for encamping, and the Evening sent a Party up to _La Papa_ to take Possession of that, if the Enemy had abandoned it[_Z_]. In the mean while all possible Dispatch was made in landing the Baggage, Provision, Cannon, Ammunition, _&c._[_A_] which the Enemy surprisingly suffered, notwithstanding the landing Place was within reach of the Guns of _St. Lazare_; yet they fired but seldom, for it appeared afterwards their Attention was more towards their own Safety, (or 'tis certain they might have done a great deal of Mischief;) for whilst the Army were employed, and getting their things ashore, the Enemy were as busy in making a Fascine Battery of four Pieces of Cannon on the Brow of the Hill, and carrying on a Trench (or Line) round the Foot of the Castle, which they completed in a very short Time[_B_], quicker than the Army could make a Battery only for three Mortars, and throw up a small Breast-work for their Advance Guards. But no Care was yet taken to cut off the Communication between Town and Country[_C_]. Complaints now began to be made, that the Number of Sick was greatly increased in the Camp; upon which the Admiral immediately supplied them with a Detachment of Lord _James Cavendish_ and Colonel _Bland_'s Regiments, that had remained aboard the Ships as part of their Compliments, and a Body of such _Americans_ as were fit for Duty[_D_]. Upon this Reinforcement, and the Apprehensions of the rainy Seasons, which were daily expected, on the eighth in the Afternoon a Land Council of War was held [_E_], wherein it was resolved to attack the Castle and Trenches of _St. Lazare_, (without first raising a Battery to make a Breach) and to this Resolution the Engineer joined in Opinion[_F_]. Accordingly on the ninth in the Morning between three and four o'Clock the Attack was made, and maintained very resolutely on both Sides till between six and seven, when the Enemy obliged the Forces to retreat after a considerable Loss of Officers and Men[_G_]. After the Miscarriage of this Scheme (which was the occasion of the Town's not being taken) the Army sickened surprisingly fast, and those that were killed being esteemed the Flower of the Flock, the General declared he was no longer in a Condition to defend himself, much more to carry on a Siege against the Place, and hoped, if the Admiral (who had ordered the _Weymouth_ to erect a Bomb-Battery, which was finished and played in two Days) expected any Thing to be done, he would order some Ships in to cannonade the Town[_H_], otherwise desired these Things might be considered in a general Council of War, of Sea and Land Officers, and accordingly on the 15th a Council of War was held, who came to a Resolution (upon the General's Representation of the bad State of the Army)[_I_], to have the Cannon and Forces reimbarked with all convenient Speed, and the 17th in the Night the Troops were accordingly[_K_] taken off the Shore.

Nothing remained now but to get the Fleet and Transports ready for Sea, and to demolish the Castles and Fortifications already taken, which last was effectually done by blowing them up, and by the 12th of _May_ the whole Fleet and Forces had taken leave of _Carthagena_.

APPENDIX.