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