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."

The Council of War, on this Occasion, might probably think it unnecessary to make any mention of what Share the King's Ships were to take in the Attack of the City, as it is believed, that not one of the Members could have the least Room to doubt of the Admiral's ordering in some large Men of War to batter the Town, as soon as the Channel should be laid open for their Admittance into the Surgidero; a Circumstance so much taken for granted, before we were in Possession of Boca-Chica Castle, that it was confidently affirmed (and by no inconsiderable Persons in the Navy) "that, after a Way should be laid open for the Ships into the Harbour, the Assistance of the Land Forces would be no longer wanted." The Russel, which had on board Sir Chaloner Ogle; the Weymouth, &c. turn'd up the Harbour, and cast Anchor not far from Castillo Grande.

March the 31st, Colonels Lowther and Wynyard's Regiments embark'd. The Cannon and Stores continued to be put on board.

The Enemy seem'd to prepare for a vigorous Defence, by their having sunk the seven Galleons in the Channel leading to the Surgidero, and moor'd two large Men of War at the Entrance of it, which last having been likewise sunk during the Night, and Castillo Grande in all Appearance abandoned; Sir Chaloner Ogle order'd Captain Knowles, in the Weymouth, to stand in within Gun-shot, and to fire upon it; which being done for some time, without any Return, Boats were sent ashore, and the Castle was enter'd without Opposition; of which the Admiral having Notice, he order'd one hundred of the Soldiers, who were on board the King's Ships to remain there in Garrison.[19]

Capt. Laws was dispatched to England in the Spence Sloop, with an Account of the taking of Boca-Chica Castle; notwithstanding the Instances used by both the General, and Sir Chaloner Ogle, to postpone sending, till it should be known, what would be the Success against the City; which, considering the Strength of the Enemy, that our Troops began to sicken, and that the rainy Season was then begun; could by