The naval, commercial, and general history of Great Britain; including the lives of the admirals, ... from the earliest times to the present. ... To each volume is prefixed a political and illustrative preface; ... By Frederick Hervey, ... In five volumes. 1786: Vol 4
Hervey, Frederic.
r rer wy; - ited, a LEE . "ng RX; rr PF. r 8 . S r 3 he eo 30 3 — . 54 9 - 5 \ V2 he IR 4 — — 5 = — <tr RE Inn, 2: _ b n — Bn — — — IT 2 OR * an 4 * - e 8 . : os Ae — Y Er — — 7 SETS. 3-F: 3 ere Zee oe; — 136 NAVAL HISTORY [Book VI. called Battery de Chamba, which ſerved as redoubts to the caſtle of Bocca Chica. On the other ſide of the mouth of the harbour was a faſcine battery of fifteen guns, called the Barradera, and in a ſmall bay on the back of that, another battery of four guns; and facing the entrance of the harbour, on a ſmall flat iſland, ſtood fort St. Joſeph, of tuenty- one guns. From this fort to Bocca Chica caſtle, a boom and cables were fixed acroſs, faſtened Wich three large anchors at each end; and juſt within the boom four men of war were moored in a line, on board one of which was the Spaniſh admiral. Theſe fpread ſo far over the extent of the mouth of the harbour, that no ſhip could paſs a-head or a-ſtery of them. Beyond this paſſage lies the great lake, or harbour of Carthagena, two leagues and a half in extent from north to ſouth, and land-locked on all | ſides; about midway to the town it grows narrower, and within about a league of the town, two points of land jutting out from the leſſer harbour; near the nethermoſt of theſe was the ſtrong fortreſs of Caſtille Grande, about eight miles up the harbour, being a regular ſquare with four baſtions, defended to the land by a wet ditch and glacis proper, and one face towards the ſea with a raveline, and double line of guns. The number of guns in the fort was : Aar though it had room to mount ſixty- one. Oppoſite to this caſtle was a horſe-ſhoe battery of twelve guns, called Mancinilla. In the middle, 1 be- tween theſe two forts, is a large ſhoal, with not above two or three feet water. In each of theſe were ſhips funk to prevent the Britiſh fleet from getting in. Near three miles further up the harbour, on two flat fandy keys, or iſlands, ſtands Carthagena, and Hi- mani its ſuburbs, both irregular figures, but well fortified to the land with lakes, . moraſſes run- ning round them. The city, which is in Jatituce 10 deg. Car. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN. 3) 10 deg. 26 min. north, was defended with one hun- dred and ſixty guns, and the ſuburbs with one hun- dred and forty ; whilſt the water at the head of the ſhoal was ſo far off, that ſhips could not approach near enough to do any material execution. South of the city, about a quarter of a mile from Himani gate, on an eminence about fifty or ſixty feet high, ſtood the _ caſtle of St. Lazaro, being a ſquare of about fifty feet, with three demi baſtions, and two guns in each face, one in each flank, and three in each curtain; it overlooked all the town, although there was a brow of a hill about four hundred yards from it, which overlooked, and entirely commanded the caſtle. The importance of this place to the Spaniards, had induced them to beſtow extraordinary at- tention in ſecuring it from the attack of an enemy. The wealth which centr=d in this city, had, indeed, expoſed it to repeated aſſaults ; in 1544, the Ameri- can Buccaneers made a ſucceſsful attack upon It, and enriched themſelves with its ſpoil. In 1585 it was taken, and almoſt deſtroyed, by Sir Francis Drake, that ſcourge of the new Spaniſh ſettlements. M. de Pointis came before it in 1697, with a ſqua- dron of privateers, under the protection of the French king; and after obliging the fort of Bocca Chica to eas whereby the entrance of the Day was laid open, he landed his men, and beſieged fort | Lazaro, the taking of which was followed by the ſurrender of the city. This conqueſt has been at- tributed to a private correſpondence between the governor and Pointis. Since that time, every pre- | caution had been taken to increaſe the ſtrength of the place, which, at the tirhe that admiral Vernon appeared before it, was deemed 1mpregnable, The Britiſh troops we ded on the gth day of March, on the iſland of Tierra Bomba, near the mouth of the harbour, which was ſecured by caſtles, 1 : i batte- i © 7 FW 138 NAVAL HISTORY [Book VI. batteries, bombs, chains, cables, and ſhips of war. General Wentworth, with brigadier Guiſe and co- lone! Wolfe “, attended the landing, which was ef- fected with little loſs, covered by the fire of the Nor- folk, Ruſſel, and Shrewſbury, which ſhips anchored cloſe under the forts of St. Jago and St. Philip. Ihe latter lying ſouthermoſt, had her cable cut by the Spaniſh ſhot, and before ſhe could let down an- other anchor, having fallen to leeward, drove to- wards the mouth of the harbour, where he lay ex- poſed to the whole fire of the Spaniards, from two faſcine batteries on the Barradera ſide, the forts of Bocca Chica and St. Jofeph, with four men of war, of ſixty and ſeventy guns: in this ſituation one hun- dred and ſixty guns were pointed at the Shrewſbury, who could return no more than twenty-ſix. The N gallant captain Townſend, who commanded her, diſdaining to retire, maintained this unequal combat for ſeven hours. Night intervening, the Spaniards ceafed firing, when the admiral ſent orders for the Shrewſbury to draw off. In this rencounter ſhe loſt twenty men killed, and forty wounded ; the ſhip re- ceived two hundred and fifty ſhot in her hull, ſixteen of which were between wind and water, whilſt her maſts, yards, and rigging were entirely ſhot away. Gradual advances were made in the attack of the works which defended the entrance of the harbour, and on the 12th the Ludlow Caſtle began to throw ſhells into Bocca Chica, from a mortar which ſhe had on board. The next day a bomb battery was com- pleted on ſhore, which played in the fame direction; but it was not until the 15th that the landing of the artillery and ordnance was completed. No ſooner were the land- ſorces debarked than they | found themſelves more annoyed by the climate than * Colonel Wolfe was the father of that great martial genius general Wolfe, whoſe atchievements will be recorded in our fifth volume. Having early trained his ſon to arms, he was to have attended his father on this expedition, but was detained in England by a fit of licknels. by Chr. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN. 139 by the Spaniſh forts. Here all the fervid heat of the torrid zone is reflected from a white burning ſand. The appalling fervour of the ſun is ſucceeded by ma- lignant nightly damps, which the moſt robuſt con- ſtitutions are unable to withſtand. Sickneſs prevailed among the Britiſh troops, and the engineers who con- ducted the approaches were both dilatory and unſkil- ful; a diſagreement between the admiral and general had ariſen 3 whilſt the cloſe connection between the operations of the troops and the fleet, furniſhed oc- caſion for its daily increaſe. Each ſought every op- portunity to expreſs his diſlike of the other; and in- ſtead of acting vigorouſly in concert, their antipathy became ſo ſtrong that their zeal in the ſervice of their country was abſorbed in private reſentment. The bravery of the men, however, ſerved to ſupply the want of unanimity in their leaders. Three hun- dred ſailors and two hundred ſoldiers, proceeded by night in boats to attack a faſcine battery on the Bar- radera. Captain Boſcawen led the ſeamen to the at- tack, and the captains Waſhington and Murray com- manded the ſoldiers. This party landed in a ſmall ſandy bay, to leeward of the battery. They had no ſooner quitted their boats than ſome cannon, which had been ſecretly planted on the Strand, began to play upon them. The ſailors being the fartheſt ad- vanced, ſuſtained all the ſeverity of the ſhock. Had their courage forſaken them in that exigency, the whole detachment would have been ſwept away, but the peri] of their ſituation ſerved only to inſpire tem with a contempt of danger ; they ruſhed in at the embraſures, made themſelves maſters of the battery before the enemy could charge their guns a ſecond time, and by proving chemſelves ſuperior to danger removed it. The firing of theſe guns gave a general alarm. The Spaniards at the larger battery fired with grape ſhot as the ſailors advanced, but without effect, for the guns were pointed too high. The conteſt 2 WAS —— ——— — — — reer = ITY, 3 ip 4 "  Ir 2 ? wig r 5 5 SAI e ER DIE  but very ſhort : the ſailors with irre- ſiſtable ſpirit carried the battery, nailed up the guns, and after ſetting fire to the platforms, carriages, guard-houſes, and magazines, returned to the ſhips with fix wounded priſoners, having themſelves ſoſ- For their bravery in this ſer- tained but little loſs. vice, the admiral diſtributed a dollar to each man. The deſtruction of this battery, freed the troops from the greateſt annoyance of their camp, and gave them an opportunity of working quietly on their grand battery, which was conſtructed in a wood, to prevent the enemy diſcovering it until completed: this was to play againſt the caſtle of Bocca Chica; but ſo dilatory, or negligent were the engineers, though aſſiſted with five hundred ſeamen, and two hundred and fifty blacks, beſides as many pioneers as could be fared from the army, that a whole week was ſpent, and the battery far from being in any condition to incommode the caſtle. This gave the vice-admiral great concern, who expected the engineers. er have ſeconded the ſucceſs on the Barradera ſide, b opening their battery againſt Bocca Chica, which had been politively promiſed to be done at the ſame time. | On the 20th, at day- break, the garriſon of Bocca Chica began a warm fire at the bomb battery, though without doing any particular damage. But the Spa- niards, ſenſible of the advantageous ſituation and 5 utility of the Barradera battery, had been diligent in _ repairing it, and on the twenty. firſt had built up ſome embraſures and mounted two guns, with which they again played on the bomb battery, but were ſoon ſilenced by the Ripon, which the vice-admiral or- dered to anchor as near as poſſible to it, and keep firing to prevent any farther working on the levelled battery. It was now reſolved by the commanders of the fleet, to make a general attack upon all the forts and Cnae. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN. 141 and batteries; and commodore Leſtock was ap- pointed to that ſervice, with three eighty gun ſhips, and three ſeventy: ſuch a force being all that could be drawn up, withour danger of the ſhips annoying each other. Accordingly, on the 23d, commodore | Leſtock, in the Boyne, with the prince Frederick, Hampton-Court, Princeſs Amelia, Suffolk, and Til- bury, went 1n to batter Bocca Chica caſtle, and the four ſhips poſted there, namely, the Galicia, the ad- miral's ſhip, San Carlos, Africa, and St. Philip, all mounting upwards of ſixty guns, and in the moſt ad- vantageous poſition, both for oppoſing any attempt of dipping into the harbour, or to annoy any battery that could be raiſed aſhore; and as the Spaniſh ſhips had no interruption from the latter, they failed not to play as briſkly on the commo- dore, and with greater execution than the caſtle, In the mean time the Boyne falling fo far to leeward, as to lie expoſed to the whole fire of the Spaniſh ſhips and fort St. Joſeph, was very much ſhattered, and ordered off again that night, while the reſt {il} con- tinued there. Among theſe the Princeſs Amelia, belonging to Sir Chaloner Ogle's diviſion, having fallen farther to leeward than was intended, lay fair to ſilence the new- mounted guns on the faſcine bat- tery, which ſhe did accordingly: and this proved a great preſervative to thoſe who played the battery againſt the caſtle, and alſo to the men in camp, into which the ſhot, fired from the faſcine battery, flew over the hill, and annoyed the ſoldiers. The Prince Frederick ad Hampton-Court, ſharing now, be— tween them, the fire which had been employed againſt the Boyne, were alſo much ſhattered by morn- ing, when the vice-admiral was obliged to call them off, after they had many of their men killed and wounded ; and, among the former, the commander of the Prince F rederick, lord Aubrey Beauclerc, who Was 1422 NAVAL HISTORY [Boox VI. was an officer both of courage and of a cool tem- per*. The Suffolk and Tilbury being well anchored to the northward, lay ſucceſsfully battering againſt the breach till evening, at which time every thing ap- pearing fit for an aſſault, they were ordered off. Every impedimeat that prevented the army mak- ing an aſſault on Bocca Chica, being at length re- moved by the bravery of the ſeamen, General Went- * This brave man, in whole untimely death his country fuſtained a ſenfible loſs, was the eighth fon of Charles, duke of St. Albans, natu- val ſon of king Charles the Second, by Mrs Eleanor Gwin ; a neat monu- ment is erected to his memory in Weſtminſter Abbey, with the following mſcription : the epitaph writen by Dr. Toung. | Whilſt Britain boaſts her empire o'er the deep, This marble ſhall compel the brave to weep. As men, as Britons, and as ſoldiers mourn; Tis dauntleſs, loyal, virtuous Beauclerk's urn. Sweet were his manners as his ſoul was great, And ripe his worth though immature his fate. Each tender grace that joy and tove inſpire; Liring he — with his martial fire; _ Dying, he bad Britannia's thunder roar ; And Spain ſtill felt him when he breath'd no more. The lord Aubrey Bewucierk was the r N ſon ef Tharlet, duke of St. Albans, by Diana, daughter of Aubrey de Vere, ear] of Oxford. _ He went ealy to fea, and was made commander in 1731. In the year 1740, he was fent on that memorable expedition to Carthagena, under the command of admira] Vernon, in his majetty's ſhip the Prince Frederick, which with three others, was ordered to cannonade the caſtie of Bocca Chica, One of theſe being obhged to quit her ſtation, the Prince Frederick was expoſed, not only to the fire from the caſtle, but to tlrat of fort St. Jofeph, and to two ſhips that guarded the mouth of the harbour; which he ſuſtained for many hours that day, and part of the next, with uncommon intrepidity. As he was giving his commands upon deck, both his legs were ſhot off. But ſuch was his magnanimity, that he would not ſuffer his wounds to be drefizd till he had communicated his orders to his firſt lieutenant, which were, to fight his flip to the laſt extremity. Soon after this, he gave ſome directions about his private affairs, and then reßgned his foul with the dignity of an hero, and a chrifiian. | D Tnus was he taken off in the thirty firſt year of his age. An illuſtri- eus commander, of ſuperior fortitude and clemency; amiable in his per- jon, Ready in his affections, and equalled by few in the ſocial and do- mettic virtues of politeneſs, modeſty, candour, and benevolence. He married the widow of coloncl Francis Alexander, daughter of Sir Henry Newton, knight, envoy extraordinary to the court of Flo- | _ and the republic of Genoa, alſo judge of the high court of ad- CC | wor th; Caae. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN. 143 Worth, on the 25th, in the evening, directed the troops to move forward, whilft captain Knowles, with a number of amen in boats, made a fa- vourable diverfion, and threw the Spaniards into great confuſion. Brigadier Blakeney, who was the commander of the day, directed the affault. Upon a fignal given, a volley of round ſhot was poured in upon the breach from the great-gun battery, and was immediately followed by a ſecond of grape ſhot, which drove the centinels from the walls. No ſooner did the grenadiers begin to mount the breach, than the Spaniſh garriſon was diſmayed, and fled in confuſion. Don Blas de Leſo, who com- manded the Spaniſh ſhips that were ſtationed at the mouth of the harbour, ſeeing the firmneſs with which the attack was made, gave orders for every ſhip to be ſcuttled. The Africa and San Carlos preſently ſunk ; the St. Philip was ſet on fire; and tne Crews hurried ſo precipitately into their boats, that they rowed off, leaving the captain and ſixty men, on board the Galicia, the only ſhip that re- mained. Whilft the Spaniards werethusthrown into conſter- nation, captain Knowles directed the boats to row cloſe. under the lee-ſhore; and from thence he ſtormed the fort of St. Joſeph, which he took poſſeſſion of about ten o'clock that night, the Spaniards abandoning ir, after having fired ſome few guns. The captains Knowles and Watſon, being now within the boom, rowed their boats up to the Gallicia, made the ca tain, and all on board, priſoners, and ſecured the Spaniſh admirals flag and colours. The Gallicia being thus captured, the boats went to work on cutting the boom, and removing the ſhip out of the Channel, in order to make a clear entrance for the fleet to come into the har- bour. On 144 NAVAL HISTORY IBoox VI. On the 26th, being the day after taking Bocca Chica, the vice-admiral haſtened into the harbour to make proper diſpoſitions and give the neceſſary or- ders: but he had great difficulty to get in, as the San Carlos and Africa were ſunk in the channel, and the St. Philip continued burning on the lee ſhore, ſo that he was above three hours warping through, after anchoring in the narrows, before he could poſſibly fail up the harbour, which he did about two leagues that evening. In like manner the Burford and Orford _ were next day ordered to advance, and poſt themſelves acroſs the harbour as near as poſſible, but juſt without gun ſhot of Caſtillo Grande, in order to cut off from the Spaniards all communication by water. On the ſame day the Worceſter got up to the vice-ad- miral, who ſent her to anchor cloſe by a wharf where was a good crane and ſpring of water, which laſt he throught proper to ſecure for the ſervice of the fleet. The Weymouthand Cruizer ſloop getting in the ſame | afternoon, were ordered to deſtroy the batteries at Paſſo Cavallos, a creek which parts the grand Baru from the main, through which the ſupplies of provi- fions from Tolu and Sina were to pals, and where the Spaniards had erected two ſmall batteries, one of eight and the other of four guns; after they had performed this ſervice, the Cruizer went up the creek and brought away four large Sina hulks, being veſſels ſcooped out of a ſolid tree, but large enough to carry twenty tons; theſe proved very ſer- vicecable in watering the fleet. In the mean time the Wy two diviſions of the vice and rear admiral, with part of Wit the tranſports, continued to ſail and warp in as faſt WP » as they conveniently could ; but were greatly retarded U by blowing weather, which, by forcing the ſmall 8) ſhips to take ſhelter in the mouth of the harbour, fo 1 choaked it up as to prevent the men of war making 5 the defired diſpatch, often anchoring foul of one | another, w Cap. II. or GREAT BRITA IN. 145 another; but being all got in on the 3oth, the fire- ſhips and frigates were diſpoſed round the harbour in order to guard every paſs and creek, and to cut off any ſupplies going to the town; while commodore Leſtock with his diviſion was left at Bocca Chica with orders to re-embark the forces and cannon as ſoon as poſſible. | The fort of Caſtillo Grande was the next fortifica- tion which oppoſed their advances towards the town of Carthagena, for the ſecurity of which the Spa- niards had moored and ſunk ſeven of their galleons and other ſhips, and had moored their two remain- ing men of war, the Conqueſtador, of ſixty-ſix guns, and the Dragon of ſixty. On the zoth the vice-admiral held a general council of war of the navy officers, in which it was reſolved, to uſe all poſſible expedition to cut off the com- munication of the town on the land fide, and make a deſcent at the moſt convenient place, and neareſt the town. Immediately after, Sir Chaloner Qgle and ſeveral more ſhips turned up the harbour and anchored at ſome diſtance from Caſtillo Grande, where the Spaniards made a ſhew of preparing to receive them. But captain Knowles being ſent in the evening to reconnoitre, obſerved that they were buſy in moving about with thirteen launches, and next morning he found they had ſunk the Con- queſtador and Dragon, and where removing things out of Caſtillo Grande. The captain 1mmedi- = _ ately returned and acquainted Sir Chaloner Ogle jf of it, who inſtantly ordered him to weigh, and run {x in with his ſhip and fire on the caſtle, to ſee if d they would a it; this he accordingly did, . and the caſtle not firing a ſhot, he ſent his boats 1 aſhore, who rowed directly up to the caſtle and ns WM £00k poſſeſſion of it without any oppoſition. | ae | Though this caſtle mounted fifty nine guns and er, was in a condition to make a good defence; yet Vor. IV. U the 145 NAVAL HISTORY IzBoOOO VI. the Spaniards perceiving, that the day before, the rear admiral's boats were ſounding, and being well aware that his ſhips could lay their broadſides within piſtol ſhot of the caſtle, they abandoned it, having Nightly ſpiked up the guns, without diſmounting them, or knocking off their trunnions; and had thrown their powder into a ciſtern of water. But moſt of the guns were got clear again, and captain Knowles was appointed Governor of the caſtle, with a garriſon of one hundred regular troops and fifty ſailors. This was a moſt advantageous ac- quiſition for ſhortening the operations of the army, as after their embarkation they could now reland within a league of the town; ſo that St. Lazar was the only remaining fort, the reduction of which was to be next undertaken; for as 1t covered the ſouth fide of Carthagena, and commanded all the avenues, it was abſolutely neceſſary to be poſſefled by the Britiſh troops, before they could advance a ſtep farther to lay ſiege to the town. On the iſt day of April, the vice- admiral came to an anchor cloſe by Caſtillo Grande; the ſailors were employed to heave the maſts out of the Spaniſh ſhips which had been ſunk, thereby to obtain a free channel over ſuch has had been funk in the deepeſt water, and enabling the Britiſh fleet to proceed ſo high, as with their cannon to cover the deſcent of the troops as near the town as poſſible. This ſervice was effectually performed by the inflexible ardour of the ſeamen, whereupon two bomb-ketches ad- vanced, and two frigates, commanded by captains Renton and Broderick, followed to cover them. The land-forces were landed at J exar de Gracias, a country houſe formerly hired by the South-Sea fac- tors, and about two miles from St. Lazar. The firſt diviſion of the troops was commanded by brigadier Blakeney, to oppoſe which the Spaniards drew out the whole ſtrength of the town, but the ſhips fired upon Cup. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN. 147 upon them ſo ſucceſsfully, that numbers were ſwept away; fo that the Spaniards, unable to ſtand their ground, retreated with precipitation. General Wentworth at the head of the forces, advanced through a long and narrow defile, where ſome few of our men were hurt by ſingle ſhot, from the paths and openings into the wood ; the Spaniards having made a lodgement there, but were | ſoon put to flight. About a mile further, com- ing out of the defile, about ſix hundred Spaniards were perceived to be advantageouſly poſted, and ſcem- ed reſolved to diſpute our paſſage. The ground over which the troops were to march did not admit of much more than one large platoon in front, a la- goon lying on their left hand and a thick corpſe on their right, into which laſt the general ordered a party of American ſoldiers to fall upon the rear of any ſmall parties which might be lodged there, to flank them in their march. Ihe grenadiers moved forward with great alacrity, and after receiving two fires from the Spaniards with very little loſs, the front platoon gave their fire at about the diſtance of half a muſket- ſhot, and immediately wheeled to the right and left, to make room for the next to advance; from which the Spaniards judging that the whole body gave way, expreſſed their joy by a loud huzza; but being quickly convinced of their miſtake, by the fire of the next platoons, they fell into diſorder and fled with precipi- tation towards the city; upon which the general im- mediately poſſeſſed himſelf of a commodious piece of ground for forming a camp, about a ſmall mile from the caſtle of St. Lazar; and in the evening ſent a party up to take poſſeſſion of la Pola, which the Spaniards had abandoned. This was a convent {ituated on a hill, which overlooked the town and | country for ſeveral leagues. Thus far affairs went on proſperouſly; but a fatal BEE in attacking the fort of St, Lazar, which ſe- * 4 cured 143 NAVAL HISTORY [Book VI. cured to the town a free communication with the country, prevented that advantage being taken of the panic into which the Spaniards were thrown, by the bold advances of the Britiſh troops; thereby the enemy had an apportunity of finiſhing ſome works Wi which they were carrying on, farther to ſtrengthen WT the place. Three days elapſed, in which the troops 1 were obliged to lay on their arms at night, for want bot tents, and by being thus expoſed to the intenſe 1 heat of the ſun in the day time, and the chilling Wo. night dews, were greatly enfeebled, and a contagious i diftemper ſpread itſelf through the camp. 1 The commanders now vented their reſentment 1 againſt each other. The general complained that the 1 fleet lay idle, while his troops were harraſſed and di- miniſhed by hard duty and diſtemper. The admiral affirmed that his ſhips could not lie near enough to batter the town of Carthagena, and upbraided the general with inactivity and want of reſolution, to at- tack the fort of St. Lazar, which commanded the town, and might be taken by ſcalade. Wentworth, ſtimulated by theſe reproaches, reſolved to try the experiment. His forces marched up to the attack, but the guides being ſlain, they miſtook their route, and advanced to the ſtrongeſt part of the fortifica- tion, where they were moreover expoſed to the fire of the town. Colonel Grant, who commanded the gre- nadiers, was mortally wounded : the ſcaling- ladders were found too ſhort; the officers were perplexed for _ want of orders and directions; yet the ſoldiers ſuſ- tained a ſevere fire for ſeveral hours with ſurprizing firmneſs; but at length retreated in good order, leaving above fix hundred men killed or wounded | on the ſpot. Their number was now ſo much | reduced, that they could no longer maintain their W footing on ſhore: the periodical rains which fall on "hi the continent of South-America, were now ſetting in 5 with ſuch violence, as rendered it impoſſible for the Wl - ſoldiers 1108 „ i — — —— —— area Chap. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN. 149 ſoldiers to live in camp, or for the ſiege to be carried on to effect; it therefore became neceſſary to re- em- bark the troops, and the attack upon the town was then found to be impracticable. The admiral, | however, reſolved, before the deſign was wholly laid aſide, to prove the impoſſibility of taking the place by ſea ; he therefore ſent in the Gallicia, (one of the Spaniſh ſhips which had been taken at Bocca Chica,) to cannonade the town, with ſixteen guns mounted on one fide, like a floating battery. This velle], manned by detachments of volunteers from different ſhips, and commanded by captain Hore, was warped into the inner harbour, and moored, before day, at a conſiderable diſtance from the walls, in very _ ſhallow water. In this poſition ſhe ſtood the fire of ſeveral batteries for ſome hours, without doing or ſuſtaining much damage. in boats, and the cables of the ſhips to be cut; ſo that ſhe drove with the ſea-breeze, upon a ſhoal, where ſhe was ſoon filled with water. The infe- rence which the admiral drew from this experiment was, that the depth of water in the inner harbour was not ſufficient to admit large ſhips near enough to batter the town with any ſucceſs. To confute this principle, it has been aſſerted, that although this was the caſe in that part of the harbour to which the Gal- licia was conducted, yet a little farther to the left, he might have ſtationed four or ſive of his larger ſhips a- breaſt, within piſtol ſhot of the walls; and if this ſtep had been taken when the land- forces marched to the attack of St. Lazar, in all probabi- lity the town would have ſurrendered“. During the attack upon the town, a carcaſs, which was hred from a bomb-ketch, fell into the great * SmoNlet's my of England, Vol. XI. p. 84 · church, tcs NAVAL HISTORY IBoox VI. church, where the principal magazine of powder Jay : it ſet fire to ſome planks that covered this pow- der, by which it would very ſoon have occaſioned a general exploſion, ſufficient to have laid the town in ruins; but the greatneſs of the danger led every one to exert themſelves ſo effectually, that the fire was ſtifled, by throwing ſand upon it, before it had proved fatal. Ihe ſea officers and ſailors having been employed in getting the maſts, anchors and cables out of ſome of the Spaniſh ſhips that had been ſunk, our fleet was ſoon in a condition to proceed to ſea again; and on the 23d and 24th it was reſolved in a general council of war, to return to Jamaica, on account of the general ſickneſs in the army. Under the direc- tion of Captain Knowles, the entire demolition of Caſtillo Grande was completed on the 25th, the vaſt thickneſs of the walls, and the hardneſs of the cement rendering the operation tedious and diffi- cult. Alſo the fifty nine pieces of ordnance in this fort were rendered unſerviceable, by ſpiking them up, and knocking off their trunnions. After thus com- pleting the demolition of all the defences of the har- bour, and deſtroying the lime kilns, in order by that means to retard the Spaniards from erecting other buildings, and carrying off all their ſtore of lime and lime ſtone, for the ſervice of the hoſpital building at Jamaica, vice-admiral Vernon left the harbour on the ſixth day of May, without injuring any of the inhabitants, or through wantonnels giving the leaſt looſe to any of thoſe lawleſs ravages common in war; which the admiral directed to be carefully guarded againſt both by officers and failors. Whea the troops were re-embarked, the diſtem- pers peculiar to the climate and ſeaſon began to rage with redoubled fury. On the 8th day of May, the vice-admiral fat fail for Jamaica, having ſta- tioned Cray. II.]! or GREAT BRITAIN. If tioned captain Mayne, in the Worceſter, with the Strafford, Princeſs Louiſa, and Litchfield, to cruiſe to windward of Cape I iberon till the 3oth, for the ſecurity of the convoy, with victuallers and ſtore- ſhips expected from England; and on the 19th, the vice-admiral arrived with the fleet in Port-Royal - harbour, where he found the convoy ſafely arrived four days before him. Preſently after he ſent home ſeven eighty gun ſhips, with the Hampton-Court, Burford, Windſor; Falmouth, and five trigates, under the care of commodore Leſtock. The cli- mate of Jamaica was very unpropitious to the reco- very of the fick, many of them died aſhore, among whom was lord Avgaltus Fitzroy, commander of the Orford. It was neceſſary now to determine how the fleet and troops might be beſt employed againſt the enemy; for which purpoſe a general council of war was af- ſembled on the 26th day of May *. In the opinion of the officers which compoſed it, the only expedi- tion that was adviſeable to be undertaken was againſt St. Jago de Cuba. The two admirals and both the generals ſigned this reſolution, but the governor, Mr. Trelawney, diſſented from it; and recommend- ed an attempt upon Panama. Indeed the reduction of the town and port of the Havannah was looked upon as impracticable, becauſe, beſides the ſtrength of the place, Don Roderigo de Torres lay there with a powerful fleet of Spaniſh men of war. The land forces being now greatly reduced by the mor- tality which raged among them, the governor raiſed _ a corps of one thouſand negroes, for the expedition. The admiral failed from Jamaica on the 1ſt day of 55 July, with eight ſhips of the line, a fifty gun ſhip and eight frigates; having with him about forty tranf} ports, on board of which were, including blacks, * 1741. three 15% NAVAL HIST ORR Y Tees VI. three thouſand four hundred land-forces. On the 18th of the ſame month the fleet anchored in Wal- thenham harbour, on the ſouth ſide of the iſland of Cuba, a large and ſecure haven, which protects the veſiels that ride in it from the hurricanes which are fo frequent in the Weſt- Indies, eſpecially at the time of vear when this expedition was ſet on foot. Into this harbour the fleet ſailed without moleſtation, and the troops debarked immediately. No ſooner had the admiral] caſt anchor here, than he ſeemed to have laid his account for the reduction of the whole iſland; by giwing the name of Cumberland harbour, to what had before bore the name of Walthenham. This place hes about eleven leagues to the ſouth- weſt of St. Jago, and is diſtant by land about ſixty miles, on which fide the city is almoſt entirely defenceleſs. Its tor:1fications to the ſea were not formidable, but th entrance into the harbour is fo extremely narrow, and the Navigation ſo dangerous, that nature has ſuf- ficiently ſecured it from a naval attack. Theſe cir- cumſtances cauſed a reſolution to be taken in a ge- neral council of war, to march the troops, with all poſſible expedition, to the attack of the place, The army accordingly proceeded up the country, without meeting an enemy; but from ſome ſecret cauſe which was never explained, after they had pro- ceeded about twenty miles in that direction they en- camped on the banks of a navigable river, and there remained totally inactive as to their grand object: indeed, the general detached ſeveral reconnoitring parties, which falling in with ſmall bodies of the enemy, repulſed them, with very little loſs on either fide. One of theſe reconnoitring parties, conſiſting of one hundred and fifty Americans and negroes, commanded by major Dunſter, penetrated as far as the village of Elleguava, where he continued ſome time; but not being ſupported by the main army, the major returned to camp, Whilſt Caae. II.] or GREAT BRITAIN, 153 Whilſt every thing remained inactive on ſhore, _ admiral Vernon diſpatched part of his fleet to block up the port of St. Jago, and to watch the motions of the Spaniſh admiral at the Havannah, expecting, with the utmoſt impatience to hear of the army's progreſs: but on the Sth day of October he had the mortification to receive a letter from general Wentworth, expreſſing his doubts of being able to advance further, or even to ſubſiſt his army much longer in the part which they then poſſeſſed. On the gth, the general called a council of war, the members of which were unanimouſly of opinion, that it was impoſſible to march farther into the country without expoſing the troops to certain ruin. The army nevertheleſs continued in its en- campment 1050 the 7th day of November, when another council of war, conſiſting of the land-ofi- cers only, reſolved, that the troops ought to be re- embarked with all poſſible expedition; and they were accordingly put on board the tranſports on the 20th, without the leaſt moleſtation from the enemy. The fleet and tranſports then proceeded to Jamaica. aſſiſtance of any land- forces; but ſo injudiciouſly was the attack conducted, that no ſhips were ſta- tioned to annoy the town by ſca, and the aſſault from the harbour has been cenſured as very impro- perly made. After all, though the Engliſh ſoldiers and failors were diſappointed of their expected ſpoils, yet the Spaniards ſuſtained very ſevere loſſes, by the diſmantling of their forts, the ſpiking a con- ſiderable number of their guns, and the entire de- ſtruction of four men of war, an equal number of galleons, beſides many ſmall veſſels. Some have charged the miniſtry at home with a ſecret deſign that the place ſhould not be reduced, ariſing from an apprehenſion that ſuch a conqueſt would precipi- tate the nation into a war with France, who was not likely to r main a quiet ſpectator of the diſmem- berment of the Spaniſh empire. ln Europe the Britiſh fleets made a great parade without performing any eſſential ſervice. Sir John Nor:is was appointed to command a ſquadron of. ſixteen ſhips of the line, beſides the Blaze and Lightning fireſhips, having upwards of eight thou- ſand ſailors on board. With this conſiderable force he ſailed for the coaſt of Spain, and arrived in the bay of Biſcay with the whole fleet on the 5th day of Auguſt 1741: when after taking and deſtroying only ſome ſmall veſſels by captain Harriſon, in the Argyle, which apprized the country of the arrival of an Engliſh fleet, and cruizing a little while on that coaſt, the admiral returned to Spithead on the twen y-ſecond of the ſame month. Admiral Haddock, with thirteen men of war, cruiſed in the Mediterranean during the ſummer. The principal ſervices which this force was deſigned to perform were, to prevent the Spaniſh fleet from Cadiz, and the French fleet from Joulon, forming a Junction, and to intercept the troops which were ro CAP. II.] or GREAT: BRITAIN. 155 to be tranſported from Barcelona to Italy, in order to act againſt the queen of Hungary. But unfortunately neither of theſe POS was anſwered, for while Haddock lay at anchor in the bay of Gib- raltar, the Spaniſh fleet paſſed the ſtraits in the night, and was joined by the French ſquadron from Toulon. The Britiſh admiral failing from Gibral- tar, fell in with them a few days after, on which the united ſquadrons formed themſelves in line of bat- tle. Hereupon Haddock bore down upon the Spa- niſh fleet, when the French admiral ſent a flag of truce to YR him, that as the French and Spank ards were engaged in a joint expedition, he ſhould be obliged to act in concert with his maſter's allies. This 1nterpoſition prevented an engagement, the combined fleets amounting to more than double the number of the Britiſh ſquadron. Admiral Had- dock was therefore obliged to deſiſt, and proceeded to Port Mahon, leaving the enemy to proſecute their voyage Without moleſtation, The nation was in- cenſed at this tranſaction, and did not ſcruple to _ affirm that the hands of the Britiſh admiral were tied up by a neutrality entered into for Hanover“. In the month of July, two ſhips of Haddock's fleet fell in with three French men of war; captain Barnet, the Engliſh commodore, ſuppoſing them to be Spaniſh regiſter ſhips, fired a ſhot, in order to bring them to; upon their failing to comply with the ſignal, a ſharp engagement enſued; after they had fought ſeveral hours, the French commander ceaſed firing, and thought proper to come to an ex- planation; when he and Barnet parted with mutual _ apologies. The commander who moſt 3 diſtingvilped himſelf at this time, both for his activity and ſoc- e ie of England, Vol. XI. p. 998. X 2 ceſs, ; | i : | | — a nr & — * * 0 4 — s — I WC oro Been odrnrten i ee bn — 156 NAVAL HISTORY [Book vf ceſs, was captain Ambroſe, in the Rupert man of war of ſixty guns, then on a cruiſe in the bay. He took the St. Antonio de Padua, a privateer belonging to St. Sebaſtians, of ſixteen guns and one hundred and fifty men, as alſo another privateer, called the Biſcay, mounting ten carriage and two ſwivel guns, with one hundred and nine- teen failors on board. Theſe were deſperate feliows who had taken twenty-three Enghſh prizes, ſince the commencement of the war, but after a ſmart engagement they ſubmitted to the Britiſh flag. 