Part 1 (1/2)
A Journal of the Expedition to Carthagena.
by Anonymous.
THE INTRODUCTION.
_The following Sheets contain an Answer to a Pamphlet, which appeared on the Close of the last Session of Parliament, and is ent.i.tled,_ 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 Sh.o.r.e 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 princ.i.p.al 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps, 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+p, 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 princ.i.p.al Council of War being a.s.sembled, 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 Sh.o.r.e 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 princ.i.p.al Officers of the Army, and of the four princ.i.p.al 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 princ.i.p.al 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 s.h.i.+ps could approach for battering the Forts on _Tierra Bomba_.
_March_ the 8th, a general Council of War being a.s.sembled, 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.