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 no thinking Man be look'd upon to be otherwise, than doubtful. _April_ the 1st, Colonels _Moreton_, and _Grant_'s Regiments embarked. Captains _Griffin_ and _Renton_ being sent to reconnoitre the Channel; and observing that the Stern of the _Conquestador_ was afloat, they found Means to heave her round, and thereby opened a Passage for the Bomb-Vessels, and two twenty Gun-Ships. The Transports got through the Channel, and began to move up the _Lagoon_, but the Ordnance Ships still remained at the Entrance into the Harbour, the Artillery and the Stores being not yet all put on board. _April_ the 2nd, The General, with the greatest Part of the Transports, came to an Anchor near _Castillo Grande_. The Bomb Ketches began early in the Morning to play upon the Town, but were placed at too great a Distance, for the Shells to do much Damage. The Enemy set Fire to a _French_ Ship, which lay at Anchor near the Walls.[20] _April_ the 3d, all the Cannon and Mortars were got on board; but the Carriages, _&c._ still remained upon the Shore. The _Weymouth_ Man of War having passed the Channel, the Enemy fired upon her some random Shot; but she lay at too great a Distance to receive any Damage. Such _Americans_, as had served on Shore, as likewise the Negroes, imbarked this Day on their Transports. _April_ the 4th, a Council of War of Land Officers was held on board the _Dorsetshire_ Transport, wherein it was resolved, that the Troops should be landed the 5th at Break of Day; for which a Disposition having been prepared by the General, and then laid before the Members, was by them unanimously approved of. The _Weymouth_, the _Cruizer_ Sloop, and two or three Fireships, kept firing, during the Night, with Grapeshot into the Woods adjoining to where the Troops were to land.