A Journal of the Expedition to Carthagena, with Notes: In Answer to a Late Pamphlet Entitled, An account of the Expedition to Carthagena
History
A Journal of the Expedition to Carthagena, with Notes: In Answer to a Late Pamphlet Entitled, An account of the Expedition to Carthagena
Cartagena (Colombia) -- History -- Siege, 1741
_March_ the 9th, in the Morning, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_, accompany'd by the
General, proceeded, with his Division, to the Attack of the Forts: Three
eighty Gun Ships; the _Norfolk_, Capt. _Graves_; the _Shrewsbury_, Capt.
_Townshend_; and the _Russel_, Capt. _Norris_, were order'd to batter
those of St. _Philip_ and St. _Jago_: Which Service they perform'd very
gallantly, having, before the Evening, drove the Enemy from their Guns,
and forced there, to retire out of the Forts.
About Two, the General and Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ went on board the
_Norfolk_, and afterwards the _Russel_, for the better reconnoitring the
Enemy, and viewing the Ground where the Troops were proposed to be
landed.
The Loss on board the _Norfolk_ and the _Russel_ was not very
considerable, but the _Shrewsbury_ suffered much more; for having
received a Shot in her Cable, she drove so far, as to open the whole
Fire of the Castle of _Boca-Chica_, &c. to which she lay exposed till
the Night gave her an Opportunity of removing to a safer Birth. As there
were no Guns either in _Fort Chambra_, or on what was called the Fascine
Battery, the _Princess-Amelia_, and the _Litchfield_ met with no
Opposition.
About Five, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ made a Signal for landing the Troops,
which was repeated by the Admiral, who lay then with his Squadron at
about a League's Distance.
As soon as the Grenadiers appeared, the General joined them, with an
Intention to have landed immediately; but the three principal Officers,
and two of the Companies, being still wanting, he order'd the Boats to
lie under the Cover of the _Russel_ and the _Norfolk_, there to wait
their Arrival: They were in a short Time joined by the Lieutenant
Colonel and Major, and one Company; but Col. _Wynyard_, "who was
detain'd with his Company of Grenadiers, on board the _Strumbulo
Fire-Ship_, _from the want of Boats_," being still absent, the Landing
was further post-pon'd to about Seven, when they were, without
Opposition, put on Shore on the Strand, to the Left of Fort St.
_Philip_, under the Command of Lieutenant Col. _Cochrane_: After having
seen them in Possession of the Forts, the General returned and went on
board a Vessel, which lay near the Shore, and there passed the rest of
the Night.
In the Disposition for Landing, the Grenadiers were to have been
sustained by a Brigade, commanded by Brig. _Guise_, and Col. _Wolfe_,
who themselves join'd the General; but the Brigade did not come down
till the Day following, being prevented by the strong Breezes.[4]
The same Evening the Bomb Ketches began to fire upon the Castle.
_March_ the 10th, as soon as the Day appeared, the General went on
Shore, and gave Orders for forming the Grenadiers upon the Beach, for
covering the landing of the rest of the Troops; which not being
compleated till late in the Evening, the whole lay that Night upon their
Arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account