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.