In February, 1740, the town of _Carthagena_, the capital of an extensive and wealthy province in Terra Firma in South America, was bombarded, and an attack was made upon Chagre, a fort situate upon the mouth of a river of that name a little to the north-west of the Gulf of Darien. The latter surrendered, after a sharp contest, on the 24th of March, when the castle, situated on a rock, and the custom house under its protection, were demolished and burnt. These were all that could be performed until the arrival of reinforcements and supplies from England. The fleet afterwards returned to Porto Bello, and from thence to Jamaica. Considerable exertions were made in England during the year 1740 with the view of attacking, more effectually, the Spanish possessions in South America. A large number of ships of war was assembled at Spithead under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle, and a land force, consisting of Harrison’s (15th) regiment, Wentworth’s (24th) regiment, and part of Cavendish’s (34th) regiment, was collected in the Isle of Wight, and held in readiness, with the six regiments of marines, to be embarked for service under the orders of General Lord Cathcart, a nobleman of approved courage and experience in war. The fleet, with the British armament, consisting of one hundred and seventy ships, sailed from St. Helen’s in October, 1740; but being overtaken by a tempest in the Bay of Biscay, it was dispersed. The greater part of the vessels, being re-collected, the Admiral prosecuted his voyage, and anchored at the neutral island of Dominica, in order to obtain a supply of wood and water. Unfortunately for the service, General Lord Cathcart fell an early victim to the disease of the climate, and the command of the expedition devolved upon Brigadier-General Thomas Wentworth, of the 24th regiment. The sixth regiment of foot, under the command of Colonel John Guise, who was appointed brigadier-general, was subsequently ordered to proceed to the West Indies to reinforce the troops employed in this enterprise. [Sidenote: 1741] The fleet, under the charge of Rear-Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle, arrived at Jamaica in January, 1741, and joined the force under Vice-Admiral Vernon, who was thus placed at the head of the most formidable fleet and army which were ever employed in those seas. The conjoined squadrons consisted of twenty-nine ships of the line, with nearly an equal number of frigates, fire-ships, and bomb-ketches, well manned, and plentifully supplied with provisions, stores, and necessaries. The number of seamen amounted to 15,000; that of the land forces, including the American regiment of four battalions (Colonel Spotswood’s) and a body of negroes enlisted at Jamaica, did not fall short of 12,000. The whole force sailed from Irish Bay in Hispaniola, and anchored on the evening of the 4th of March in the _Grande Playa_, to windward of the town of _Carthagena_, the intended object of the attack.