The necessary arrangements having been made, the fleet moved forward in two divisions on the 8th of March, in order to silence the different forts, preparatory to the landing of the troops. After about one hour’s cannonade, the forts of _St. Jago_ and _St. Philip_ were deserted by the enemy, and were taken possession of by the troops; and by the 15th all the soldiers, with their tents, tools, artillery, and stores, were landed, the ground cleared, and an encampment formed. The reduction of the Castle of _Bocca Chica_ next took place, which, on a practicable breach being made, it was determined to storm; but, in consequence of a well-judged diversion of the navy, the Spaniards retired without firing a shot, and when the grenadiers advanced to storm at the hour appointed, they met no resistance. A panic had seized the enemy, who set fire to one of their ships; taking advantage of this state, the boats resolved to attempt the fort of _St. Joseph_, which was immediately evacuated. The Spaniards appearing to be determined to sink their vessels, the British crews proceeded to board the ship Galicia, which carried the flag of the Spanish Admiral. After various services the castle of _Grande Castello_ was gained, and the enemy had sunk all their ships of war; preparations were made for landing the troops near the town, in order to cut off all communication with the main land. Two channels having been made through the sunk vessels, with which the Spaniards had blocked up the entrance of the harbour, the troops and artillery were re-embarked, and commenced landing on the 5th of April near the city; and, after a spirited contest, the British bivouacked within a mile of the castle of _St. Lazar_, which commanded the town. The men passed three nights in the open air for want of tents and tools, which could not be landed sooner, and the health of the troops became seriously injured. As affairs were now drawing to extremities, and the men were fast diminishing in numbers from hard duty and the effects of climate, Brigadier-General Wentworth resolved to attack _St. Lazar_ by escalade, it being judged necessary to forego the ceremonies of a regular siege, and, however hazardous, to rest the issue upon a storm. Accordingly before daybreak on the 9th of April, a force under the command of Brigadier-General Guise, of the sixth foot, consisting of five hundred grenadiers, supported by a thousand Marines, and some American and Jamaican levies, advanced against the enemy’s lines in front of the fort; these were followed by a body of Americans, with woolpacks, scaling-ladders and hand-grenades.