The Pirates of Panama: or, The Buccaneers of America; a True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish MainExquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier)
History
The Pirates of Panama: or, The Buccaneers of America; a True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main
Exquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier)
Buccaneers; Pirates; Spanish Main; West Indies -- History
The governor being dead, and the corps du gard surrendering, they found
remaining in it alive thirty men, whereof scarce ten were not wounded:
these informed the pirates that eight or nine of their soldiers had
deserted, and were gone to Panama, to carry news of their arrival and
invasion. These thirty men alone remained of three hundred and fourteen
wherewith the castle was garrisoned, among which not one officer was
found alive. These were all made prisoners, and compelled to tell
whatever they knew of their designs and enterprises. Among other things,
that the governor of Panama had notice sent him three weeks ago from
Carthagena, that the English were equipping a fleet at Hispaniola, with
a design to take Panama; and, beside, that this had been discovered by a
deserter from the pirates at the river De la Hacha, where they had
victualled. That upon this, the governor had sent one hundred and
sixty-four men to strengthen the garrison of that castle, with much
provision and ammunition; the ordinary garrison whereof was only one
hundred and fifty men, but these made up two hundred and fourteen men,
very well armed. Besides this, they declared that the governor of Panama
had placed several ambuscades along the river of Chagre; and that he
waited for them in the open fields of Panama with three thousand six
hundred men.
The taking of this castle cost the pirates excessively dear, in
comparison to what they were wont to lose, and their toil and labour was
greater than at the conquest of the isle of St. Catherine; for,
numbering their men, they had lost above a hundred, beside seventy
wounded. They commanded the Spanish prisoners to cast the dead bodies of
their own men from the top of the mountain to the seaside, and to bury
them. The wounded were carried to the church, of which they made an
hospital, and where also they shut up the women.
Captain Morgan remained not long behind at St. Catherine's, after taking
the castle of Chagre, of which he had notice presently; but before he
departed, he embarked all the provisions that could be found, with much
maize, or Indian wheat, and cazave, whereof also is made bread in those
ports. He transported great store of provisions to the garrison of
Chagre, whencesoever they could be got. At a certain place they cast
into the sea all the guns belonging thereto, designing to return, and
leave that island well garrisoned, to the perpetual possession of the
pirates; but he ordered all the houses and forts to be fired, except the
castle of St. Teresa, which he judged to be the strongest and securest
wherein to fortify himself at his return from Panama.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account