were the Chevalier Marolles le Chenau de Bresme Simonet the Guards-Marine were divided among them to augment the number of Officers Besides these I made Detachments of Four hundred Seamen under their own Officers all arm'd with Scythes and Pistols upon occasion these were to be commanded by Lieutenants of Ships that had no Companies who were de Vaulx Longuejoue Carcavy Siglas and Sabran these were to be reliev'd by Five Captains of Fireships that were on board our Squadron The One hundred and seventy Soldiers drawn out of the Garrisons on the Coast of St. Domingo were in a separate Body and commanded by Beaumont The One hundred and ten Inhabitants and the One hundred and eighty Negroes made each of them another The Buccaniers were all in one Troop The Plans and Memoirs which I had of several places of whose Errors I have much reason to complain were nevertheless true in one point For they gave me a plain assurance that if we did not seize at our arrival at Carthagena upon a considerable Eminence and a Church called Nostre Dame de la Pouppe that commands the Avenues all the Treasure would be carried off the greatest part being in Gold and Emeraulds easily to be transported up into the Country which the Spaniards would not fail to do upon the approach of such a formidable Fleet. To get possession of this Post I resolv'd to land the Buccaniers the Night after my coming to an Anchor they being very proper for such an Attempt as being accustomed to marching and subsisting in the Woods where each of them carries his own Provisions and lives upon what he kills so I was inform'd at least Thus not being encumber'd with any Baggage their March might be kept secret their Irruption unexpected and in case of necessity their Retreat secure by ways unpassable to others I had concerted with Du Casse all things relating to this Design which he undertook to see executed We agreed upon the Signals he should make me by Fires from the Hills to acquaint me whether he wanted any assistance or Vessels to re-imbark his Men or upon taking of the Post whether he was in a Condition of maintaining it or not On my part I was to inform him by Signals from the Ships of my Condition and the Resolutions which various Accidents might oblige me to take Having concluded upon this Method of executing our Design we arriv'd between Carthagena and Point Hicacos four Leagues to the Eastward where finding good Anchorage in a great Bay which the Land makes by running out to the Southward we came to an Anchor about Four a Clock two Leagues from the City on the same Day being the Thirteenth The Squadron was got ready in the Morning at Sambee and I delivered all my Orders by Signals By this diligence I was sure to make a secure Descent it not being possible that an Enemy could be able to guard all the Shoar or march down time enough to hinder our landing So soon as the Ships were come to an Anchor I made the Signal for the Chaloups that were to land the Buccaniers to go on board their Frigats so soon as it was dark and to them to be in a readiness for the Boats altho' it was resolved they should not embark until Midnight to the end they might be ashoar some Hours only before Day-light In the mean time the Fort the Mutine and the Bomb-Vessel according to their Orders were advanc'd towards the City the last near enough to bombard and the other two to guard her I expected by thus employing of the Enemy with my Bombs to divert them from taking other necessary Precautions When the Buccaniers were to be embark'd in order to their landing they did not behave themselves so heroically as Du Casse had boasted of them For this separation from the King's Forces afforded them a prospect of the dreadfullest Dangers they began to apprehend the want of Provisions in the Woods where they were us'd to subsist many Days when they were only to rob and cut Peoples Throats sleeping whereas now they were to march against a People that stood on their Defence yet to take away one of their pretences that covered their fear we delivered them Provision and the Major-General after much stirring got them at last into the Boats All was in a readiness for the Descent when I fortunately resolv'd to visit the Shoar for the most proper place of landing One would not have thought that in a great Bay shelter'd from the Winds that usually Reign upon this Coast where Ships find a good Anchorage and the Sea calm it should be impossible to get ashoar but scarce were we come to it when the Waves breaking upon the Rocks even with the Water did but little miss of filling my Canoa quite full of Water at once Levy Du Casse and Tilleul were with me We rowed down the Strand towards Carthagena in hopes of finding some proper place but there the Sea ran higher than it did from whence we came and when we were fall'n so low that it was not possible to proceed farther without engaging our selves among several little Lakes that from this part water all the Territory of Carthagena our Canoe came a-thwart a Sea that filled her half full of Water and now in all probability our Enterprize as yet not begun was like to end in a Goal But Levy leaping into the Water and by his Example encouraging the Sea-men that followed him to use their utmost Efforts we at length got our Canoa a-float that had struck on the Rock and deliver'd our selves from that imminent Danger Our first Care was by the other Canoas of the Majors to dispatch Orders to the Chaloups not to come near the Shoar where embarrass'd by the great number of People on board them and being every way larger drawing more Water and not so well provided with Rowers as my Canoa was their Ruine must have been inevitable We were then notwithstanding all our Draughts and Memoirs oblig'd to agree that Carthagena was inaccessible on this side For if in so calm a Day the Sea was so boisterous as we found it what were we to expect in other Weather In short the stay we made in this Country hath shewn us by Experience as well as inform'd us by the Relations of the Inhabitants that the Sea upon all this Coast and in all Seasons is a natural and invincible Rampart and that Carthagena is approachable only by the Lake which makes the Harbour I reflected with Concern on this disastrous Adventure I foresaw that in not being able to possess my self of that considerable Post of Nostre Dame de la Pouppe I should afford the Spaniards an opportunity of several Days to carry off whatsoever they were desirous to save by reason I could not be able to come at them until I had taken the Fort of Boccachica Being wholly bent upon Boccachica the Fleet got into a readiness of sailing in the Morning on the Fourteenth
extraordinary Diligence I was in a Condition of Sailing the next Day We had hardly got into our Course when the Scepter struck upon a place where according to the Rules of Navigation there could be no manner of danger after having struck three times very violently we thought she was just upon sinking especially when we saw a great many Planks floating upon the Water at the same time we perceiv'd her to float and running immediately to the Pumps we found she did not make one drop of Water We could not tell what to think of this Accident however it was concluded that it could not be a Rock she had struck upon but upon some sunk Vessel that floated under Water which being less strong than the Scepter had occasioned us that Alarm by the breaking of her Planks without any ways prejudicing the Scepter We continu'd our Course endeavouring to avoid the Enemies I had so regulated my self to the Tides as to be by the beginning of the Night at Pennemarc-Point besides there was no great probability I should be discover'd in sailing so little a way especially by reason of our holding so near to the Coast I resolv'd at the same time to steer directly from Pennemarc to the Coast of Spain which I design'd to leave to the Southward This Course so contrary to what is customarily taken to get clear of the Land which the Enemies must know I design'd and upon which most probably they form'd their Method of Cruising was the most likeliest Expedient to deceive them This had the desired Effect and the Wind continuing favourable I first made Cape Ortegal and afterwards continued my Course towards the Island of St. Domingo where I arriv'd in Fifty five Days during which there happen'd nothing remarkable unless it was that after having pass'd the Tropick we met with West South-West Winds and consequently contrary which is not usual The pleasure of arriving at Cape Francis which was that part of S. Domingo that I came to was mitigated by several Accidents I understood there that Capt. Desaugets who commanded Three Ships in those Seas for whom I had Orders to join himself with my Squadron was Eight Days before my Arrival sail'd upon his Return to France I was there likewise inform'd by Mons Daunou Lieutenant-Governour of the Island that the Succours which Mons Du Casse Governour of the Coast had prepar'd for me consisted in about Four hundred Men altho' he had Orders to join me with the Strength of the whole Colony It is true that by good Fortune all the Pyrates of those parts which are usually called Buccaniers were met together at that time It was thought that I might find a Party of them but it was no ways to be imagin'd that I should find them all for they go out and come in as they please consequently this Assistance could not be computed at 14 or 1500 Men as I was made to believe I should find at St. Domingo neither did they exceed 600 So I was near upon a Thousand Men behind of my Account The Departure of Capt. Desaugets depriv'd me of a like Number of Men and two great Ships Moreover I was fallen short of two great Ships and several Frigats specified in my first Project by which means I found my self reduc'd to half the Force I propos'd at the beginning I did not think fit to come to an Anchor at the Cape but left there Three Frigates the Mutine the Avenant and the Marin to take in such Forces as might be drawn from thence and the fresh Provisions which Commissary Du Tilleul was to supply my Squadron with S. Vandrille Commander of the Marin that was sent two Months before I left France with Orders for Mons Du Casse to have the Forces ready that were appointed for my assistance after he had carried his Dispatches to Petit Guaves sailed for the Cape and attended me there In his passage from France to St. Domingo he was attack'd by an English Ship of 54 Guns who notwithstanding her Superiority was forc'd to retire with Shame after a Fight of several Hours Desaugets going for the Hondura's before he return'd to France had order'd the Chevalier De la Motte d'Heran on Board the Christ taken from the Spaniards to sail directly for France with the Favorite-Frigat whom I found at the Cape upon his departure These two Ships were both mann'd with the Favorite's Crew only consequently very weak Men of War wherefore I resolv'd to make use of but one of them to put all the Men into her and leave the other Ship at Petit Guaves By Virtue of the King's Letter which I had to Desaugets and his Squadron I order'd La Motte d'Heran to join me which he did and chose the Christ that he commanded About Eight a Clock upon the Sixth of March I came to an Anchor over-against Exter the usual Residence of Mons Du Casse who came immediately on Board to advise with me about the shipping of the Men he was to bring me and seeing that I did not dissemble neither my surprize nor my trouble at the small Number of Men he had provided for me he protested that he had done all he could and continually endeavoured to make me have a great Opinion of the good Success of this Attempt for that the Buccaniers were at that Juncture all together and would every Man of 'em perform Wonders We agreed that he should go to Petit Guaves and that I would be ready by that time it was Day to get into the Port Du Casse came thither to join me having a Design on foot which I did not imagine I brought him the Duplicate of the Order which he had received from St. Vandrille which he did not read when I delivered it to him by reason it was wrote in Cyphers There was added in that Letter without my knowledge that he was to contrive the Means of succeeding in an Attempt that was approv'd by His Majesty without damaging the Colony This Restriction did in some measure deprive me of the Power of commanding his Forces seeing he had an opportunity of pretending to keep them for the preservation of his Colony He said That he would not insist upon Terms with me as being perswaded that I would have a regard to his Character I replied That the greatest Character he could pretend to was that of being Captain of a Ship which he had the Honour to command by his Commission all that I could do was that he should serve in that Capacity according to his Seniority which did submit him to several others who nevertheless would not pretend to concern themselves with the Forces of his Government in relation to whom I should address my self to him that he was to accept this Proposition or not to embark with me for I had no Orders to compel him After refusing these Offers he left me and thinking no more of him I was surpriz'd to hear that he took all imaginable Care for what was
and believing that upon their approach to the little Fort of S. Lazare between La Pouppe and Carthagena they might happen to frighten the Garrison to retire from thence also he propos'd this Attempt to them but it was to no purpose And in a Council where he did not preside they resolv'd to attend my coming encamp'd in the Wood at the foot of the Fort where they got about Thirty Hours before me On the Seventeenth all the Ships being drawn into Order at the entrance into the Lake they pass'd it in the Morning of the Eighteenth The Diep Fly-boat touch'd the great many Banks of Sand in the Lake which our Pilots did not know was the occasion we did not advance very much that Day The Apollo ran a-ground this Day but these Banks being only Sand and Ouse mingled with a very fine Turf there was no fear of danger In the mean time being sure of having the Ships suddenly follow me we began our March by Break of Day and for Security against all Hazards took two Days Provision with us for the Forces which was dignified with the Title of the Land-Army This after the departure of the Six hundred and fifty Buccaniers that were gone to the other side and the Garrison of One hundred and seventy Men remaining behind us in the Fort of Boccachica might consist of about One thousand seven hundred Men not including some Sea-men One hundred and ten Inhabitants of St. Domingo form'd into Companies Fifteen or Twenty Voluntiers that follow'd Du Casse and One hundred and eighty Negroes I was oblig'd to defer making use of my Sea-men until the Ships were arriv'd and had taken their Stations The smallness of our Forces was no discouragement to us The Marines especially being highly pleas'd with the execution of a Business in which they had never before been employ'd did apply themselves with all imaginable Diligence and Good-will every one of them chearfully undertaking whatsoever was appointed to him After we had cross'd the Mountains covered with Woods which the Negroes examin'd before us we met with the Plain that is here and there cover'd with Shrub-wood and at Noon came to an old ruin'd Castle within half a Mile of St. Croix Here we rested the Troops and besides the Pits that are there easily made in the Sand and afford indifferent good Water we had the good Fortune to find a great Cistern that was a mighty Conveniency to us After this Refreshment the Vicount de Coetlogon whose Day it was march'd on with a part of the Grenadiers to observe how we might encamp as near as possible to the Fort and to seize upon the Passages that are in those Marshes that encompass the Fort in the mean time we continu'd our March not being able to leave the Shoar because the Lake approaching in divers places within a few paces of the Sea permits you the choice of that way only until we came down from the Mountains below which the Island is pretty spacious This way having brought us within Cannon-shot of the Bastion of Carthagena called S. Domingo we struck short off to the right by a way that the Marsh leaves cross the low Woods called Maugliers that grow in the Water In this place I was informed by the Officers that Coetlogon sent me that he was at the foot of Fort S. Croix which the Enemy had abandon'd having carried off their Cannon and set fire to the Lodgements that were there likewise that some part of the Forces might encamp upon a Spot of Ground about the Fort but that the rest must be left in the way worn near the Fort by a Rill of Water running from the neighbouring Marshes that the bottom was good and the Water not above Knee-deep which would no ways prevent a communication Levy the Major-General and my self with some Grenadiers were in the mean time so near advanc'd to Carthagena as easily to observe that the place could not be attack'd on one side the Marshes and Sea not leaving there a Sandy space of about twenty Fathom over which was expos'd to the fire of three Bastions besides there was no sinking two Foot deep without being in Water The great Number of People that we saw on the Ramparts who quietly look'd on us made me desirous to summon them the Governour was there and answer'd my Drum That he was ready to defend himself better than we could attack him We could not exactly discern the foot of the Rampart and being desirous to know if there was a Ditch I order'd De Bresme whose Battalion was encamp'd at the least distance from it to examine at Night how it was which he perform'd very well and assur'd me That the Water of the Marsh went up even to the foot of the Walls and that there was only a small dry space of Sand that environ'd part of the great Bastion called S. Domingo and that on the other side the Sea came up to the foot of this Bastion This Report made us conclude not to attack Carthagena in this place The next Day being the Nineteenth so soon as it was Day we cross'd the Lake with much diligence Pally that commanded the Negroes whom I had order'd to seek out a convenient place of descent having assur'd me that he had found out two which came almost up to the great way I immediately pass'd over with Levy Sorel and the Grenadiers of the Battalion of de la Chenau being conducted by some Prisoners that Pally had taken on Board of a Pereagoe which had endeavour'd to get from Carthagena These Prisoners in hopes of being the better treated had offer'd themselves for our Guides and indeed led us very nigh to the foot of the Eminency upon which Fort St. Lazare is situated At this place we found the Buccaniers Daunou had left a Detachment of 'em to guard Nostre Dame de la Pouppe Coetlogon La Motte Michel and La Motte d'Heran whom I had left at S. Croix to bring away the rest of the Troops as the Chaloups came to them insomuch that we were all got together by Break of Day next Morning leaving only a Serjeant and Twenty Men in Fort S. Croix with Orders to keep the Gate always shut that and the Situation being sufficient to prevent the Enemy from repossessing themselves of it We had in the Evening of the Nineteenth Day view'd all the places adjacent to St. Lazare and perceiv'd that without getting it into our possession it would not be possible to advance a step towards Carthagena by reason it commands all the Avenues We beheld with much trouble the time it must cost us if we attack'd it in Form and brought our Artillery to batter it This whole little Mountain is defended with a natural Glacis very steep cover'd with Shrub-wood which runs up to the foot of the Wall where we suppos'd was a Ditch the Wood being extreamly thick and very difficult to pass prevented us from going to it upon which I order'd
personally necessary to him in this Expedition and that he reported He would rather come on Board as a private Soldier than not engage in so glorious an Affair He shewed much Courage and Desire of Glory in his Discourse and it is pity that he afterwards discover'd his Resolution to proceed from Motives and Interests something less generous In the mean time we employ'd our selves in getting of Water Wood and other things necessary for the Squadron and to fit up the Vessels of the Buccaniers which were all unrigg'd without the help of the Rigging and Cordage that I ordered to be delivered them by my Squadron it would have been impossible for them to put to Sea we likewise distributed the Provisions there which I had brought for the Forces that were to embark with me in short we prepared all things for our Departure It was then necessary to regulate the Pretensions of the Buccaniers who desir'd to be assur'd of their Shares of the expected Prizes These Free-booters are for the most part compos'd of those that desert from Ships that come upon the Coast The Advantage they bring to the Governours protects them against the Prosecutions of the Law besides all those that are apprehended in France as Vagabonds or such as can give no Account of themselves are sent to these Islands where they are oblig'd to serve for Three Years The first that gets them obliges them to work in the Plantations at the end of the Term of Servitude some Body lends them a Gun and to Sea they go a Buccaniering This Profession hath maintain'd it self a long while by this sort of Recruits and subsist by their Pyracies they were formerly altogether independent but of late Years they have been reduc'd under the Government of the Coast of S. Domingo they have Commissions given them for which they pay the Tenth of all their Prizes and are now call'd the King's Subjects For the Governors of St. Domingo being enrich'd by them do mightily extol them for the Damages they do to the Spaniards and endeavour to have it believed that the Buccaniers are the strength and support of the Colony whereas they are in effect the Ruine of it For if such as are convey'd thither were kept from the Liberty of embracing this infamous Profession which an Impunity for all sorts of Crimes renders so much belov'd we should not have lost in a few Years above Six thousand Men that might have improv'd and peopl'd the Colony And thus indeed they would have been truly the strength and support of the place As to other Matters altho' they are pleas'd to be counted the King's Subjects yet it is with so much Arrogance as obliges all those that are desirous to make use of them to court them in the most flattering Terms This not being agreeable to my Disposition and being they were in the Dominions of His Maiesty and esteeming them as His Subjects which the Governor was oblig'd to deliver to me I plainly told them That they should find me a Commander to lead them on but not as a Companion of their Fortune that if they made any Difficulties either to embark or obey I would certainly burn all their Vessels even to the poorest Boats and inevitably deprive them of the Means for some Years if not for ever of continuing their Depredations It was fear'd that upon these Threats they would betake themselves to the Woods as being their usual Retreat upon any Dissatisfactions But I knew they apprehended very much the Execution of my Menaces and moreover that the Governor who is so highly concern'd in their Pyracies would omit no sort of Care to retain them in their Duty The Demand they made of having their Share in the Division of the Prizes secur'd to them was very reasonable therefore I explain'd my self in Writing and caus'd it to be fix'd up in several places implying That they should Man for Man have the same Shares of Booty that was allowed to the Men on Board the King's Ships I was informed of their Customs and that of divers ways of dividing the Shares which is commonly a very troublesome Business the most usual Method was this of reckoning by the Number of the Men for Example A Vessel of a Hundred Men hath double the Allowance that is made to another of but Fifty so the rest in proportion I made no manner of delay in the Choice I was to make as likewise to acquaint them that I could not meddle with any thing that belong'd to the King the Admiral and the Undertakers of the Armament That His Majesty had been pleased to allow to the several Ships Companies the Tenth of the First Million and a Thirtieth part of all the others And I engag'd my self in Writing to give the Buccaniers the same Terms Du Casse told me that I had taken the easiest Method desiring me only to leave with him the Original of that Writing including the Frigat Pontchartrain commanded by Lieutenant Mornay who desired to serve in the Squadron upon the same Conditions that I had granted to the Buccaniers There was likewise comprehended at the Desires of Du Casse a Frigat of S. Malo fitted both for War and Traffick We shall have occasion to mention this Writing again in the Sequel of our Story Upon the Eighteenth all the Ships that I had left at Cape Francis having join'd my Squadron with La Motte d'Heran whom I had likewise ordered to join me I made ready on the Nineteenth to go and Anchor at Cape Tiburon being the furthest Western Point of S. Domingo the Water there is better and easier to be got than in any other place so it was absolutely necessary for me to touch there besides I was very desirous to get out of Port to oblige the Buccaniers to come on Board which they ever defer to the last moment however they at last got on Board seeing me at some distance and follow'd the Squadron as also the Pontchartrain which Du Casse had chosen for himself when on a sudden a violent North-Wind which is very extraordinary and rarely known in this Season scatter'd not only the Buccaniers but likewise all the Ships of my Squadron insomuch that I continu'd alone for above Thirty Hours two Chaloups sent from the Scepter to the assistance of two Buccaniers in danger of stranding not being able to get up with me but good Weather coming on we all met upon the 28th in the Road of Irois three Leagues distant from Cape Tiburon Until then I had kept my Design secret not being wholly determin'd on the Matter Du Casse who understood by his Letters from Court that the principal design of the Expedition was upon Carthagena did judge the execution impossible by reason of the several Accidents already mention'd and the small number of Forces with me He represented unto me with much appearance of Reason That according to the last Advices from the Indian Coasts the Galleons must be at Porto Bello or upon their
We designed to pass so nigh the Walls of Carthagena as to do them all the mischief my Guns could afford them but notwithstanding my utmost care to provide all things necessary for every Vessel of the Buccaniers who have the Reputation of knowing this Coast we found them so very ignorant and so much at a loss that we durst not attempt any thing upon the small Informations that we could get from them so we resolv'd to take the surest Precautions possible by ordering the Chaloups to sound before us The Scepter not finding Water enough could not come within Shot of the Town the Lewis and the Fort that drew less even touch'd in several places However that did not hinder them from firing until I made them a Signal to join the Fleet. The Enemy made no great Fire yet we perceiv'd they had great Pieces and good store of them To our admiration we observ'd that Carthagena was inclos'd only on this side with Pallisades and old Walls that were in many places fall'n down whereupon we founded our Projects and Hopes of a lucky Event not knowing that Nature had sufficiently provided for the Security of this part by the great Violence of the Sea that washes it I touch'd twice and came not this Night to an Anchor before Boccachica being desirous first to inform my self of all the Soundings but came to an Anchor so soon as we found a proper depth We understood afterwards that the place we had been in all Day was about eight Years since a Plain where the People of Carthagena us'd to walk I sent away all the Chaloups to sound the Coast even up to the Fort. I order'd St. Vandrille on board the Marine to an Anchor over-against the entrance that so he might prevent any Boats from carrying of Advice or Silver to Porto Bello All the Officers and Pilots that had been out to sound assur'd me that there was every where Water enough even to Twenty Fathom and near the Shoar and the Coast jetting out to the Southward had form'd near the Fort a sort of a Haven secure from the Violences of the Sea which ran too high every-where else for a Descent and a small neck of Land or Promontory did likewise protect us from the Fire of the Fort whereupon it was resolv'd to come to an Anchor there by Break of Day next Morning being the Fifteenth and to take our Anchoring Births according to the Disposition of the place All the Fleet were at Anchor on the Fifteenth at Noon I immediately dispatch'd away Major Thesut to observe what part of the Shoar was most proper for a Descent Upon his return I made the Signal for landing and order'd Du Casse to take eighty Negroes that were on board the Furieux to embark with them on board the Pereagoes which are a very light Vessel and therefore are in no danger of stranding with these I order'd him to make up towards Carthagena and to come very near the Shoar in two or three places without endeavouring to land but only to draw out the Enemies if there were any and by that means oblige them to discover what they were and if there was no appearance of any he was to inform me of it by a Signal The Woods lie close to the Sea-shoar where the Spaniards might have kept themselves conceal'd and discharg'd upon us without appearing which oblig'd me to this precaution but Du Casse finding no such matter landed with his Negroes and hoisted the white Flag upon a Rock This acquainted me that he was landed The Chaloups immediately made to shoar and the Descent was made without any opposition The Negroes were forthwith employed with their Bills and Hatchets to make a way through the Wood to the Lake on the other side of the Island where we design'd to encamp and make our Approaches to the Fort the Ground on this side towards the open Sea not being so proper besides it was necessary to cut off their Communication with Carthagena by Land The Island which is but narrow at the Point where the Fort is situated is but a good quarter of a League from the Sea to the Lake at the place our Negroes were cutting within half Cannon-shot of the Fort from which we were covered by the Woods The Way was made in a very little time so that all our Troops were ranged quite cross the Island making places of Arms in the several Paths of the Wood that lead to Carthagena by this means we were soon posted and the Places of Arms or Corps de Garde were near enough to speak to each other While we were thus settling our selves a-shoar the Lewis made a little more out and began to Cannonade the Fort sometime afterwards the Fort Man of War doing the same as likewise the Scepter that follow'd at a little distance the Battery began to be very warm the Bomb-Galliot and the Traversier with one Mortar having taken their Stations played their parts very well which continued until Night The Enemy only made a very slow Fire which did not occasion us much damage only our Yards and Rigging suffer'd a little and three Men were kill'd or wounded In our approach to the Lake we had a little crook'd the Way leading towards the Fort to the end we might fall directly in with a little Plain which the People of St. Domingo brought hither for our Guides told us lay between the Lake the Wood and the Fort so we came out at the foot of a rising Ground that was high and large enough to cover us and from whence we had the liberty of examining the Fort which is not above Musquet-shot from it We lodg'd our selves here expecting the approach of Night to examine the Ditch and where it was proper to open the Trenches by cutting down a part of the Wood which we perceiv'd to be much nearer to the Fort than the Way we had cut So soon as it was dark the Major-General and Canette slipt away to make the Tour of the place upon the Bank of the Ditch which they did without being discover'd Levy Jaucourt and I being without design insensibly advanc'd into the Wood until we perceiv'd our selves near to the Ditch we were desirous to examine it The obscurity and great stilâ—â—ess of the Night favour'd our Attempt we met the Major-General and Canette who had been round our Meeting happen'd to occasion some little Noise upon which the Sentinels fir'd and we return'd sounding the Ground which being proper for the Work confirm'd us in the Opinion of opening the Trench in that part of the Wood which I said was nearest to the Fort besides a little Fen being between the Eminency and the Fort did deprive us of the conveniency of carrying on our Work on that side Upon the Sixteenth in the Morning we began to make our Fascines Gabions and to get our Artillery on Shoar which we wanted one of the Mortars being brought a-shoar in the Night was ready to fire and
was no Safety for me but to go before the Wind for the Streights of Bahama so he propos'd to get so much a Head of me as to hinder my passage but I perceiv'd at the same time that he might be mistaken in his working because instead of sailing parallel to the Course we steer'd his coming up opened an Angle which in truth brought him into my Traverse but in reality at a greater distance than when he was a little a-stern of us therefore by tacking about I should be at a greater distance than I was before besides I was sure to get something by it I was certain that the Ships which might have attack'd me durst not do it and therefore it would not much trouble me if I did find them in my passage Upon this I sent the Marine-Frigate to order all the Ships of the Squadron to tack about precisely at the shutting in of Night that I would light no Fires nor make any Signal and that they should go as close haul'd to the Wind as it was possible At the time appointed we went about but we were too near the Enemy to conceal our working from them one of their small Frigates being likewise got in amongst us I was oblig'd to give him some Cannon-shot from the Scepter and the Furieux who was something nearer to him with which he stood so corrected that we saw him no more afterwards But the different Signals which the Enemies Ships made by Fires to each other assur'd us that they who were most advanc'd communicated to them behind what pass'd so we doubted not of our being follow'd However the next Day so soon as it was light we found the success of our working for we could only reckon 14 Ships who follow'd us in a Line one after the other and not so nigh by far as the Day before but at the same time we miss'd the Fort Apollo L'Avenant Marin and the Diep Flyboat We having not heard any Cannon-shot we could not think they were taken However it was not until the next Day that I was eas'd of this Apprehension by report of the Mutine that rejoin'd me acquainting me That when she carried the Orders for the Ships to go about those we miss'd being considerably to Windward of us who had by much the Wind of the Enemies when we tack'd it was much easier for them to get clear by keeping on their way than in following me Simonet added that the Fort had lost her Foretop-mast But having seen all the Enemies Ships standing as we did at a great distance from each other there was no reason to fear that ours were pursued This separation being not to be remedied my Thoughts were wholly employed to the preservation of the rest of the Squadron and to make use of the advantage I had got I continu'd the same Board until within twenty Leagues of Carthagena where we were on the 9th of the same Month of June In the Evening I made the Signal of holding the contrary Course and when it was quite dark I acquainted the other Ships with three Guns that they were to steer West directly before the Wind There was then but three of the Enemies Ships that kept within sight of us and they were a great way from us they could not imagine what this Signal mean'd and so kept on the same Board In the mean while we ran this Night 22 Leagues and the next Day found our selves perfectly out of all Business on that side But to one Trouble ended commonly comes another It was not possible for us to reach Bahama by holding through the usual passage that lies between Cuba and Jamaica and which is not at all dangerous but we were oblig'd to take that to the Southward terrible for the Shelves among which we were forc'd to pass altho ' we were altogether ignorant of them however supplying the want of Experience with our utmost Care and Diligence we escap'd all the Rocks and having doubled the Cape of St. Anthony found our selves on the 26th in the entrance of the Streight of Bahama where we understood by a small English Vessel who fell into our Squadron coming from Jamaica laden with Indigo and Cotton to the value of about 25000 Crowns that the English Fleet we had met was commanded by Nevil and was compos'd at Barbadoes of 13 Ships that came from England of three that were in the Island and eight Hollanders of which four were very large Ships and came out of the Streights who made in all 24 Men of War to whom were belonging four Fire-ships and a Ketch Which was exactly the Number we had seen their Intention was to have stayed 24 Hours only at Jamaica but the contrary Winds had detained them eight Days that their Ships were in good Health but very ill mann'd the greatest of them not having above 350 Men and those of between 50 and 60 Guns 150 Men This last Circumstance diminish'd the admiration I was in that none of them who could have attack'd me had not begun the Fight by engaging of me until such time as the rest could get up to them it may be they were ignorant of the ill state we were reduc'd to by Sickness or possibly they did not give Credit to what they might have known by the Amsterdam Flyboat for the Countenance that we shewed them was no ways answerable to what she could have told them Having detach'd away the Mutine-Frigat for St. Domingo with the Forces Inhabitants and Negroes that were on Board that part of the Squadron then with me we steer'd on our Course nothing material happen'd to us excepting an Error in our Reckoning For we were got to the Eastward of Newfoundland when we thought we had been to the Westward which oblig'd us to go into Conception-Bay for Water that we design'd to have taken at Plaicentia We came to an Anchor on the Fourth of the Month of August having only six Days Water on Board The Captain of a small Vessel coming from Barbadoes which we took on the Second Instant did us very good Service in our Anchorage which we did not know but this Vessel which the Vermandois mann'd happend to lose the Squadron in a Mist as did also another small Vessel that we found abandon'd at Sea upon which we sent likewise some Men and since we never heard more of them The great want of some fresh Provisions oblig'd me to send the Captain of the Prize taken at Bahama to propose to some Fisher-men retir'd to the bottom of the Bay called La Carbonniere to supply me with what Cattle they could and to lend me their Boats to take in Water upon which I promis'd to do them no harm They answer'd me by the same Messenger That they had scarce any fresh Provisions but they would give me what they had and accommodate me with their Boats provided I gave them Hostages The assistance was not considerable enough to accept it upon this Condition so I resolv'd to burn a