ath, towards the castle. The
Dutchmen's bugles were sounding in all directions, showing us that they
were awake; but probably they didn't know where their enemies were to be
found. We had got close up to the citadel before we were discovered;
and then, though they began firing away pretty briskly, as they could
not see us, and were, I guess, in a mortal fright, none of us were hit.
Those in front had the scaling-ladders, and, with their help, we managed
to climb up the steep bank on which the castle stood; and in no time, it
seemed, we were in possession of all the lower works. We were not in
though yet; but we soon hauled up the scaling-ladders, and began to
place them against the wall of the citadel, when we found out that they
were too short--more's the shame to the fellows who made them! The
enemy discovering this, began peppering away at us with musketry, and
fired several round-shot into the bargain. Here was a sell! We began
to think that we should have to be about-ship, when what should we see,
but the gates open to let in the governor and some other officers who
had been sleeping outside the walls. The opportunity was not to be
lost. Led by our gallant captain, we made a dash at the gate. The
colonel defended it bravely, but he and several of his men were killed
in a minute, and on we rushed into the very centre of the fort. Never
were fellows in such a mortal fright as were the Dutchmen. Daylight
just then breaking, we saw them scrambling and leaping, like a flock of
sheep, over the walls. However, some of the officers, and forty
artillery-men, gave themselves up as prisoners.

"We now had the British Jack flying away on the flagstaff above our
heads. Still, we were a very small band to hold the forts we had
conquered, and we looked out with no little anxiety for the arrival of
the rest of our force. What had become of the boats we could not tell;
but as the sun rose, we saw the _Caroline_ and the other ships standing
in towards the town.

"The Dutchmen did not know our numbers, probably; so the captain,
putting a bold face on the matter, sent a flag of truce to Fort Nassau,
to say that if the troops didn't behave themselves, and cease firing, he
would fire into them with a vengeance, and into the city to boot. Now,
from what we had done, the Dutchmen, having no doubt that he would keep
his word, hauled down their flag; and before many hours were out,
thinking discretion the best part of valour