ps across the Channel, and
moored two of their Men of War, the _Conquestodore_ of sixty six Guns,
and the _Dragon_ of sixty. The 31st early in the Morning, Captain
_Knowles_ observed the enemy's two Men of War sunk, and not perceiving
any Men in the Castle went and acquainted Sir _Chaloner Ogle_, that it
was his Opinion the Enemy had abandoned _Castillo Grande_, who
immediately ordered him to weigh Anchor, and run in with his Ship, and
fire on it, which he did; and the Castle making no return, he sent his
Boats ashore, and took Possession of it, and hoisted the _English_
Flag: And on the Admiral's receiving Intelligence, he ordered a proper
Number of Forces to garison it[_W_]. The next Day Captain _Griffin_,
and Captain _Rentone_, were sent to see if it was possible to get past
the Enemy's Ships they had sunk, and finding the _Conquestodore_'s
Stern afloat, the _Burford_ warped up, and cut the Stern Moorings, and
hove her round, which opened a fair Channel, and the Bomb-Ketches, and
two twenty Gun Ships went through. By this Time the Admiral, and
greatest Part of the Squadron, were come up the Harbour. Mr. _Lestock_
and his Division was left at _Boccachica_, with Orders to reimbark the
Forces, and Cannon as fast as possible. The second in the Morning the
Bomb-Ketches began to play on the Town, and some of the Guns of
_Castillo Grande_, that were cleared, fired on a _French_ Ship that lay
up at the Head of the Harbour[_X_], upon which the Enemy set fire to
her, and she burned the greatest Part of the Day. Next Day the
_Weymouth_ getting through the Channel, the Town began to fire on her,
but without doing any material Damage. Great Part of the Transports
with the Troops being now come up the Harbour, this Night the
_Weymouth_, the three Fire-ships, and the _Cruiser_ Sloop, being
designed by the Admiral to cover the landing of the Forces, warped over
on the other Side the Harbour undiscovered by the Enemy, who in the
Morning, to shew their Resentment, gave them a Salvo of what Cannon
fronted that Way; (but firing through the Bushes did no Execution) the
_Cruiser_ Sloop drawing but little Water, warped up a Creek, and a
Party of the Enemy from a Breast-work they had thrown up, fired smartly
on her with their Musketry, but were quickly dislodged, a brisk fire,
chiefly with Grape Shot, having been kept all Night to scour the Woods.
About 5 o'Clock next Morning, being the 5th, the Forces were
landed[_Y_], and in their marching