to avoid being
seen, or the Noise of their Oars heard, and proposed landing in a small
sandy Bay, behind the _Barradera_ Battery, into which was a narrow
Channel, between two Reefs of Rocks, and a four Gun Battery on the
Strand, facing the Channel (both unknown to every Person there) which,
so soon as some of the Boats had got into the Channel, began to fire on
them; but the brave Tars landed, and rushed in at the Embrazures, and
took Possession of the Battery, before the Enemy could fire a second
Time. This firing alarmed the _Barradera_ Battery, and the Enemy turned
three Pieces of Canon on the Platform, which they fired with Grape
Shot, so soon as the Seamen advanced; but notwithstanding that, and the
Difficulties and Badness of the Road (which was through a Morass, and
where but one Man could walk abreast, and full of Stumps of Mangroves
each a Foot or more high, the Seamen attacked it; and, after a smart
though short Resistance, carried it, took nine Prisoners, spiked up
fifteen Guns (from eighteen to twenty four Pounders) burned the
Carriages, Platforms, Guard-houses, and Magazine; and it may with
Justice be allowed (from the many Difficulties that attended this
Action, in Regard to the advantageous Situation of the _Barradera_
Battery, the Boats being surprised with a four Gun Battery, just as
they were going to land, and no Person acquainted with the Place) as
bold and surprising an Enterprise, as is to be met with; and the
Consternation it put the Enemy in seems to confirm this Opinion; for
although _Boccachica_ Castle, and the Enemy's four Ships, were not more
than Musket Shot off, yet neither they, nor _St. Joseph_'s (which was
still nearer) ever fired a Shot. So that it seems as if they could not
believe the Thing, though they saw all in Flames. For this gallant
Action the Admiral rewarded every common Man with a Dollar apiece.

[_K_] The Success of this Action may be said to have given the Army
both Spirits and Pleasure (_pro tempore_) as it freed them from the
greatest Annoyance of their Camp, and gave them an Opportunity of
working quietly on their Battery.

[_L_] Because the Enemy made such quick Dispatch in repairing some Part
of the _Barradera_ Battery, mounting and firing some Pieces again, the
Army began to reflect, and say, the Battery was not effectually
destroyed, though hundreds of Men were seen constantly at work, and
Boats with Cannon, Stores, and Fascines, passing and repassing hourly,
both