I Shall only here remark some Mistakes, which the Author of the Pamphlet
has been guilty of in his Appendix, both with regard to the
Circumstances of the City of _Carthagena_, and to the Conduct of the
Officers of the Army, whom he has been pleased basely to asperse,
without any Grounds whatsoever. And I do appeal to the Gentlemen of the
Navy, for the Truth of what I have advanced; which must be so evident to
every impartial Person, who was there present, and gave the least
Attention to what passed, that I should not have employed one Moment's
Time, in replying to a Pamphlet, made up of glaring Falsehoods, Facts
misrepresented, and mean personal Reflections, to which the Author does
not put his Name; was I not in Hopes, that by laying before the Publick
an exact Account of the Transactions before _Carthagena_, in some
Measure to remove (from those who cannot otherwise be informed of the
Truth) the Prejudices which are so industriously propagated in that
scurrilous Libel; not solely with a View to calumniate a few brave Men,
who after many Hazards are return'd home to their native Country; but by
invidious Distinctions, to set at variance the Army and the Navy, which
can have no other End but to obstruct his Majesty's Service, whenever
the Fleet and Land Forces shall act in Conjunction.
As for the City itself (says the Author) Nature has fortified it against
any Attempt by Sea, the Water shoaling near a League off, and being
plentifully bounded with Rocks; besides the Sea is very seldom smooth,
so that it is difficult at all times landing.
There are Pilots, who have been long accustomed to that Coast, who
affirm that there is depth of Water sufficient for large Ships to anchor
(even on that Side) near enough to batter the Town: The only Difficulty
arises from the Swell of the Sea; but that much abates, whenever the
Wind blows for any Time off Shore.
The Ravelin here mention'd can only subsist in the Author's Imagination;
there is no other Defence between the two Bastions, (which are very
distant from each other,) excepting a low Wall not flank'd; a
Circumstance of which very good Use might be made, if upon the Swell's
being abated, Boats could be sent in there to put Troops on Shore.
There were two large Men of War moored to defend the Entrance of
_Boca-grande_, but that there was a Fascine Battery begun upon each
Point, seems to be a Secret only known to the Author; for no Mention was
made of any such during our Stay upon that Coast, nor upon reconnoitring
that Entrance into the Harbour, could the least Traces of them be
perceiv'd.
The little _Fort de Chamba_ was not finish'd, nor had upon it one Gun;
nor was there the least Appearance of one, on what the Author is pleased
(Page 49.) to call a Fascine Battery of twelve Guns: From same Fascines
being placed in order upon the Shore, it was believed that the Enemy had
Thoughts of erecting a Battery on that Place.
The Author's Description of _Boca-Chica_ Castle, _&c._ seems to be
tolerably exact, and I cannot omit to remark the justness of his
Expression, when he mentions the Bomb Vessels being got near enough to
divert the Town; for in Truth they were posted at so great a Distance,
that they seem'd to be sent in with no other Intention.
That the City of _Carthagena_ is to the Land-side, fortify'd by double
Walls, and double Ditches, flank'd by strong Bastions, is an undoubted
Truth; but I must dissent from what the Author alledges, of the Water at
the Head of the Harbour, being shoal so far off, that Ships cannot come
near enough to do Execution with their Guns. Experienced Pilots, and
Masters of trading Vessels, who have been much conversant in that
Harbour, do (and will when Occasion requires it) testify the contrary;
but nothing can be a stronger Proof of there being sufficient depth of
Water for our largest Ships, than that the Station of the _Spanish_
Galleons, is very near the Walls, for the Convenience of taking in their
Lading. It is well known, that Monsieur _Ponti_ sent in his Men of War
(amongst which was the _Sceptre_ of eighty-four Guns) to batter the
City, and with so good an Effect, as in a short Time to oblige them to
surrender.
But a still more recent Proof of there being sufficient depth of Water,
is the celebrated Admiral _Vernon_'s having ordered in the _Galicia_, a
_Spanish_ Man of War of sixty-six Guns: This Vessel was fitted up for
battering in a very extraordinary Manner: _Merlons, or Cases, six Feet
thick, rammed with Earth, or Sand, were formed between the Port-holes_,
which occasioned her drawing more Water, than any of our eighty Gun
Ships; notwithstanding, with her sixteen Guns mounted, _only_, she did
considerable damage to the City, before she could be demolished.
That the _Spaniards_ have no great Dependance upon this supposed
Shoalness of the Water, is very evident from their having lately erected
a Battery of forty large Pieces of Cannon, for the defence of the Town
on the Side towards the Harbour; a very unnecessary Expence, if the
Water is there so shoal as to prevent the near Approach of our large Men
of War.
From the Author's own Description, the Fort of St. _Lazar_ appears to be
no such trifling Redoubt, as he would insinuate; had he approached near
enough to take an exact View of it (which probably he did not) he must
have observed that the Hill is near double the Height he mentions, and
that the Eminence opposite to it (which, if Cannon could have been
convey'd thither, was certainly a very proper Place for the erecting a
Battery) is pretty much upon a Level with the Ground upon which the
Castle stands.
That the Enemy began their Works upon the Hill, immediately after we
were in Possession of _Boca-Chica_ (if not upon the first Appearance of
the Fleet,) is a Fact well known, both to the Army and to the Navy; nor
was it in the power of the Former to interrupt their Progress till the
proper Materials were landed; but how far that might have been done, by
sending in two or three of his Majesty's large Ships, the Gentlemen of
the Sea are the most proper Judges.
That the Side of the Castle of _St. Lazar_, which is next the Town,
could not be defenceless, must be evident to every Reader, from the
Circumstance of its being next the Town, and consequently defended by
all the Works on that Quarter, particularly by an Half-moon, which is
erected about half Musket-Shot from it.
If the Enemy's Numbers (as the Author alledges, page 54.) amounted to
4000 Men, the Troops which were landed, and never exceeded 4350 Rank and
File, could but have little Prospect of forcing them amidst their strong
Fortifications; nor did the General and Principal Officers ever propose
it to themselves, otherwise than by the help of the whole Force on board
the Fleet, which was actually promised, as soon as a Passage should be
opened for the Ships into the Harbour; how performed, the unhappy Issue
but too plainly makes appear.
The Enemy's Engineers, Cannoniers, _&c._ acquitted themselves very well,
and ours did the same, nor was there amongst them one single instance of
Cowardice or Desertion; would the Author be pleased to put his Name to
so base an Aspersion cast upon them, there are of the few surviving, who
are well able to convince him of his Mistake.
It is roundly alledged, that excepting two Regiments, the whole body of
Troops which came from _England_, were quite raw and undisciplined; how
far this is a Fact known to every one, will appear, by minutely entering
into their Circumstances.
As a Foundation for forming a Corps of Troops fit for immediate Service,
his Majesty was pleased to direct a Draught to be made from the Foot
Guards, of the best disciplined Corporals and private Men, to be
appointed Marine Serjeants, as likewise 300 private Centinels well
instructed in the Use of their Arms, to be placed to every Marine
Regiment, who were for that Purpose draughted from all the old Corps in
_Britain_; by which Means each of the Marine Regiments was actually
supply'd with a Number of well-disciplin'd Men, not much short of the
_Irish_ Corps before the Augmentation.
The Colonels of the six Regiments of Marines were old Officers, who had
all (excepting one) served abroad in the last War.
Such were the greatest Part of the Lieutenant Colonels and Majors. The
Captains were either Gentlemen of Service taken from the Half-Pay, or
from the Independent Companies at _Jamaica_; such as had been long
inured to the Climate of the _West-Indies_, or Subaltern Officers of
long standing in the old Corps, whom his Majesty honour'd with the
Command of Marine Companies. The first and second Lieutenants were
either Ensigns taken out of the old Corps, Cadets, who had for some time
carry'd Arms, or young Gentlemen, whose Quality and Interest very justly
entituled them to Preferment. To these the Author has added a third
imaginary Class, of _abandoned Wretches of the Town, whose Prostitution
had made them useful on some dirty Occasion, and by Way of Reward were
provided for in the Army_. I call upon the _Author_ to point out one
single Man, who was sent out in those Corps, deserving of that
Character; if he does not (as I am well assured he cannot) what
Character he himself richly deserves, will easily occur to the Reader.
That few of the Inferior Officers had ever before served against an
Enemy, is undoubtedly Fact, nor after thirty Years Peace, could it
possibly be otherwise; but their Behaviour during the Incampment in the
Isle of _Wight_, evidently made it appear that they were not deficient
in Discipline; nor when they came to face the Enemy, could the oldest,
and most experienced Officers expose their Persons with greater
Gallantry and Chearfulness.
That most of the Officers, who had served long and well, got themselves
knock'd on the Head by teaching a young and raw Army, is in Fact false;
for both old and young equally shared the Hazard and Fatigue; nor did
one single Officer or Soldier loose his Life, excepting in the
Performance of his own Duty.
What an Heap of _Billingsgate_ does the Author employ (pag. 56.) to
vilify the _American_ Regiment? _The Officers_ (he affirms) _were in
particular composed of Blacksmiths, Taylors, and all the Banditti that
the Country affords_. Had he been so candid as to have informed himself
of those Gentlemens true Characters, he would have known, that the Field
Officers were all Men of long Service, named by his Majesty, and sent
from _Britain_: That the Companies were chiefly raised by the Interest,
and at the Charge of their respective Captains; of whom some were
Members of the Assemblies in the Provinces where they resided; others
liv'd upon their own Plantations, and had Commands in the Militia; and
some few of them had been concerned in Traffick. His Majesty was pleased
to send to _North-America_ thirty young Gentlemen, under the Direction
of Brigadier _Blakeney_, who were to serve in that Corps as Lieutenants;
they had carried Arms either in the old Corps at home, or in the
_Scotish_ Regiments in the _Dutch_ Service, and were most of them
Cadets of good Families in _North Britain_.
The rest of the Subaltern Officers were recommended by the Governors,
and by the Gentlemen of the first Rank in the Provinces where the
Companies were raised; and were either younger Sons of the principal
Families, bred to no particular Profession, or such of them as had been
brought up to the Law, to Merchandize, or who had served at Sea.
It is certain, that the greatest Part of the private Soldiers, who were
inlisted in _North-America_, were either _Irish_ (and many of those
suspected to be Papists) or _English_, who had been under a Necessity of
quitting their Native Country. As the Levy was made in Haste, there was
neither Time for strictly examining into their respective Circumstances,
nor for their being well-disciplin'd before they joined the Army; whence
it became in a great Measure, necessary to employ them chiefly on board
the Fleet.
Tho' this infamous Libel appears to be levell'd against that Corps of
_Land Forces in general_, yet the Author is pleased more eminently to
distinguish the Engineers, _&c._ belonging to the Train; he very roundly
affirms, that _worse never bore the Name, nor could be pick'd out of
all_ Europe.
The principal Engineer (Mr. _Moor_) was deservedly esteemed for his
Bravery, his Capacity and Skill in his Profession; the Battery, on which
he was killed, viewing the Effects of the Shot thro' an Embrasure, was
well constructed, and fully answered the End for which it was raised: He
had served with Applause in the Defence of _Gibraltar_, one of the
principal Fortresses in _Europe_, which was attacked by an Army of
40,000 Men, composed of the best Troops in _Spain_, and batter'd by 100
Pieces of large Cannon; yet this Army was by the gallant Defence of the
Garrison obliged to retire, after having been almost totally ruin'd at
this _simple_ Siege, as the Author of the Pamphlet is pleased to stile
it.
Mr. _Armstrong_, the Gentleman who succeeded as principal Engineer on
the Death of Mr. _Moor_, had all the Experience, which could possibly be
acquired in Time of Peace, having been continually employ'd during
sixteen Years in the different Works about this Kingdom; nor could any
Person whatsoever perform his Duty, with greater Attention, or more
chearfully expose his Person, whenever he thought his Presence could in
any wise contribute to the publick Service.
It is certain, that no more than two of the Sub-Engineers had ever
served in the Face of an Enemy; which surely ought not to be imputed to
them as a Fault, when, after so long a Peace, few or none so qualified
were remaining: But nothing had been omitted by those Gentlemen to
repair their Want of Experience both by their Application to the Study
of their Profession at home, and by visiting the Fortifications in
Foreign Parts; and when on real Service, it was very evident that they
spared no Endeavours to make up that Deficiency by their Diligence and
gallant Behaviour: Nor is there the least Room to doubt, but that the
few who have returned from that fatal Expedition, will, whenever they
shall be called upon, be found qualified to do effectual Service to
their Country.
Colonel _Watson_'s Merit and long Services very justly entituled him to
the Command of the Train on the late Expedition; nor did his Age (as the
Author insinuates) ever prevent his Attendance upon his Duty; in the
Performance of which he lost his Life by a Shot which glanced from a
Tree, at some Distance from the Battery.
His Successor, a brave blunt Soldier (who can never be pardoned for
boldly speaking the Truth) was so far from being rendered unfit for his
Duty, that no Man attended it with more Diligence; from the first
Opening the Battery before _Boca-Chica_, he scarcely ever left it, even
for necessary Refreshment, till the Castle was taken.
Who could be so proper to be inlisted for Cannoniers, Bombardiers, _&c._
as Country Fellows? but those Country Fellows (as the Author is pleased
to call them) were disciplin'd Men, capable of doing their Duty; in
which they wanted no Aid, till Death and Sickness had reduced them so
low, that it was necessary they should be reinforced both from the Army
and the Fleet. The extraordinary Conference mentioned by the Author
(page 56.) to have been held between the General and them, I can safely
affirm, has not the least Foundation.
That many of the Bomb-Shells broke in the Air, from some Defect in their
Fusees, or never broke at all, is undoubtedly Fact; which probably was
occasioned by Damage they had received at Sea, and which could not be
repaired, as we had neither Time nor Convenience for it, before their
being wanted for Service. The Grenado-Shells were of the same Sort, of
the very same Dimensions with those usually issued out from the Office
of Ordnance; nor was there ever before the least mention made of their
having been deficient. The Reason given for their not breaking is no
great Proof of the Author's Skill, as an Engineer; for it is well known,
that one single Ounce of Gunpowder is sufficient (if properly confined)
to rend in Pieces a Stone weighting several Tuns.
The eight twenty-four Pounders, put on board for the Use of the
Expedition, were all landed at _Boca-Chica_ fit for Service, and were
there actually made use of upon the Battery, where two of them were
rendered unserviceable.
One hundred Baulks, and three hundred Battery Planks, were by an Order
from the Board of Ordnance, bearing date, _May_ 1740, issued out of the
Stores, and imbark'd for the Use of the Expedition; but Lord _Cathcart_,
having after the Imbarkation of the Troops, been informed that no
further Supply could be had in the _West-Indies_, tho' the contrary had
been represented to the Board of Ordnance; He applied for an Addition of
one hundred Baulks, and 300 Planks, which were put on board before the
Fleet sailed; as were likewise 4050 Hand-bills, his Lordship deeming the
1000 already provided not to be sufficient.
Upon the whole, nothing could more demonstrate the Goodness of this
Army, than the Service they performed, not only amidst the almost
insuperable Difficulties, which arose from the Climate, but labouring
under the utmost Distresses and Discouragements from a Quarter, whence
the Reverse ought justly to have been expected. Were the Instruments
imploy'd on the late Expedition such as the Author of the Pamphlet is
pleased to describe, there would be no great Difficulty in accounting
for its Miscarriage; the which, Lord _Cathcart_ (had he lived) could
probably not have prevented: but as it does, I think, evidently appear,
that what the Author has advanced to the Prejudice of the Land Forces,
is false and groundless, and that they performed whatever was possible
for them to do in their Situation, our Misfortunes are to be ascribed to
some other Cause; they were, without Doubt, principally occasioned by
the Climate. What further may have contributed, nothing would set in a
more clear Light, than an exact and faithful Account of every
Transaction, not only during the Time of the Troops lying before
_Carthagena_, but to that of their being recalled. Such an Account
cannot but be very acceptable to all those who had a Share in that
unfortunate Expedition, and had no other End in View but the publick
Service. And, I am well assured, to none more than to the Gentleman, on
whom the Command devolved by the Death of Lord _Cathcart_, who has all
possible Reason to desire, that his whole Conduct may undergo the
strictest Scrutiny.
I cannot conclude without remarking, as something extraordinary, the
Justice done by the Author in his last Paragraph to the common Soldiers;
but which is surely no less due to the Officers, who led them on, and by
following whose brave Example, they gave evident Proofs, that they
wanted not for Courage and Resolution becoming _Englishmen_.
_FINIS._