"On Friday the 21st inst. I directed to be embarked, on board the
Seahorse, Terpsichore, and Emerald frigates, one thousand
men--including two hundred and fifty men under the command of
Captain Thomas Oldfield--the whole commanded by Captain Troubridge;
attended by all the boats of the squadron, scaling ladders, and
every implement which I thought necessary for the success of the
enterprise. I directed that the boats should land, in the night,
between the fort on the north-east side of the Bay of Santa Cruz
and the town, and endeavour to make themselves masters of that
fort; which, when done, to send in my summons: the liberal terms of
which, I am confident, you will approve. Though the frigates
approached within three miles of the place of debarkation, by
twelve o'clock; yet, from the unforeseen circumstance of a strong
gale of wind in the offing, and a strong current against them in
shore, they did not approach within a mile of the landing-place
when the day dawned, which discovered to the Spaniards our force
and intentions.
"On my approach with the line of battle ships, Captains Troubridge
and Bowen, with Captain Oldfield of the marines, came on board, to
consult with me what was best to be done; and were of opinion, if
they could possess the heights, over the fort before mentioned,
that it could be stormed. To which, I gave my assent; and directed
the line of battle ships to batter the fort, in order to create a
diversion. But, this was found impracticable; not being able to get
nearer the shore than three miles, from a calm, and contrary
currents: nor could our men possess themselves of the heights, as
the enemy had taken possession of them, and seemed as anxious to
retain as we to get them. Thus foiled in my original plan, I
considered it for the honour of our king and country, not to give
over the attempt to possess ourselves of the town; that our enemies
might be convinced there is nothing that Englishmen are not equal
to: and, confident in the bravery of those who would be employed in
the service, I embarked every person from the shore on the 22nd at
night.
"On the 24th, I got the ships to an anchor, about two miles to the
northward of the town, and made every shew for a disposition of
attacking the heights; which appeared to answer the end, from the
great number of people they had placed on them. The Leander,
Captain Thompson, joined this afternoon, and her marines were
added to the force before appointed; and Captain Thompson also
volunteered his services. At-eleven o'clock at night, the boats of
the squadron, containing between six and seven hundred men, a
hundred and eighty men on board the Fox cutter, and about seventy
or eighty men in a boat we had taken the day before, proceeded
towards the town; the divisions of boats conducted by all the
captains, except Freemantle and Bowen, who attended with me to
regulate and lead the way to the attack: every captain being
acquainted, that the landing was to be made on the mole; from
whence they were to proceed, as fast as possible, into the great
square; where they were to form, and proceed on such services as
might be found necessary. We were not discovered, till within half
gun-shot of the landing-place: when I directed the boats to cast
off from each other, give a huzza, and push for the shore.
"A fire of thirty or forty pieces of cannon, with musketry from one
end of the town to the other, opened on us; but nothing could stop
the intrepidity of the captains landing the divisions.
Unfortunately, the greater part of the boats did not see the mole;
but went on shore, through a raging surf, which stove all the boats
to the left of it.
"For a detail of their proceedings, I send you a copy of Captain
Troubridge's account to me; and I cannot but express my admiration
of the firmness with which he and his brave associates supported
the honour of the British flag.
"Captains Freemantle and Bowen, and myself, with four or five
boats, stormed the mole; though opposed, apparently, by four or
five hundred men; took possession of it; and spiked the guns: but
such a heavy fire of musketry, and grape-shot, was kept up from the
citadel, and the houses at the head of the mole, that we could not
advance; and we were all, nearly, killed or wounded.
"The Fox cutter, in rowing towards the town, received a shot under
water, from one of the enemy's distant batteries, and immediately
sunk; and Lieutenant Gibson, her commander, with ninety-seven men,
were drowned.
"I must not omit to acquaint you of the satisfaction which I
received from the conduct of Lieutenant Baynes of the Royal
Artillery; not only from the ardour with which he undertook every
service, but also from his professional skill."
_List of Killed, Wounded, Drowned, and Missing, of his Majesty's
Ships undermentioned, in storming Santa Cruz, in the Island of
Teneriffe, in the Night of the 24th of July 1797._
Theseus, eight seamen, four marines, killed; twenty-five seamen
wounded; and thirty-four drowned.
Culloden, one seaman, two marines, killed; twelve seamen, six
marines wounded; and thirty-six drowned.
Zealous, three seamen, two marines, killed; and nineteen seamen,
two marines, wounded.
Leander, one seaman, five marines, killed; one seaman, four
marines, wounded; and one missing.
Seahorse, two seamen killed; and thirteen seamen, one marine,
wounded.
Terpsichore, eight seamen killed; nine seamen, two marines,
wounded; and four missing.
Emerald, five seamen, three marines, killed; eleven seamen wounded;
and ten drowned.
Fox cutter, seventeen drowned.
Total killed, wounded, and missing, two hundred and fifty-one.