were the Chevalier Marolles le Chenau de Bresme Simonet the Guards-Marine were divided among them to augment the number of Officers Besides these I made Detachments of Four hundred Seamen under their own Officers all arm'd with Scythes and Pistols upon occasion these were to be commanded by Lieutenants of Ships that had no Companies who were de Vaulx Longuejoue Carcavy Siglas and Sabran these were to be reliev'd by Five Captains of Fireships that were on board our Squadron The One hundred and seventy Soldiers drawn out of the Garrisons on the Coast of St. Domingo were in a separate Body and commanded by Beaumont The One hundred and ten Inhabitants and the One hundred and eighty Negroes made each of them another The Buccaniers were all in one Troop The Plans and Memoirs which I had of several places of whose Errors I have much reason to complain were nevertheless true in one point For they gave me a plain assurance that if we did not seize at our arrival at Carthagena upon a considerable Eminence and a Church called Nostre Dame de la Pouppe that commands the Avenues all the Treasure would be carried off the greatest part being in Gold and Emeraulds easily to be transported up into the Country which the Spaniards would not fail to do upon the approach of such a formidable Fleet. To get possession of this Post I resolv'd to land the Buccaniers the Night after my coming to an Anchor they being very proper for such an Attempt as being accustomed to marching and subsisting in the Woods where each of them carries his own Provisions and lives upon what he kills so I was inform'd at least Thus not being encumber'd with any Baggage their March might be kept secret their Irruption unexpected and in case of necessity their Retreat secure by ways unpassable to others I had concerted with Du Casse all things relating to this Design which he undertook to see executed We agreed upon the Signals he should make me by Fires from the Hills to acquaint me whether he wanted any assistance or Vessels to re-imbark his Men or upon taking of the Post whether he was in a Condition of maintaining it or not On my part I was to inform him by Signals from the Ships of my Condition and the Resolutions which various Accidents might oblige me to take Having concluded upon this Method of executing our Design we arriv'd between Carthagena and Point Hicacos four Leagues to the Eastward where finding good Anchorage in a great Bay which the Land makes by running out to the Southward we came to an Anchor about Four a Clock two Leagues from the City on the same Day being the Thirteenth The Squadron was got ready in the Morning at Sambee and I delivered all my Orders by Signals By this diligence I was sure to make a secure Descent it not being possible that an Enemy could be able to guard all the Shoar or march down time enough to hinder our landing So soon as the Ships were come to an Anchor I made the Signal for the Chaloups that were to land the Buccaniers to go on board their Frigats so soon as it was dark and to them to be in a readiness for the Boats altho' it was resolved they should not embark until Midnight to the end they might be ashoar some Hours only before Day-light In the mean time the Fort the Mutine and the Bomb-Vessel according to their Orders were advanc'd towards the City the last near enough to bombard and the other two to guard her I expected by thus employing of the Enemy with my Bombs to divert them from taking other necessary Precautions When the Buccaniers were to be embark'd in order to their landing they did not behave themselves so heroically as Du Casse had boasted of them For this separation from the King's Forces afforded them a prospect of the dreadfullest Dangers they began to apprehend the want of Provisions in the Woods where they were us'd to subsist many Days when they were only to rob and cut Peoples Throats sleeping whereas now they were to march against a People that stood on their Defence yet to take away one of their pretences that covered their fear we delivered them Provision and the Major-General after much stirring got them at last into the Boats All was in a readiness for the Descent when I fortunately resolv'd to visit the Shoar for the most proper place of landing One would not have thought that in a great Bay shelter'd from the Winds that usually Reign upon this Coast where Ships find a good Anchorage and the Sea calm it should be impossible to get ashoar but scarce were we come to it when the Waves breaking upon the Rocks even with the Water did but little miss of filling my Canoa quite full of Water at once Levy Du Casse and Tilleul were with me We rowed down the Strand towards Carthagena in hopes of finding some proper place but there the Sea ran higher than it did from whence we came and when we were fall'n so low that it was not possible to proceed farther without engaging our selves among several little Lakes that from this part water all the Territory of Carthagena our Canoe came a-thwart a Sea that filled her half full of Water and now in all probability our Enterprize as yet not begun was like to end in a Goal But Levy leaping into the Water and by his Example encouraging the Sea-men that followed him to use their utmost Efforts we at length got our Canoa a-float that had struck on the Rock and deliver'd our selves from that imminent Danger Our first Care was by the other Canoas of the Majors to dispatch Orders to the Chaloups not to come near the Shoar where embarrass'd by the great number of People on board them and being every way larger drawing more Water and not so well provided with Rowers as my Canoa was their Ruine must have been inevitable We were then notwithstanding all our Draughts and Memoirs oblig'd to agree that Carthagena was inaccessible on this side For if in so calm a Day the Sea was so boisterous as we found it what were we to expect in other Weather In short the stay we made in this Country hath shewn us by Experience as well as inform'd us by the Relations of the Inhabitants that the Sea upon all this Coast and in all Seasons is a natural and invincible Rampart and that Carthagena is approachable only by the Lake which makes the Harbour I reflected with Concern on this disastrous Adventure I foresaw that in not being able to possess my self of that considerable Post of Nostre Dame de la Pouppe I should afford the Spaniards an opportunity of several Days to carry off whatsoever they were desirous to save by reason I could not be able to come at them until I had taken the Fort of Boccachica Being wholly bent upon Boccachica the Fleet got into a readiness of sailing in the Morning on the Fourteenth
forward to bring in their Money that Vanolles was not able to receive it fast enough insomuch that he fancy'd he should be forc'd to refuse several Persons by reason we had agreed upon the Sum and resolved not to exceed it But the Face of Affairs became soon altered for the Peace being concluded with Savoy made it hop'd that it would suddenly be attended with a General One And 't was believ'd that if the War should be at an end before I was under Sail I should be order'd to the contrary and so the Money employ'd upon our Armament would be infallibly lost And now People were so far from offering new Sums that those who had already engag'd in the Design would have been very willing to have withdrawn their Contributions I could not inform every Body That Count Maurepas who was acquainted with the Particulars of our Project had engag'd Mons Pontchartrain to ask his Majesty What should be done with our Armament in case the Peace should be agreed upon And that His Majesty was pleas'd to answer That I might go on with it for if the Peace should be concluded he would take Care to re-imburse the Adventurers And we were assur'd of this Favour by an express Article inserted in the Margin of the Minutes of the Marine Council that was held upon this Matter Nevertheless many Persons considering that the best which could happen would be to receive their Money again chose rather to keep it in their Purses And besides this Prejudice the ill Success of some Attempts that preceded mine and from which great Matters were expected discourag'd the Publick more than the appearance of an approaching Peace By this means we were oblig'd to proceed upon the Fond that was already advanc'd which was much inferiour to what I had propos'd and this compell'd me to lessen our Preparations and consequently weaken the Armament However being determin'd to go thorough with my Undertaking I resolv'd to make use of the Advantages which the Court was pleased to confer on me in allowing me such considerable Succours So I return'd to Brest in the beginning of October 1696 and to work we went with all imaginable Diligence to fit out our Fleet But the bad Weather hinder'd our Careening so that we could not get out of Brest but lay in that Road 'till the 6th of January from whence my Project was to have sailed the beginning of the preceeding November To add to our Misfortune I was at that time not able to take the Opportunity of a fair Wind that then offer'd because I staid for a great Convoy of Arms and Provisions that were laden for me at Rochel without which I could not proceed I had continually expected it for three Months In the midst of these Perplexities I understood they were at last arrived at Port Lewis where they were forc'd to put in to avoid a Squadron of the Enemy that had for some time cruis'd upon that Coast and had them in sight By this I found our Naval Preparation upon the very point of miscarrying our Provisions were already much diminish'd and the Appearance very great that the Enemy's Squadron would remain there and we utterly consume our Provisions in the Road of Brest Upon which I fix'd my Resolution which altho' it seem'd very hazardous was yet the only Method that the Posture of my Affairs would permit me to take It was to find out my Convoy and even to disengage them at the hazard of a Battle Now altho' I should have the best of it yet it could not be without a mighty Inconveniency to me But I flatter'd my self that possibly I might not be discover'd by the Enemy or in case of meeting with them get indifferently well off and refit at Port Lewis and then try to get out and happen what would by whatsoever way it should be my Fate to be lost I had rather have been ruin'd with our Arms in our Hands than miscarry for want of Resolution and in a shameful Abode there Accordingly I had given my Orders to sail the next Day at which time I understood by Signals from Vshant that they descried a very large Fleet. We knew very well by several Accounts that there were about Forty English Men of War abroad with Orders to cruize before Brest and by all manner of means to prevent my passage by which my Departure seem'd impossible my Enterprize defeated and my Misfortune unavoidable However I propos'd other Matters to my self and stuck to my first Resolution not thinking my Condition much worse for this News the little way between Brest and Port Lewis or the entrance into the River of Morbian of which I had taken particular Care to inform my self that I might secure my Retreat into it gave me some Hopes to believe that I might probably get in thither before I should be too deeply engag'd in a Battle and then having once got on Board what the Convoy had brought me I might by the Favour of the long Nights get away without being seen by the Enemy or at the worst escape with small damage in a running Fight So this great Fleet did no more alter my Circumstances than if it had been a small Squadron against which in the Juncture I was in the hazard of fighting was as dangerous as with a Capital Fleet my Care being to get away and prosecute the Business of my Project Besides if I could get a little before the Enemies there was no great appearance for them either to come easily up with me or that they could be in Condition to pursue me for Two thousand Leagues that I might lead them I had moreover the opportunity of separating my Ships in the Night by ordering them different Courses to the appointed Rendezvous The Governor of Vshant sent an Express to assure me That he could discern Forty Men of War amongst which were Five English or Dutch Flags I received this News at Midnight and making use of it in a manner quite different to the Opinions of them that sent it me I made the sailing Signal and was under Sail by that time it was Day it being upon the Seventh of January 1697. I had some Days before sent my Orders to the Vessels at Port Lewis to come away immediately running all Hazards to join me but to keep so near the Shoar that the Enemies Ships might not dare to approach them or to avoid their Cannon by running into the Ports that are upon that Coast which are good enough to cover such small Vessels as I expected from the Danger of Cruisers I had sent the Mutine-Frigat and the Providence-Brigantine to Convoy them who expected them at Pennemarc-Point We were hardly got out of the Goulet when we saw the Fleet appear at Point Raz with the small Convoy I had sent to them whereupon I came immediately to an Anchor at Bertheaume where I made all the haste I could to get our Provisions on Board our Ships and Fly-boats and by
and believing that upon their approach to the little Fort of S. Lazare between La Pouppe and Carthagena they might happen to frighten the Garrison to retire from thence also he propos'd this Attempt to them but it was to no purpose And in a Council where he did not preside they resolv'd to attend my coming encamp'd in the Wood at the foot of the Fort where they got about Thirty Hours before me On the Seventeenth all the Ships being drawn into Order at the entrance into the Lake they pass'd it in the Morning of the Eighteenth The Diep Fly-boat touch'd the great many Banks of Sand in the Lake which our Pilots did not know was the occasion we did not advance very much that Day The Apollo ran a-ground this Day but these Banks being only Sand and Ouse mingled with a very fine Turf there was no fear of danger In the mean time being sure of having the Ships suddenly follow me we began our March by Break of Day and for Security against all Hazards took two Days Provision with us for the Forces which was dignified with the Title of the Land-Army This after the departure of the Six hundred and fifty Buccaniers that were gone to the other side and the Garrison of One hundred and seventy Men remaining behind us in the Fort of Boccachica might consist of about One thousand seven hundred Men not including some Sea-men One hundred and ten Inhabitants of St. Domingo form'd into Companies Fifteen or Twenty Voluntiers that follow'd Du Casse and One hundred and eighty Negroes I was oblig'd to defer making use of my Sea-men until the Ships were arriv'd and had taken their Stations The smallness of our Forces was no discouragement to us The Marines especially being highly pleas'd with the execution of a Business in which they had never before been employ'd did apply themselves with all imaginable Diligence and Good-will every one of them chearfully undertaking whatsoever was appointed to him After we had cross'd the Mountains covered with Woods which the Negroes examin'd before us we met with the Plain that is here and there cover'd with Shrub-wood and at Noon came to an old ruin'd Castle within half a Mile of St. Croix Here we rested the Troops and besides the Pits that are there easily made in the Sand and afford indifferent good Water we had the good Fortune to find a great Cistern that was a mighty Conveniency to us After this Refreshment the Vicount de Coetlogon whose Day it was march'd on with a part of the Grenadiers to observe how we might encamp as near as possible to the Fort and to seize upon the Passages that are in those Marshes that encompass the Fort in the mean time we continu'd our March not being able to leave the Shoar because the Lake approaching in divers places within a few paces of the Sea permits you the choice of that way only until we came down from the Mountains below which the Island is pretty spacious This way having brought us within Cannon-shot of the Bastion of Carthagena called S. Domingo we struck short off to the right by a way that the Marsh leaves cross the low Woods called Maugliers that grow in the Water In this place I was informed by the Officers that Coetlogon sent me that he was at the foot of Fort S. Croix which the Enemy had abandon'd having carried off their Cannon and set fire to the Lodgements that were there likewise that some part of the Forces might encamp upon a Spot of Ground about the Fort but that the rest must be left in the way worn near the Fort by a Rill of Water running from the neighbouring Marshes that the bottom was good and the Water not above Knee-deep which would no ways prevent a communication Levy the Major-General and my self with some Grenadiers were in the mean time so near advanc'd to Carthagena as easily to observe that the place could not be attack'd on one side the Marshes and Sea not leaving there a Sandy space of about twenty Fathom over which was expos'd to the fire of three Bastions besides there was no sinking two Foot deep without being in Water The great Number of People that we saw on the Ramparts who quietly look'd on us made me desirous to summon them the Governour was there and answer'd my Drum That he was ready to defend himself better than we could attack him We could not exactly discern the foot of the Rampart and being desirous to know if there was a Ditch I order'd De Bresme whose Battalion was encamp'd at the least distance from it to examine at Night how it was which he perform'd very well and assur'd me That the Water of the Marsh went up even to the foot of the Walls and that there was only a small dry space of Sand that environ'd part of the great Bastion called S. Domingo and that on the other side the Sea came up to the foot of this Bastion This Report made us conclude not to attack Carthagena in this place The next Day being the Nineteenth so soon as it was Day we cross'd the Lake with much diligence Pally that commanded the Negroes whom I had order'd to seek out a convenient place of descent having assur'd me that he had found out two which came almost up to the great way I immediately pass'd over with Levy Sorel and the Grenadiers of the Battalion of de la Chenau being conducted by some Prisoners that Pally had taken on Board of a Pereagoe which had endeavour'd to get from Carthagena These Prisoners in hopes of being the better treated had offer'd themselves for our Guides and indeed led us very nigh to the foot of the Eminency upon which Fort St. Lazare is situated At this place we found the Buccaniers Daunou had left a Detachment of 'em to guard Nostre Dame de la Pouppe Coetlogon La Motte Michel and La Motte d'Heran whom I had left at S. Croix to bring away the rest of the Troops as the Chaloups came to them insomuch that we were all got together by Break of Day next Morning leaving only a Serjeant and Twenty Men in Fort S. Croix with Orders to keep the Gate always shut that and the Situation being sufficient to prevent the Enemy from repossessing themselves of it We had in the Evening of the Nineteenth Day view'd all the places adjacent to St. Lazare and perceiv'd that without getting it into our possession it would not be possible to advance a step towards Carthagena by reason it commands all the Avenues We beheld with much trouble the time it must cost us if we attack'd it in Form and brought our Artillery to batter it This whole little Mountain is defended with a natural Glacis very steep cover'd with Shrub-wood which runs up to the foot of the Wall where we suppos'd was a Ditch the Wood being extreamly thick and very difficult to pass prevented us from going to it upon which I order'd
Hours before Day I was inform'd that from time to time they perceiv'd Fires made in a Ship behind us this Signal not being to be made by any of ours we began to believe it was some advanc'd Frigate of the Enemies who inform'd them by her Fires that she followed us and that by keeping after her they could not lose us There was then no other Resolution to be taken than to wait for the Day we did not know our situation in relation to that of the Enemies so by any other manner of working we should have run the same Risque to have fallen in with them as to have steer'd clear of them The first appearance of Day presented us with the Image of an inevitable and dismal Misfortune we at first reckon'd Twenty Sail then Twenty five a little afterwards Twenty nine and among them a Ketch Eight of these Ships seem'd to be of an equal force to the Scepter Ten or Twelve others with the St. Lewis the Furieux and our other Ships of that Rate the rest with our Frigates from Thirty six to Forty four Guns half of this Fleet was to Windward of our Squadron and wanted but little of Cannon-shot of us some others were exactly on our Lee and the rest which were the great Ships before-mentioned were in our Sterns a little below us Our great Misfortune was not only to have Eight and twenty Ships against our Seven Ships and Three Frigates but as an addition our unfortunate Squadron was so strangely weaken'd by the Mortality that she was rather a general Hospital for the rest of the Officers and Sea-men insomuch that when we went to put our selves into a Condition of making some sort of a resistance by the paleness of our Faces and the weakness of our Motion and Stirring it look'd as if the Hospital of Paris was brought under Arms. To give an Idea of the Condition we were in I need only say that the other Ships were possibly in a much worse Condition than the Scepter who out of her Complement of 700 Men had not above 350 that were able to take Arms or work our Artillery What an alteration for me in particular My Expedition had acquir'd some Honour to the King's Arms and would have produc'd considerable Advantages to my Armatures The taking of Carthagena seem'd to have acquir'd me a pleasing Distinction and being enrich'd I had at my Return a prospect of Glory and Pleasures all which now pass'd like a shadow and I had contitinually before my Eyes the destruction of a flourishing Squadron which I had the Honour to be entrusted with the Displeasure of the King and his Ministers in the Circumstances of this Loss which not only depriv'd His Majesty of so many Ships but so much advantag'd his Enemies and carried them those Riches that were in a manner ready to have enter'd France the Grief of my Armatures for whom all was lost by this unhappy Rencounter and my continual Despair in the Remainder of a Life which after a long Imprisonment I must have pass'd in Obscurity if the Report of my bad Fortune had not render'd me remarkable These were my Reflections when having acquainted all my People that we ought to die like Men of Honour I had two occasions of being comforted the first was the Officers protesting to me with an Air of Assurance that the Ships should be defended whilst any of them were living and the Ships Company entred into the same Sentiment insomuch that the Sick at least those not at extremity shew'd themselves as forward as the others so I beheld Resolution on all sides of me The other was so soon as the Signal for the Order of Battle was made the St. Lewis Furieux Vermandois St. Michael and the Mutine came up so fast and fell so well into their Stations that they allow'd us no occasion of doubting of their having the same Resolution with ours the Fort the Apollo L'Avenant and Marin did not obey the Signal but kept to Windward where they chanc'd to be the Captains of the two last were sick and I had taken from them the greatest part of their Men to strengthen the great Ships and had design'd them for Fire-ships but not having time to fit them up for it nor to fetch away their Sick they were become altogether uncapable of any Service so I could no ways wonder they did not fall into their order'd Station as to the Fort and the Apollo I was apprehensive that the first had lost so many of her Men that she was not able to make any sort of a Fight the other being her Second did believe as it is the Custom that she was not to abandon her Flag Du Buisson by the Death of the Vicount Coetlogon then carrying the Flag of Rear-Admiral At this instant one of the Enemies Ships having fir'd a Gun upon the Fly-boat called The City of Amsterdam who was a good way a-stern of us she struck Sail and surrender'd They found a great many sick Men on Board her and a very considerable quantity of Ammunition and Provision The only Traversier left me had the same Destiny with the Fly-boat with whom she was But while these things pass'd we found that half of their Fleet who in a little time were got within reach of us were unwilling to engage until the others to Leeward could come to the Action Yet being unwilling to hand in their Sails to stay for the others behind they kept themselves in a Line and permitted us to get before them We perceiv'd by their working that we were yet to have some Hours of quiet and none of us being strong enough to support a long Action we repos'd our selves in expectation of the Event About two a Clock in the Afternoon the Major-General came to me and told me There was no farther hopes of delays that the advanc'd part of the Enemies Fleet was got within less than Cannon-shot and to Windward of our Squadron and their great Ships exact a-broadside of our Lee. This being so the Signal general for the Order of Battle was given without loss of time I added to it the particular Signal of the Fort to bring her to her Station but she only did so much as was necessary to let us know that she knew her Signal and then standing to Windward she confirm'd me in the Thoughts I had in the Morning The Affair was sufficiently serious to keep us attentive We observ'd first of all that the Ships which might have attack'd us chose rather to slacken their way and fell from us with much regarding of them I was partly of the Opinion that it was by going larger away than we who kept close to the Wind that their great Ships had gain'd so much upon us The fear of deceiving my self in this matter made me consult all those that I reckon'd able to inform me and they all being of the same Opinion I easily penetrated into the Thoughts of the English Admiral who reckon'd there