peo and fome Mufquito Indians, under the command of Capt. Commandant Dalrymple, who was as defirous as myself of making a land and fea attack upon the garrifon of Omoa, and the Spanish galleons, I therefore took immediate measures to secure the services of these ple who had been driven from St George's Key, by making fail myfelf for Truxillo, and dispatching the frigates to Bonacea and Utilla, in quest of our veffels with the Baymen. Lieutenant Trott of the Racehorse, I fent to Rattan on the fame fervice. They all returned to me with expedition and fuccefs, bringing a reinforcement of 250 men. We forthwith fet to work, made escalading ladders, fascines, fand bags, and every other requifite in our power for carrying on a fiege; having fettled the plan of attack, I gave full inftructions to the Captains and officers who were 'to carry it into execution; and in the morning of the 10th of October, I failed with the Lowestoffe, Pomona, Porcupine, Racehorse, three schooners and a number of fmall craft, for Porto Cavallo Bay, and anchored the fleet there close in fhore. On the evening of the 16th, Captain Pakenham, to whom I entrusted the command of landing the troops, executed my orders in fo officer like and expeditious a manner, that the whole were formed and marched from the beach before eleven o'clock that night. From the intricacy of the roads, and other circumstances, our troops were prevented from making any great progrefs before the next morning, when they pushed forward, with great alacrity, to gain the commanding ground at the Governor's houfe, and having driven away the Spaniards who contended for the poffeffion of it, we occupied that very important poft, but were fo annoyed by the enemy's mufquetry from the town, as to compel our troops to fet fire to it. In the midst of the flame I arrived off the harbour of Omoa; and the wind, I flattered myself, would have carried us clofe to the enemy's batteries. I therefore made the fignal for the Lowestoffe to lead us to action; it was obeyed by Captain Parker with alacrity and spirit. When we opened the eastern point, the enemy began to fire at the Lowestoffe, Charon, Pomona, and Porcupine; but no fhot were returned, till their guns had fo lulled the wind as to leave us little profpect of getting nearer to them; so that, rather to cover ourselves from their aim by smoke, than to look for fuccefs from a distant cannonade, the Charon and Loweftoffe began to fire: the Pomona was not able to get within reach of her guns, and as foon as I had the power, I laid the fhip's head to the offing: a breeze springing up foon after to the northward, I made fignal to tack, thinking we should certainly fetch where we wished to do: in this however we were dif appointed, the wind baffling and forfaking us. The Lowestoffe run : afhore, and received a heavy fire from the enemy, but the paid off again before our boats could get to their affiftance, her hull, mafts, and yards were fo much difabled, as to oblige me to fend her to anchor to leeward, and there refit. The Charon's rudder was choaked by a fhot, which filled the space between it and the ftern poft with fplinters; part of her wheel was shot away, and the mizenmaft badly nded. On the 18th, Captain Dalrymple being anxious for artil lery lery being fent up to a battery he was conftructing on the Governor's hill, I ordered the guns from the Porcupine to be landed: they were drawn up by the failors through a heavy road, and up a steep ascent, to a spot where they did notable execution; but our time being precious from various confiderations, and the heat of the climate making this duty more fatiguing to our people, it was concluded on between Captain Dalrymple and myself, to attempt an efcalade the following morning; and the King's fhips to co-operate, by cannonading the wall against the sea. I made the fignal fettled for the attack; I weighed at 3 o'clock, the Pomona and Lowestoffe ftanding for the eastern, and the Charon for the western angle of the fort, which I began to cannonade; when Captain Dalrymple, in a moft gallant and exemplary manner, stormed on the landfide with the feamen and marines, and fubdued the enemy with the lofs of little blood. We took immediate poffeffion of two regifter-fhips richly laden, which, with the cargoes of other veffels of lefs note, will amount to the fum of three millions of piasters (or dollars.) The fort is an amazing pile of building; the greatest part of it is an admirable fort of stone; the remainder is brick. It has coft to the Spaniards twenty-five years labour, and the lives of thousands of their fubjects. Since it has been taken, we are astonished, from the ftrength of it, that it was fo eafily vanquished. The Spanish Governor is very folicitous to ranfom the fort, and has offered three hundred thousand dollars for it. The two hundred and fifty quintals of quickfilver, which came from Old Spain, and we have now taken, the Spaniards would have bought at any price, faying, that they would give double the value of it, because they should have no other means to work any of the valuable mines in the province. Their reafon for wifhing it, determined me not to part with a fingle ounce of the quickfilver, nor would I confent to ranfom the fort. The number of prifoners in the enemy's fort you will find, by the inclosed return, far exceeded the troops that stormed it; and whofe undaunted behaviour has added fo much luftre to the British arms. Their humanity has not been lefs confpicuous than their bravery; nor can there be a greater contrast than between the treatment received by the King's fubjects at George's Key, which furrendered at difcretion, and the Spanish garrifon of Omoa, though taken by ftorm: Captain Dalrymple's orders and my wishes have been punctually obeyed even by the Musquito men, and those of Honduras that received fuch ill treatment. Proper respect has been shown to the Governor, Spanish officers, foldiers and inhabitants; neither cloaths, watches, pocket money, or other effects have been taken from these prisoners. The ornaments of the church the captors have agreed to give back, if the Spanish court does punctually comply with the agreement refpecting the exchange of prisoners. The uniform behaviour and good conduct of all the officers and feamen under my command may make it appear ungracious to mark particular people; but the fervices rendered by Captain Packenham and Lieutenant Troft call for my moft earnest recommendation of them to their lordships favour. The former gentleman, who is the bearer of these dispatches, can give more perfect information respecting the reduction of this fort and fettlement. Captain Nugent has exerted himfelf upon every point of duty in a most distinguished and exemplary manner. I am not particularly acquainted with the merits of individuals that served on fhore, except that commandant Dalrymple is certainly entitled to infinite honour and praise, for the gallant manner in which he led the troops to the efcalade. Captain Carden exhibited many proofs of his ability as an engineer and as a foldier. I muft leave it with Captain Commandant Dalrymple, to give due praife to all those whofe fervices on fhore call for it; he will, I am fure, take notice of Lieutenant Wightman of the marines, who was wounded under the enemy's walls, and of all those who have deferved it at his hands. I have the pleasure to affure their lordthips, that the most perfect harmony and co-operation have fubfifted between the King's troops employed at fea and on fhore; fuch fervices as have been in my power to render my country, I truft, will prove acceptable to his Majefty. I am, &c. JOHN LUTTRELL. A return of killed and wounded on board his Majesty's ships Charon, Lewefofe, and Porcupine, in an action against the Catholic King's fart of St Fernando de Omoa, on the 17th of October, 1779. A return of the killed and wounded on board the Racehorse armed veffel at George's Key, in the bay of Honduras, the 13th of September, 1779. Racehorse, 2 killed. 3 wounded. Note 131. British Land Forces in North America. Cavalry. The 17th regiment of Light Dragoons, and a corps confifting of partly cavalry, and partly infantry, commanded by Lord Cathcart. Infantry. Two battalions of Foot Guards, the 7th, 17th, 23d, 26th, 33d, 37th, 38th, 42d, 44th, 57th, 63d, and 64th regiments of foot; Skinner's, Delancy's, Brown's, Bayard's, and a number of other provincial corps; above 7000 Heffians, and a regiment of Waldeckers. Ditto, at Rhode Island, with Maj.-Gen. Prefcott. The 22d, 43d, and 54th regiments; Fanning's corps; fix battalios of Heffians, and two regiments Anspachers. Ditto, at Halifax, under Brig.-Gen. Francis M'Lean. The 70th, 74th (Argylefhire highlanders), fix companies 82d; second Battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrants, and Goreham's corps. Ditto, in Canada, under Gen. Haldimand. The 8th, 29th, 34th, and part of the 53d regiments; first battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrants, two battalions of Brunfwickers, and the Hanau chaffeurs. In the West Indies, under Maj.-Gen. Grant. The 4th, 5th, 15th, 27th, 28th, 35th, 40th, 46th, 49th, and 55th regiments. In Garrifon in the Weft Indies. The 48th regiment, and the firft, fecond, and fourth battalions of the 60th, or Royal American regiment, and Captain Dalrymple's corps. In Florida. The 16th regiment, the 3d battalion of the 60th regiment, and a corps of rangers. On the expedition with Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell. The 71ft regiment, two battalions; Simcoe's corps, or the Queen's rangers, a detachment of riflemen, and some other provincial corps. At Newfoundland. Two additional companies of the 71ft, and one ditto of the 42d regiment. Note 132. Lift of his Majefty's Ships, in North America, under the command of Commodore Sir Geo. Collier, Knt. before the arrival of Admiral Arbuthnot. Thirdly, That all the Mulattoes and people of mixed colour, whether men, women, or children, as well as the artificers, shall have liberty to return home, provided none of them take up arms against the King of Great Britain, his fubjects or allies, or be found within thirty leagues of Omoa, until this agreement is fully accomplished. Fourthly, That the faid Don Simon Defnaux and Don Juan Daftiex, doth engage for the governor of Merida, in case the English prifoners captured in the bay of Honduras are within his district, and if not, for the governor of whatever Spanish district they may be in, that he shall return an equal number of Mulattoes or people of mixed colour, to those that have been liberated at Omoa; and of this number fuch as were taken in the bay of Honduras by the Spaniards fhall have the preference. And it is further understood and agreed between the parties to this agreement, that all the subjects, of the King of Great Britain, taken in the bay of Honduras, and now in the custody of the faid governor of Merida, fhall be exchanged, by giving Mulattoes for Mulattoes, men for men, women for women, children for children; and this exchange to be made the moment the faid governor of Merida can be made acquainted with this convention, but at all events not to exceed the space of three months. Fifthly, The ferjeants and foldiers of the regulars fhall be exchanged for an equal number of ferjeants and foldiers of the British army; and if the King of Spain fhall not have fuch in his poffeffion, then to be exchanged for the principal merchants and traders, taken at George's Key in the bay of Honduras; provided a fufficient number of white people cannot be fent from Omoa to exchange them, and a receipt to be given by the English Commiffary for fuch number of men as may have been captured by the Spaniards in the bay of Honduras, fhall exceed the number delivered from the garrifon of Omoa; fuch receipt for the furplus to be given by the Spanish Commiffary, if the balance is in favour of England. The Spanish feamen to be exchanged in like manner for English feamen, as is specified by the parties refpecting the ferjeants and foldiers. Sixthly, the Hon. John Luttrell and William Dalrymple doth covenant, that the Spanish garrifon at Omoa fhall be embarked within the space of three days, on board of veffels properly provided, and shall be conveyed without lofs of time, to the Caftle of St Philip, within the Gulph of Dulce, or to fome adjacent Spanish poft, and there delivered at the fole charge of his Britannic Majefty. And the faid Don Simon Defnaux and Don Juan Daftiex doth covenant, that the officers, foldiers, merchants, artificers, Mulattoes, and people of white, or mixed colour, fubjects of his Britannic Majefty, which fince the commencement of the prefent war with Spain, have been taken in the bay of Honduras, fhall be embarked within the space three months, from the day the faid Don Simon Defnaux and Don Juan Daftiex fhall be landed in the Gulph of Dulce, and fent to Omoa, or the next nearest English fettlement, at the fole expence of the King of Spain; provided the faid English prisoners, or f any |