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 people who had been driven from St George's Key, by making fail myself 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 Loweftoffe, Pomona, Porcupine, Racehorfe, three fchooners 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 close to the enemy's batteries. I therefore made the signal 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; fo that, rather to cover ourselves from their aim by smoke, than to look for fuccess 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 fpringing 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 difappointed, the wind baffling and forfaking us. The Loweftoffe 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 stern post with fplinters; part of her wheel was shot away, and the mizenmast badly wounded. 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 afcent, to a fpot 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 fea. I made the fignal fettled for the attack; I weighed at 3 o'clock, the Pomona and Lowestoffe ftanding for the eaftern, 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-ships richly laden, which, with the cargoes of other veffels of lefs note, will amount to the fum of three millions of piafters (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 subjects. Since it has been saken, we are astonished, from the ftrength of it, that it was fo eafily Yanquished. 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 wishing it, determined me not to part with a fingle ounce of the quickfilver, nor would I confent to ranfom the fort. The number of prisoners in the enemy's fort you will find, by the inclosed return, far exceeded the troops that formed 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 garrison of Omoa, though taken by ftorm: Captain Dalrymple's orders and my wishes have been punctually obeyed even by the Mufquito men, and thofe 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 prifoners. 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 prifoners. 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 services rendered by Captain Packenham and Lieutenant Troft call for my most earnest recommendation of them to their lordships favour. The former gentleman, who is the bearer of these dispatches, can give more perfect information refpecting the reduction of this fort and fettlement. Captain Nugent has exerted himself 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 escalade. Captain Carden exhibited many proofs of his ability as an engineer and as a foldier. I must leave it with Captain Commandant Dalrymple, to give due praise to all those whose services 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 lordfhips, that the most perfect harmony and co-operation have fubfifted between the King's troops employed at sea and on fhore; fuch fervices as have been in my power to render my country, I truft, will prove acceptable to his Majesty. I am, &c. A return of killed and wounded on board his Majesty's fhips Charon, Loweftoffe, and Porcupine, in an action against the Catholic King's fort 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. Racehorfe, 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; fecond 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 Garrison 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 of rangers. a corps 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 fome other provincial corps. At Newfoundland. Two additional companies of the 71ft, and one ditto of the 42d regiment. Note 132. Lift of his Majesty's Ships, in North America, under the command of Commodore Sir Geo. Collier, Knt. before the arrival of Admiral Arbuthnot. Note 133. Return of the Stores, Ships, &c. taken by his Majesty's troops in the town of Portsmouth, and River Elizabeth, in the Province of Virginia, May 15th, 1799. 26 cafks of small nails. 87 piles of ropes., 8 hawfers. 5 cables. 110 pieces of fail-cloth. 21 bags ftuffed. 14 bales of cloth. 6 ditto, blankets. A quantity of iron. 193 hogsheads of tobacco. I puncheon rum. 6 ditto oil. 59 hogfheads molaffes. 67 bags of falt, with a number of barrels ditto. A |