AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION AGAINST CARTHAGENA, IN THE WEST INDIES; BESIEGED BY THE ENGLISH IN THE YEAR 1741. [First published in 1756.] AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION AGAINST CARTHAGENA. ENGLAND having declared war against Spain, in the year 1739, the government resolved to distress the enemy by attacking their possessions in the West Indies; and for that purpose, a plan was proposed by Colonel Spotswood, governor of Virginia, in consequence of which he was empowered to raise a regiment of Americans, consisting of four battalions, to serve under his command against the Spaniards; but he dying before the scheme could be put in execution, this regiment was given to Colonel Gooch, who succeeded him in the government of that colony. The lieutenants were appointed in England, at the recommendation of the Lord Cathcart, who commanded all the land forces on the intended expedition; and he chose for this service young gentlemen of family, chiefly North Britons, who had learned the rudiments of the military art in Holland and other foreign services, and consequently were the better qualified to discipline a new raised regiment. These had commissions signed by his majesty's own hand; but the captains and ensigns were appointed by the governors of the different provinces in which the companies were levied, according to a power vested in them by the king for that purpose. While these officers were employed in raising and disciplining the companies in North America, six regiments of marines were levied in England, by means of draughts made from the foot-guards; the command of them bestowed upon gentlemen of character and capacity for military operations, and all possible pains taken to render them immediately fit for service in the West Indies, to which the seat of war was to be transferred. A squadron was equipped, and actually sailed under the auspices of Commodore Anson for the South Seas, in order to harass the Spaniards on the coasts of Chili and Peru, and if possible to establish a correspondence across the Isthmus of Darien, with a fleet and army destined for Carthagena, so as to co-operate for the advantage of the nation. The marine regiments being well disciplined, and having for some time encamped on the Isle of Wight, were embarked on board of eighty transports, with all sorts of warlike utensils that might be necessary in the expedition; and detachments from three old regiments were sent on board of the men of war appointed to join Admiral Vernon on the same service. These were, Etna, Firebrand, Phaeton, Vesuvius, Flame, Vulcan,-fire-ships. |