pily they were landed with the Loss only of
one Man, and two or three wounded, although some Parties of the Enemy
attacked them twice: At which Time the Ships proved of great Service,
as they could see every Motion the Enemy made, and fired among them
very successfully; for no sooner did they attempt to make a Stand and
draw up, than the Shot dispersed them, and swept off Numbers; so that
if the Army had vouchsafed to have pushed their Success, it is a
general received Opinion (even amongst themselves now) they might have
rendered themselves Masters of the Castle of _St. Lazare_ that Day
(even without Field-Pieces) for the whole Force of the Town was out
against them (as they were told by some Prisoners they took and some
Deserters) and very impolitically divided into several Bodies; and in
the Panick they were in, and each Party running different Ways, it
would have been no difficult Task, to have rendered themselves Masters
of that small Redoubt, if not succeeded in forcing the City Gates; for
what had they to do, but to follow the Enemy close at their Heels, and
slaughter them? Before they had got into the Town, the other must; for
when they were mixed in a Body amongst their Enemy, the Town dared not
venture to have fired, for fear of killing their own People; but
instead of making Use of any of these Advantages, they contented
themselves in taking Possession of the Ground the Enemy had left them
Masters of, and there posted their Advanced Guards, and retired with
the main Body behind _La Papa_ to encamp; and here almost as many Days
were spent in forming an Encampment, as at _Boccachica_.
[_Z_] _La Papa_ is a Convent, which stands on the Top of the highest
Hill, near _Carthagena_, and was a most advantageous Part for observing
the Enemy's Motions, as it overlooked the Town and Country for many
Leagues round about.
[_A_] Though it might have been expected from the Loss and Destruction
of Ordnance Stores at _Boccachica_, more Care would have been taken
here, yet, instead of that, the worthy Officer of the Train doubled his
Neglect, and Things were in much more Disorder and Confusion than they
were there, notwithstanding here was Choice of Ground to pitch upon for
an Artillery Park; but it was too much Trouble and Labour to move the
Stores from the Place where they were first put down in, at landing,
and required more Attendance than could be spared from the Bottle (and
it is a well known Proverb, _When the Shepher
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