f Fort-Negro, along with
two frigates, turned up under the citadel, and came to an anchor in
the Carenage, behind the fortification. One frigate, called the Vestal,
under favour of the night, made her escape through the transports, and
directed her course for Europe; where she was taken by captain Hood, as
we have already related. Next day three ships of the line were ordered
to attack Fort-Negro, a battery at the distance of three miles from the
citadel, which, being mounted with seven guns only, was soon silenced,
and immediately possessed by a detachment of marines and sailors; who,
being sanded in flat-bottomed boats, clambered up the rock, and entered
through the embrasures with their bayonets fixed. Here, however,
they met with no resistance: the enemy had abandoned the fort with
precipitation. The British colours were immediately hoisted, and
sentinels of marines posted upon the parapet. The next care was to spike
and disable the cannon, break the carriages, and destroy the powder
which they found in the magazine: nevertheless, the detachment
was ordered to keep possession of the battery. This service being
successfully performed, three ships were sent to reduce the other
battery at Casdenavires, which consisted only of four guns, and these
were soon rendered unserviceable. The French troops, reinforced
with militia which had been detached from the citadel to oppose the
disembarkation, perceiving the whole British squadron, and all the
transports, already within the bay, and Fort-Negro occupied by the
marines, retired to Port-Royal, leaving the beach open; so that the
English troops were landed without opposition; and, being formed,
advanced into the country towards Fort-Negro, in the neighbourhood of
which they lay all night upon their arms; while the fleet, which had
been galled by bomb-shells from the citadel, shifted their station,
and stood farther up the bay. By ten next day, the English officers had
brought up some field-pieces to an eminence, and scoured the woods,
from whence the troops had been greatly annoyed by the small shot of the
enemy during the best part of the night, and all that morning. At noon
the British forces advanced in order towards the hill that overlooked
the town and citadel of Port-Royal, and sustained a troublesome fire
from enemies they could not see; for the French militia were entirely
covered by the woods and bushes. This eminence, called the Morne
Tortueson, though the most impo