urhood of Hispaniola, and
resolved to beat up to that island. At Leogane he fell in with a French
ship of fifty guns, which her captain ran ashore and blew up. He took
several other vessels, and having alarmed Petit-Guavas, bore away for
Donna Maria bay, where he understood that Du Casse had sailed for the
coast of Carthagena. Benbow resolved to follow the same course; and
on the nineteenth of August discovered the enemy's squadron near Saint
Martha, consisting of ten sail, steering along shore. He formed the
line, and an engagement ensued, in which he was very ill seconded by
some of his captains. Nevertheless, the battle continued till night, and
he determined to renew it next morning, when he perceived all his
ships at the distance of three or four miles astern, except the Ruby,
commanded by captain George Walton, who joined him in plying the enemy
with chase guns. On the twenty-first these two ships engaged the French
squadron; and the Ruby was so disabled that the admiral was obliged to
send her back to Jamaica. Next day the Greenwich, commanded by Wade, was
five leagues astern; and the wind changing, the enemy had the advantage
of the weather-gage. On the twenty-third the admiral renewed the battle
with his single ship unsustained by the rest of the squadron. On the
twenty-fourth his leg was shattered by a chain-shot; notwithstanding
which accident, he remained on the quarter-deck in a cradle and
continued the engagement. One of the largest ships of the enemy lying
like a wreck upon the water, four sail of the English squadron poured
their broadsides into her, and then ran to leeward without paying any
regard to the signal for battle. Then the French bearing down upon the
admiral with their whole force, shot away his main-top-sail-yard, and
damaged his rigging in such a manner that he was obliged to lie by and
refit, while they took their disabled ship in tow. During this interval
he called a council of his captains, and expostulated with them on their
behaviour. They observed, that the French were very strong, and advised
him to desist. He plainly perceived that he was betrayed, and with the
utmost reluctance returned to Jamaica, having not only lost a leg, but
also received a large wound in his face, and another in his arm, while
he in person attempted to board the French admiral. Exasperated at
the treachery of his captains, he granted a commission to rear-admiral
Whetstone and other officers, to hold a court-mar