Disaster on the Spanish Main by Craig S. Chapman

Author:Craig S. Chapman [Chapman, Craig S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, Great Britain, Georgian Era (1714-1837), United States, Colonial Period (1600-1775), Spain & Portugal
ISBN: 9781640124912
Google: LSk_EAAAQBAJ
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Published: 2021-10-15T02:43:58+00:00

Tierra Bomba, Sunset, March 25, 1741

Red-coated infantrymen, waiting for daylight to recede, girded themselves for battle inside the concealing woods. Sergeants and corporals walked among their men, checking weapons, cartridges, bayonets, and the steadfastness of the soldiers. Officers formed their companies and passed out final warnings and instructions to ensure every man understood what was required of him. Brig. Gen. William Blakeney, the officer overseeing the upcoming assault, organized his attack force into multiple echelons just out of sight from San Luis. A small detachment would be the first to enter the breach. These brave souls, known by the discouraging appellation “the Forlorn Hope,” included twelve grenadiers, thirty volunteers, and a sergeant, all under the command of a lieutenant. One of the engineers, Justly Watson, accompanied the Forlorn Hope to direct any work needed to make the breach more accessible. Lieutenant Colonel McLeod would follow them with 260 grenadiers to charge through the breach and drive back the defenders. A supporting force of 500 men, commanded by Lt. Col. Samuel Daniel, reinforced McLeod’s grenadiers and carried axes, shovels, and more ladders. Lt. Col. James Cochrane commanded the final echelon with another 500 men.32

Across Bocachica Capt. Charles Knowles gathered dozens of barges off Baru Island. The boats ferried hundreds of British sailors and American marines ashore, where they prepared to assault San Jose. Knowles, commanding Vernon’s supporting attack, planned to seize the Spanish fort by wading across the tidal plain to the small key and attacking San Jose from the rear. As the sun went down, the British battery ceased firing and the roar of booming cannons and mortars that had resounded continuously for days faded away, replaced by the frightening silence of men preparing to kill each other. Ears strained for any hint of what would follow the unnerving quiet.33

General Blakeney waited for darkness to begin obscuring the landscape before motioning for the attack to commence. Three large mortars discharged in succession. Their reports echoed across Bocachica. A moment later the gun battery unleashed a thunderous volley of round shot against the castillo, “and this succeeded by another of grape-shot, which obliged the sentinels upon the walls to put themselves under cover.” The Forlorn Hope broke the cover of the wood line west of the battery and dashed toward the breach. Colonel McLeod and the grenadiers followed on their heels. Their line of approach used the castillo’s bastions to block the fire from Blas de Lezo’s navíos without masking the fire of the British guns until they were just short of the ditch. Daniel’s and Cochrane’s formations burst into the open ground moments later and surged forward to support the grenadiers. The columns of redcoats resembled three flaming arrows pointed at San Luis. The fervid troops covered the five hundred yards to San Luis in just a few minutes, anxious to close the distance before the Spaniards ripped their formations with a deadly volley. Every step drew the Forlorn Hope nearer to the objective—or an enemy fusillade.34

With San Luis’s guns

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