no troops could be seen from the ship; and the inference was, that the French were making a sweep round the hill, in order to gain the heights lying between her and the harbour’s mouth, from which their guns might command the passage, and cut off all retreat.”
Shortly after, “a cannon shot, fired from the shore, whistled over the heads of the officers, and passing between the masts, fell beyond the ship. Before the glasses could be turned to the spot from whence it came, another well-directed gun was fired; but, fortunately for us, not from the heights. In the next minute, the whole ridge was bristling and alive with French infantry, marching, at double-quick time, to gain the cliffs overhanging the narrowest part of the harbour, from which position they might have fired on the ship’s decks with their musketry as she passed. A similar body of men were proceeding with equal celerity along the opposite, or eastern side of the harbour, accompanied by artillery, which were galloping furiously forward, some to gain the dismantled battery at the entrance, and others to perch themselves on the most commanding cliffs and other points, least within range of the ship’s guns.
“All the enemy’s measures, up to a certain period, had been so well taken, that, but for their impatience, it is hard to say how the frigate escaped capture, or entire destruction. Had they only kept out of sight, and refrained from firing at all till their heavy guns were brought round to the proper situations for attacking us; and if the infantry had been kept behind the ri jge till the ship, in leaving the harbour, approached close to the shore, they might have nabbed us. * * * But it seemed as if the officer in command of that detachment of guns, sent to the eastern side of the harbour, could not resist the temptation of a shot, when he first came in sight of the Endymion, which ship, as we afterwards learned from a prisoner, they already considered their prize. * * * * Whatever was the cause, however, whether it were bad generalship, which is not likely, or merely impatience on the part of the officer, which is more probable, these indiscreetly managed shot, by giving us timely warning, saved our good frigate from being pounded to pieces.
“The gun-boats, stationed off the beach, were soon driven back by the fire of several hundred men, also accompanied by field-pieces. The French troops then entered the ruined town; but the unfortunate inhabitants had already escaped over the hills, or in boats. There was nothing left, therefore, for the ship to protect; and, of course, she made sail out of the harbour as fast as possible, with an escort of flying artillery on each side of her; followed by two bodies of troops, scrambling and running along the rocks, just too late to catch their expected prey.
“I need scarcely add, that the French now completed those parts of the work of destruction left unfinished at their first visit. After this they fell back upon Santiago. The unhappy Junta were hunted about the country like wild beasts, by the enemy’s cavalry; and a high price being put on their heads, they were at length glad to seek refuge on board the
