And as this was the place of most difficulty, so “it was” of most loss to us on that side,—and of very great honour to the undertaker. The Horse “too” did second them with great resolution: both these Colonels do acknowledge that their interposition between the Enemy’s Horse and their Foot was a great means of obtaining of this strong Fort. Without which all the rest of the Line to Froom River would have done us little good: and indeed neither Horse or Foot could have stood in all that way, in any manner of security, had not the Fort been taken.—Major Bethel’s were the first Horse that entered the Line; who did behave himself gallantly; and was shot in the thigh, had one or two shot more, and had his horse shot under him. Colonel Birch with his men, and the Major-General’s regiment, entered with very good resolution where their post was; possessing the Enemy’s guns, and turning them upon them.
By this, all the Line from Pryor’s Hill Fort to Avon (which was a full mile), with all the forts, ordnance and bulwarks, were possessed by us;—save one, wherein were about Two-hundred and twenty men of the Enemy; which the General summoned, and all the men submitted.
The success on Colonel Welden’s side did not answer with this. And although the Colonels, and other the officers and soldiers both Horse and Foot, testified as much resolution as could be expected,—Colonel Welden, Colonel Ingoldsby, Colonel Herbert, and the rest of the Colonels and Officers, both of Horse and Foot, doing what could be well looked for from men of honour,—yet what by reason of the height of the works, which proved higher than report made them, and the shortness of the ladders, they were repulsed, with the loss of about a Hundred men. Colonel Fortescue’s Lieutenant-Colonel was killed, and Major Cromwell[1] dangerously shot; and two of Colonel Ingoldsby’s brothers hurt; with some Officers.
Being possessed of thus much as hath been related, the Town
- ↑ A cousin.
