1790 foot, and 200 horse,unto above 3000. horse and foot, of the
strongest desperatest men that the enemies Army could afford. Sir
Arthur Ashton being their Governour, did understand where we
would make our breach, he having time enough, did run severall
trenches, and make much preparations for resistance, Upon the
11. about 3 a clock in the afternoon, the breach being made, and
three Regiments appointed to storm, to wit,my Regiment, Collonel
Castles, and Coll.Ewers, and all things being in a readinesse,
the signall was given by found of Trumpet and beat of Drum, we
did fall on, the first by a party upon the Tenallia, which did flanke
our breach, and took it presently. Then we entred the breach, but
not so orderly as was appointed; and divers hundreds of men being
over, were stoutly resisted, and after a short dispute, did retreat
disorderly tumbling over the breach, and down a steep Hill that
ascends up to the wall, Col.Venibles Regiment, and Col. Farres
being both upon the Guard, were very forward, and did come down,
another hill towards the bottome for their encouragement: so that
before our men got half way down the hill upon their retreat, we
got them fac'd about again, and presently God gave them very
much incouragement, that they fell on again, entred the breach,
beat off the enemie,pursued him, entred their great mount, where
was their Governour, with about 200 Officers and Souldiers, who
were all put to the sword, the rest fled over the bridge, where they
were closely pursued,and most of them slain: some got into two
Towers on the wall, and some into the steeple, but they refusing to
come down, the steeple was fired, and then 50 of them got out at
the top of the Church, but the enraged Souldiers put them all to
the sword, and 30 of them were burnt in the fire, some of them
cursing and crying out, God damn them, and cursed their soules
as they were burning. Those in the Towers, being about 200. did
yeeld to the Generals mercy, where most of them have their lives,
and be sent to the Barbadoes. In this slaughter there was by my
observation at least 3000 dead bodies lay in the Fort and streets,
whereof there could not be 150 of them of our Army : for I lost
more then any other Regiment, and there was not 60 kild outright
of my men; and I do not heare that of Col.Ewers Regiment,
and Col.Castles Regiment, that there was 60 slain out-right in this
service. Col Castle himselfe was slain, Lieut.Col Saunders wounded,
Major Desdie wounded, my Captain Lieut.slain, and another