The Adventures of Roderick Random

Mackshane’s Feigned Well-Wishes After Release

Mackshane visits the pair under the pretense of retrieving items from the medicine chest, falsely claiming he worked hard to secure their release and warning them not to give him cause to regret his kindness. The narrator and Morgan do not acknowledge his false generosity, with Morgan hinting that he will eventually repay Mackshane for his wrongs.

Fleet Anchors at Jamaica’s Port Royal

The fleet joins a waiting squadron and anchors at Port Royal, Jamaica for approximately one month, during which time some unspecified consequential activity takes place.

Criticism of Delayed West India Squadron Joining

Critics argue that the fleet’s delay at Jamaica wasted valuable time, as the West India Squadron had advance notice of the fleet’s arrival and could have joined them at the western end of Hispaniola, allowing them to sail directly for Carthagena before Spanish forces could prepare their defenses or even learn of the planned attack.

Sailing from Jamaica to Isle of Vache

The fleet departs Jamaica and sails for 10 to 14 days against the wind to the Isle of Vache, originally intending to attack a French fleet rumored to be anchored at the island.

Missing French Fleet, Taking On Supplies

By the time the fleet arrives at the Isle of Vache, the French fleet has already sailed for Europe, having first sent an advice boat to Carthagena to alert Spanish forces to the English fleet’s presence, strength, and intended destination. The English fleet loiters at the island for several days to take on wood and brackish water, with each sailor restricted to a quart of water per day by order of the admiral.

Anchoring Windward of Carthagena Harbour

The fleet sets sail from the Isle of Vache and anchors in a bay to the windward of Carthagena’s harbor, remaining at anchor there for 10 days.

Criticism of Delay Allowing Spanish Preparation

Critics again condemn the leadership’s delay at the Carthagena anchorage, arguing that it wasted precious time ahead of the rainy season and allowed Spanish forces to recover from their initial terror at the arrival of the far larger English fleet to organize their defenses.

Landing Marines Under Enemy Fort Fire

The fleet moves closer to the mouth of Carthagena’s harbor and lands marines on the beach, who set up camp despite heavy fire from the nearby Spanish fort that kills a number of the troops.

Criticism of Deploying Raw Recruits Over Veterans

The choice to land troops under enemy fort fire is widely criticized as a reckless attempt to acclimate inexperienced new recruits—most of whom had been pulled from civilian farm work only a few months prior—to combat, rather than using seasoned veteran troops. Critics argue the government unnecessarily risked raw recruits on the dangerous Carthagena campaign while veteran regiments sat idle at home, though the narrator suggests the leadership may have avoided risking their best troops on the high-risk operation, or that veteran officers declined to embark due to the danger.

KAPITEL XXXII.

Our Land Forces being disembarked, erect a fascine battery—our ship is ordered, with four more, to batter the port of Bocca Chica—Mackshane’s cowardice—the Chaplain’s frenzy—honest Rattlin loses one hand—his heroism and reflections on the battle—Crampley’s behaviour to me during the heat of the Fight

Disembarkation and Battery

Our forces being landed and stationed as I have already mentioned, set about erecting a fascine battery to cannonade the principal fort of the enemy; and in something more than three weeks, it was ready to open. That we might do the Spaniards as much honour as possible, it was determined, in a council of war, that five of our largest ships should attack the fort on one side, while the battery, strengthened by two mortars and twenty-four cohorns, should ply it on the other.

Attack on Bocca Chica

Accordingly, the signal for our ship to engage, among others, was hoisted, we being advertised, the night before, to make everything clear for that purpose. Our ship, with others destined for this service, immediately weighed, and in less than half-an-hour came to an anchor before the castle of Bocca Chica, with a spring upon our cable, and the cannonading (which indeed was dreadful) began. The fire of the Spaniards proceeded from eighty-four great guns, besides a mortar and small arms, in Bocca Chica; thirty-six in Fort St. Joseph; twenty in two fascine batteries, and four men-of-war, mounting sixty-four guns each. This was answered by our land-battery mounted with twenty-one cannon, two mortars, and twenty-four cohorns, and five great ships of seventy or eighty guns, that fired without intermission.