even these perplexities and disappointments, great as they were,
would not have defeated the expedition; or, at least, the Spaniards
might have been saddled with the expence of it; if we could only
have made a lodgment on the lake, to have kept open the river:
which might have been done, had the first detachment that General
Dalling sent taken San Juan Castle in two hours, instead of sitting
down formally before it for eleven days.
"The first detachment, consisting of about two hundred men, from
the sixtieth and seventy-ninth regiments; one hundred of the Loyal
Irish Corps; and two hundred Jamaica Volunteers; left Jamaica,
under the convoy of the Hinchinbroke, on the 3d of February 1780;
and directed their course to the Musquito shore, to take with them
some of the Musquito Indians, who were waiting for their arrival.
"On the 11th of February, they arrived at Cape Gratias a Dios;
disembarked, and encamped about a mile from the sea, on Wank's
Savanna; an unhealthful situation.
"Here they were joined by a party of men from the seventy-ninth
regiment, from Black River.
"On the 10th of March, the troops re-embarked, and took their
departure from Cape Gratias a Dios; and anchored at several places
on the Musquito shore, to take up our allies, the Indians, who were
to furnish proper boats for the service of the river, and to
proceed with them on the expedition: and, on the 24th of March,
they arrived at the River San Juan.
"San Juan river is the northern branch, or mouth of Lake Nicaragua;
and is situated in north latitude twelve degrees, west longitude
eighty-three degrees forty-five minutes.
"The heat of the climate must necessarily be excessive; and this is
augmented, in the course of the river, by high woods, without
sufficient intervals, in many places, to admit of being refreshed
by the winds.
|