to get them through some shallow channels. This labour continued
for several days after they left the mouth of the river, till they
arrived in deeper water; then, they made a quicker progress.
However, they met with many obstacles, by currents, and occasional
rapids or falls; which would have been insurmountable, but for the
skill of the Indians in managing the boats on those occasions.
"On the 9th of April, this advanced party arrived at a little
island up the river, called St. Bartholomew; which they took, after
receiving a few shot from the enemy, by which two men were wounded.
"This island is situated about sixteen miles below San Juan castle;
and was occupied by the Spaniards as a look-out, and defended by
sixteen or eighteen men, in a small semicircular battery of nine or
ten swivels. It was necessary for our purposes, as it commands the
navigation of the river in a rapid and difficult part of it.
"On the 11th of April, the troops arrived before the Castle of San
Juan; and, on the 13th, the siege commenced. The ammunition and
stores were landed two or three miles below the castle; and
transported through the back woods, to the place where the attack
began. San Juan castle is situated sixty-nine miles up the river,
from the mouth, and thirty-two from the Lake of Nicaragua; and, is
a navigation of nine days: but, for loaded boats, much longer, from
the harbour up to it. The return from it, down by the current, is
made in a day and a half.
"On the 24th of April, the castle surrendered. During the siege,
two or three more were killed, and nine or ten wounded.
"From the unfortunate delay before the castle, which surrendered
when it was summoned, the season for the spring periodical rains,
with their concomitant diseases, was now advanced: and the little
army had lost the opportunity of pushing rapidly on, out of those
horrid woods--where there are a multitude of antelopes, monkeys,
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