In any event, on December 30, Moore raised the siege and began retreating north along the tortuous land route to Carolina. [Note 13: gov to king 1/8/1703] Zuniga hoped to intercept Moore’s retreating force. The governor wanted to embark his Florida regulars aboard the Cuban relief vessels, sail north to the mouth of the Saint John’s River, and cut off the Carolinians, in a surprise attack. Such an assault on the dispirited English would, he believed, insure a Spanish victory. Esteban de Berroa, the commander of the four ships, however, refused to agree to the plan and would not allow the governor the use of his ships. As a further affront to Zuniga, Berroa confiscated most of the arms and equipment left behind by Moore’s men, leaving the Floridians only three cannon and a few entrenching tools. [Note 14: gov to king 11/7/1703] (Tepaske GSF)