In fact, after 12 days under siege, Montiano boldly decided upon a counterattack, as much to relieve the monotony for his soldiers as to inflict losses on the Georgians. His plan was to attack the English force encamped at Mosa under the command of Colonel John Palmer, whose soldiers and Indians had ravaged Nombre de Dios in 1728. Headed by Captain Antonio Salgado, a Spanish force of 300 stealthily crept out of Fort San Marcos at midnight on June 25, and under cover of darkness moved north toward Palmer’s encampment. AN491 At two Salgado’s soldiers reached Mosa, still undetected. An hour-long reconnaissance indicated that the English force was inferior in both arms and numbers, and at three the Spaniards launched their surprise attack, shouting loudly while making their assault. AN 492 The English were caught completely by surprise and suffered heavy losses. In less than an hour 72 of Palmer’s crack Highlanders lay dead, together with 15 infantrymen and 35 Lower Creek Indians. Salgado, on the other hand, lost only a few men. [Note 33: gov to king 8/9/1740] (Tepaske GSF)