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Mont to Guemes: Canoe crew destroyed; Fort Diego attacked* (F16)

Source: Various letters #269

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Sir:
On the 25th ultimate, I sent Your Excellency by a soldier of this garrison and three Indians of the coast, the news contained in the duplicate herewith. One of these Indians returned on the 4th, with three gunshot wounds, and the news that the Indians of Mayaca slew the soldier and two of his companions at Gega. Since then, I learn in addition from a foreman of Espinosa's, that while his master and some other workmen were busy at San Diego on field works, 50 Indian allies of the English suddenly surrounded them, firing a volley into them, and so killing one trooper and a negro of Espinosa's. Nevertheless the others managed to get into the fort, except a negro of the monastery of Saint Francis, who took to the woods. Him they consider dead. The Indians having failed to capture anyone withdrew. These things being so, I took the resolution of sending a sergeant and 12 men with a surgeon, to bring back the wounded, and if necessary, to leave some people as reenforcement, and then return. The sergeant not having returned in two days, I sent a corporal of cavalry with six men, to discover anything that might have occurred since in those parts. He returned the next day, saying that he was unable to reach the fort, the enenay.by spreading out; far and wide having given him no chance. .Having then sent; out other scouts, not one brought me any formal news as to whether the fort was taken, or was still holding out. The captains were then called together in a council, and it was resolved to send a detachment of 300 men from the eight companies, from three of the place, militiamen, Indians and negroes, under Captain Don Miguel de Ribas, Don Fulgencio de Alfaro, and Don Pedro Lamberto, with four galliots, one launch, and 4 pirogues, to transport the troops and carry two guns in case it was necessary to batter the fort, demolish a side of it, and recover or succor it. But the captains having learned that the enemy, drawn up waiting for us, was much superior in numbers to our detachment, withdrew to this place. I have since learned by another scout, that they were strengthening the fort. And others who frequently reiterate, say that their small parties are at a league from here; which makes me think they are present in force, and that they are establishing storehouses at San Diego for food and stores, in preparation for the siege of this place. I am persuaded of this too from their having shown to-day five vessels in addition to the two that have now been watching this bar and that of Matanzas for a long time. With this news, proof, as it were of a siege, I am compelled to report these occurrences to Your Excellency by the launch that I am keeping on the bar of Mosquitoes waiting for the succor, which by the same launch Your Excellency told me you were going to send. For informed of them, and of the desperate strait in which this garrison finds itself, Your Excellency may be good enough to succor it at the earliest moment by sending strong vessels to overcome those of the enemy. I doubt very much if help can be got in in any other way, or if we can exist much longer without supplies, shut in by the enemy on sea and land. Although the vessels so far seen are seven, I firmly believe that the Vizarra, the San Juan and the Pingue can resist their force, since some of their vessels appear to us to be merchant.
Saint Augustine, in Florida, June II, 1740.
Postscript to the letter proper.
Sir:
I am so occupied with business, that I cannot answer Your Excellency's letters received in the launch, nor others, answers to which have been begun. As they are not occupying the bar of Matanzas, there yet remains a means of succor, and we shall there make all possible resistance with three galliots and land troops.