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298
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[Nove)
NOVEMBER, 1899.
by which we could Escape the hands of ye Enemy. Therefore with yo utmost concern (we) saw this our only means of safety indangered by our forsaking that Post.
We had Jay'd in a sufficient store of Provisions, but yo Irregularity of not appointing proper persons for ye Management of this, as well as other particular duties, a fatal neglect all along, [and] the Desertion of our Cooks, amongst ye rest of ye black fellows, left us to starve in the midst of Plenty. Our out Ports had no refreshments all the proceeding day and there was nothing but constant Complaints and murmurings from all quarters for want of water and provisions, and but little prospect for a Possibility of supplying them. There was not even people to carry them to yo out ports, had they been ready dressed, as everyone in ye fort had been so harrased and fatigued for want of rest by constant duty for 2 day before, that it was impossible to rouse them, even if the Enemy had been scaling yo Walls. Thre different times did ye Drums beat to Arms but in Vain, not a man could be got to stand to their Arms, tho we had frequent Alarms of ye Enemy's preparing Ladders under our Walls to scale them.
We had by this time thousands of Portuguese Women within the Fort, which caused the utmost Confusion and Noise by filling up ye Passages in all parts, and crouding the back Gate to force their way on board ye Ships. Shuch was the Consternation that prevailed in general at a Council of War that was held at 9o Clock, [that] the Europeans Women were ordered on board the Ships, and Colonel Manningham and Lieutenant Colonel Frankland permitted to see them there safe. It was at ye same time resolved to clear the fort of ye other Women, and if possible to regulate the Confusion that then prevailed; but little was put into Execution towards it. The men for want of refreshment, rest and by getting in Liquor, become very mutinous and riotous, and being mostly Militia within ye fort subject to no Command. The same Complaints were brought from ye out ports, which could hardly be remedied without supplies of Provi. sions and men to relieve them from their hunger and fatigue bore for several days past.
In this Situation of Affairs & second Council of War was called about one in y® Morning to Consider of what was possible to be done, and how long under such circumstances the place was defensible against such Vigorous attacks as the Enemy made the proceding Day. You will be surprized to hear that all this time neither the Govenour no[r] Commandants orders could Obtain a return of the Stores and Ammunition from Capn Witherington. I often represented to ye Govenour the necessity of such a return, as likewise to have a strict Obedience paid to whatever Orders he issued out, but all to no porpose. He had a good Opinion of the man, and did not chuse to carry things to extremity. There was likewise a great Annimosity, subsided subsisted] between the Govenour and Commandant, as well as between the Commandent and Capt" Witherington, which did not contribute to the Advantage of the Service. The first thing done thon in this Council of War was to know the State of our Ammunition, and Capth Witherington, being ask'd for what time what was then in Store coud be sufficient at the Rate of yo Consumption of the proceeding day, He answered it woud hardly be enough for three days, and that he was afraid a great part that was esteem'd good might prove damp, and that neither the weather nor our Conveniency wou'd admit of its' being dry'd. This unexpected shock alarm'd every body and [it] was thought very extraordinary that this state of our ammunition was not known before. We had no medium left, but either must Retire on board our Ships before that time expired or Surrender at direction (discretion] to the mercy of an Enemy, from whom we had reason to expect no Quarters. It was therefore unanimously agreed, [upon) in the most expedient and regular manner and taking every Circumstance under consideration the majority were of Opinion, that it ought to be done that night, as next such consequences as [next night circumstances) would either make it impracticable or liable to ye greatest risque and precipitation. For instance should the enemy get possession of the Company's house, as we made no doubt of it before morning, and Mr. Cruttendon's, they might with out much difficulty force the way thro the Barriers that leads to ye back gate from
