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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1899.
above full of Europeans, and only one Budgerow left where Capta Minchin and Mr. Macket were ready to step into, at the Gaut besides the Ponsey were the Gouvenours Sert was. He observd to me thatas Colonel Manningham [and] Lt Colonel Frankland were on board, not having return'd in the night, [and] as he expected that the Dodly as well as the other Ships and Sloops which were before the Fort were fallen down below ye Town, and finding that every body were preparing for their own Safety, by their crouding off in ye boats as he saw them, he thonght it was high time to think of himself. So without given me time to make an Answer, he run down stairs and up to the side of the river to get into the Ponsey. Every body, who saw him go on board in this Manner, Cronded to the Gant and Stairs to follow. I just had time to represent to him iyo Irregularity of such a retreat and earnestly beg'd him, and entreated he would first communicate his Intentions to Mr. Holwell and ye rest of the Garrison; but his answer' was he saw things in such a situation as would make it impossible to retreat any other way, [and] That he supposed every person that could find Boats when they saw him go off would follow. I then lookd behind me towards the Gaut Stairs and seeing it crouded with multitodes, and Capt" Minchin and Mr. Macket setting off in the Budgerow, I concluded the Gcuvenours retreat caused a general one, and that those who could lay bold of boats to escape falling into the hands of a Cruel Enemy were the happiest. Therefore with Mr. o Hares got into the same Ponsey were the Gouvenour was and set off the last boat that left the Gaut. The rest that crouded to the water side, finding it impossible then to make their escape for want of boats, returned to the factory and the rates were immediately shut of (after] them.
We proceeded on board the Dodly, where were Messrs Manningham and Frankland, with more than half the Militia Officers, several of the Volu teers and Gentlemen of the Militia, with most of the European Women. The rest of the Slips and Sloops were likewise crouded with men and Women, who had come away from the fort since the Morning, as they could mect with Opportunitys. In this manner the Govenour made his retreat. How far he is Culpable I will leave you to judge and shall only assure you the Account of it is faithfull as far as my judgement can enable me to give it.
I likewise, on my comming on board, proposed to ye Gouvenour to move up before ye Town with the whole fleet, in order to assist the retreat of those who were necessitated to remain behind for want of Conveyance; but ye Capto of ye Dodley represented such a motion as attended with great Danger, and told him if ye Ships moved up again before the Fort, there was but little Chance of getting them back. The Prince George that remaind there that night never got back again, but was destroyed by ye Enemy. The Gouvenour, on what ye Capto Said, thought no forther of moving up for ye Assistance of those left behind. He ordered & Sloop in the Night to move up to see what could be done; but she was not able to proceed as far up as ye Fort, the Enemy being in Possession of all the Water side. We fell down the Biver just in sight of the Town, and could Observe numbers of Houses on fire all night.
The following accounts we have from such as escaped after yo place was taken. They informed us that as soon as the Govenour retreated, all hopes of a retreat being cut cff for want of boats, Mr. Holwell was unanimously declared Govenour, and the Gates shut; every person in such a desperate Situation being resolved to die on the ramparts, rather than surrender to ye barbarity they expected from the Enemy. The place hold out till yo 20th about 8 in ye Afternoon. The Enemy soon got possession of Mr. Cruttendons house, Mr. Eyres, the Companys and the Church ; after which, Especially when they got to the top of ye Church, scarce a man was able to stand [in] the N. E, and S. Est Bastions. Before the place was taken, opwards of 50 Europeans were killed on those Bastions, and they were obliged to abandon that side of the Fort intirely. . The Enemy got Possession in the following manner. About 2 in ye Afternoon of the 20th, They made a Signal for a truce, and some of their Leaders spoke with Mr. Holwell from
