March the 8th, a general Council of War being assembled, and having received, and carefully weighed, the Reports of the General Officers, and of the Captains of the Dunkirk and Weymouth, it was unanimously resolved, that Sir Chaloner Ogle should the next Morning fall down with his Division to the Mouth of the Harbour, and batter the Forts, St. Philip, St. Jago, &c.
The General afterwards assembled a Council of War, composed of Land Officers; when a Disposition was made for landing the Troops.
March the 9th, in the Morning, Sir Chaloner Ogle, accompany'd by the General, proceeded, with his Division, to the Attack of the Forts: Three eighty Gun Ships; the Norfolk, Capt. Graves; the Shrewsbury, Capt. Townshend; and the Russel, Capt. Norris, were order'd to batter those of St. Philip and St. Jago: Which Service they perform'd very gallantly, having, before the Evening, drove the Enemy from their Guns, and forced there, to retire out of the Forts.
About Two, the General and Sir Chaloner Ogle went on board the Norfolk, and afterwards the Russel, for the better reconnoitring the Enemy, and viewing the Ground where the Troops were proposed to be landed.
The Loss on board the Norfolk and the Russel was not very considerable, but the Shrewsbury suffered much more; for having received a Shot in her Cable, she drove so far, as to open the whole Fire of the Castle of Boca-Chica, &c. to which she lay exposed till the Night gave her an Opportunity of removing to a safer Birth. As there were no Guns either in Fort Chambra, or on what was called the Fascine Battery, the Princess-Amelia, and the Litchfield met with no Opposition.
About Five, Sir Chaloner Ogle made a Signal for landing the Troops, which was repeated by the Admiral, who lay then with his Squadron at about a League's Distance.
As soon as the Grenadiers appeared, the General joined them, with an Intention to have landed immediately; but the three principal Officers, and two of the Companies, being still wanting, he order'd the Boats to lie under the Cover of the Russel and the Norfolk, there to wait their Arrival: They were in a short Time joined by the Lieutenant Colonel and Major, and one Company; but Col. Wynyard, "who was detain'd with his Company of Grenadiers, on board the Strumbulo Fire-Ship, from the want of Boats," being still absent, the Landing was further post-pon'd to about Seven, when they were, without Opposition, put on Shore on the Strand, to the Left of Fort St. Philip, under the Command of Lieutenant Col. Cochrane: After having seen them in Possession of the Forts, the General returned and went on board a Vessel, which lay near the Shore, and there passed the rest of the Night.
In the Disposition for Landing, the Grenadiers were to have been sustained by a Brigade, commanded by Brig. Guise, and Col. Wolfe, who themselves join'd the General; but the Brigade did not come down till the Day following, being prevented by the strong Breezes.[4]
The same Evening the Bomb Ketches began to fire upon the Castle.
March the 10th, as soon as the Day appeared, the General went on Shore, and gave Orders for forming the Grenadiers upon the Beach, for covering the landing of the rest of the Troops; which not being compleated till late in the Evening, the whole lay that Night upon their Arms.