[Octavian-users] Ts going to Land, their Ships began to fire pr

[Isett A. <der...@pr...>]

Undred Head of Oxen were going along the Strand, he did not dispatch a
Party to intercept them, or endeavour to cut them off, not in three
Hours after he had been informed of the Thing, and then the Cattle were
going into the Town. But so far were the Army from being disposed to cut
off the Communication on that Side, that they were continually forming
Ideas of the Enemy's coming that Way to attack them, and that they were
actually raising Batteries on some of the Islands in the Lake, to drive
them out of the Camp, and could not be convinced to the contrary, till
the Admiral ordered a large Canoe to be carried over Land, and launched
into the Lake, which was manned and armed, and an Officer of the
_Weymouth_ and a Land Officer sent in her round the Lake, to
reconnoitre; upon whose Return, those dreadful Apprehensions were
dissipated. [_D_] From the first Sight of the _American_ troops they
were despised, and as many of them were _Irish_, (suspected Papists)
were never employed till now; but as Sickness encreased amongst the
others (and hourly Attacks expected from the Enemy) it was thought
expedient to have them ashore; and though it is most certain, there was
scarce one but knew what Opinion had been conceived of them, nay indeed
told them, that had not the Fellows been better than they were taken
for, it was enough to have exasperated them to have deserted. The other
Soldiers of Lord _James Cavendish_ and Col. _Bland_'s Regiments were as
good Troops as any on the Expedition; and after this Reinforcement, it
was expected the Communication would have been immediately cut off; (as
it had been suggested Numbers could not be spared before) but so far
from that, that the Army still complained, that they had not Men enough
to relieve their Guards; and indeed, according to the Number they
mounted, _Marlborough_'s Army would scarce have been sufficient; for the
Advance Guard consisted of five hundred Men, the Picket eight hundred,
besides several other Out-Guards of one hundred, and some fifty; whereas
the Enemy h